Environmental Law, Community Lawyers, Texas
Notable Cases
At Texas Community Law Partners, we provide the following legal services.
Recent Environmental Work
- Federal litigation under the Deep Water Port Act involving community challenge to federal record of decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation's U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) for Texas GulfLink Deep Water Port. TCLP led matter with co-counsel, EarthJustice, which was decided in the Fifth Circuit in 3-0 panel decision favor of TCLP client, Better Brazoria, on August 12, 2026. There may be further appeals of this matter by Texas GulfLink, LLC or the government. The permit stands vacated based on MARAD's "serious procedural deficiency" noted by the Court. Case No. 25-60202 Decision.
- State-court litigation against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) adoption of the concrete batch plant standard permit. TCLP represents impacted communities, Super Neighborhood 48, Dyersforest Heights Civic Club, and Progressive Fifth Ward Civic Association, who successfully contended, along with Harris County, to the District Court that the TCEQ should have required faster implementation of the 2024 standard permit amendment by existing facilities in the interest of public health. The matter is currently on appeal to the 15th Court of Appeals. Case No. 15-25-00214-CV
- Ongoing community engagement on proposed redevelopment plans and industrial wastewater permit for Doty Landfill regulated by TCEQ. Doty Landfill is a non-operational landfill in Southwest Houston (Alief) with its proposed outfall connecting to Brays Bayou.
- Annual advocacy on the TECQ's annual Air Monitoring Network Plan on behalf of impacted groups for increased air monitoring of criteria pollutants in their communities.
- State court litigation against TCEQ for its approval of a permanent rock and concrete crushing facility across from LBJ Hospital in Houston, decided in Travis County District Court, D-1-GN-24-002894. Co-counsel was Harris County Attorneys Office. As a result, TCEQ will update its Permanent Rock and Concrete Crusher Standard Permit in late 2026 through Project No. 2026-025-OTH-NR.
- TCLP represents the Community Advisory Group (CAG) formed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Greater Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens cancer cluster neighborhoods in Houston and IMPACT.
Protecting Environmental Justice Communities
- State-court litigation in defense of deed restrictions created for Houston Gardens subdivision in Northeast Houston in 2019-2020. Challenge by property owner dismissed by trial court. On appeal to First Court of Appeals. Case No. 01-25-00209-CV
- Supported Independence Heights Redevelopment Council in successfully advocating to the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission to impose 2-year permit moratorium on any new permits for illegally demolished historic contributing structure in the Starkweather District of Independence Heights, the first incorporated black town in the State of Texas.
Building Capacity for Community Groups
- Assists nonprofit community groups in maintaining annual filings with Texas Secretary of State and Internal Revenue Service.
- Assists with incorporation of community groups seeking tax-exempt status for fundraising purposes.
- Prepares and amends bylaws for community groups.
- Assists in preparation and filing of Form 1023 applications for recognition of tax-exempt status with the IRS.
- Supports filings for state tax exemption with Texas Comptroller Office.
- Assists in preparation and filings for reinstatement of organizations that have lost tax-exempt status with the IRS.
Environmental Law, Community Lawyers Legal Team
Meet the team
Texas Community Law Partners is a nonprofit law firm providing community lawyers to assist advocates passionate about improving the quality of life in socially vulnerable neighborhoods in Texas.
Amy Catherine Dinn
Founder
An accomplished litigator with over twenty-five years of civil and commercial litigation experience in Texas state courts and federal court, Amy founded Texas Community Law Partners in May 2026 after leading the Environmental Justice Program at Lone Star Legal Aid for nine years.
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