Clean Water Enforcement
Illegal pollution poses serious threats to the Columbia River. CRK's legal team enforces existing water quality laws, such as the federal Clean Water Act, and fights to close loopholes and create stronger environmental laws. By taking action in and out of court, CRK's work protects pivotal habitat and reduces toxic pollution entering the Columbia.
Enforcing Pollution Permits: Over the last five years our enforcement efforts have brought more than 75 facilities that were illegally dumping into compliance and resulted in the reduction of over 550,000 pounds of toxic heavy metals into the Columbia and several million pounds of non-toxic pollutants. Through this work we have also been able to work with facilities to encourage the design and implementation of cutting edge pollution control technologies that we are now using as demonstration projects for similar facilities.
Empowering the Public with Legal Tools: CRK staff actively engage in reviewing new or renewed water pollution permits issued by Washington and Oregon that specifically allow over 100 billion gallons (yes billion) a year of pollution from industrial and municipal sources into the Columbia. By making a detailed technical and legal review of these permits we are regularly able to push state agencies to require more protective permits for the Columbia River. A valuable part of this effort is informing and involving the public in key pollution permits. Through this permit review and involvement,CRK has won everything from major reductions in dioxin discharges from large paper mills to improved protections for water clarity and dissolved oxygen.
Closing Loopholes & Fighting for Stronger Laws: While enforcing existing laws is critical to our work, CRK has long recognized that existing state and federal rules are not adequate to bring back the clean waters of the Columbia that salmon, sturgeon, lamprey and variety of other aquatic species depend on. As a result, we use grassroots education and focused advocacy to make current laws more protective of the Columbia River and people who depend on it as a food source.
Hightlights of CRK's Work:
*coming soon*
