Here you can find important CLA news including upcoming events, important announcements, CLA press releases, and CLA in the media.
Embracing our Differences – How the Structures of our State Governments Influence Policy Making The Chesapeake Bay Commission and the Chesapeake Legal Alliance have teamed up to present a free webinar: “Embracing Our Differences – How the Structures of our State Governments Influence Policy Making.” Join us for a fascinating comparison of the structure of […]
Check out the latest edition of our Bay Brief! In this issue: Transparency for the Win, MD General Assembly Wins Guide, Enforcing the Clean Water Act, Virginia Partners Legislative Wins, Women in Conservation, and a 3-Part Feature Series on CAFOs.
By: Arielle King & Theo Miller, Spring 2021 Law Clerks Background During the 2021 Maryland General Assembly session, lawmakers passed SB674/HB1207 to reform aspects of the Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities (“The Commission”). As CLA’s Spring 2021 Law Clerks, we assisted in drafting amendments to the bill that will prioritize and enhance public […]
To say that it’s been an unusual year is an understatement! The pandemic has impacted every facet of life, and the 2021 Maryland General Assembly Session was no exception. Public participation, which is key to our democratic process, was limited to remote access this year. Despite all of the limitations, elected officials and advocates overcame […]
By Evan Isaacson, Director of Policy & Research CLA staff and a volunteer attorney (and board member) assisted the Chesapeake Bay Commission and its Maryland members, including Delegate Stein and Senators Elfreth and Guzzone, in drafting and developing the Clean Water Commerce Act (CWCA) of 2021. This significant new legislation reauthorizes, modifies, and doubles in […]
By: Angela Haren, Senior Attorney, Director of Legal Innovation A powerful part of many environmental laws is the ability for the public to step in and enforce against polluters when the government fails to do so. The vast number of pollution violations coupled with government agency funding constraints or unwillingness to enforce, means that many […]
Today, women around the watershed are changing the trajectory of Chesapeake Bay conservation. As the fate of our rivers, streams, and our Bay hangs in the balance, women are rising to the challenge through compassion, courage, and collaboration. Women have been a driving force behind many conservation victories around the watershed. These dedicated champions fight […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2021 Contact David Reed, Co-Director, Chesapeake Legal Alliance (202) 253-5560, Kathy Phillips, Assateague COASTKEEPER, Assateague Coastal Trust, (443) 235-2014, Landmark Win for The Bay Court Orders Maryland to Stop Ammonia Pollution Flowing to the Chesapeake Bay In […]
The National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are partnering with the states of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania to identify, map, and protect African American historical and cultural sites across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This $400,000 mapping project is called “Documenting Chesapeake Watershed Sites and Landscapes Important to African Americans,” and Chesapeake […]
We are thrilled to announce that Erin Mezgar has joined the CLA team as our very first Director of Philanthropy. A conservation fundraiser and outdoor enthusiast, Erin has extensive experience cultivating philanthropic support for environmental causes. Prior to joining CLA in 2021, Erin worked with National Park Trust and National Parks Conservation Association where she raised support […]