► NOVEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER
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Good News: Federal Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Against Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Line
U.S. District Court Judge William Conley issued a preliminary injunction halting the construction of the destructive Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line adjacent to federally protected waters along the route for the next 30-60 days while he reviews the case.
The court found that our clients are likely to prevail on the merits, including the argument that federal statutes prevent this huge high-voltage transmission line with 20-story high towers from running through the protected Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Additional lawsuits in Wisconsin state court are moving forward as well.
In spite of this, ATC has started construction. They are thumbing their nose at the federal court order and causing unnecessary environmental damage while gambling with ratepayer money. This is becoming a costly transmission line to nowhere and that is corporate irresponsibility.
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 CLIMATE CHANGE
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As the Biden administration joined international climate talks in Glasgow this week, the U.S. EPA proposed a 74% reduction in methane pollution from all new and existing oil and gas operations by 2030. Read ELPC Associate Attorney John Minode’e Petoskey's testimony in favor of these standards.
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 CLEAN TRANSPORTATION
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The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act has passed through Congress and includes important investments in rail, electric school buses, transit and electric vehicle charging, water infrastructure, and Great Lakes restoration. Unfortunately, there are billions slated for highways. ELPC will watchdog these funds to ensure prudent and environmentally-sound investments across the Midwest region.
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 CLEAN WATER
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This week, ELPC presented oral arguments in our Clean Water Act lawsuit against Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor steel mill in Northwest Indiana. After the steel mill dumped cyanide and ammonia into Lake Michigan, ELPC and the Hoosier Environmental Council filed suit. We are now negotiating a settlement agreement as the case moves forward. ELPC attorneys argued for partial summary judgment on the facility’s liability on its ammonia violations.
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 WATCH THIS
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On October 28, Senior Policy Advocate Susan Mudd hosted an ELPC Thinks webinar discussing how zero-emission electric school buses can be good for the Midwest.
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 UPCOMING EVENTS
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ELPC Thinks:
A Discussion with Jigar Shah
When: Wednesday, November 17
Time: 2:00pm CT
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ELPC Thinks:
A Discussion with Senator Durbin
When: Thursday, November 18
Time: 10:45am CT
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CONVERSATIONS WE'RE FOLLOWING
- Ohio Capital Journal: House Lawmakers Review Coal Bailouts, Energy Efficiency Proposal
- ELPC Blog: Build Back Better Boosts Rural Clean Energy
- Iowa Public Radio: Iowa Environmental Groups ask Court to Review Mid-American Energy’s Emission and Budget Plan Approval
- ELPC Blog: Fuel Economy Standards Can be Tougher and Still Feasible
- The Toledo Blade: Lucas County Forms Special Commission to Investigate Maumee's Illegal Sewage Discharges
- SCOTUSBlog: Justices Agree to Review EPA’s Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gases
- ELPC Blog: New Regional Rail Plan is a Win for the Midwest
- Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago EPA Office to be Led by Evanston Politician Debra Shore
- Post-Tribune: Column - After Two Recent U.S. Steel Discharges, Gov. Holcomb, IDEM Need to Fix Broken Environmental Protection System
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We're all in to protect the Midwest's environment.
Founded in 1993, the Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest's leading environmental legal advocacy organization. We advocate, innovate, and litigate to protect the Midwest's environment from the Great Lakes to the Great Plains.
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