Western Environmental Law Center

“A copy will be provided to the finance committee of the board of directors (board president, vice president, treasurer, board member, executive director, deputy director, finance and administration director) for review before filing,and is presented to the full board once completed.”

“Welc seeks to establish and maintain a reputation for the highest standards of fairness and integrity in all its business and program affairs. Welc employees and board memebers are required to complete annual conflict disclosure forms, and have been instructed to immediately disclose any potential conflicts to the executive director for discussion and resolution. In the event a resolution cannot be reached by the executive director, the conflict of interest shall be referred to the board of directors for a final decision. Additionally, all staff and board members are notified of potential new matters of engagement in order to review for potential conflicts of interest.”

“The executive committee of the board of directors approves the salary of the executive director (ed) after review and discussion each year, and only reviews the salary of the ed. The ed salary and all of the other salaries are determined by a formula consisting of a cola adjustment, a percentage increase based on tenure, and a salary band increase. Salary adjustments are reviewed and approved as part of the annual budgeting process. Approval is given by the finance committee of the board of directors at the employee level, and in total at the board level. Specific salary surveys and other available data are incorporated into this process.”

“Officer salaries are determined by a formula consisting of a cola adjustment, a percentage increase based on tenure, and a salary band increase. Salary adjustments are reviewed and approved as part of the annual budgeting process. Approval is given by the finance committee of the board of directors at the employee level, and in total at the board level. Specific salary surveys and other available data are incorporated into this process, in order to stay competitive with a concern for current economic conditions.”

“New hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, oregon, south carolina, tennessee, utah, virginia, wisconsin, alabama, georgia, nevada, ohio, west virginia”

“Governing and financial documents are available through the western environmental law center website, the state of oregon business registry website, or are available upon request.”

“Public interest law firm - the western environmental law center uses the power of the law to foster thriving, resilient western u.s. Lands, waters, wildlife, and communities in the face of a changing climate. We envision a thriving west, abundant with protected and interconnected ecosystems, powered by renewable energy, and cared for by communities brought together in an ecology of kinship.”

“Volunteers assisted staff with program related research and projects.”

“Mont. Env't information ctr. V. Mont. Dep't of env't quality; no. Dv 19-34 (mont. 16th jud. Dist. Ct.): challenge to mt board of environmental review decision upholding mt dept. Of environmental quality's grant of a mining permit to westmoreland am4 permit for expansion of the rosebud coal mine in rosebud county, mt pursuant to montana strip and underground mine reclamation act (msumra). Montana supreme court affirmed district court's decision in favor of plaintiffs and remanded to d.c. For calculation of attorneys' fees, which the parties settled. Fees recovered in 2024 of 509,157. Held v. State of mt, our children's trust, no. Cdv-2020-307 (mont. 1st judicial dist. Ct.): youth constitutional climate case filed in march 2020 in a montana state district court. Eight-day trial was held in june 2023. Decision and order issued in favor of youth plaintiffs on august 14, 2023. Won on appeal with the mont. Supreme court. Awaiting decision on fee petitions. Din care v. Bureau of land mgmt.1:22-cv-00804-wj-kk (d. N.m.): challenge to blm approval of oil and gas leasing decisions and associated drilling permit authorizations for violations of nepa to protect people and environment. A settlement was reached in 2024. No fees were recovered for this case. Friends of toppenish creek et al., v. Wa state dept. Of ecology, no. 23- 002, state of wa pollution control hearings board: challenge to state of washington department of ecology general national pollution discharge elimination system permits for concentrated animal feeding operations to protect water quality. The matter is closed. No fees were sought or recovered. In re clean water act rulemaking no. C 20-04636 (n.d. Cal.): challenge to the u.s. Environmental protection agency's regulations governing the review of federally licensed or permitted projects under section 401 of the clean water act to protect water resources. Case dismissed as moot in 2024. No fees were sought or recovered. Kettle range conservation group v. White, 2:23-cv-00147-sab (e.d. Wa): challenge to industrial logging project in washington's kettle range to protect an area important for lynx recovery in the lower 48 states (and where colville tribe is reintroducing lynx). This matter was resolved, and fees recovered of 149,000 in 2025. Brookfield white pine hydro llc v. Federal energy regulatory commission no. 23-1075 (d.c. Cir.): a dam operator challenged a decision by the federal energy regulatory commission to deny a motion to declare that maine violated the clean water act when it denied the facility a section 401 certification. Representing conservation groups intervening in support of ferc's position to protect the public interest. This matter is resolved. No fees were sought or recovered. Columbia riverkeeper et al v. Wa dept of ecology and free flow power, pchb no. 23-025c, state of wa pollution control hearings board: challenge to washington department of ecology's clean water act 401 certification for the goldendale pumped storage hydroelectric project on the columbia river to protect water resources. This matter is ongoing. Center for biological diversity v. U.s. Dept. Of interior 1:22-cv-01716-tsc (d.d.c.): challenge to blm oil and gas drilling permit approvals in the permian and powder river basins for failing to take a hard look under nepa, failing to consult under the esa, and for violating flpma, all to protect people and the environment. Case dismissed for lack of standing. Northwest environmental advocates v. U.s. Epa, 19-cv-01537 (w.d. Wa): challenge to the u.s. Environmental protection agency's failure to implement the requirements of the clean water act to identify which waterbodies in washington require cleanup plans and then to develop such plans as mechanism to protect water resources. This matter is ongoing. Northwest environmental advocates v. U.s. Environmental protection agency, et al., no. 21-cv-01637 (w.d. Wa): challenge of the u.s. Environmental protection agency's failure to develop a t”