Environmental Justice
Advancing Environmental Justice
At Crag, our goal is to build capacity for local organizations that are leading the fight for environmental justice. As community based lawyers, we treat our clients as the experts they are, and work hand in hand with them as partners to achieve their goals.
Our current environmental and civil rights laws don’t protect everyone equally, so we support community-based organizations fighting to pass new policies at the state and local levels.
We assist with legal research, testimony drafting, strategy sessions, and more to ensure our clients walk into meetings with decision-makers feeling empowered. Crag does not engage in lobbying.
We focus on addressing inequities in the law and throughout our organization, infusing environmental justice principles across all of our programs. This work is long term, and we are always learning, reflecting, and improving. To learn more about our commitment to equity, head here: https://crag.org/equity/
Environmental justice recognizes that everyone deserves clean air and water, equal access to decision-making, and safe places to live, work, and play — no matter your race, income, gender, or zip code.
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.
Serving rural communities and Oregon’s working lands
Learn about how Crag is serving rural communities and Oregon’s working lands by advocating for farmland protections.
Celebrating 20 years of Environmental Justice work at Crag
Join Crag in celebrating 20 years of environmental justice work fighting alongside communities across the Northwest.
Working with Tribes to protect native fish and restore habitat
Learn about how Crag is working with Tribes and conservation groups to protect native fish and restore essential native fish habitat.
Fighting for environmental justice laws, outside of the courtroom
Learn about how Crag is fighting for environmental justice laws by helping clients see their bills over the legislative finish line.
Testimonials
Hear from some current and past clients about the work we did together:
Vivian Satterfield, Deputy Director at OPAL Environmental Justice PDX
“Crag was instrumental in filing a Title VI complaint with the Federal Transit Authority when our regional transit provider Trimet raised fares and cut service. That change hurt working class people, people of color the most, and we know it was a violation of federally protected civil rights. We were able to work with Crag to hold a massive transit agency accountable to the very FLOOR of federal civil rights. And we WON. And now every single transit rider on our system benefits from the policies that Crag helped win.”
Teryn Yazdani, Staff Attorney and Climate Policy Manager at Beyond Toxics
”Crag was an incredible support for Beyond Toxics during the legislative session! From providing thorough legal research on legislative concepts to drafting testimony for hearings, they added much needed capacity to get us to the finish line.”
Nakisha Nathan, Co-Executive Director of Neighbors for Clean Air
“Over the past 20 years, Crag has built a track record of helping communities turn grassroots organizing into wins in the courtroom. Crag’s lawyers understand that legal wins often aren’t enough. People need to be engaged and feel a part of the solution. Crag builds trust and meaningful relationships with clients and partners like us.”
Our Clients and Partners
We work with environmental justice-focused, community-based organizations to advance legal and policy initiatives at local and state levels. Learn about a few of them below:
Beyond Toxics provides leadership to create a community-driven environmental justice movement for a thriving and just Oregon. They envision a society where everyone has equitable access to healthy food and clean air and water, and underserved communities are included in decision-making processes that affect them.
ELSO, Inc. cultivates generations of Black and Brown innovators and problem solvers for community and global impact. Their mission is to teach and frame STEAM and nature-based education through a lens that centers and elevates the stories, ways of knowing, individual needs, and lived experiences of Black and Brown communities.
OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon builds power for environmental justice and civil rights in communities. Their work is at the intersection of environmental justice, civil rights, and transportation and housing. They’ve organized around issues ranging from air quality to congestion pricing, to reducing policing and increasing bus service.
The NAACP works to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and discrimination. They are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
The Northwest Environmental Justice Center provides no-cost technical assistance and support for communities to address environmental and energy justice issues and work towards thriving futures in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Verde serves communities by building environmental wealth through social enterprise, outreach, and advocacy. They conceive, design, and implement environmental infrastructure; organize and engage with communities; and advocate for environmental justice.
Please consider supporting these incredible organizations!
Together We Are Balancing the Scales of Justice
For 20 years and counting…
We’ve supported environmental justice leaders, built capacity for frontline communities, and worked towards systemic change. Here are some of our biggest environmental justice wins over the years:
2004
Crag launches Environmental Justice program
In our first environmental justice case, we filed a lawsuit against the EPA for failing to address discrimination complaints filed by Vancouver’s Rosemere Neighborhood Association.
2008
Iñupiat traditional fishing grounds protected
We support Iñupiat communities in their fight to protect their traditional hunting and fishing grounds against Shell Oil drilling in the Alaskan Arctic.
2009
Environmental Justice victory for Vancouver neighbors
In a landmark victory for the Rosemere Neighborhood Association, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rules that the EPA violated the law, and charts a new pathway forward for communities filing discrimination complaints.
2015
Crag represents Nez Perce Tribe in Portland Harbor cleanup
Crag begins representing the Nez Perce Tribe’s interests in the cleanup and restoration of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site.
2019
Civil rights victory against Seneca power plant
Working alongside our clients Beyond Toxics, Crag’s civil rights complaints lead to increased air quality protections for communities in West Eugene.
2021
Rebeka joins our team as one of Oregon’s 1st Environmental Justice attorneys
Crag hires Rebeka Dawit to expand our environmental justice program and increase the policy support we provide to clients.
2022
Victory! West Eugene polluter shuts down!
After years of pressure from community groups, environmental justice advocates, and Crag, polluting creosote plant JH Baxter shuts down operations.
2023
Crag clients pass climate resilience laws
In the 2023 legislative session, Crag supports our clients’ efforts to develop and pass a package of bills that will invest millions of federal dollars to communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis in Oregon.
2024
Crag supports neighbors to stop a dirty freight warehouse
We filed a lawsuit challenging a dirty freight warehouse across from Parkrose Middle and High School in NE Portland that neighbors worry will increase air pollution, traffic accidents, and noise.
Want to support our environmental justice work?
Every dollar directly supports people fighting for environmental justice
Stay up to date on victories, new cases, events, and internship opportunities
Banner image by 350PDX.