Dec 11, 2020

Tobin Bridge Bus Lane Set to Open Monday

“It’s time to stop pandering to car travel at the expense of public transit,” said Staci Rubin, Senior Attorney at CLF. “People who depend on the bus are constantly delayed as the Tobin is inundated with single-occupancy cars. This new lane will slash those travel times benefiting Chelsea residents and workers. Making public transportation faster and more reliable is a key strategy to relieve the gridlock that has plagued our region.”

The Tobin bridge runs through Chelsea, an environmental justice community
Dec 10, 2020

EPA Issues New Permit Requirements for Massachusetts Communities

“Stormwater pollution is devastating waters across Massachusetts,” said Heather Govern, Director of CLF’s Clean Air and Water program. “Cities and towns are responsible for curbing this pollution but many have failed for years. This permit’s issuance should jumpstart vital stormwater controls and bring us one step closer to clean water across the state.”

Dec 10, 2020

New Report Examines How Mass. Can Ditch Gas

“Continuing to rely on gas will spell disaster for our climate goals,” said Caitlin Peale Sloan, Interim Director of CLF Massachusetts. “Gas is not a safe or clean alternative to oil, and we must phase out its use to heat our homes. There are better options out there and it’s time Massachusetts gets serious about new policies that will get us off gas once and for all.”

a row of gas meters on the side of a building
Dec 02, 2020

Emergency Petition Seeks to Protect Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales From Fishing Gear

“At least 32 right whales have been killed by human activities in the last three years alone, yet the federal government is still sitting on its hands,” said Erica Fuller a senior attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation. “The window to save this species is closing, and we’re left with no other option but to file this petition. The federal government must declare this situation what it is – an emergency – and take action to protect these animals now.”

North Atlantic right whale
Dec 01, 2020

A New Climate Plan for Maine

“This far-reaching plan to confront the climate crisis sets Maine apart as a national leader,” said Emily Green, Senior Attorney at CLF. “It puts us on track to meet our climate goals and grow our economy while making Maine’s communities more resilient to climate impacts. Now comes the hard part: implementing the plan, and we look forward to working with people across Maine to get it done.”

Nov 23, 2020

President-Elect Biden Chooses John Kerry to Lead Climate Efforts

“Secretary John Kerry’s appointment ends four years of climate denial at the highest levels of government, offering hope that the Biden Administration will confront the climate crisis with the urgency it demands,” said Bradley Campbell, President of Conservation Law Foundation. “This global threat will affect every aspect of our lives: our homes, our economy, our security, and our health. Mr. Kerry will need to hit the ground sprinting for the U.S. to re-establish itself as a climate leader.”

Photo of John Kerry speaking at a panel event
Nov 18, 2020

MA Officials to Reinstate I-93 HOV Lane

“Now is the time to improve transit options and avoid the gridlock that plagued our region before the pandemic,” said Staci Rubin, Senior Attorney at CLF. “Reinstating the HOV lane and committing to pilot bus lanes on both I-93 and the Tobin Bridge will drastically improve commute times and protect the health of overburdened communities like Chelsea and Somerville.”

Nov 13, 2020

Eversource, State Plow Ahead with East Boston Substation Plans

“Three years ago this month, state energy officials totally disregarded—as ‘disruptive’—the attempts of Spanish-speaking residents to participate in a critical decision that will affect their community for decades,” said Amy Laura Cahn, Senior Attorney and Interim Director for Healthy Communities and Environmental Justice at Conservation Law Foundation, “Since that time, the EFSB has consistently failed to live up to its language access obligations under federal law. In yet another insult to this community, residents with limited access to technology will be further marginalized by a remote hearing.”

The waterfront site near the dangerous electric substation proposed by Eversource in the Eagle Hill community in East Boston. The jet fuel tanks and other infrastructure in the background highlight the need for climate justice in this community.
Nov 09, 2020

CLF Appeals Permit Allowing Bethlehem Landfill Expansion

“Continuing to expand polluting landfills is the last thing New Hampshire needs,” said Tom Irwin, Vice President and Director of CLF New Hampshire. “The state got it right the first time when it determined there is no need for this landfill expansion. It’s time – at long last – for New Hampshire to make good on its policy of reducing waste, rather perpetuating its burial of it in landfills and putting our communities at risk.”

2018 Press Conference to stop Bethlehem Landfill expansion
Oct 30, 2020

MA Officials Must Approve At-Grade Option for I-90 Project

“It is past time for MassDOT to heed the consensus among Mayor Walsh, transportation experts, and affected neighborhoods that the all at-grade approach is the best one for Boston, for commuters, and for the river,” said Bradley Campbell, President of Conservation Law Foundation. “The Baker Administration should start working for rather than against its own vision for the future of transportation in the Commonwealth.” 

Photo: Charles River, Boston