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Environmental Enforcement Project

  • Full Ninth Circuit Declines to Rehear Constitutional Youth Climate Case, Leaving Unprecedented Unpublished Panel Decision in Place

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 10, 2026 Contacts:  Julia Olson, Chief Legal Counsel, 415.786.4825, julia@ourchildrenstrust.orgHelen Britto, Communications Director, 925.588.1171, helen@ourchildrenstrust.orgNicole Funaro, Director of Media & Storytelling, communications@publicjustice.net Denial leaves intact the first circuit court opinion in U.S. history to deny judicial review of an unconstitutional executive order, as youth plaintiffs assess next steps SAN FRANCISCO —…

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  • Court Orders Republic Services to Pay $9.2 Million Civil Penalty for Clean Water Act Violations at Modern Landfill 

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2026 Media Contacts:Nicole Funaro, communications@publicjustice.netTed Evgeniadis, ted@lowsusriverkeeper.org. 717-478-1780 YORK COUNTY, PENN. — On Monday, the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania imposed a $9.2 million civil penalty after finding that Republic Services of Pennsylvania LLC polluted Kreutz Creek — a tributary of the Susquehanna River — and violated…

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  • Federal Trial Begins in Center for Food Safety Lawsuit Challenging River Pollution from Industrial Dairy

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 20, 2026CONTACT:Kingsly A. McConnell, kmcconnell@centerforfoodsafety.org, (971) 2717372Charlie M. Tebbutt, charlie@tebbuttlaw.com, (541) 285-3717Nicole Funaro, Public Justice, nfunaro@publicjustice.net Case Tests Whether Factory Farms Will Be Held Accountable Under the Clean Water Act Syracuse, New York — Today, a federal trial begins in Center for Food Safety’s lawsuit against Wood Farms LLC, a…

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  • Youth Plaintiffs Ask Full Ninth Circuit to Rehear Constitutional Climate Case Against Trump Fossil Fuel Orders

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 17, 2026 Contacts:  Julia Olson, Chief Legal Counsel, 415.786.4825, julia@ourchildrenstrust.org   Helen Britto, Communications Director, 925.588.1171, helen@ourchildrenstrust.orgNicole Funaro, Director of Media & Storytelling, communications@publicjustice.net En banc petition argues three-judge panel ignored uncontested evidence and Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit precedent, and improperly abandoned its constitutional duty SAN FRANCISCO — As wildfire smoke…

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  • Chemours to Resolve Violations of Federal Law at Chemours Washington Works Plant Following WV River Coalition’s Clean Water Act Citizen Suit

    For Immediate Release Contact: Amanda Demmerle, Staff Attorney, Appalachian Mountain Advocates, ademmerle@appalmad.orgJennie Smith, Executive Director, WV Rivers Coalition, jsmith@wvrivers.orgNicole Funaro, Director of Media & Storytelling, Public Justice, communications@publicjustice.net Morgantown, W. Va. — Today, a Consent Decree was lodged in the Southern District of West Virginia that, if approved by the court after a public comment period,…

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  • Young Americans Take Trump’s Unconstitutional Fossil Fuel Executive Orders to the Ninth Circuit

    Contacts: Julia Olson, Chief Legal Counsel, 415.786.4825, julia@ourchildrenstrust.org Helen Britto, Communications Associate Director, 925.588.1171, helen@ourchildrenstrust.org Nicole Funaro, Media Relations Strategist, nfunaro@publicjustice.net MISSOULA, M.T. — Twenty-two young Americans are asking the Ninth Circuit to overturn a federal court ruling that blocked their constitutional right to life case, submitting their opening brief yesterday in Lighthiser v. Trump.…

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  • Appeal Filed on Behalf of Youth Plaintiffs in ‘Lighthiser v. Trump,’ Federal Right to Life Case

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 20, 2025 Media Contacts:   Julia Olson, Chief Legal Counsel, 415.786.4825, julia@ourchildrenstrust.org    Helen Britto, Comms. Associate Director, press@ourchildrenstrust.org Nicole Funaro, Media Relations Strategist, nfunaro@publicjustice.net A federal court judge said he dismissed the youth-led constitutional case ‘reluctantly.’   MISSOULA, M.T. — An appeal has officially been filed today on behalf of…

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  • Youth Plaintiffs Announce Appeal in Lighthiser v. Trump, Federal Right to Life Case

    Media Contacts:   Julia Olson, Chief Legal Counsel, 415.786.4825, julia@ourchildrenstrust.org    Helen Britto, Comms. Associate Director, press@ourchildrenstrust.org Nicole Funaro, Media Relations Strategist, 203.435.1722, nfunaro@publicjustice.net Federal court dismisses youth-led constitutional case, but plaintiffs will appeal   MISSOULA, M.T. — The 22 young Americans in Lighthiser v. Trump announced today that they will appeal a ruling by…

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  • Federal Hearing in ‘Lighthiser v. Trump’ Concludes with Expert Testimony on Health, Energy, and Youth Harm

    Contacts: Julia Olson, Chief Legal Counsel, 415.786.4825, julia@ourchildrenstrust.org Helen Britto, Comms. Associate Director, 925.588.1171, helen@ourchildrenstrust.org Nicole Funaro, Media Relations Strategist, nfunaro@publicjustice.net Economists, public health professionals, and renewable energy leaders warn of far-reaching dangers posed by executive orders that advance fossil fuels and suppress renewables   MISSOULA, M.T. — On the second day of the historic…

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