In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered SJGS’s owner, New Mexico power company PNM Resources (PNM), to install pollution controls on the smokestacks to bring the plant into compliance with the Clean Air Act. Even though\u00a0PNM\u00a0had years of warning, it filed a lawsuit challenging EPA’s decision. On behalf of regional and national conservation groups, WELC joined the lawsuit to ensure the company complied with EPA’s mandate. As a result of our and others’ defense of the mandate, half of the plant’s coal-burning capacity was retired in 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n The retirements are a good start, but the fight is not over. WELC and its allies will continue to advocate for full and fair compliance with bedrock environmental laws and work to ensure that PNM replaces SJGS\u2019 coal-fired power with energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy from the sun and wind.<\/span><\/p>\n Our most recent challenge targets a 25-year extension of the dirty coal complex, green-lighted by the U.S. Department of Interior without considering any clean energy alternatives. For 54 years, dirty coal has harmed this area’s public health, communities, wildlife, and climate. We’re working hard to ensure a speedy transition from the dirtiest fuel on Earth to the abundant sun, wind, and other renewable opportunities the region offers. We filed a case<\/span><\/a> on behalf of Navajo, citizen, and environmental groups the week of Earth Day 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#f1f3f2″ allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”30px||30px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding_tablet=”30px||40px|”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Partners” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related Documents” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Staff” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n Erik Schlenker-Goodrich: Bio<\/a> | Docket<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding_tablet=”30px||40px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Project Updates” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog admin_label=”Latest 5 Posts” fullwidth=”on” posts_number=”5″ show_thumbnail=”off” show_content=”off” show_more=”off” show_author=”off” show_date=”off” show_categories=”off” show_comments=”off” show_pagination=”on” offset_number=”0″ use_overlay=”off” background_layout=”light” use_dropshadow=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” include_categories=”139″ \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]<\/p>\n 2017.02.24-KSNM Intervene OR Mtn and Memo.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n 2017.02.24-KSNM Intervene Memo.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n President Clinton designated the Klamath-Siskiyou National Monument in 2000. It is the first and only national monument specifically established to Soon after, a timber company and the Association of O&C Counties, keen on logging, filed separate lawsuits suggesting an obscure law requires the area be logged and supersedes the Antiquities Act, used to designate and expand the monument. They’re wrong, and we’re representing the Soda Mountain Wilderness Council, Klamath-Siskiyou Wild, Oregon Wild, and the Wilderness Society, defending the monument from this industry attack.<\/p>\n (WELC project #484)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]<\/p>\n 2013.07.23 Coal Train ED_WA Complaint Final.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n ED.Order on MTD.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n 60 Day Notice Letter.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n 2013.6.4 Complaint_final.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n 100_158_CoalDust_FactSht_04_X1A__2_.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n WELC and its partners have filed two lawsuits against Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) and several coal companies for violations of the federal Clean Water Act pertaining to the companies\u2019 emission of coal into waterways in several locations across Washington.<\/p>\n These companies use open-top rail cars, which lose huge volumes of coal dust during transportation \u2013 an average of 500 pounds of coal per rail car per train trip. Each train is composed of 120 cars or more, which adds up to 30 tons of lost coal per train. Investigations undertaken by our clients have turned up coal chunks and particles from rail cars in Washington\u2019s waters.<\/p>\n Approximately 90% of BNSF’s annual coal shipments are from coal mines in the Powder River Basin (PRB) located in Wyoming and Montana. PRB coal breaks apart easily and contains mercury, arsenic, uranium, and hundreds of other toxins harmful to fish and human health. Additionally, PRB coal dust falls onto train tracks, contributing to track destabilization and dangerous train derailments.<\/p>\n On June 5, 2013,\u00a0WELC attorney Andrea Rodgers and partners filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle, where coal dust has been identified in and along multiple waterways including the Pugent Sound. On July 24, 2013, we filed another lawsuit in\u00a0U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington in Spokane, where coal dust has been identified in and along multiple waterways including the Spokane and Columbia Rivers.<\/p>\n Under the Clean Water Act, anyone discharging pollutants into U.S. waters must first obtain what is known as a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. BNSF does not have such a permit.<\/p>\n Our partners in these lawsuits are the Sierra Club, Puget Soundkeeper, Columbia Riverkeeper, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, and Friends of the Columbia Gorge. NRDC and Spokane Riverkeeper joined the lawsuit filed in Eastern Washington.<\/p>\n In addition to WELC, the plaintiffs are represented by the Law Offices of Charles M. Tebbutt, P.C. of Eugene, OR; Jessica Yarnall Loarie of the Sierra Club Law Program; and David Pettit and Morgan Wyenn of the Natural Resources Defense Council.<\/p>\n Updates:<\/p>\n 1.02.14: A federal judge in Spokane, Washington denies BNSF’s motion to dismiss our lawsuit aimed at holding them accountable for toxic coal dust that is released from uncovered coal cars polluting Washington’s waterways in violation of the Clean Water Act.<\/p>\n 3.12.14: Victory! A second federal judge – this one in Seattle, Washington – denied BNSF’s motion to dismiss our lawsuit aimed at holding them accountable for toxic coal dust that is released from uncovered coal cars polluting Washington’s waterways in violation of the Clean Water Act. In January, another federal judge denied BNSF’s attempt to thrown out a similar lawsuit that we filed in Spokane, Washington.<\/p>\n (WELC project #705)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]<\/p>\n 2016.04.20-Navajo Mine 25-year Complaint.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n SJGS Order Intervene 10.18.11.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n SJGS Exhibits to Motion to Intervene 10.17.11.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n SJGS FINAL Intervention Motion 10.17.11.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n WELC is leading an effort to protect public health in the Four Corners region (Utah, Colorado,\u00a0<\/span>Arizona<\/span>\u00a0& New Mexico) from an aging coal-fired power plant.<\/span><\/p>\n Commissioned in 1973, the San Juan Generating Station (SJGS), a coal-fired power plant in NE New Mexico, is one of America\u2019s largest single sources of harmful air pollutants<\/strong> such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>The pollution from the San Juan coal plant is known to cause increased rates of asthma, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, birth defects and infant mortality. The cost to human health is\u00a0estimated at $255 million a year, according to the Clean Air Task Force. Moreover,\u00a0<\/span>the pollution exacerbates climate change, causing\u00a0record-setting droughts and wild fires with dire\u00a0economic consequences in the Southwest.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition,\u00a0air pollution from the power plant has been a major source of harmful haze in the Four Corners region, clouding the air and views in economically important national parks, including the Grand Canyon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered SJGS’s owner, New Mexico power company PNM Resources (PNM), to install adequate pollution controls on the smokestacks. E<\/span>ven though\u00a0<\/span>PNM\u00a0<\/span>had years of warning that upgrading its equipment was necessary to bring the coal-fired plant into compliance with the Clean Air Act, the company\u00a0<\/span>filed a lawsuit challenging EPA’s decision<\/span>. On behalf of regional and national conservation groups, WELC joined the lawsuit to ensure the company complied with EPA’s mandate.<\/span><\/p>\n In February 2012, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request by Governor Martinez and PNM to stay the EPA\u2019s precedent-setting decision. In the wake of this decision, and after considerable stakeholder discussions, Governor Martinez and PNM have agreed, in 2013, to retire over 900 megawatts, or 50% of SJGS\u2019 coal-burning capacity.<\/p>\n In March 2012, the Federal court denied the request by Gov. Martinez and PNM to While we are pleased with the retirements, the fight is not over. WELC and its allies will continue to advocate for full and fair compliance with bedrock environmental laws and work to ensure that PNM replaces SJGS\u2019 coal-fired power with energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy from the sun and wind.<\/p>\n Our most recent challenge targets a 25-year extension of the dirty coal complex, green-lighted by the U.S. Department of Interior without considering any clean energy alternatives. For 54 years, dirty coal has harmed this area’s public health, communities, wildlife, and climate. We’re working hard to ensure a speedy transition from the dirtiest fuel on Earth to the abundant sun, wind, and other renewable opportunities the region offers. We filed a case<\/a> on behalf of Navajo, citizen, and environmental groups the week of Earth Day 2016.<\/p>\n (WELC project # 680)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" San Juan Generating Station Air Pollution Challenge Commissioned in 1973, the San Juan Generating Station (SJGS), a coal-fired power plant in northeast\u00a0New Mexico, is one of America\u2019s largest single sources of harmful air pollutants including nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.\u00a0The pollution from the San Juan coal plant causes\u00a0increased rates of asthma, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":5603,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" 2016.04.20-Navajo Mine 25-year Complaint.pdf<\/a><\/p> SJGS Order Intervene 10.18.11.pdf<\/a><\/p>Partners<\/h3>\n
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\nprotect biological diversity. But ecologists agreed after the designation that many of the most important parts of the region were excluded from the monument’s boundaries. In 2015, 85 scientists concerned about increasing
\nthreats to the area signed a letter urging monument expansion in to better
\nprotect and connect important habitats for the monument\u2019s spectacular variety
\nof plants and animals \u201cwhose survival in the region,\u201d according the monument\u2019s
\noriginal proclamation, \u201cdepends upon its continued ecological integrity.\u201d In January 2017, President Obama expanded the monument to include these ecologically important areas.<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/KSNM-thumb.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nwait until after the case is decided, which could drag on for years, to
\ninstall the upgraded pollution controls for the coal-burning plant.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n