Advocacy

A climate-focused Dallas youth coalition, including the Sunrise Movement, rallied outside Rep. Marc Veasey’s office, urging support for the Green New Deal and opposing his stance on Biden’s halted oil and gas leases. They criticize Veasey's fossil fuel ties and demand action on economic, racial, and environmental issues.

Shingle Mountain's removal from Dallas is underway after years of health concerns due to toxic shingle piles from Blue Star Recycling. Over 109,000 tons have been cleared since December 2020, with final clean-up expected by April 2021. Local activists continue advocating for comprehensive environmental restoration.

The North Texas Renewable Energy Group, renowned for the DFW Solar Tour, seeks manageable community service projects leveraging their solar and renewable energy expertise. Interested parties should submit proposals by Feb. 6, detailing the project’s purpose, cost, required volunteers, and timeline.

The Native Prairies Association of Texas, a statewide conservation group, met its fundraising goal to hire a North Texas Outreach and Stewardship Director. This role will oversee local prairie stewardship and partnerships. Less than 1% of Texas's tallgrass prairies remain, and efforts aim to conserve remaining examples threatened by urban expansion.

Molly Rooke, a Dallas Sierra Club activist, encountered hazardous abandoned oil wells on her family ranch. A Texas judge halted the Texas Railroad Commission's COVID-19 waivers for oil and gas companies, which bypassed environmental rules. Public Citizen's lawsuit emphasizes landowner rights and cleanup responsibilities amid industry bankruptcies.

"Law & Nature" airs an "Election 2020" episode on EarthxTV from Nov. 9, exploring the election's impact on environmental law. Panelists will discuss issues like climate change and environmental justice, with insights from leading environmental law experts. The series emphasizes the election's potential long-term implications.

Downwinders at Risk launched SharedAirDFW, a network of air quality monitors in Dallas-Fort Worth to track particulate pollution. Partnering with local institutions, they aim to gather data for advocating relocation of polluters. The project seeks 100 monitors and open data access to improve community health awareness and decision-making.

Marcus Russell, a Dallas activist, received the Environmental Justice Award for his work in merging social and environmental justice efforts. He left his ten-year job to focus on founding Commissary Is Very Necessary, aiding underserved communities with legal, health, and financial support while linking pollution to health issues and promoting environmental activism.

A citizens' group in Garland is legally contesting a concrete batch plant that they claim will worsen existing pollution linked to severe health issues. This effort is part of a long-term campaign to address contamination by industries, highlighted by recent EPA findings of hazardous lead levels near a former battery plant.

Southern Sector Rising, supported by local groups, demands Dallas City remove "Shingle Mountain," 70,000 tons of asphalt shingles dumped illicitly. Despite lawsuits and rulings, little progress has been made. Affected residents face health issues, highlighting racial inequity. The coalition seeks removal by October 1 or will escalate actions.