Legal Currents

Public Comment Opportunity—Arlington County WWTP Draft Pollution Discharge Permit

Jackie Goodrum, Haley Capone

Oct 8, 2025

Tell Virginia to Protect the Chesapeake Bay from PFAS Pollution!

An Environmental Lawyer’s Review of President Trump’s First 14 Days in Office

Kennedi Fichtel

Feb 4, 2025

With the confirmation of Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Trump Administration is ushering in a time of fear and uncertainty in environmental law.

With Sadness and Gratitude

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Dec 16, 2024

The Chesapeake Legal Alliance mourns the sudden loss of our Board member and friend, Vincent Leggett.

November 6, 2024 | A Message From The Executive Director

David Reed

Nov 6, 2024

Amidst this uncertainty of shifting polities, we may hew to one of our most basic principles: the conservation of natural resources.

“Clean Water Injustice” by Betsy Nicholas and Evan Isaacson

Betsy Nicholas of Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Evan Isaacson of Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Oct 18, 2024

To be published by Environmental Law Institute’s Environmental Forum November/December 2024

Supplemental Environmental Projects

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Jan 31, 2024

Supplemental Environmental Projects (“SEP” or “community projects”) offer real, on-the-ground improvements and restoration for areas

Inaugural Fred Tutman Fellow Covers CLA’s Critical Cases

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Aug 23, 2023

In June, CLA welcomed Lilly Howard, the University of Maryland junior who was selected as the first Fred Tutman Fellow.

‘Zombies’ on the Bay: Environmental Groups Fight for Permits that Reflect Current Discharges

Lilly Howard

Aug 23, 2023

Breathing Lessons: Southern Arundel Residents Struggle to Fight Pollution

Lilly Howard

Aug 23, 2023

56-year-old loophole stifles community voices in fight over gravel mine

CLA Presents: Assateague Coastal Trust v. Maryland Department of the Environment—What the Recent Decision Means for Reducing Air and Water Pollution From Animal Feeding Operations in Maryland

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Aug 23, 2023

The Maryland Supreme Court reversed the decision that the MDE must reduce the ammonia pollution emitted from industrial animal agriculture.

Looking Back on Trappe—A Conversation with the Choptank Riverkeeper

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Jun 26, 2023

In January 2019, an application to operate a new wastewater treatment plant to serve the proposed Trappe Lakeside Development was submitted.

CLA Makes a Splash at 2023 Choose Clean Water Conference

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

May 30, 2023

On May 23rd, CLA Staff and Summer Clerks made their way to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to attend and speak at this year’s Choose Clean Water

Tackling the Zombies

Ridge Hall

Apr 14, 2023

What can a frustrated state legislator do when the agency implementing the Clean Water Act fails to renew expired permits or sanction major violators?

CLA and Other Environmental Groups Outline Environmental Goals for Maryland’s Comptroller-Elect

Alice Volpitta, Evan Isaacson, Kim Coble, Matt Pluta

Dec 21, 2022

On Tuesday, December 20th, Chesapeake Legal Alliance, Blue Water Baltimore, Maryland League of Conservation Voters

Launching the Clean Water Act in the Mid-‘70s

Ridge Hall

Oct 17, 2022

The mid-1970s was a fabulous time to be at the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), especially if you were, as I was, Associate General Counsel for Water

The Next 50 Years of the Clean Water Act

Evan Isaacson

Oct 13, 2022

CLA’s Legal Education Center Goes on the Road

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Jun 14, 2022

On May 25th, CLA staff and interns arrived in Richmond, Virginia for the 2022 Choose Clean Water Conference, a meeting of Choose Clean Water

CLA Celebrates Maryland Senate’s Approval of SB0492/HB0649

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Mar 31, 2022

This groundbreaking legislation requires the MDE to hire a significant number of new staff to supplement its enforcement division.

The Clean Water Act at 50

Evan Isaacson

Oct 21, 2021

With eyes currently focused on Washington’s debate over potentially transformative legislation to remake America’s safety net and

Is Climate Change Water Change in Maryland?

Hannah Brubach

Aug 23, 2021

Many do not realize the impacts that climate change is having and will have on coastal and inland communities. As our climate changes, we are seeing increased storm events across the watershed.

Startling Surge in Annual Rainfall Levels Demands State Action

Evan Isaacson

Jun 4, 2021

The dataset does what it sounds like: it provides a value representing average temperature, precipitation, and other climate conditions over a 30-year period

Commission Revamp Improves State Environmental Justice Accountability

Arielle King & Theo Miller, Spring 2021 Law Clerks

Apr 26, 2021

During the 2021 Maryland General Assembly session, lawmakers passed SB674/HB1207 to reform aspects of the Commission on Environmental

A Clear Win: Codified Transparency

Angela Haren

Apr 19, 2021

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.

CLA Win: Assisting with Passage of Bills Enhancing the Impact of Bay Restoration Funds HB0507 / SB0119

Evan Isaacson

Apr 19, 2021

CLA staff and a volunteer attorney (and board member) assisted the Chesapeake Bay Commission and its Maryland members, including Delegate Stein.

Maryland General Assembly Wins

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Apr 19, 2021

The pandemic has impacted every facet of life, and the 2021 Maryland General Assembly Session was no exception.

Celebrating Women in Conservation

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Mar 31, 2021

Today, women around the watershed are changing the trajectory of Chesapeake Bay conservation. As the fate of our rivers, streams, and our Bay hangs

Vince Leggett Discusses Mapping Initiative to Tell Bay’s African American History

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Feb 26, 2021

The National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are partnering with the states of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania

A Statement from Chesapeake Legal Alliance Leadership

Russell Stevenson, Eliza Smith Steinmeier, David Reed

Jun 1, 2020

A true democracy relies on equal application of the law and the fair administration of justice. Systemic racism in this country, however, results in the

Recent Publications by CLA Board Members

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Apr 30, 2020

Read the most recent publications.

Lierman & Elfreth Pen an Op-Ed: More Accountability Needed on Environmental Enforcement

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Apr 30, 2020

Maryland Delegate Brooke Lierman and Senator Sarah Elfreth penned an op-ed in Maryland Matters reminding state agencies of the importance of transparency

The Supreme Court Hands Down a Landmark Clean Water Act Decision in Maui v. HWF

Evan Isaacson, Angela Haren

Apr 30, 2020

On April 23, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court resolved an important Clean Water Act issue that has divided lower courts.

Earth Day Turns 50!

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Apr 22, 2020

On the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, CLA recognizes the people who create meaningful change. The founders of Earth Day are among these change-makers. In 1970,

CLA Celebrates 10 Years Of Defending The Bay

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Mar 8, 2019

It began in 2009, when attorneys Russ Stevenson and Ridgway Hall felt a pressing need in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Breaking Down Barriers for “Pay for Success” Models in Pennsylvania

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Mar 1, 2018

CLA volunteer attorney, Mary Staley, recently finalized a white paper analyzing existing legislative barriers to local Pennsylvania municipalities.

Legal Challenge to Trump’s “2-for-1” Reducing Regulation Executive Order

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Mar 1, 2018

CLA volunteer attorney Katherine Meyer (Meyer Glitzenstein & Eubanks LLP) helped a group of law professors from around the country.

CLA Helps Eastern Shore Groups Build Regional Program Through Merger

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Feb 1, 2018

Congratulations to Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy, Sassafras River Association, and the Chester River Association on their recent merger.

CLA’s David Menotti & Volunteer Attorney Bill Anderson featured in TV show, “Why the EPA”

David Menotti, Bill Anderson

Oct 16, 2017

More Muscle for the Bay! Maryland General Assembly Funds Environmental Enforcement Positions

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Apr 21, 2017

In April 2017, the Maryland General Assembly designated $400,000 of the state’s FY2018 budget to fill vacant enforcement and compliance positions.

CLA honored by MD General Assembly

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Nov 12, 2015

CLA Executive Director, Jackie Guild, was presented with a citation on November 12, 2015 by MD State Senator Edward Reilly.

CLA Board Member, Bob Sussman, Appointed to Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin!

Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Nov 20, 2014

The Commission has representation from all the basin states and is broadly charged with overseeing the river’s health and impacts on affected communities.