Southern Environmental Law Center

Every southerner should breathe clean, healthy air, so SELC is working on multiple fronts to reduce and prevent tailpipe and smokestacks pollution. We are leading the fight against a new fleet of dirty, old-technology coal plants proposed in the Southeast; promoting conservation and efficiency; and challenging major new highways throughout our region. We are also protecting our beaches and coastal wetlands as a buffer against violent storms and floods—and as a fallback zone for species and ecosystems if sea levels rise.

A unanimous Supreme Court decision for clean air: In April 2007, all nine U.S. Supreme Court justices agreed with us that power companies cannot continue to extend the lives of old, coal-burning power plants in ways that increase yearly emissions without installing modern pollution controls. The ruling already has been instrumental in the largest power plant cleanup in history.

Tough controls on mercury pollution: SELC was chosen by four of the nation's prominent public health organizations- American Academy of Pediatrics, American Nurses Association, American Public Health Association, and Physicians for Social Responsibility- to be their champion in a landmakr legal challenge overturning EPA's weak standards for power plant emissions aof the dangerous neurotoxin mercury.

Environment

The Southern Environmental Law Center is keeping southern waters clean and flowing, from mountain trout streams to slow-moving blackwater rivers on the coast. Renowned for 25+ years of phenomenal results, SELC continues to maximize federal protection and to defend and strengthen state-level safeguards for our precious coast and wetlands. The South harbors more than half of all wetlands remaining in the U.S., and one of the most beautiful and diverse coastlines in the world. Another major priority is battling the #1 source of water pollution in the South: polluted “stormwater” runoff from pavement, construction sites, and industrial areas that is contaminating our drinking water and harming aquatic wildlife.

Our East Dismal Swamp case closed a Clean Water Act loophole that had allowed developers to ditch, drain, and convert tens of thousands of acres of native wetlands to monoculture pine tree plantations. This settlement brought eight million acres of the highest-quality southern wetlands under the umbrella of federal law for the first time- at a cost of five cents per acre.

Also, SELC has helped found and lead numerous successful alliances, including the 174-member Georgia Water Coalition. Together, we defeated attempts to usher in western U.S.-style water rights that would have allowed the buying and selling of Georgia's waters as a private commodity.

Environment

Reforming transportation and land-use policies and practices is SELC’s focus. Our fast-growing region is building more miles of roads and developing more acres of land per capita than any other part of the U.S. In response, we are promoting practical alternatives that would preserve the South’s countryside and community character.
For 25+ years, SELC has championed southern forests—the crowning glory of our region. From defending our Southern Appalachian national forests, to protecting and restoring native longleaf pine on public and private lands, our attorneys are employing the full range of law and policy tools to maximum effect.

Added protection for two million acres of Southern Appalachian national forest: SELC accomplished this by halting clearcutting; expanding wilderness areas; improving long-term forest management plans; and defeating dozens of destructive timber sales, roads, and mining proposals. During SELC's roadless area protection effor over the past eight years, no commercial logging has occured on teh 723,000 roadless acres in our region.

Environment