Science, Law & the Environment

We all know the federal government is hamstrung by partisan gridlock.  Where once lawmakers recognized that passing legislation required that both parties end up being able to claim success, tha...

https://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2019/02/defeat-of-the-carbon-tax-as-washington-increasingly-mimics-the-partisan-gridlock-of-the-other-washington-it-risks-losing-progressive-action-in-the-name-of-progressive-principles/

Note: this is part 3 of 3 in my series of how the new administration may impact environmental law and policy in the Pacific Northwest. For background, please see Part 1 and Part 2. Sediment Clean...

https://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2017/01/the-view-from-the-pacific-northwest-what-to-watch-in-environmental-law-and-policy-post-inauguration-part-3/

Note: this is part 2 of 3 in my series of how the new administration may impact environmental law and policy in the Pacific Northwest. For background, please see Part 1. Tribal Relations One of t...

https://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2017/01/the-view-from-the-pacific-northwest-what-to-watch-in-environmental-law-and-policy-post-inauguration-part-2/

On Friday morning, I boarded a plane in Chicago and by the time I touched down in Seattle, Trump had been sworn into office. We’ve received a number of questions from clients and friends asking...

https://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2017/01/the-view-from-the-pacific-northwest-what-to-watch-in-environmental-law-and-policy-post-inauguration-part-1/

If you have not yet seen the press, yesterday, EPA issued its final rule revising water quality standards for toxics in Washington. This finalizes the draft rule published more than a year ago, a...

https://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2016/11/epa-promulgates-new-water-quality-standards-for-toxics-in-washington-rejecting-the-vast-majority-of-the-criteria-developed-by-the-washington-department-of-ecology/

On April 14, 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that it would not list the Pacific Fisher under the Endangered Species Act. The fisher (Pekania pennant) is presently fou...

https://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2016/04/wherefore-art-thou-fisher-u-s-fish-wildlife-service-decides-not-to-list-the-pacific-fisher/

Earthjustice, representing a number of environmental groups, sued EPA on Friday alleging that EPA is in violation of the Clean Water Act because it has not finalized the draft rule it published ...

https://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2016/02/breaking-puget-soundkeeper-and-others-sue-epa-again-alleging-failure-to-adopt-water-quality-standards-for-washington-that-account-for-higher-fish-consumption-rates/

Yesterday, following quickly on the heels of Governor Inslee’s withdrawal of Washington’s version of the fish consumption rule, EPA released draft water quality standards for toxics for Washi...

https://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2015/09/breaking-epa-issues-draft-rule-revising-washingtons-water-quality-standards-for-toxics-to-account-for-higher-fish-consumption-rates/

I have written extensively on the efforts by the Washington Department of Ecology to revise Washington’s Water Quality Standards to account for a higher fish consumption rate. This summer was w...

https://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2015/08/back-to-the-drawing-board-whats-next-for-the-fish-consumption-rule-in-washington-state/

This is another in the series of guest posts authored by the consultants we work with and trust. Owen Reese is a Water Resources Engineer at Aspect Consulting approached us and offered to provide...

https://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2015/04/guest-post-aspect-consultings-discussion-of-the-washington-department-of-ecologys-efforts-to-update-its-water-quality-assesment-for-freshwaters/