News & Analysis as of

Environmental Litigation Citizen Suits

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP

11th Circuit Applies Sackett in Upholding Dismissal of Alleged Wetland Violations

On July 29th, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by environmental groups for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act resulting from the alleged illegal filling of wetlands on Georgia’s coast....more

Troutman Pepper Locke

One Stop Shop: Court Confirms Exclusive Jurisdiction of U.S. Courts of Appeals Over Review of Licensed Hydropower Projects

Troutman Pepper Locke on

In a significant victory for the hydropower industry, last week the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon issued an order in Cascadia Wildlands v. EWEB (Case No. 6:25-00446), reaffirming that the U.S. courts of...more

Beveridge & Diamond PC

Preparing for a Wave Citizen Suits: Five Key Strategies on the Diligent Prosecution Bar

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As earlier reported, environmental non-governmental organizations (eNGOs) have promised to pursue enforcement where the Biden EPA left off – they have the legal authority to do so under most environmental federal statutes and...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Action/Clean Water Act/RCRA: Federal Court Addresses Jurisdictional Issues

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (“Court”) in a March 6th Opinion addressed an issue arising out of a citizen suit action filed under the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251-1389 (“CWA”)...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Enforcement/Clean Water Act: Environmental Organizations Challenge Approval of Western Lake Eerie TMDL

Waterkeeper Alliance, Lake Eerie Waterkeeper, and Food & Water Watch (collectively, “Waterkeeper”) filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (“Court”) against the United States...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Enforcement/Clean Water Act: Trump Tower (Chicago) Enters into Consent Order with Environmental Organizations...

The Illinois Attorney General along with the Sierra Club and Friends of the Chicago River entered into a Consent Order (“CO”) with 401 North Wabash Venture, LLC d/b/a Trump International Hotel & Tower (“Trump Tower”)...more

McGlinchey Stafford

Supreme Court’s Cert Denials Pave Way for Surge in Environmental Citizen Suits

McGlinchey Stafford on

In a significant victory for environmental advocacy groups, the Supreme Court’s refusal on June 30, 2025 to grant certiorari in two pivotal cases (Port of Tacoma, et al. v. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and ExxonMobil Corp., et...more

Holland & Hart LLP

Supreme Court Declines to Limit Environmental Citizen Suits

Holland & Hart LLP on

On June 30, 2025, the Supreme Court denied industry group petitions to review and reverse two cases—one out of the Fifth Circuit and the other out of the Ninth Circuit—that could have significantly restricted the ability of...more

Beveridge & Diamond PC

Clean Water Act Citizen Suits in the Spotlight: Solicitor General Calls for Supreme Court Review (Updated)

This alert was originally published on June 3, 2025, and has been revised based on recent developments. Update: On June 30, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari Port of Tacoma v. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, No....more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Action/Clean Water Act: Two California Municipalities' Motion Alleges Spoilation of Laboratory Data by Environmental...

The Towns of Sunnyvale and Mountain View, California (collectively, “Cities”) filed a January 17th Pleading against San Francisco Baykeeper (“Baykeeper”) styled: Defendants’ Motion for Sanctions for Spoilation of...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Action/Clean Air Act: Southern Environmental Law Center Notice of Intent to Sue Memphis, Tennessee Data Center

The Southern Environmental Law Center (“SELC”), on behalf of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, sent a June 17th Notice of Intent to Sue (“Notice”) to various entities stated to be associated with...more

Allen Matkins

Citizen Suit Enforcement Under the Industrial General Permit: How Businesses Can Avoid Substantial Costs Associated with Notice...

Allen Matkins on

Each year, many California businesses receive letters from private entities, typically environmental nongovernmental organizations (Citizen Groups), alleging that those businesses’ facilities are in violation of applicable...more

Beveridge & Diamond PC

Clean Water Act Citizen Suits in the Spotlight: Solicitor General Calls for Supreme Court Review

Key Takeaways - Federal citizen suits are likely to become more frequent as the federal government decreases its enforcement efforts. Federal courts are split on whether Clean Water Act (CWA) citizen suits can enforce...more

Lowenstein Sandler LLP

TSCA Citizen Suit and Public Nuisance Claims Dismissed by EDNY

On May 19, the Eastern District of New York (the Court) dismissed claims brought by the Town of Oyster Bay, New York (the Town) under Section 20(a)(1) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)1 and for public nuisance...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Louisiana Community Air Monitoring Reliability Act: Environmental Organizations File Challenge in United States District Court...

The Environmental Integrity Project and Public Citizen Litigation Group (collectively, “EIP”) filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (“Complaint”) in the United States District Court for the Middle District...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Citizen Suits and Larger Penalties May Be the Future of California Water Quality Protections

Troutman Pepper Locke on

The California legislature continues to advance Senate Bill 601 (SB 601), the “Right to Clean Water Act,” which aims to safeguard protections for California’s streams and wetlands that lost federal protection under the Clean...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Action/ Clean Water Act: Environmental Defense Alliance Notice of Intent to Sue U.S. Environmental Protection Agency...

Mr. David A. Ludder Transmitted a February 7th document to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) styled: Notice of Intent to Sue Administrator under Clean Water Act §505(a)2,33U.S.C. §1365 (a)2....more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Action/Toxic Substances Control Act: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Notice of Intent to Sue U.S....

Two environmental organizations sent a May 17th document to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) styled: Notice of Intent to File Suit to Compel Performance of a Non-Discretionary Duty Under Section...more

McGlinchey Stafford

Trump EPA: Interplay of Deregulation and NGO Citizen Suits

McGlinchey Stafford on

President Donald Trump’s second term has already proven to be an extension of his first-term deregulatory agenda at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Given historical trends, such deregulation will likely prompt...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Citizen Suit Action/RCRA: Conservation Law Foundation Alleges Violations by Natural Gas Pipeline System

The Conservation Law Foundation, Inc. filed a citizen suit Complaint in the United States District Court of Massachusetts on November 12th alleging violations by the following: Besides the Conservation Law Foundation, the...more

ArentFox Schiff

Three Takeaways From the Montana Supreme Court Decision Guaranteeing a Right to a Stable Climate

ArentFox Schiff on

Proponents of more comprehensive climate regulations who are frustrated by the federal government have increasingly turned their attention to state litigation....more

Adams & Reese

Santa’s Helpers: Montana Supreme Court Justices Deliver a Climate Change Miracle to Sixteen Youths

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One week before Christmas, the Montana Supreme Court delivered a landmark gift to sixteen youth plaintiffs in Head, et al., v. State of Montana, et al., 2024 MT 300 (Mont. 2024), holding that the State of Montana violated...more

Mintz

Montana Supreme Court Upholds Climate Ruling Enshrining Right to a "Stable Climate"

Mintz on

On December 18, 2024, the Montana Supreme Court issued a ruling upholding a lower state court's decision that, under Montana's constitution, there is a “fundamental constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Energy & Climate Counsel

Montana Protects a Constitutional Right to a Stable Climate: Will Any Other States Follow Suit?

Earlier this week, the Montana Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling in favor of plaintiffs in a climate case based on certain provisions of the Montana constitution. Specifically, the court ruled that: - The...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Environmental Law

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Really Doesn't Want to Decide Who Has Standing to Bring CAA Penalty Claims

Earlier this week, in what almost certainly has to be the most fractured appellate decision in the history of the United States courts, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting en banc, affirmed via per curiam decision the...more

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