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Environmental Poverty Law Project

A special, statewide project of Legal Aid of North Carolina
800-951-2257 (toll-free); 336-272-0148

The Environmental Poverty Law Project (EPLP) is a special, statewide initiative of Legal Aid of North Carolina and provides free legal assistance and representation to low-income residents of North Carolina on environmental issues.

      Contact Information
      Mission
      Goals
      Projects
      Publications
      Staff

CONTACT INFORMATION

Environmental Poverty Law Project
Legal Aid of North Carolina - Greensboro Office
122 North Elm Street, Suite 700, Greensboro, NC 27401
336-272-0148; 800-951-2257 (toll-free); FAX: 336-333-9825
E-Mail: eplp@legalaidnc.org

MISSION

To provide low-income communities and residents of North Carolina with the necessary tools to ensure a safe and healthy environment in their communities, on the job and in their homes.

GOALS

• To provide low-income communities and residents with legal
     representation on environmental issues.
  
• To educate low-income communities about their rights and
      facilitate awareness of problems that affect their health.
  
• To expand the environmental resources available to low-income
      communities and individuals and their advocates.
  
• To effectively utilize the resources of the private bar in
      obtaining free and low-cost environmental legal representation
      for those who cannot afford it.
  
• To lead in the effort to eradicate lead poisoning of children by
      concentrating on the most affected and under-served group:
      low-income children.
  
• To integrate environmental justice issues into legal services
      representation.

EPLP PROJECTS

• Environmental Pro Bono Initiative
• Lead Poisoning Prevention
• Information Availability Project
• Community Education:
     ...EPLP provides presentations to community groups, advocates
     and attorneys on environmental justice issues.  If you are
     interested in having a presentation made to your group,
      contact us.

EPLP PUBLICATIONS

• "Handbook for Communities Facing Environmental Hazards"
     ...was created to help communities address environmental
     problems. (pdf document)
  
         *  Title, Table of Contents and Introduction
         1. Chapter One - Community Organizing 
         2. Chapter Two - Obtaining Information
         3. Chapter Three - Tools to Get the Message Out
         4. Chapter Four - Legal Options:
             a. Table of Contents, Introduction,
                 What is the Law, Can the Law Help You and
                 Steps Involved in an Environmental Case
             b. Dealing with and Using Attorneys,
                 Basics of the Legal System and
                 How to File a Case without an Attorney
             c. How to Guide to Civil Lawsuits 
             d. How to Guide to Administrative Cases
             e. How to Defend Yourself Against a S.L.A.P.P. Suit 
             f.  How to Do Legal Research and A Legal Dictionary
• "Don't let your Child be Poisoned by Lead"  
    (English version; pdf document)
• "¡Prevenga el Envenenamiento de su Hijo por el Plomo!"
    (Spanish version of "Don't let your Child be Poisoned by Lead";
     pdf document)
• "Indoor Quality:  How to Deal with Mold & Mildew"
    (English version; pdf document))
• "Calidad del Aire Interior:  Como Tratar Con El Moho Y El Mildeu"
    (Spanish version of "Indoor Quality:  How to Deal with
      Mold & Mildew" ; pdf document)
• "Pesticides: What Your Family Needs to Know"
    (English version; pdf document)
• "¡Lo que Usted y su Familia Necesitan Saber Sobre Las Insecticidas!"
    (Spanish version of "Pesticides: What Your Family Needs to
     Know"; pdf document) 
• "What Hazards are Hiding Under Your Kitchen Sink"
    (English version; pdf document))
• "¿Qué Riesgos Hay Debajo Del Fregadero De La Cocina?
    (Spanish version of "What Hazards are Hiding Under Your
     Kitchen Sink"; pdf document)

Also see LANC Environmental Publications

STAFF

Melany Earnhardt - Director, Environmental Poverty Law Project
...Ms. Earnhardt created EPLP in 1995 when she recognized the need low-income individuals and families have for free legal assistance on environmental issues. Earnhardt is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law. Ms. Earnhardt currently serves on the Section Council of the NC Bar Association's Environmental Law Section and is chair of that Section's Pro Bono Committee.

Disclaimer

The materials contained on this website are for information and educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Please contact your Legal Aid of North Carolina office or a private attorney if you need to speak to an attorney regarding your particular situation. See our complete disclaimer.

Mission Statement

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.

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