Press Releases
City Council OKs plan for a more walkable Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Today Birmingham’s City Council voted to approve the Right Size Parking Initiative and amendments to eliminate outdated mandatory parking minimums, increase bicycle parking, and encourage large developments to incentivize alternative transportation. All but one...
Rare Tennessee salamander at center of new Endangered Species Act lawsuit
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday, arguing that the agency violated federal law when it...
Southern Environmental Law Center shows support for offshore wind project amid legal challenges and misinformation
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — This week a federal judge asked the administration to clarify its plans for protecting endangered North Atlantic right whales during construction of Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project (CVOW). This project...
SELC applauds inclusion of public lands designations in Farm Bill framework
WASHINGTON D.C. — On Wednesday, leadership in the U.S. Senate released a framework for the 2024 Farm Bill. The bill’s Forestry Title includes measures that increase forest resilience in the face of climate change and...
Federal lawsuit challenges approval of Cumberland Pipeline
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of the Sierra Club and Appalachian Voices, has filed a lawsuit challenging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision to approve the 32-mile Cumberland Pipeline —...
NEPA rule provides clear roadmap to address environmental injustices, climate change
WASHINGTON — Today the Council on Environmental Quality clarified state and federal agencies’ responsibility to address climate change and environmental justice under the National Environmental Policy Act, elevating community input on these critical issues. ...
Biden administration announces historic protections from fossil fuel plants
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced today several new historic protections from pollution from fossil fuel power plants.
Lack of DHEC oversight allows industry to self-regulate
Stormwater permit allows industry to hide water pollution from public CHARLESTON, S.C. — Today, on behalf of every riverkeeper in the state, the Southern Environmental Law Center sent a letter to the South Carolina...
Community, Advocacy Groups Ask NC Agencies for Clear Goals on Environmental Justice
DURHAM — In a series of comment letters, community and environmental groups called on North Carolina’s cabinet agencies for meaningful action, not vague rhetoric, in drafting their goals to advance environmental justice across the state. ...
Conservation Groups appeal permits that threaten ‘endangered’ Duck River
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, appealed water withdrawal permits issued to local utilities along the Duck River this week. The permits fail to protect...