Zoe Mehta 

Associate Attorney

Zoe works across subject areas, largely dealing with industrial pollution and environmental justice. One of her primary responsibilities is to support SELC’s Clean Connected Communities initiative, which brings together diverse groups to support clean and equitable transportation solutions. Additionally, she helps advocate for incorporating environmental justice in transportation planning via public comments and meetings with decision-makers.  

“I am passionate about environmental justice and protecting the natural resources of my home state and across the South so they can be equitably accessed and enjoyed,” said Zoe, who interned at SELC in 2022. “SELC is a leader in addressing some of the most pressing environmental challenges we face today, and I have admired SELC’s work for many years, from coal ash cleanup to environmental justice work around industrial animal agriculture. I’m so grateful to be a part of this team.” 

One example of her work is the Sampson County Landfill litigation, where SELC filed suit to hold the state’s largest landfill accountable for endangering the Snow Hill community in Roseboro, N.C. The landfill has been releasing toxic “forever chemicals,” also called PFAS, into the surrounding environment unchecked and agreed to a major settlement to start cleaning up the pollution. 

Zoe grew up in Durham, N.C. “I love Jordan Lake, which spans across the county where I grew up, and Chatham County, where I live now,” she said. “As a kid, I loved swimming in the lake and still love to visit to enjoy the beaches and trails. It’s also an important source of drinking water and part of the Cape Fear River Basin, but it’s threatened by pollution. I’m so proud that SELC has been fighting to protect this lake and other water bodies across the state and our region.” 

• Duke University School of Law, magna cum laude
• University of Kentucky, summa cum laude