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	<title>Rosemere Neighborhood Association &#187; Judge Ronald B. Leighton</title>
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		<title>LANDMARK DECISION: Federal Judge Rules Clark County Violated Permit, Clean Water Act from 2008-2011</title>
		<link>http://www.rosemerena.org/home/2013/06/07/landmark-decision-federal-judge-rules-clark-county-violated-permit-clean-water-act-from-2008-2011/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rosemerena.org/home/2013/06/07/landmark-decision-federal-judge-rules-clark-county-violated-permit-clean-water-act-from-2008-2011/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 Jun 2013 03:04:37 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[US District Judge Ronald Leighton ruled Thursday Clark County violated their Phase I Permit from August 2008 to December 2011 in what marks a landmark decision for stormwater controls in Washington State. Rosemere Neighborhood Association, Columbia Riverkeeper, and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center represented by Earthjustice attorneys Jan Hasselman and Janette Brimmer began the fight for enforcing EPA Clean Water standards for polluted stormwater mitigation in 2010 (see story here) In January 2011, the Washington State Pollution Control Board ruled that Clark County’s “alternative” plan for monitoring stormwater was illegal (story here). Clark County subsequently filed an appeal of the Pollution Board’s ruling, but in December 2011, Judge Leighton ruled that pending their appeal, Clark County must comply with Washington State’s stormwater guidelines (story here). Most recently, in May, Judge Leighton found Clark County’s argument for modified stormwater controls “makes no sense,” as the Pollution Control Hearings Board decision was clear that Clark County’s modified Agreed Order with Ecology was “unlawful” and the Permit Modification was “invalid.” &#8220;We are elated that our efforts to protect the environment have yielded such a positive result,&#8221; said John Felton, Chairman, Rosemere Neighborhood Association. From the Summary Judgment ruling: Even viewed in the light most favorable to Clark County, the evidence supports no conclusion other than Clark County is liable for violating the 2007 Phase 1 Permit during this time period. The 2007 Phase 1 Permit required Clark County to adopt the default stormwater flow control standard or an approved alternative by August 16, 2008. Clark County, however, to adopt a flow control ordinance that complied with the Permit. On December 28, 2011, this Court enjoined Clark County from issuing any permit or authorization that fails to meet the Phase 1 Permit’s flow control standards. Prior to the injunction, Clark County authorized numerous development<a class="more-link" href="http://www.rosemerena.org/home/2013/06/07/landmark-decision-federal-judge-rules-clark-county-violated-permit-clean-water-act-from-2008-2011/">[Read More...]</a>]]></description>
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		<title>Federal Judge Lifts Stay on Clark County Stormwater Case</title>
		<link>http://www.rosemerena.org/home/2013/03/02/federal-judge-lifts-stay-on-clark-county-stormwater-case/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rosemerena.org/home/2013/03/02/federal-judge-lifts-stay-on-clark-county-stormwater-case/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:54:21 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton has lifted a stay on a federal lawsuit against Clark County regarding their stormwater management plan. The injunction was issued against Clark County in December 2011, ordering it to follow the state&#8217;s default stormwater rules while its stormwater plan was under review by the state Court of Appeals. The stay had been put in place pending the outcome of state court appeals of proceedings before the Pollution Control Hearings Board due to concerns the federal and state cases would conflict. From Leighton&#8217;s decision: &#8220;The case involves Clark County’s municipal storm sewer system, and the Department of Ecology’s 2007 Phase I Stormwater General Permit for that system. Ecology subsequently issued Clark County a Notice of Violation, alleging that the flow control policy was inadequate. In 2010, Clark County and Ecology entered into an Agreed Order. Rosemere successfully challenged that Agreed Order before the PCHB, claiming (among other things) that it was not compliant with the Clean Water Act. The PCHB’s determination that the Agreed Order violated the Phase I permit and the Clean Water Act was affirmed by the Court of Appeals. While those proceedings were pending, Rosemere brought this federal case. It seeks to enforce the Phase I permit, and penalties. This Court stayed the proceedings pending the resolution of the state court action.&#8221; In September, the Court of Appeals upheld a ruling by the state Pollution Control Hearings Board, which said a compromise developed between the county and the state Department of Ecology was not backed by science and was insufficient under federal and state clean water laws. Judge Leighton lifted the stay saying, &#8220;The issues in these cases were never overlapping; they were simply similar. That similarity has been greatly diminished in the aftermath of the Court of Appeals’ decision, and the<a class="more-link" href="http://www.rosemerena.org/home/2013/03/02/federal-judge-lifts-stay-on-clark-county-stormwater-case/">[Read More...]</a>]]></description>
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		<title>Media Advisory: State Appeals Court Hears Arguments by County to Circumvent Clean Water Act</title>
		<link>http://www.rosemerena.org/home/2012/06/28/media-advisory-state-appeals-court-hears-arguments-by-county-to-circumvent-clean-water-act/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:18:59 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[July 2]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rosemerena.org/home/?p=1874</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Media Advisory for July 2, 2012 CONTACTS: Jan Hasselman, Earthjustice, (206) 343-7340, ext. 1025 (Available July 2) Janette Brimmer, Earthjustice, (206) 343-7340, ext. 1029 Dvija Michael Bertish, Rosemere Neighborhood Association, (360) 281-4747 Brett VandenHeuvel, Columbia Riverkeeper, (503) 348-2436 State Appeals Court Hears Arguments by County to Circumvent Clean Water Act Protections of Fish and Water Quality Community and Clean Water Advocates ask court to ensure federal clean water laws are followed to protect rivers and salmon. WHAT: Hearing before Washington State Court of Appeals in Tacoma WHEN: July 2, 2012, 9 a.m. WHERE: Washington State Court of Appeals, Division II 950 Broadway, Suite 300, Tacoma, WA 98402 (Allow time to go through courthouse security.) WHY: Clark County deserves strong, uniform laws that protect clean water, sensitive aquatic environments and endangered species&#8211; the same requirements that over 100 other cities and counties in Washington have been complying with since 2008. Stronger stormwater controls are needed now. According to a recent U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study on stormwater, Vancouver, WA showed a wide suite of contaminants, including some of the highest levels of pesticides, suspended solids, and trace elements including mercury. A copy of the USGS stormwater study is attached. BACKGROUND: Federal law required Clark County and nearly 100 other cities and counties in Western Washington to adopt new rules governing runoff from development by August of 2008. In 2009, Clark County decided that it would not comply with the terms of a stormwater permit required by the Clean Water Act. The Department of Ecology confronted Clark County for its permit violation but later backed down and agreed to allow Clark County to retain inadequate stormwater standards for new developments in exchange for a promise to implement taxpayer-funded mitigation projects that were much less protective. This didn’t protect streams polluted by development<a class="more-link" href="http://www.rosemerena.org/home/2012/06/28/media-advisory-state-appeals-court-hears-arguments-by-county-to-circumvent-clean-water-act/">[Read More...]</a>]]></description>
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		<title>Federal Judge Suspends County’s Inadequate Polluted Runoff Standards</title>
		<link>http://www.rosemerena.org/home/2011/12/29/federal-judge-suspends-county%e2%80%99s-inadequate-polluted-runoff-standards/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rosemerena.org/home/2011/12/29/federal-judge-suspends-county%e2%80%99s-inadequate-polluted-runoff-standards/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:56:43 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 29, 2011

Contacts:

Janette Brimmer, Earthjustice, 206-343-7340 ext. 1029
Dvija Michael Bertish, Rosemere Neighborhood Association, 360-281-4747
Brett VandenHeuvel, Columbia Riverkeeper, 503-348-2436
Federal Judge Suspends County’s Inadequate Polluted Runoff Standards
Injunction requires Clark County to shelve fish-killing loopholes in its development standards

Tacoma, WA.—A Washington state county’s controversial development standards appear to violate federal laws to protect clean water, according to a preliminary ruling by a U.S. District Court Judge.

The decision, issued December 28 by U.S. District Court Judge Ronald B. Leighton, means Clark County must comply with federal clean water laws, like other cities and counties in the state, to protect rivers, streams and salmon threatened with extinction. The ruling applies to development projects permitted or approved by the county on or after the court’s order while a related state court appeal is pending.

Rosemere Neighborhood Association, Columbia Riverkeeper, and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, represented by Earthjustice, challenged Clark County’s failure to protect threatened salmon.

“Many cities and counties in our state are working hard to clean up polluted waterways and now Clark County must finally do the same,” said Janette Brimmer, an Earthjustice attorney who is representing the groups. “The ruling recognizes that everyone needs to do their share to protect our precious streams, rivers and salmon and that Clark County, like everyone else, must follow the law.”]]></description>
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