Eva Kovacechova

Eva traveled to Eugene to work on problems facing communities in Slovakia

A waste dump in Pezinok, Slovakia, is dangerously close to residential areas. Citizens are challenging this and new plans by an investor to build an even larger, regional landfill in this small western Slovak town.

Eva traveled to Eugene for an ELAW Fellowship, to work on this and other problems facing communities in Slovakia.

Experts say landfills should be no closer than 3 km from residential areas. The Pezinok dump is 150 meters from the closest home and 300 meters from the city center. The new dump will be just 250 meters from local homes.

ELAW Staff Scientist Mark Chernaik provided Eva with information on the impact of landfills on human health and best practices for landfill waste management. Eva also learned how other countries around the world use the Environmental Impact Assessment process to ensure that communities have a voice in decisions that impact community health.

While in Eugene, Eva received good news: the Bratislava regional land use agency announced that it has prohibited construction or use of the new landfill while the matter is pending.

Many thanks to the Trust for Mutual Understanding for supporting Eva's visit.

Irina Bogdan

Protecting Russia's Environment Through Law

"There are very few lawyers in Russia who dedicate themselves to practicing environmental law. ELAW provides a vital connection to my colleagues around the world," says Irina Bogdan.

Irina is Director of the Environmental Law Center at Ecodal, a non-government organization in Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East. She concluded a 10-week ELAW Fellowship in March, working with ELAW staff on efforts to protect Russia's native forests and studying English at the University of Oregon's American English Institute.

Over the past two years, Russia's laws protecting forests have weakened. Developers seeking to cut Russia's forests no longer need to submit an environmental impact review.

While at ELAW, Irina learned that U.S. laws protecting forests are also being challenged. She worked closely with ELAW staff and forest experts Doug Heiken at Oregon Wild, Dan Kruse at Cascadia Wildlands Project and Todd True at Earthjustice. She attended federal court hearings of cases similar to those found in Russian courts and met with Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson to learn about the economic issues surrounding forest protection in Oregon.

Irina's organization has filed 40 cases to help strengthen Russia's forest laws and hold government agencies accountable. "ELAW builds relationships and fosters collaboration. Working together we can make land management more responsible," she says. Many thanks to the Trust for Mutual Understanding for supporting Irina’s Fellowship.