Projects

2007-2008 Projects

Brownfields and Urban Revitalization - Research for Groundwork Portland and OPAL

Native American subsistence rights - North Slope Borough Case with the Crag Law Center

Air Quality issues - Boeing emissions permit and public hearing

*** Please contact eja@lclark.edu for more information about the status of these projects. We're always looking for help!

Brownfields Research

Lewis & Clark law students, who are members of Environmental Justice Advocates (EJA) and Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC), are assisting Groundwork Portland and Organizing People, Activating Leaders (OPAL) with this project. The mission of Groundwork Portland (GW PDX) is to provide a community-first model around brownfield redevelopment and green space connectivity, with a focus on public health and environmental justice issues in Portland Metro. GW PDX plans to begin a brownfields project in early 2008 and needs to be prepared for all possible legal ramifications.

For more information about the project, please download this document. Thanks!

North Slope Borough Case

Lewis & Clark law students, who are members of Environmental Justice Advocates (EJA) and Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC), are assisting the Crag Law Center with this project. Crag was approached by the North Slope Borough and the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, who asked Crag to defend the rights and lifestyle of the Inupiat people.

The Inupiat communities of North Slope Boroughs are now threatened by the Beaufort Sea Outer Continental Shelf Lease Exploration plan set to take place 2007-2009. The plan, put in place by Shell Offshore Inc., is a blueprint for the exploration of the North Slope in hopes of finding oil. Oil exploration and drilling in the North Slope would have detrimental effects on the Inupiat community and marine mammals.

For more information about the project, please download this document. Thanks!

NSB Environmental Justice Project

Boeing emissions permit

Boeing is ramping up airplane painting at one of their facilities near the Portland Airport and Boeing is applying for a permit to emit more VOCs. NEDC and EJA students are concerned that the Oregon DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) may not force Boeing to use the best available control technology, causing more air quality problems for local community members. Law students attended a public meeting in mid-September 2007, and plan to participate in upcoming public comments and hearings. Stay tuned!

Brownfields Environmental Justice Project