From Inside Washington Publishers, September 28, 2009. Appears here with permission of the publisher.
Click here to view article (pdf format): Jackson Orders Agency to Speed Civil Rights Claims Reviews
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Jackson Orders Agency to Speed Civil Rights Claims Reviews (reprinted with permission from Inside Washington Publishers)
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Heart of America NW Offers Free Screening of Hanford Documentary in Vancouver
Heart of America NW is holding a free screening of the documentary ARID LANDS at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Vancouver, WA.
ARID LANDS is a internationally acclaimed documentary is about the land and people of the Columbia River Basin in Eastern WA – home to the Hanford nuclear site – the largest environmental clean-up in history.
It is a land of incredible contradictions: coyotes roam among reactors, salmon spawn in the middle of golf courses and federal dollars spur rapid expansion.
When: October 12, 2009
07:00 PM – 09:30 PM – Film Screening: Vancouver, WA Arid Lands Screening
Location: Unitarian Universalist Church of Vancouver 4505 E. 18th St, Vancouver, WA, 98661 US
MapQuest! | GoogleMaps
Contact: email
Website: http://www.sidelongfilms.com -
Press Release: RNA Wins Landmark Environmental Justice Case Against EPA’s Office of Civil Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Chris Winter
CRAG Law CenterDvija Michael Bertish
Rosemere Neighborhood AssociationROSEMERE 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.
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More Delays At Hanford Cleanup
Hanford Single-Shell C Tank Farm during construction, November 4, 1944
On May 12, 2009, a public meeting and hearing was conducted by the Hanford Tri-Party Agencies to discuss a tentative agreement to modify cleanup action plans at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Tri-Party officials present included Matt McCormick, Dave Brockman, and Stacy Charboneau, U.S. Department of Energy; Ron Skinnarland, Washington State Department of Ecology; and Rod Lobos, US Environmental Protection Agency. [Read More...]
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EPA to Perform Preliminary Superfund Assessment of Camp Bonneville
United States Howitzers in World War II
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed the Rosemere Neighborhood Association (RNA) today that it has determined that performing a Preliminary Assessment of Former Camp Bonneville Military Reservation is warranted.
On February 3, 2009, RNA petitioned EPA to conduct a preliminary assessment of the known and suspected release of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants at Camp Bonneville, the former US Military installation in Clark County, Washington (just outside Vancouver). The EPA’s decision means it will assess the Camp Bonneville site to determine whether it warrants attention under the Superfund Program.
Click here to read EPA’s letter EPA Petition for Preliminary Assessment at Former Camp Bonneville
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Press Release: Sixty Day Notice of Intent to file a Citizens’ Lawsuit Against Clark County
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...]
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Rosemere V. EPA, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Case – April 14, 2009
On April 14, 2009, oral arguments were made in the Rosemere Neighborhood Association’s (RNA) appeal in its federal lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failure to conduct an appropriate investigation into allegations of retaliation. RNA filed a Title VI Environmental Justice complaint with EPA in February 2003 alleging that the City of Vancouver had discriminated in the provision of municipal services in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the Title VI complaint alleged that the city had discriminated against Environmental Justice neighborhoods by failing to address failing septic systems, the lack of a comprehensive sewer network, contaminated ground and surface waters, poor air quality, industrial pollutants, urban blight and decay, and long-range planning that fails to alleviate these stresses. RNA contends the EPA failed in its fiduciary duties to properly investigate the Title VI complaint which has led to ongoing legal proceedings. [Read More...] -
Rally Organized to Oppose the 12-Lane Columbia River Crossing – April 5, 2009
- #1 Senator Don Benton (WA), #2 Association of Oregon Rail & Transit Advocates, #3 Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz
It was the perfect day for a rally, the first nice spring day in the region. It took place at the noon at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland amidst freshly sprouted lawn, trees starting to blossom, a sunny blue-sky day, and a busy promenade with bicyclists, strollers, and roller skaters. Television crews buzzed about as the stump speeches began beneath the Hawthorne Bridge. Sponsors of the rally included the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Coalition for a Livable Future, 1000 Friends of Oregon, Upstream Public Health and Oregon League of Conservation Voters. Speakers included Washington Senator Don Benton, Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, and Former Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury. [Read More...]
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Data Gathered for Vancouver Lake Superfund Assessment – March 4, 2009
Contractors for the EPA's Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team gathering sediment samples 3/4/09 at a wetland location near Vancouver Lake.
In August, 2007, RNA and Columbia Riverkeeper submitted a formal Citizen Petition for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a Preliminary Assessment to consider Vancouver Lake a superfund site due to contamination from substances like PCBs. The Citizen’s Petition scored sufficiently for EPA to to move to the next step, which is a site inspection study. Contractors for the EPA arrived in Vancouver to gather around 30 sediment samples that will be shpped out of state for analysis at federally contracted laboratories. [Read More...]
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EPA Places ‘High Priority’ On Completing Munitions Cleanup Guidance – February 18, 2009
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...]
