Media/Press | Rosemere Neighborhood Association

Press Release: RNA Wins Landmark Environmental Justice Case Against EPA’s Office of Civil Rights

September 18, 2009 Author: admin

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Chris Winter
CRAG Law Center

Dvija Michael Bertish
Rosemere Neighborhood Association

ROSEMERE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WINS LANDMARK ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CASE AGAINST EPA’S OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Criticizes EPA for a “Pattern of Delay” in Implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

(September 18, 2009) Rosemere Neighborhood Association (“Rosemere”) is a non-profit community organization in Clark County, Washington, dedicated to environmental protection and the pursuit of improvements to low-income environmental justice communities.

In February 2003, Rosemere first filed a Title VI administrative complaint with EPA’s Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) alleging that the City of Vancouver, WA had discriminated in the provision of municipal services in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Rosemere alleged that Vancouver failed to use EPA funds to address fairly long-standing problems in low-income and minority neighborhoods in West Vancouver.

[Read More...]

Lead in Drinking Water: England & Wales

July 16, 2009 Author: admin

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The European Drinking Water Directive of 1998 tightened overall standards for drinking water in Europe. As a result, steps have been taken in England and Wales to reduce lead concentrations and mitigate lead poisoning in drinking water.

Lead in drinking water can cause a variety of adverse health effects. In babies and children, exposure to lead in drinking water above the action level can result in delays in physical and mental development, along with slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, it can cause increases in blood pressure. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Lead pipes were used in the UK up to the 1980s both for connecting a property to the water supply main and for internal plumbing, due to lead’s strength, malleable nature and resistance to corrosion. In the UK, about 40% of properties are supplied via a lead pipe. Elsewhere in Europe, the estimated percentage of properties supplied by lead pipe-work varies from 5% to 50%. [Read More...]

Comments wanted on Camp Bonneville Cleanup Plans

May 29, 2009 Author: admin

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WA Department of Ecology News Release – May 28, 2009

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks comments on draft documents related to cleaning up part of the Camp Bonneville military reservation in Clark County.

This phase of the ongoing cleanup focuses on the Central Impact Target Area. The former artillery target area covers roughly 465 acres. [Read More...]

Clark County Public Works Department Cited for Stormwater Discharge Violation

April 29, 2009 Author: admin

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Clark County Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

The state Department of Ecology has issued a $2,000 civil penalty to the Clark County Public Works Department for violating technical requirements of a stormwater discharge permit at the Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, county officials announced today.

Click here to read Clark County Press Release RE Stormwater Violation (PDF format)

Press Release: Sixty Day Notice of Intent to file a Citizens’ Lawsuit Against Clark County

April 27, 2009 Author: admin

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Stormwater outfall during dry weather conditions

PRESS RELEASE****PRESS RELEASE****PRESS RELEASE

Today Rosemere Neighborhood Association delivered a Sixty Day Notice of Intent to file a Citizens’ Lawsuit against Clark County, Washington, under the Clean Water Act. A copy of the Sixty Day Notice is attached to this press release. Rosemere Neighborhood Association is represented by attorneys Theda Braddock, of Steilacoom, Washington, and Paul E. Brain of Smith, Alling, Lane, PS, of Tacoma, Washington. [Read More...]

Rosemere Neighborhood Association is now on Twitter

April 27, 2009 Author: admin

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The Rosemere Neighborhood Association has joined the Twitter Universe! Please follow our tweets at rosemerena on twitter.com and get real time updates on all our news and activities.

Raw Sewage Discharged to Burnt Bridge Creek for Years – April 11, 2009

April 13, 2009 Author: admin

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ADDED 5/11/09: This story makes headlines across the country! High Country News reports it here: “Heard around the West: Deja Poo”

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On April 8, City inspections of a local stormdrain system that borders Rosemere found a dangerous cross connection with sewage lines. The problem was identified using specialized remote cameras in the stormdrain system. Unfortunately, the cross connection occurs at the Southwest Regional Office of the Washington State Department of Ecology. This means that raw sewage from a large and heavily staffed state office dedicated to environmental protection has literally been discharging to Burnt Bridge Creek for at least a dozen years.

[Read More...]

EPA Places ‘High Priority’ On Completing Munitions Cleanup Guidance – February 18, 2009

April 6, 2009 Author: admin

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United States Army Howitzers in World War II

(Daily News from InsideEPA.com – February 18, 2009) EPA’s waste office is placing a high priority on finalizing a controversial munitions cleanup policy following months of waiting for the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB) to address objections raised by the Defense Department over it. The renewed attention to the pending policy for former ranges may signal stepped-up scrutiny from EPA over munitions contamination matters — considered a major cleanup liability for DOD. [Read More...]

John Karpinski Letter to the Editor – December 20, 2008

April 5, 2009 Author: admin

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Alcoa Power Plant, Vancouver, WA

This editorial was published by the Columbian newspaper.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Rosemere’s effort deserves credit, too

The Dec. 17 editorial, “Cleanup under way,” lauds the current cleanup of the Columbia River shoreline from Alcoa’s extreme pollution. This is indeed a victory. The Columbian, Gov. Chris Gregoire, and DOE Director Jay Manning, all deserve praise for their fine work. [Read More...]

Local View: Stormwater Pollution is a Critical Issue for Clark County – Sunday, December 14, 2008

April 5, 2009 Author: admin

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Flooding Chehalis, WA, on I-5 corridor. State Stormwater regulations work to alleviate stresses of high level storm events that can cause major flooding. These events represent only 1% of the rainfall in our state, yet do the most significant damage.

This editorial was published by the Columbian newspaper:

Sunday, December 14, 2008
By Dvija Bertish, Rosemere Neighborhood Association and Lauren Goldberg, Toxics and Conservation Director, Columbia Riverkeeper

The recent story regarding the City of Vancouver’s move to increase protections for our local creeks and rivers from the stormwater that carries thousands of pounds of heavy metals, pesticides, and oil from city streets should be welcome news to everyone who values clean water, salmon or the chance for your family to enjoy a swim in a local river or lake. [Read More...]