Environmental
Justice
Environmental Justice
Communities of color, Tribes, and low-income communities often experience a disproportionate share of the negative impacts of pollution and industrial development. Taking the lead from our clients and partners who are working in these communities, Crag helps strengthen organizing efforts by educating and advocating for legal solutions to remedy disparate impacts of environmental pollution. Crag’s first environmental justice case challenged under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act the Environmental Protection Agency’s failure to respond to complaints from the Rosemere Neighborhood Association in Washington. We have continued environmental justice work since that first landmark victory, including representing native communities in Alaska and Oregon to protect subsistence hunting and cultural values.What We’re Working On
Environmental Justice 2025 Legislative Recap
Learn about important community wins that our environmental justice clients achieved in Oregon’s 2025 legislative session.
Fighting for Equitable Land Use
Learn how Crag helps implement environmental justice in our land use laws.
Eugene neighbors say no to fuel trucks
October 1, 2024 Eugene Neighbors say no to fuel trucks Crag files lawsuit against City of Eugene over planned fuel transfer truck site in West Eugene neighborhoodPhoto by Jim Allen, FreightWaves.New case! On September 30, Crag filed a notice of intent to appeal the...
Local advocates continue legal fight against freight warehouse at former Kmart site
Two months after the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) ruled in their favor and denied a motion to dismiss the original appeal, filed in December, 1000 Friends of Oregon, Neighbors for Clean Air, and Northwest Environmental Defense Center filed a petition today with LUBA seeking review of the City of Portland’s decision to issue building permits for the controversial Prologis freight warehouse slated for operation on the former Kmart site at NE 122nd and Sandy in Portland.
Environmental Justice: Creative Solutions for Historical Harms
Where you live is heavily influenced by zoning policies of the past. At Crag, we have been working hard with our clients to advocate for the inclusion of environmental justice (EJ) in our land use laws. This means both improving laws and holding local governments accountable for their fair implementation.
Helping neighbors fight a dirty freight warehouse
Crag has been supporting residents in the Argay Terrace neighborhood of Northeast Portland to address concerns about a new freight warehouse being built across the street from Parkrose Middle and High School.
Restoring Portland Harbor
Crag represents the Nez Perce Tribe’s interests in cleaning up contamination and restoring habitats in the Portland Harbor Superfund project on the Willamette River.
Highlighting leaders of the youth climate movement
Coming to Crag as a high school intern, I was inexperienced in the world of youth climate activism. So I researched leaders who were creating change on the painstakingly long road of climate justice.
Decolonizing our public lands work
Decolonizing our public lands work by Meriel Darzen | September 15, 2023At our staff retreat in March, Crag's legal team met to discuss and brainstorm how to decolonize our public lands work. Photo by Aditya Bhatia on PexelsAs one of Crag’s staff attorneys who works...
What President Biden’s recent Executive Order means for our Environmental Justice work
While it’s soon too to tell, here are five reasons why we are hopeful agencies will implement this Environmental Justice executive order to create meaningful change.