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Wolves Detected in Nevada for First Time in Eight Years
RENO, Nev.— The Nevada Department of Wildlife has announced that it detected three animals thought to be wolves in northern Elko County. This is the first time that wolves have been documented in Nevada since 2016.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Reduce Asthma-Causing Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution in Nine States, Two U.S. Territories
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s failure to ensure that areas in nine states and two U.S. territories have effective plans for cleaning up sulfur dioxide air pollution.
Read more.Biden Administration Finalizes Weak Endangered Species Rules
WASHINGTON— The Department of the Interior and Department of Commerce today finalized their proposed revisions to three sets of regulations that implement the Endangered Species Act’s listing and consultation procedures.
Read more.Endangered Species Protections Sought for Wilson’s Phalarope
SALT LAKE CITY— The Center for Biological Diversity, leading a diverse coalition of scientists and conservation groups, filed a legal petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today seeking protections for Wilson’s phalarope under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Pygmy Three-Toed Sloths Proposed for U.S. Endangered Species Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting the pygmy three-toed sloth under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal responds to a 2013 petition filed after officials from a Texas aquarium unsuccessfully attempted to import six of the creatures from an island off Panama.
Read more.Federal Agency Sued for Failure to Manage Nevada National Monuments
LAS VEGAS, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management today for failing to develop legally mandated management plans for Gold Butte and Basin and Range National Monuments in a timely fashion.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Oregon’s Coastal Martens From Off-Road Vehicles
EUGENE, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity warned the U.S. Forest Service today that it intends to sue the agency for failing to protect coastal martens from destructive off-road vehicles in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Coastal martens are protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Press Conference Thursday Highlights Urgency of Endangered Species Act Protections for Threatened Migratory Bird
SALT LAKE CITY— Author Terry Tempest Williams, scientists, and a coalition of organizations and community members will hold a press conference and rally Thursday to announce the filing of an Endangered Species Act listing petition for Wilson’s phalaropes, migratory birds whose fate is intricately linked to that of the embattled Great Salt Lake.
Read more.Shocking Federal Report Finds 50% Wetlands Loss
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a required report to Congress that shows the dire status of America’s wetlands and highlights the urgent need for more protections.
Read more.Federal Court to Hear Arguments Monday on Mining Exploration in Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains
TUCSON, Ariz.— Attorneys for conservation advocates will present oral arguments Monday to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Pasadena requesting a preliminary injunction to stop two mineral exploration projects in southern Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains. In June the groups sued the U.S. Forest Service for approving the projects, which could result in around-the-clock drilling in the biologically sensitive habitat for up to seven years.
Read more.Endangered Species Protections Sought for Critically Endangered Snails, Clam in Oregon, California
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed three formal petitions today with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking protection for the Great Basin ramshorn snail, cinnamon juga snail, and montane peaclam under the Endangered Species Act. These critically imperiled freshwater species are found in south-central Oregon and northeastern California.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Federal Failure to Protect Manatees in Florida, Puerto Rico
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Environmental advocates notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of their intent to sue over the agency’s failure to respond to a request for stronger Endangered Species Act protections for West Indian manatees in Florida and Puerto Rico. The notice was sent by Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Clinic on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, Save the Manatee Club, Miami Waterkeeper and Frank S. González Garcia.
Read more.Legal Action Launched to Protect Hippos Under U.S. Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON— Animal protection and conservation groups sent notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for missing its deadline to decide whether the common hippopotamus should be protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Vote Halts Risky Gold Mining Project in Southern California Desert
EL CENTRO, Calif.— In a victory for the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe and their conservation and environmental justice allies, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected the SMP Gold Corp. Oro Cruz exploration project.
Read more.Appeals Court Orders U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Fix Regulations Allowing Fossil Fuel Industry to Harm Polar Bears
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must correct legal errors in a regulation that allows oil and gas companies to harass Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears on the North Slope of Alaska.
Read more.EPA Caves to Industry Pressure, Finalizes Weaker Auto Pollution Rule
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today finalized new tailpipe emissions standards for model years 2027 to 2032 that allow far more pollution than the strongest alternative it considered. The standards fail to prevent massive carbon pollution from millions of new gas-powered SUVs, pickup trucks and cars.
Read more.Federal Court Halts Wolf Trapping, Snaring in Idaho Grizzly Bear Habitat
BOISE, Idaho— In a victory for conservation groups, a federal judge issued a ruling late Tuesday preventing Idaho from allowing wolf trapping and snaring in grizzly bear habitat between March 1 and Nov. 30.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Long-Delayed Habitat Expansion for Endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrels in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect habitat essential to the survival and recovery of southeast Arizona’s Mount Graham red squirrels. These squirrels are the most endangered terrestrial animal in the United States.
Read more.California Resolution Calls for “Year of the California Grizzly Bear”
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— State Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) has introduced a resolution in the California legislature to declare 2024 the “Year of the California Grizzly Bear” to mark the centennial of the extirpation of California’s official state animal. The last reliable sighting of a wild grizzly bear in California was in the spring of 1924 in Sequoia National Park.
Read more.Vanishing South Texas Flower Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protections
SAN ANTONIO— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the bushy whitlow-wort as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and designate nearly 42 acres of critical habitat. The bushy whitlow-wort is a flowering plant that lives in just two places in Jim Hogg County in South Texas.
Read more.Oʻahu Community Leaders File Petition to Protect Coalition Name From Developers
HONOLULU— The Center for Biological Diversity and community leaders filed a petition this week with the Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to protect their coalition’s original name from being hijacked by developers.
Read more.Biden Administration’s Preferred Sage Grouse Plan Fails to Protect Imperiled Birds’ Vital Habitat
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration released a draft amendment today for 77 land use plans across the Western United States intended to protect the imperiled greater sage grouse, an umbrella species whose survival is intricately linked to the health of the vast sagebrush sea ecosystem.
Read more.Agency Cancels Plan to Spray Toxic Insecticide in Three National Monuments Near Grand Canyon
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— The federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has cancelled plans to spray toxic insecticides to kill native grasshoppers within treasured and significant landscapes of the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona.
Read more.California Regulators OK Petition Requiring Energy Decisions to Factor in Environment, Public Health
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Energy Commission unanimously approved a petition today from conservation, environmental justice and local government groups requiring that it factor in the environment and public health when making decisions about the state’s clean energy and climate future. The action launches a process, including public workshops beginning this summer, to develop methods that include non-energy benefits and social costs throughout the commission’s work.
Read more.Biden Administration Sued Over Destructive Cattle Grazing in Arizona National Monument
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect the endangered Gila chub and threatened Western yellow-billed cuckoo from chronic unauthorized cattle grazing in Arizona’s Agua Fria National Monument.
Read more.California Bill Would Clamp Down on Dangerous Idle Oil, Gas Wells
SACRAMENTO— Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) introduced a bill today that would substantially increase oil companies’ requirements to plug and clean up idled oil and gas wells across the state. California currently has more than 40,000 wells that sit idle, but existing laws do little to force operators to plug these dangerous wells.
Read more.Critical Habitat Protected for 12 Endangered Species on Hawai‘i’s Big Island
HONOLULU— In response to litigation from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated 119,326 acres as protected critical habitat for 11 plants and a Hawaiian picture-wing fly on the island of Hawai‘i. The protected habitat is in 21 distinct areas stretching from the coast through dry forest and grasslands to rainforests on the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
Read more.California Regulators to Hear Petition Wednesday Requiring Energy Decisions to Factor in Environment, Public Health
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Energy Commission will consider a petition Wednesday from conservation, environmental justice and local government groups that would require it to factor in the environment and public health when making decisions about the state’s clean energy future. The commission’s staff has recommended approval.
Read more.Reward Raised to $15,000 for Info on Louisiana Whooping Crane Killing
NEW ORLEANS— The Center for Biological Diversity today increased the total reward to $15,000 for information leading to a conviction in the illegal killing of a whooping crane in Mamou, Louisiana.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Protection for Imperiled Arkansas Mudalia Snails
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today seeking Endangered Species Act protections for the Arkansas mudalia. The Arkansas mudalia is a critically imperiled freshwater snail found only in a few sites in Arkansas and Missouri, including along the North Fork River.
Read more.Bill Would Boost Public Participation in Tennessee Valley Authority Planning
WASHINGTON— Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) introduced legislation today to improve the Tennessee Valley Authority’s long-term energy planning process.
Read more.California Court Rules Kern County Oil, Gas Permitting Scheme Illegal
FRESNO, Calif.— A California appeals court ruled unanimously today that Kern County violated the law by using a flawed environmental review for its local oil and gas ordinance designed to fast-track permitting. This is the second time the court has ruled that the county’s rubberstamping of oil and gas permits violates the state’s foundational environmental law.
Read more.Critical Habitat Designated for Endangered Florida Bonneted Bat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a court-ordered agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated more than 1.1 million acres of critical habitat for the endangered Florida bonneted bat. The indigenous bat faces devastating habitat loss from sea-level rise and destructive development.
Read more.Survey Finds 257 Mexican Gray Wolves Living in U.S. Southwest
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the number of endangered Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest grew by 15 last year — from 242 in 2022 to 257 in 2023. Of those 257 wolves, 144 were observed or tracked in western New Mexico and 113 in eastern Arizona.
Read more.State Protections Sought for Vanishing California Burrowing Owls
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Conservation groups petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission today to protect five imperiled populations of the western burrowing owl under the California Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Legal Intervention Seeks to Protect Hawaiʻi’s Punaluʻu Beach From Development
PUNALUʻU, Hawaiʻi— The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a legal intervention opposing a proposed resort development on one of Hawaiʻi’s most renowned black sand beaches that would harm local residents and jeopardize threatened and endangered species, including green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals.
Read more.New Report: True Cost of Sprawl Includes Harm to People, Wildlife, Climate
OAKLAND, Calif.— Sprawl development built far from city centers carries direct and indirect costs that pull resources away from existing neighborhoods, harming communities and natural habitats, according to a new report published today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Federal Watchdog Blasts EPA’s Failure to Assess Safety of Pesticides Used on Flea, Tick Collars
WASHINGTON— A scathing report released today by a federal oversight agency revealed that the Environmental Protection Agency’s deeply flawed system for reporting harm to people and pets makes it impossible to conclude whether the Seresto flea collar is safe.
Read more.U.S. Geological Survey Will Restore Annual Counts of About 400 Farm Pesticides
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Geological Survey has publicly committed to restoring its practice of compiling annual use estimates for approximately 400 agricultural pesticides.
Read more.Court Upholds Protections for Rare Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
WASHINGTON— A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to strip the Southwestern willow flycatcher of protection under the Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit was brought by the extreme private property law firm Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Read more.Legal Petition Aims to Plug Thousands of Old Offshore Oil Wells
WASHINGTON— Nine conservation organizations filed a legal petition today demanding that the Interior Department enact robust regulatory reforms and enforce deadlines for thousands of old offshore oil wells and platforms that are overdue for decommissioning.
Read more.New Maps Identify Areas for Urgently Needed Pesticide Limits to Safeguard 50 Protected Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity has developed new maps that identify areas where limiting pesticide use, and other conservation measures, are critically needed to protect 50 threatened and endangered species, including the Buena Vista Lake ornate shrew and Karner blue butterfly.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Critical Habitat Delay for Threatened Louisiana Pinesnake
NEW ORLEANS— The Center for Biological Diversity notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today that it intends to sue over the agency’s failure to finalize critical habitat for the Louisiana pinesnake.
Read more.Africa’s Atlantic Humpback Dolphins Win U.S. Endangered Species Protection
WASHINGTON— NOAA Fisheries announced today that highly imperiled Atlantic humpback dolphins will be protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Southern Resident Orcas Receive Oregon Endangered Species Protections
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to protect Southern Resident orcas under the state’s Endangered Species Act, responding to a February 2023 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, and Whale and Dolphin Conservation.
Read more.Critically Endangered Right Whale Dies Because of Biden Administration Inaction
BOSTON— A North Atlantic right whale reported dead 20 miles off Georgia on Feb. 13 was likely hit and killed by a vessel strike, NOAA Fisheries announced today. The whale was identified as a female born to first-time mother Pilgrim during the 2022-2023 calving season. While final necropsy results are pending, the injuries documented are consistent with blunt force trauma caused by a vessel strike.
Read more.ExxonMobil Drops Court Bid to Truck Oil in Santa Barbara
LOS ANGELES— ExxonMobil’s dangerous proposal to truck massive amounts of oil along California highways is dead after the company dropped its lawsuit challenging Santa Barbara County’s denial of the plan.
Read more.Federal Court Strikes Down EPA Approval of Florida Wetlands Program
WASHINGTON— A federal court has ruled in favor of environmental groups, determining that the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated federal law when they greenlit Florida’s takeover of the Clean Water Act wetlands permitting program.
Read more.Federal Officials Reject Three Huge Arizona Pump Storage Projects Targeting Black Mesa
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— Heeding widespread community and Tribal opposition, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission denied preliminary permit applications today for three proposed hydropower projects southeast of Kayenta on the Navajo Nation in Arizona. In denying the applications, commissioners announced a new policy of not issuing permits for projects on Tribal lands without Tribal support.
Read more.Bowing to Oil Industry, New Mexico Legislature Fails to Act on Climate, Pollution Crises
SANTA FE, N.M .— New Mexico lawmakers concluded the 2024 legislative session today without passing any legislation to address the climate emergency or mitigate the public health and environmental harms of pollution from the state’s booming oil and gas industry.
Read more.Forest Service Urged to Ban Shooting of Idaho Wolves From Helicopters
BOISE, Idaho— More than 30 wildlife conservation groups today urged the U.S. Forest Service to prohibit Idaho from paying private contractors to shoot wolves from aircraft in national forests in central and southeastern Idaho. The Idaho Wolf Depredation Control Board recently approved the controversial predator control measure.
Read more.Petition Seeks to Protect Leatherback Sea Turtle Habitat in Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Conservation groups filed a legal petition today urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revise protected critical habitat for the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) under the Endangered Species Act. The petition asks the wildlife agency to protect three important leatherback nesting beaches in Puerto Rico and to consider the addition of other important nesting beaches for this species on the island.
Read more.Petición busca proteger el hábitat de la tortuga laúd en Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Grupos conservacionistas presentaron hoy una petición legal instando al Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de los Estados Unidos a revisar el hábitat crítico protegido para la tortuga marina tinglar (Dermochelys coriacea) bajo la Ley Federal de Especies en Peligro de Extinción. La petición solicita a la agencia de vida silvestre que proteja tres playas de anidación del tinglar en Puerto Rico, las cuales en la actualidad carecen de algún tipo de protección legal.
Read more.Maine Fishing Gear Entangled Critically Endangered Female North Atlantic Right Whale
WASHINGTON— NOAA Fisheries announced today that fishing gear found entangling a dead North Atlantic right whale that washed ashore on Martha’s Vineyard in late January is linked to the state of Maine.
Read more.California Wildlife Bill to Tighten Rat Poison Restrictions
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Wildlife groups introduced a bill today in the California legislature to expand restrictions on toxic rat poisons and allow community members to bring legal action against their illegal use and sale.
Read more.Petition Seeks to Protect Rare Oregon Snail Under Endangered Species Act
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal petition today with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking protection for the Donner und Blitzen pebblesnail under the Endangered Species Act. Also known as the strange pebblesnail, the species is a critically imperiled freshwater gastropod found only at Page Springs in the Donner und Blitzen River drainage in southeast Oregon.
Read more.Deadline Sought on Overdue Protections for North Atlantic Right Whales
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups asked a federal court today to allow paused litigation to proceed in pursuit of a deadline for final action on a proposed rule expanding protections for North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes.
Read more.California Bill Would Expand Rooftop Solar to Working-Class Families
SACRAMENTO— A bill to require the California Public Utilities Commission to consider the wider community benefits of rooftop solar was introduced today in the state Assembly. Assembly Bill 2256, sponsored by the Center for Biological Diversity and Environment California, is intended to unwind the commission’s 2023 net-metering policy that gutted the state’s rooftop solar industry.
Read more.Hundreds of Endangered Species Condoms Distributed in Albuquerque for Valentine’s Day
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity will give away hundreds of free Endangered Species Condoms at the University of New Mexico on Valentine’s Day to help students understand population pressure’s threat to wildlife and the planet.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over EPA’s Oversight Failure on Dangerous Phosphate Mining Waste
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation, public health and environmental justice organizations notified the Environmental Protection Agency today of their intent to sue the agency for failing to respond to a rulemaking petition requesting stronger oversight and regulation of toxic and radioactive waste from phosphate mining and fertilizer production.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Rare East Tennessee Salamander
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, today notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service it intends to sue over the agency’s denial of Endangered Species Act protections to East Tennessee’s imperiled Berry Cave salamander.
Read more.Solicitan designar a las Islas Galápagos como Patrimonio Mundial “En Peligro”
PARÍS— Grupos conservacionistas solicitaron formalmente hoy que el sitio del Patrimonio Mundial de las Islas Galápagos sea incluido como “en peligro” según la Convención del Patrimonio Mundial.
Read more.Galapagos Islands Needs World Heritage ‘In Danger’ Status, Groups Say
PARIS— Conservation groups formally requested today that the Galapagos Islands World Heritage site be listed as “in danger” under the World Heritage Convention.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protections Sought for American Horseshoe Crabs
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.— The Center for Biological Diversity and 22 partner organizations petitioned NOAA Fisheries today to list the American horseshoe crab as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Horseshoe crab populations have crashed in recent decades because of overharvesting and habitat loss.
Read more.Legal Victory for Imperiled Hawaiian Honeycreepers
HONOLULU— A judge has ruled in favor of conservation groups and the state of Hawai‘i, allowing a project to suppress mosquitos to protect imperiled Hawaiian honeycreepers on east Maui to proceed. The judge found that an environmental assessment was sufficient and a finding of no significant impact correctly issued for the project.
Read more.Agreement Ensures Swift Consideration of Habitat Protection for Endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebees
WASHINGTON— A federal judge approved an agreement today between conservation groups and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that puts the agency on a prompt schedule to consider and designate critical habitat for highly endangered rusty patched bumblebees.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Challenge Destructive Bottom-Trawl Study in Bering Sea
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Several Alaska Native Tribal Governments and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for unlawfully authorizing a multi-year experimental bottom-trawl study in the northern Bering Sea.
Read more.Protection Sought for Sierra Nevada Red Fox in Oregon, California Cascades
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity today petitioned for federal protection of Sierra Nevada red foxes in the Oregon and California Cascades, from Lassen Peak to Mt. Hood. The petition asks that the fox be listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, Consumers Demand Anti-Deforestation Avocados
LAS VEGAS— More than 28,000 people are calling for grocery chains to adopt avocado-sourcing policies that protect human rights and monarch butterfly forests in Mexico.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Wolves in Northern Rocky Mountains
BOZEMAN, Mont.— Four conservation and animal protection groups today notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that they plan to sue over the agency’s denial of their petition to protect gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Federal Court Halts Spraying of Monsanto’s Dicamba Pesticide Across Millions of Acres of Cotton, Soybeans
TUCSON, Ariz.— In a sweeping victory for family farmers and dozens of endangered plants and animals, a federal court today revoked approval of the extremely volatile, weed-killing pesticide dicamba.
Read more.California Regulators Urged to Consider Environment, Public Health in Energy Decisions
SACRAMENTO— Conservation, environmental justice and local government groups filed a petition with the California Energy Commission today asking it to consider the environment and public health when making decisions about the state’s clean energy future, as state law requires.
Read more.U.S. Agencies Urged to Make Federal Buildings Safer for Migratory Birds
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and American Bird Conservancy today reminded federal agencies, including the Council on Environmental Quality and U.S. Department of Energy, of their duty to comply with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. As today’s letter says, this includes taking measures to reduce migratory bird collisions as agencies launch “green” renovations to dozens of federal buildings.
Read more.Northern Rockies Gray Wolves Denied Endangered Species Act Protection
VICTOR, Idaho— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today denied a listing petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and other wildlife conservation groups seeking federal protection for gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains.
Read more.New Rules to Help Tackle Agricultural Pesticide Use at National Wildlife Refuges
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a proposed rule and policy updates to strengthen the biological integrity, diversity and environmental health of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Read more.EPA Rejects Air-Pollution Permits for Oil, Gas Wells in Colorado
WELD COUNTY, Colo.— In response to a petition filed by conservation and public-health groups, the Environmental Protection Agency ruled this week that the state of Colorado failed to lawfully permit air pollution from four large oil and gas well sites north of Denver.
Read more.Gov. Kotek Called on to Address Growing Disease Risks on Mink Farms
SALEM, Ore.— Wildlife-advocacy and animal-protection groups sent an urgent letter today calling on Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and state officials to address mink fur farms’ escalating threats to public health and wildlife.
Read more.Endangered Species Protection Sought for Alaskan Arctic Flower Threatened by Climate Change
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect a rare Arctic plant called the Alaskan glacier buttercup under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Forest Service Urged to Disclose Plans for Mining Exploration in Montana’s Bitterroot National Forest
HAMILTON, Mont.— Conservation groups urged the U.S. Forest Service today to disclose more information about a Canadian company’s mining exploration plans in Montana’s Bitterroot National Forest, set to begin this summer. The area is crucial to numerous species protected under the Endangered Species Act, including grizzly bears, bull trout, Canadian lynx and wolverines.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Federal Fish and Wildlife Service’s Failure to Protect Endangered Species From Toxic Pesticides
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed new legal challenges today to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to stop allowing some of the most dangerous pesticides from threatening up to 97% of endangered species.
Read more.Petition Seeks Endangered Species Protection for Oregon’s Wonder Caddisfly
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a legal petition today with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the wonder caddisfly under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Nantahala National Forest From Logging
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— Conservation groups have sued the U.S. Forest Service, arguing that the agency’s plans to log a sensitive area of the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina violate federal law.
Read more.Alaska Native Tribes, Businesses, Forest Advocates Intervene to Protect Tongass National Forest’s Roadless Rule
JUNEAU, Alaska (Áakʼw Ḵwáan Territory)— A broad coalition of Alaska Native Tribes, commercial fishers, small tourism businesses, conservation groups and other forest advocates are seeking to defend the 2023 reinstatement of Roadless Rule protections across the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska by intervening today in legal challenges opposing the rule.
Read more.New California Packs Named as Wolves Continue to Flourish
SAN FRANCISCO— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported late Monday that it has named two new wolf packs that were confirmed in the state last summer.
Read more.California’s Regressive Rooftop Solar Policy Appealed to State Supreme Court
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity, The Protect Our Communities Foundation and the Environmental Working Group asked the California Supreme Court today to overturn the state’s new rooftop solar policy. The policy, which took effect April 15, significantly slashes the credit new solar users get for sharing extra solar energy with the grid.
Read more.80 Groups, Scientists Urge Arizona Governor to Close Uranium Mine in Newly Designated Grand Canyon National Monument
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— Echoing pleas from the Havasupai Tribe, Navajo Nation and other Tribes, scientists and Indigenous, faith, recreation and conservation organizations today called on Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs to close the Pinyon Plain uranium mine, which is located in the country’s newest national monument near the Grand Canyon. Closing the mine will safeguard Tribal cultural heritage and prevent permanent damage to the Grand Canyon’s aquifers and springs.
Read more.Rampant Biden Administration Oil, Gas Drilling Approvals Continue to Undermine U.S. Climate Commitments
WASHINGTON— Federal data show the Biden administration approved 9,779 permits for oil and gas drilling on public lands in its first three years, nearly keeping pace with the Trump administration’s 9,982 drilling-permit approvals in its first three years.
Read more.Legal Agreement Brings Permanent Conservation of San Diego Wildlands
SAN DIEGO— Approximately 1,300 acres of wildlands that serve as habitat for endangered and threatened wildlife will be permanently protected under a legal agreement finalized today over the Otay Ranch Village 14 project in San Diego County.
Read more.Federal Agency Proposes Spraying Toxic Insecticides Across Three National Monuments Near Grand Canyon
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— The federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to spray toxic insecticides within treasured and significant landscapes of the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona to kill native grasshoppers.
Read more.Biden Administration Pauses Massive Gas Export Expansion in Climate Pivot
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration announced today it would freeze approvals of new gas export projects, signaling a major pivot in how it considers climate and health harms from oil and gas projects.
Read more.Nevada Supreme Court Affirms Protecting Water for Wildlife
CARSON CITY, Nev.— The Nevada Supreme Court ruled today that the state has a right to manage groundwater for the preservation of senior water rights and the public interest, including wildlife.
Read more.Bowing to Oil Industry, New Mexico Legislators Advance Bill That Fails to Curb Pollution
SANTA FE, N.M.— The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted 6-5 today to pass a Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham-backed bill that would impose modest changes on the oil industry in New Mexico, including increased bonds, but that fails to put in place any environmental or public health protections.
Read more.Pygmy Rabbit One Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
BOISE, Idaho— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that the pygmy rabbit may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. The pygmy rabbit is the world’s smallest rabbit and is threatened by livestock grazing, oil and gas extraction, invasive non-native grasses and wildfire.
Read more.Southern Plains Bumblebees Clear Hurdle to Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Southern Plains bumblebees may warrant Endangered Species Act protection. The announcement triggers a yearlong scientific assessment followed by a public comment period before a final decision is made on whether to protect the bumblebees.
Read more.Nevada Wildflower, Toad Advance Toward Endangered Species Protections
LAS VEGAS— In response to petitions from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that two rare species found in Nevada may qualify for Endangered Species Act protections.
Read more.North Carolina Salamander Moves Toward Endangered Species Safeguards
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it would consider protecting the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander under the Endangered Species Act. The agency now has 12 months to decide whether to protect the salamander, which lives only in a rapidly developing river gorge southeast of Asheville, N.C.
Read more.Federal Officials Deny Proposal for Jaguar Reintroduction in Southwest
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has rejected a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity to reintroduce jaguars to the Gila National Forest in New Mexico. The largest cat in the Americas was first protected by the Endangered Species Act more than 50 years ago, but due to federal inaction only eight individual jaguars have been documented in the United States in nearly three decades.
Read more.Rare Appalachian Salamander Moves Closer to Endangered Species Protection
CHARLESTON, W.Va.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it would consider protecting the yellow-spotted woodland salamander under the Endangered Species Act. The agency now has 12 months to decide whether to protect the salamander, which only lives in an Appalachian rock outcrops targeted by coal mining.
Read more.Experts, Community Target Tennessee Valley Authority’s Energy Plan Thursday in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn.― Advocacy groups will hold a public hearing Thursday on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s 2024 long-term energy plan. The country’s largest public power provider has refused to hold its own public hearing on the plan despite criticism of the utility’s lack of transparency or public engagement in its power system planning process.
Read more.EPA to Consider Adding Chapel Hill Coal Ash Dump to Superfund Cleanup List
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted the Center for Biological Diversity’s petition requesting that the agency investigate whether the town of Chapel Hill’s coal ash dump should be cleaned up under the national Superfund program. The contaminated property at issue in the EPA’s Jan. 12 decision is surrounded by housing, businesses and wildlife habitat.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges California’s Destructive Delta Tunnel
SACRAMENTO— Environmental groups sued the California Department of Water Resources today for approving the Delta Conveyance Project without considering ecological and wildlife harms. The tunnel project would divert billions of gallons of water from the Sacramento River, dramatically reducing river flow to the environmentally sensitive San Joaquin Delta and harming Delta smelt, Chinook salmon and other imperiled fish.
Read more.Investigation Urged Into Albatross Killing on North Shore of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
HONOLULU— The Center for Biological Diversity, Ko‘olau Waialua Alliance, Mālama Marconi Coalition and Conservation Council for Hawai‘i sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today urging it to investigate the death of a Laysan albatross found entangled in a fence and bleeding from the mouth last month.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Rare North Carolina Salamander
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to decide whether the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander could warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.California Court Strikes Down Financing for Delta Tunnel Project
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— A California court ruled this week that the California Department of Water Resources’ efforts to fund the Delta tunnel project were unlawful.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Rare Appalachian Salamander
CHARLESTON, W.Va.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to decide whether the yellow-spotted woodland salamander could warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Report: Republican-led Spending Bills Contain Historic Number of Attacks on Wildlife, Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— Led almost entirely by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills contain the largest number of anti-wildlife poison pill riders in the 50-year history of the Endangered Species Act, according to a report published today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Gov. Inslee Orders Rework of Washington’s Wolf-Killing Policies
SEATTLE— In a win for wolves, Gov. Jay Inslee today directed the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to draft new rules to guide when wolves can be killed for conflict with livestock and prioritize using nonlethal methods of conflict deterrence over killing wolves.
Read more.250+ Groups, Scientists Urge USDA to Stop Ignoring Climate Cost of Meat, Dairy
TUCSON, Ariz.— More than 250 climate, environment, health, nutrition and food organizations and experts are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address greenhouse gas emissions from meat and dairy consumption. The move comes after USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack claimed, at December’s COP28 climate conference, that he doesn’t hear much about reducing meat consumption as a climate solution.
Read more.North Atlantic Right Whale Calf, Member of Critically Endangered Species, Likely to Die From Vessel Strike Injuries
EDISTO, S.C.— A two-month-old right whale calf whose head, mouth and lips were split open by a boat propeller was seen off South Carolina on Jan. 6. Fishermen who sighted the calf recognized the whale was injured and provided video and images to NOAA Fisheries.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Candy Darter From West Virginia Coal Hauling
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service today for failing to protect streams in the Cherry River watershed from the harmful effects of coal hauling in the Monongahela National Forest. Coal hauling imperils the critically endangered candy darter as well as nearby habitat for other endangered species.
Read more.Wide-Ranging Fish Petitioned for Endangered Species Act Protections
MOBILE, Ala.— The Center for Biological Diversity and 12 partner organizations petitioned NOAA Fisheries today to list the Alabama shad as an endangered species. The Alabama shad has disappeared from 90% of its range, and its few remaining populations are declining steeply.
Read more.Planet Human: New Children’s Book Series Highlights Scale of Human Impact on Planet
TUCSON, Ariz.— A new series of children’s books highlights how human industries have shaped the environment over time and around the globe. Written by Center for Biological Diversity population and sustainability director Stephanie Feldstein, the six-book Planet Human series tells the story of how agriculture, digital communications, energy, fast fashion, pets and plastic changed the world.
Read more.Endangered Species Protection Sought for Rare Northern Nevada Wildflower
RENO, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect a rare plant called the Carson Valley monkeyflower under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Southern Arizona Jaguar Video Confirms New Cat
TUCSON, Ariz.— A wild jaguar shown in a recent trail camera video from southern Arizona is a new jaguar not previously identified in the state. The images captured last month by a wildlife enthusiast and analyzed by the Center for Biological Diversity confirm the eighth jaguar documented in the U.S. Southwest in the past three decades.
Read more.Federal Court in Boise to Hold Hearing Thursday on Idaho Wolf Trapping
BOISE, Idaho— Federal Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale will hear arguments Thursday about whether to halt wolf trapping in Idaho to protect grizzly bears. Grizzly bears are protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and wolf trapping risks killing or harming them.
Read more.Final Marine Critical Habitat Issued for Threatened Nassau Grouper
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The National Marine Fisheries Service announced critical habitat designations today for the threatened Nassau grouper. The agency’s final rule protects more than 900 square miles in the western North Atlantic Ocean. The fish’s nearshore ocean habitat faces threats from pollution, coastal development and climate change harms like ocean warming and acidification.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Pacific Sea Turtles From Fishing Gear
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network sued the National Marine Fisheries Service today for failing to protect Pacific leatherback sea turtles and their critical habitat from sablefish pot gear that can entangle and drown the endangered animals.
Read more.Black-capped Petrel Gains Lifesaving Endangered Species Act Protections
WASHINGTON— On the eve of the Endangered Species Act’s 50th anniversary, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final rule today protecting the black-capped petrel as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit: Huge California Reservoir Proposal Threatens River, Climate, Fish
WOODLAND, Calif.— Conservation and environmental justice groups filed a legal challenge today to the largest reservoir project approved in California in decades. The Sites Reservoir would harm the Sacramento River ecosystem, threaten already imperiled fish species, and release greenhouse gas pollution, today’s lawsuit says.
Read more.EPA Report: Automakers Lagging on Clean Vehicles
WASHINGTON— Automakers continue to sell millions of gas guzzlers and a relative handful of electric and other clean vehicles, making little progress against pollution, according to the Automotive Trends Report released today by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Read more.Rare Alabama Fish Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— Following 13 years of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect coal darters as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Reduce Asthma-Causing Sulfur Air Pollution in 11 States, Two U.S. Territories
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club filed notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that areas in 11 states and two U.S. territories have effective plans for cleaning up sulfur dioxide air pollution.
Read more.First Five Wolves Released to Colorado’s Western Slope
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo.— Colorado Parks and Wildlife has released five gray wolves on state land in Grand County. Tuesday’s release was the first of several planned to fulfill a voter-approved mandate to re-establish a population of gray wolves in Colorado.
Read more.Rare West Virginia Salamander Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
CHARLESTON, W.Va.— Following 13 years of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the West Virginia spring salamander as endangered. The Service also proposed designating 2.2 miles of caves and streams in Greenbrier County as critical habitat for the endangered salamander.
Read more.Biden Administration Moves to Protect Old-Growth Forests
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration announced today a proposed nationwide forest plan amendment to advance protections for the last remaining old-growth trees in U.S. national forests.
Read more.Interior Department Urged to Pull Plug on Lake Powell Pipeline
PAGE, Ariz.— Conservation groups across the Colorado River Basin called on the U.S. Interior Department today to cancel environmental reviews and scrap plans for the controversial Lake Powell Pipeline. The Bureau of Reclamation is reviewing the planned pipeline, which would divert water from the shrinking Colorado River to Utah, as water cuts are being proposed downstream in three states.
Read more.Reward Raised to $10,000 for Info on Tennessee Bald Eagle Shooting
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— The Center for Biological Diversity today increased the reward to $10,000 for information leading to a conviction for the illegal shooting of a bald eagle in eastern Tennessee.
Read more.Washington Commission OK’s Hunting Reforms for Cougars, Bears
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has voted 7-2 to approve a petition to protect cougars and bears through amended state hunting rules. As a result of the Friday evening vote, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department will open rulemaking with the goal of avoiding overexploitation and population declines and better aligning policy with agency science.
Read more.Agreement Reached to Set Pollution Limits on Arizona Creek Threatened by Copper Mine
PHOENIX— A federal judge approved an agreement today between conservation groups and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that requires the EPA to set pollution limits for Queen Creek unless Arizona does so first. Today’s agreement is the result of a September 2022 lawsuit filed by the conservation groups.
Read more.New Claims Filed Over SpaceX Rocket Launchpad Explosion
BROWNSVILLE, Texas— National and local environmental groups and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, Inc., filed additional legal claims today against the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Read more.California Wolf Pack Named for Yowlumni Band of Tule River Yokuts Tribe
SAN FRANCISCO— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced late Thursday that a wolf family in the Giant Sequoia National Monument will be officially known as the Yowlumni pack, after the Yowlumni band of the Tule River Yokuts Tribe.
Read more.New Ad Campaign Blasts GM, Ford’s Hypocrisy on Climate Action
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and The YEARS Project launched a new video ad campaign today. The social media video ads push General Motors and Ford to accelerate progress on electric vehicles as they have promised and stop funding the Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s anti-EV lobbying.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Officials for Failing to Protect Endangered Species Along Proposed Arizona Interstate
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups filed new legal challenges against the Federal Highway Administration today for failing to consider harms to threatened and endangered species, including the newly listed cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, from the proposed Interstate 11 in Arizona.
Read more.Gray Wolves Win National Recovery Plan
WASHINGTON— Under a settlement approved today by a District of Columbia federal court, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must draft a new recovery plan for gray wolves listed under the Endangered Species Act. The draft plan must be completed within two years unless the agency finds that such a plan will not promote the conservation of the species.
Read more.Federal Court Rules Use of Antibiotic as Citrus Pesticide Is Unlawful, Vacates EPA Approval
SAN FRANCISCO— The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled in favor of farmworkers and public-interest groups’ call for reversal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the medically important antibiotic streptomycin as a pesticide on citrus crops.
Read more.Activists Tell Costco: Lobster Products Pose Risk to Endangered Whales
SAN FRANCISCO— Several activists dressed as lobsters delivered a petition with more than 20,000 signatures to the management at a Costco store today. The petition urges the company to stop selling lobster products not certified as sustainable.
Read more.First Ever ‘Fossil Fuel’ Decision at COP28 Climate Summit Falters on Phaseout
DUBAI— The United Nations climate summit ended in Dubai today with the first ever commitment to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems but fell short of calling for an unequivocal phaseout of oil, gas and coal.
Read more.Miami Wilds Stalls as Commissioners Withdraw Proposal in Victory for Endangered Wildlife
MIAMI— Miami-Dade County commissioners voted today to withdraw a proposal that would have amended the development lease agreement with Miami Wilds, LLC. Today’s decision stymies plans for a controversial themed water park and retail development that threatens endangered species near Zoo Miami.
Read more.Appeals Court to Hear Arguments Wednesday Challenging California’s Regressive Rooftop Solar Policy
SAN FRANCISCO— A California appeals court panel will hear oral arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit challenging the state’s new rooftop solar policy. The policy, approved by the California Public Utilities Commission and effective April 15, significantly slashes the credit new solar users get for sharing their extra solar energy with the grid.
Read more.Press Conference 4pm Today at COP28 Spotlights U.S. Role in Fossil Fuel Phaseout Push
DUBAI— Climate advocates will hold a press conference today on the end game of the United Nations COP28 climate summit and the United States’ role in pressing for a fossil fuel phaseout in the final agreement.
Read more.Legal Victory Restores Safeguards for Miami-Dade Wildlife Habitat Threatened by Controversial Water Park
MIAMI— Responding to a lawsuit by conservation groups, a federal judge found today that the National Park Service violated the law when it released land-use restrictions on a site proposed for the controversial Miami Wilds water park.
Read more.$26,500 Offered for Information About Two Illegal Oregon Wolf Killings
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Wildlife Coalition, conservation partners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are offering rewards totaling $26,500 for information leading to arrests and convictions following the separate killings of two wolves in Oregon.
Read more.Washington Coast Chinook Salmon One Step Closer to Federal Protections
PORTLAND, Ore.— In response to a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity and Pacific Rivers, the National Marine Fisheries Service today made an initial finding that Endangered Species Act protections may be warranted for Washington coast Chinook salmon. The agency will initiate a status review for Washington coast spring-run and fall-run salmon populations.
Read more.Appeals Court Throws Out Arizona Fort’s Groundwater Pumping Credits Threatening San Pedro River
TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal appeals court today sided with conservation groups in their challenge to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granting fake groundwater credits to the U.S. Army’s Fort Huachuca that fail to return water to the imperiled San Pedro River in Arizona.
Read more.Western Spadefoot Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protections
OAKLAND, Calif.— In response to a 2012 petition and 11 years of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the western spadefoot as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.EPA: Rat Poisons Pushing Dozens of Endangered Species Toward Extinction, Including Florida Panthers, California Condors
WASHINGTON— A new Environmental Protection Agency evaluation finds rodenticides are harming more than 130 endangered species and pushing at least 73 toward extinction.
Read more.Fish and Wildlife Service Withdraws Rules to Protect Migratory Birds
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last week withdrew much-needed draft migratory bird protection rules the agency promised to propose two years ago. These rules are necessary to protect migratory birds from being killed by preventable hazards, including by window collisions, like October’s massive bird mortality event at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Read more.California Attorney General Bonta Headlines COP28 Side Event Sunday
DUBAI— California Attorney General Rob Bonta will deliver remarks Sunday at a COP28 side event showcasing key global fights against fossil fuels.
Read more.Por muerte de delfines y ballenas, EE. UU. debe prohibir productos marinos de México y otros 10 países, según informe
WASHINGTON— Un informe difundido hoy por organizaciones conservacionistas revela que existen pesquerías en al menos 11 países, incluyendo México, que no satisfacen los criterios estadounidenses para evitar la captura accidental de cetáceos como ballenas y delfines. Se estima que cada año, los enredos en equipos de pesca matan cientos de miles de estos mamíferos marinos a nivel global.
Read more.Biden Administration Faces New Legal Action Over Chronic Cattle Damage in Arizona National Monument
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Biden administration for failing to stop severe damage from cattle grazing to protected habitat for endangered Gila chub and Western yellow-billed cuckoo in Agua Fria National Monument in Arizona.
Read more.Report: U.S. Must Ban Seafood From 11 Nations Over Whale, Dolphin Deaths
WASHINGTON— A report issued today by conservation groups finds that 11 nations have at least some fisheries that fail to meet U.S. standards for preventing whale and dolphin bycatch. Entanglement in fishing gear kills hundreds of thousands of marine mammals around the globe every year.
Read more.Press Conference Thursday at COP28 Highlights Need to Phase Out Fossil Fuels
DUBAI— Climate advocates will hold a press conference Thursday focusing on the urgent need for a fossil fuel phaseout as the COP28 summit gets underway in Dubai.
Read more.Wolverine Receives Much-Needed Endangered Species Act Protections
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will protect the wolverine population in the lower 48 states as threatened under the Endangered Species Act — a decision that will provide this rare wilderness species with new legal protections and programs for recovery.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Records on Biden Administration’s Rejection of Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Petition
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Department of the Interior today to challenge its failure to release public records about why it rejected a rulemaking petition to phase out oil and gas extraction on public lands by 2035.
Read more.Washington Governor Urged to Order New Rules to Reduce Wolf-Killing
SEATTLE— Conservation groups have filed an appeal asking Gov. Jay Inslee to order the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to draft enforceable rules that limit when the state can kill endangered wolves for conflicts with livestock.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks Ban on Shooting Wolves From Helicopters in Idaho’s National Forests
BOISE, Idaho— Wildlife conservation groups today petitioned the U.S. Forest Service to prohibit aerially gunning of wildlife in national forests in Idaho. The petition follows the Idaho Wolf Depredation Control Board’s controversial approval of proposals from private contractors to shoot wolves from aircraft across millions of acres in central and southeastern Idaho.
Read more.Analysis: Biden-Approved Fossil Fuel Projects Undermine IRA Emissions Cuts
WASHINGTON— Fossil fuel projects approved by the Biden administration threaten to erase the climate emissions progress from the Inflation Reduction Act and other climate policies, according to a new analysis released today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lytle Creek Agreement Secures San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat Habitat Protection
RIALTO, Calif.— Conservation groups have reached an agreement with the developer of the Lytle Creek Ranch development project in Southern California to permanently protect 177 acres of occupied habitat for the state and federally endangered San Bernardino kangaroo rat.
Read more.Reward Raised to $11,000 for Information on Montana Wolverine Killing
Missoula, Mont.— The Center for Biological Diversity increased the reward to $11,000 by offering an additional $5,000 for information leading to a successful prosecution in the illegal killing of a wolverine in southwest Montana.
Read more.Third U.N. Plastics Treaty Talks End Without Firm Plan to Fight Production Threat
NAIROBI— The third session of the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, or INC-3, ended today with plans to compile a revised draft of an agreement before the end of the year. The forthcoming draft will be the basis of negotiation at the next session in April 2024, INC-4.
Read more.Hawai‘i Needs Rules to Prevent Destructive, Invasive Pests From Spreading Across State, Letter Says
HONOLULU— Two dozen community organizations today urged Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green to direct the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture to amend state rules and prevent the spread of destructive invasive species. These species include little fire ants, coconut rhinoceros beetles, hala scale and other pests that could wreak havoc on Hawaiʻi’s food security, environment, cultural practices, economy and quality of life.
Read more.Western Gray Squirrels Granted Washington State Endangered Status
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission today voted to uplist western gray squirrels from threatened to endangered under the state’s endangered species act. Population estimates for the squirrel range from 450 to 1,400 individuals — a critically small population in either case.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA Approval of Denver Oil Refinery Air Permit
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of an air pollution permit that allows a Suncor Energy oil refinery to release harmful amounts of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
Read more.Companies Lobbying for Weak U.N. Plastics Treaty Spend Big on U.S. Politics
NAIROBI— Companies attending negotiations for the U.N. global plastics treaty have spent tens of millions of dollars to sway politics and policymakers, according to an analysis released today by the Center for Biological Diversity. Corporations with representatives at the treaty’s third negotiating session, or INC-3, spent more than $85 million on lobbying and political contributions in the 2022 U.S. election cycle.
Read more.Court Orders Do-Over for Proposed Highway Right-of-Way Through National Conservation Area in Utah
ST. GEORGE, Utah— A U.S. District Court today partially granted conservation groups’ request to remand federal agencies’ 2021 approval of the Northern Corridor Highway right-of-way through Utah’s Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, which is home to threatened desert tortoises.
Read more.Petition Seeks Endangered Species Protection for Oregon’s Crater Lake Newt
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a legal petition today with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the Crater Lake newt (also known as the Mazama newt) under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.California Court Upholds Ventura County Program to Safeguard Wildlife Connectivity
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.— A new program that increases protections for wildlife corridors throughout Southern California’s Ventura County has prevailed after a three-judge panel agreed with the county and conservationists and found that the wildlife protections were lawful.
Read more.Miami-Dade Mayor’s Office Recommends Canceling Miami Wilds Deal
MIAMI— The Miami-Dade County Mayor’s office issued a memorandum today recommending that the county commissioners rescind the development lease agreement with Miami Wilds LLC for a proposed water park development in an environmentally sensitive area at Zoo Miami.
Read more.U.S. to Review Outdated Offshore Drilling Plans Linked to Huntington Beach Spill
LOS ANGELES— The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management agreed today to review outdated plans for offshore oil platforms near Huntington Beach in Southern California. Under the agreement, BOEM must complete the reviews of decades-old development plans for Platforms Edith, Ellen, Elly and Eureka before Dec. 15, 2024.
Read more.House Republicans Target Center for Biological Diversity in Appropriations Rider
WASHINGTON— House Republicans are expected to pass an appropriations bill amendment today or Thursday that singles out the Center for Biological Diversity, attempting to zero out funding that would go to the organization in the coming fiscal year.
Read more.Letter Calls on Gov. Kotek to Protect Old-Growth Forests, Cook Creek Watershed
PORTLAND, Ore.— Ten conservation groups today sent a letter calling on Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and the Board of Forestry to protect additional acres of forest lands in the proposed Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan. Their proposed increase in protected mature and old-growth forest land would help safeguard imperiled species like the threatened Oregon Coast coho salmon and marbled murrelet.
Read more.50 Groups Oppose GOP Legislation Allowing USDA to Delay Vital Pesticide Protections
WASHINGTON— Fifty environmental groups sent a letter today to the House and Senate agriculture committees opposing S. 2472, which would give the U.S. Department of Agriculture unprecedented power to delay any federal safeguards to protect people and wildlife from harmful pesticides.
Read more.Alaska District Court Rules Willow Oil Project Can Proceed; Conservation Groups Plan to Appeal
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Environmental groups intend to challenge today’s federal court ruling that the Willow oil-drilling project in Alaska’s Western Arctic can proceed. A federal court in Alaska has sided with project developer ConocoPhillips and the federal Bureau of Land Management in a lawsuit the groups brought in March.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Save Imperiled Appalachian Species From Coal Mining
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Center for Biological Diversity and Appalachian Voices today sued the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect highly imperiled wildlife from the devastating harms of coal mining in Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia.
Read more.Groups to Rally Wednesday at Tennessee Valley Authority Meeting in Mississippi
TUPELO, Miss.― Grassroots, energy justice, youth and frontline communities will face the Tennessee Valley Authority’s board Wednesday to demand that the utility protect workers and communities and transition to 100% renewable energy. The board meets this week to hear public comments and hold its quarterly meeting.
Read more.Petition Seeks Endangered Species Act Protection for Coastal Black-Throated Green Warbler
WILMINGTON, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity and partners today filed a legal petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the coastal black-throated green warbler (also known as Wayne’s warbler) under the Endangered Species Act. As few as 1,000 of these colorful birds remain in only a few fragmented wetland forests in the Carolinas and Virginia.
Read more.Legal Petition Demands Biden Administration Halt Fast-Tracked CO2 Pipeline Permits
WASHINGTON— More than 350 environmental, public health, Indigenous, faith-based and community groups sent a legal petition to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today demanding that it stop fast tracking permits for carbon dioxide pipelines.
Read more.Two California Island Plants Saved From Extinction by Endangered Species Act
LOS ANGELES— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today removed two Channel Islands plants from the endangered species list because they have successfully recovered.
Read more.President Biden Delays Potential Embargo on Chinese Products Despite China’s Role in Pangolin Trafficking
WASHINGTON— President Biden announced today that he will not immediately embargo products from China despite the country’s failure to halt the illegal wildlife trade threatening highly imperiled pangolins. Instead, the president is allowing the Chinese government until Dec. 31 to address its pangolin failures or suffer economic sanctions.
Read more.Forest Service Proposes Unprecedented Logging of Mature, Old-Growth Forests in Western Colorado
DELTA, Colo.— Conservation groups filed objections this week to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposed final management plan for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests in western Colorado. The plan would allow commercial logging on more than 772,000 acres of public lands, including mature and old-growth trees — a 66% increase from the current forest plan.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Cattle Grazing Damage to Endangered Wildlife Habitat on Arizona’s Gila River
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect habitat for the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher and western yellow-billed cuckoo from cattle grazing damage along Arizona’s Gila River.
Read more.California Court Rules Against Kern River Water Diversions
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— A Kern County Superior Court has ruled against the city of Bakersfield and agricultural water storage districts for diverting water from the Kern River, siding with environmental groups that sought a preliminary injunction on the harmful practice of entirely drying up the river in and downstream of the city of Bakersfield. Monday’s ruling prohibits the city from implementing diversions that reduce river flows below the volume necessary to maintain good condition for fish.
Read more.Rare Alabama Snail Proposed for Endangered Species Protections
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— Following seven years of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the oblong rocksnail as endangered. The rocksnail was previously considered extinct until 2011, and today only one small population in Alabama remains.
Read more.Students Receive Nearly $17K for Utom Conservation Studies
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.— The Utom Conservation Fund announced today that it has awarded nearly $17,000 to Southern California students committed to protecting the Santa Clara River, also known as Utom.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Urging EPA to Set Climate Pollution Cap
WASHINGTON— Minnesota, Oregon, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Center for Biological Diversity, and 350.org filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to act on a 2009 petition urging a nationwide greenhouse gas pollution cap under the Clean Air Act.
Read more.Court Upholds Protections for Southern California Steelhead
LOS ANGELES— A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has rejected a challenge from a water agency seeking to strip protections from the Southern California steelhead. The ruling adopted on Tuesday allows legal protections for the imperiled fish to continue until the California Fish and Game Commission makes a decision on permanent protections.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks Science-Based Hunting Reforms for Washington’s Cougars, Bears
OLYMPIA, Wash.— Wildlife conservation groups today petitioned the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to amend state hunting rules for cougars and bears. The legal petition asks the commission to restrict killings of these ecologically important carnivores to avoid overexploitation and population declines, and to better align policy with agency science.
Read more.House Republican Legislation Would Gut Protections for Critically Endangered Gulf of Mexico Rice’s Whales
WASHINGTON— House Republicans will consider a bill today introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) that could prohibit vital Endangered Species Act protections for critically endangered Gulf of Mexico Rice’s whales. There are about 50 of the whales left in the entire world.
Read more.Survey Shows Only 17 Wild Spring Chinook Salmon Return to Oregon’s South Umpqua River
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s recent count of spring-run Chinook salmon returning to the South Umpqua River showed just 17 wild adult fish detected during snorkel surveys. This dismal return is 12% of the 10-year average of 139 fish returning to the river and signals an urgent need for federal Endangered Species Act protections.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Stop Bering Sea Trawl Nets From Killing Orcas
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to protect marine mammals from being killed by the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands groundfish trawl fisheries.
Read more.Four Rare Plants Protected From Mining in Southern California National Forest
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.— The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has banned new mining for 50 years on 2,841 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest to protect critical habitat for four threatened and endangered plant species.
Read more.Debut Graphic Novel Highlights Plight of California Mountain Lions
SAN FRANCISCO— A lone puma’s journey across the diverse landscapes of Central California is the focus of a new graphic novel that will be released on Oct. 24. Written by Center for Biological Diversity scientist Tiffany Yap, D.Env./Ph.D. and illustrated by Seattle-based artist Meital Smith, “Tales of the Urban Wild: A Puma’s Journey” takes the reader through diverse habitats, across busy freeways and inside science labs to learn about one mountain lion’s survival story.
Read more.Five Steps Chicago’s McCormick Place Can Take to Curb Bird Deaths
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today sent a letter urging the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which owns Chicago’s McCormick Place Lakeside Center, to immediately take five key steps to reduce bird collisions. The letter follows an Oct. 4 event in which almost 1,000 migratory birds were killed after crashing into the building’s glass exterior.
Read more.Female Horseshoe Crabs Spared for Another Year in Delaware Bay
DOVER, Del.— The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission decided this week to forgo a 2024 bait harvest of female horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay, where the crabs’ eggs provide a critical food source for endangered migratory shorebirds.
Read more.Arizona Water Authority Must Reduce Groundwater Use to Protect San Pedro River, Conservation Area
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity called on the Arizona Department of Water Resources today to reduce groundwater use in the Upper San Pedro River Basin in order to accommodate newly established federal water rights for the San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area.
Read more.EPA Again Refuses to Protect U.S. Waters From Invasive Species, Diseases Released by Ships
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed rule today that would allow ships to continue releasing harmful concentrations of invasive species and disease organisms into U.S. waters. The EPA is proposing to keep in place ballast water discharge standards that the courts have determined are unlawful and violate the Clean Water Act.
Read more.EPA Pressed to Add Chapel Hill Coal Ash Dump to Superfund List
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity today petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to investigate whether the town of Chapel Hill’s coal ash dump should be cleaned up under the national Superfund program.
Read more.Instan al presidente Biden a que prohíba las importaciones de productos pesqueros de México para detener la muerte masiva de tortugas marinas
WASHINGTON— El Centro para la Diversidad Biológica solicitó hoy al presidente Biden que aplique sanciones comerciales contra México para detener la masiva captura incidental de tortugas caguama en el país, como lo exige la ley estadounidense. En agosto, el Servicio Nacional de Pesca Marina certificó a México por su captura incidental bajo la Ley de Protección de Moratoria de Estados Unidos. Esta certificación requiere que Biden imponga ahora una prohibición a las importaciones de productos pesqueros mexicanos.
Read more.President Biden Urged to Ban Mexican Fish Imports, Stop Mass Killing of Endangered Sea Turtles
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity called on President Biden today to impose trade sanctions against Mexico to stop the nation’s massive bycatch of loggerhead sea turtles, as required by U.S. law.
Read more.21 U.S. Animals, Plants Declared Extinct
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finalized a rule removing 21 species from the list of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act because of extinction.
Read more.Biden Administration Urged to Cancel Border Wall Environmental Waivers
WASHINGTON— More than 100 groups urged the Biden administration to reverse its decision to cast aside legal protections for border communities and wildlife to fast-track border wall construction in Texas.
Read more.California Expands Toxic Rat Poison Ban
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law today greater protections from toxic rat poisons, which are harmful and deadly for children, pets and wildlife.
Read more.Climate Aid: Sunday Concert in Maine to Benefit Old-Growth Forest Protection
PORTLAND, Maine— Renowned musicians, authors, poets and tribal elders will come together Sunday in Portland, Maine, to raise awareness about threats to northern Montana’s ancient Yaak Valley and support its designation as the nation’s first climate refuge. The event also will support efforts to protect all the country’s old-growth and mature forests on federal public lands from logging.
Read more.Court Halts Bay Area Biofuel Megaproject Operations
MARTINEZ, Calif.— The Contra Costa County Superior Court today ordered Phillips 66 to halt its plan to operate a biofuel refinery in Rodeo, California. The court put the Bay Area megaproject on hold until the county fully complies with environmental review requirements that it violated when first approving the project.
Read more.Letter Urges Migratory Bird Protections After 1,000 Killed by Chicago Building
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today sent a letter urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enforce the Migratory Bird Treaty Act after 1,000 migrating songbirds died after flying into McCormick Place in Chicago on the night of Oct. 4.
Read more.California Court to Hear Arguments to Halt Kern River Diversions
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— Conservation groups advocating for stronger Kern River protections will argue against destructive water diversions at a court hearing on Friday. The Kern County Superior Court will hear arguments in the lawsuit filed against the city of Bakersfield for ignoring the community and environmental harms of diverting water for agricultural use.
Read more.California Permanently Protects Imperiled Wildflower Threatened by Gold Mining
SAN JOSE, Calif.— The California Fish and Game Commission voted today to permanently protect Inyo rock daisies as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Manatees Move Toward Restored Endangered Species Safeguards
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Responding to a formal petition submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity, Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, Miami Waterkeeper, Save the Manatee Club and Frank S. González García, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that reclassifying the West Indian manatee from threatened to endangered may be warranted.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect American Bumblebees, Three Other Bee Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect four imperiled bee species, including American bumblebees, under the Endangered Species Act. Southern Plains bumblebees, variable cuckoo bumblebees and blue calamintha bees are also included in today’s filing.
Read more.Survey: Most Americans Support Alternative Economies But Face Barriers
TUCSON, Ariz.— A new national survey released today by the Center for Biological Diversity found that more than 60% of Americans support alternative economy practices like banking at credit unions, shopping at co-ops and giving to mutual aid networks, but face financial and logistical barriers to participation.
Read more.Petition Urges EPA to Set Outdoor Air Pollution Standards, Better Protect Communities
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups representing millions of people petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency today to improve standards to protect communities from outdoor air pollution.
Read more.Biden Administration Waives Laws to Rush Border Wall Construction Through Texas Wildlands
STARR COUNTY, Texas — The Biden administration announced today that for the first time it will waive environmental, public health and cultural resource protection laws to fast-track construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall in Texas. The administration says it will take “immediate action to construct barriers and roads” along the border, including through fragile habitat near the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Ringed, Bearded Seals in the Arctic
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to protect Arctic ice seals. The ringed seal and the bearded seal were both listed under the Endangered Species Act in 2012, but neither has received a recovery plan as the law requires.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges ‘Nonessential’ Designation of Last Wild Red Wolf Population
RALEIGH, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to classify the world’s last wild population of red wolves as ‘nonessential.’
Read more.Wisconsinites Seek Hounding Ban in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
MILWAUKEE— More than 800 people from Wisconsin have signed a letter calling on the U.S. Forest Service to ban hounding in Wisconsin’s Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Hounding is the practice of training and using dogs to hunt and chase down black bears and other wildlife.
Read more.Diminutive Florida Snake to Receive Federal Endangered Species Protection
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a 2012 petition and lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to list the short-tailed snake as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also announced its intent to propose protections for the snake’s critical habitat.
Read more.Virtual Film Series Showcases Link Between Health, Capitalism
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will host an environmental and reproductive health film and webinar series every Thursday this fall beginning Oct. 5. The series will explore how capitalism harms the health of people and the planet.
Read more.New Red Wolf Recovery Plan Calls for More Reintroductions, Fewer Killings
RALEIGH, N.C.— In response to a legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued a new recovery plan for the red wolf, the world’s most endangered canid.
Read more.Two West Coast Pond Turtles Proposed for Endangered Species Protections
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— In response to a petition and lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect northwestern and southwestern pond turtles in California, Oregon and Washington as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Statement on Shooting of Jacob Johns
Statement from Kierán Suckling, executive director, Center for Biological Diversity:
Read more.Biden Offshore Drilling Plan Exposes U.S., Climate to More Harm
WASHINGTON— The Interior Department finalized a plan today to conduct offshore oil and gas lease sales over the next five years. The plan offers 3 auctions between 2024 and 2029 in the Gulf of Mexico.
Read more.Federal Government to Form Team to Protect Pacific Humpbacks From Deadly Entanglements
SAN FRANCISCO— The National Marine Fisheries Service published a notice today announcing its intent to establish a team to reduce Pacific humpback whale entanglements in fishing gear. The Service committed to form a team by Oct. 31, 2025, under a legal agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Federal Plan Could Restore Grizzly Bears to Washington’s North Cascades
SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service released a draft plan today analyzing options to restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades in Washington. This step follows the Center for Biological Diversity’s successful litigation challenging the Trump administration’s 2020 termination of a previous restoration plan.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Failure to Address Dangerous Nitrogen Air Pollution
OAKLAND, Calif.— Conservation and public health groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s failure to review and update air-quality standards that protect people from harmful nitrogen pollution nationwide.
Read more.Emergency Right Whale Petition Seeks Overdue Protections From Vessel Strikes
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed an emergency rulemaking petition with NOAA Fisheries today to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from being struck and killed by vessels along the U.S. East Coast. Today’s filing comes ahead of the upcoming calving season.
Read more.Court Upholds Denial of ExxonMobil’s Plan to Truck Oil in Santa Barbara, Restart Offshore Drilling
LOS ANGELES— The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California today upheld Santa Barbara County’s denial of ExxonMobil’s proposal to transport oil by tanker trucks along hazardous California highways. The plan would have helped the company restart three drilling platforms off the Santa Barbara coast, shut down since the disastrous Refugio oil spill eight years ago.
Read more.President Biden Vetoes Bills Stripping Two Endangered Species of Protections
WASHINGTON— President Biden vetoed bills Tuesday that would have stripped protections from two critically endangered species, the northern long-eared bat and lesser prairie chicken.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Endangered Species Protection for Rare Fish in Georgia, Tennessee
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for denying Endangered Species Act protection to the bridled darter.
Read more.Jaguar Caught on Camera in Southern Arizona’s Huachuca Mountains
SIERRA VISTA, Ariz.— A wild jaguar has been photographed by federally run trail cameras in southern Arizona’s Huachuca Mountains at least twice this year. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service database that tracks jaguar detections lists two photos in March and May 2023.
Read more.Biden Urged to Establish New California National Monument, Expand Joshua Tree National Park
COACHELLA, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity joined local Tribes, businesses, communities and conservation groups today to urge President Biden to establish Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California.
Read more.Alaska Habitat Protections Expanding for North Pacific Right Whale
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— NOAA Fisheries announced today that it intends to expand critical habitat protections in Alaska for the North Pacific right whale. If finalized, the action will help protect the most endangered whale population in the world.
Read more.Virtual Film Series Showcases Link Between Environmental, Reproductive Health
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will host an environmental and reproductive health film and webinar series every Thursday this fall beginning Oct. 5.
Read more.Appeal Aims to Preserve Protections for Endangered Rice’s Whale Habitat in Upcoming Gulf Lease Sale
LAKE CHARLES, La.— Environmental groups today appealed a court order from the Western District of Louisiana granting a preliminary injunction request by the oil industry and the state of Louisiana to remove protections for the critically endangered Rice’s whale included in Lease Sale 261.
Read more.Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Moves Toward World Heritage List
ATLANTA— Following widespread bipartisan support, the National Park Service announced today that it will nominate the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s World Heritage List.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Alaska’s Whales From Increased Ship Traffic
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Maritime Administration for failing to consider shipping traffic’s harm to highly endangered whales and other wildlife along the Alaska coast.
Read more.Petition Seeks Groundwater Protections for Arizona’s Upper San Pedro Basin
TUCSON, Ariz.― Conservationists filed a petition late Wednesday with the Arizona Department of Water Resources that seeks to curtail rampant groundwater depletion in southeastern Arizona’s Upper San Pedro Basin.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Grizzlies, Lynx From Clearcutting Near Yellowstone National Park
MISSOULA, Mont.— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of a large timber sale just outside Yellowstone National Park that would destroy habitat for grizzly bears, lynx and other embattled species.
Read more.D.C. Council Urged to Ban Utility Shutoffs, Forgive Utility Debt
WASHINGTON— More than 40 groups urged the Council of the District of Columbia to pass legislation that protects households from utility shutoffs due to non-payment and recognize that access to utilities is a human right.
Read more.Appeal Aims to Protect California’s Pine Mountain, Reyes Peak From Massive Logging Project
LOS ANGELES— Conservation groups filed an appeal today asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to cancel a controversial logging and vegetation clearing project atop Pine Mountain and Reyes Peak in Southern California’s Los Padres National Forest.
Read more.Miami Cave Crayfish to Receive Endangered Species Act Protections
MIAMI— Following a legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to list the Miami cave crayfish as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also announced its intent to propose protections for the crayfish’s critical habitat.
Read more.Endangered Species Protection Sought for Rare Cave Millipede in Virginia
BLACKSBURG, Va.— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect the Ellett Valley millipede under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Appeals Court Rejects Colorado Free Pass for Fracking Air Pollution
DENVER— A federal appeals court ruled today that Colorado’s rule allowing unlimited amounts of air pollution from drilling and hydraulic fracturing for oil and methane gas without a permit is illegal.
Read more.New Mexicans Demand End to Fossil Fuels in Historic New York Climate March
NEW YORK— A delegation of more than 50 Indigenous, environmental, youth and frontline advocates from New Mexico joined more than 75,000 people from across the country and world today to march in the streets of Manhattan and demand that the U.S. end its extraction and use of fossil fuels. The mass mobilization took place ahead of the first United Nations Climate Ambition Summit on Sept. 20, when U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres will urge world leaders to make commitments to phase out fossil fuels.
Read more.U.S. Agency Moves Forward on Reintroducing Wolves To Colorado
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released its final environmental impact statement and a draft Record of Decision for Colorado Parks and Wildlife to begin reintroducing endangered gray wolves.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges FEMA’s Flood Insurance Program
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups sued the Federal Emergency Management Agency today over its failure to adequately protect floodplain-dependent endangered orcas, salmon and other fish in its flood insurance program.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Long Beach Oil, Gas Drilling Plan
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the city of Long Beach today for approving a five-year program to drill for oil and gas within city limits without conducting the required review intended to protect public health and the environment.
Read more.Landmark Legal Settlement Locks in EPA Actions to Protect Endangered Species From Pesticides
SAN FRANCISCO— A historic legal agreement approved in federal district court yesterday afternoon commits the Environmental Protection Agency to a suite of proposed reforms to better protect endangered species from pesticides. The settlement, which covers more than 300 pesticide active ingredients, marks the culmination of the largest Endangered Species Act case ever filed against the EPA.
Read more.New Mexico Indigenous, Environmental, Frontline Groups Head to New York to Advocate for End to Fossil Fuels
SANTA FE, N.M.— More than 40 prominent New Mexican community leaders in the battle against oil and gas extraction will travel to New York City to participate in the March to End Fossil Fuels, a mass mobilization taking place Sept. 17 ahead of the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit. The New Mexico delegation will deliver a declaration and join global advocates in calling on President Biden and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to lead the way in phasing out fossil fuels.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Imperiled Ghost Orchid
HOLLYWOOD, Fla.— The Institute for Regional Conservation, Center for Biological Diversity and the National Parks Conservation Association sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for unlawfully delaying critically needed Endangered Species Act protection for the ghost orchid.
Read more.El Comité del Patrimonio Mundial insta a Estados Unidos a proteger sitio mexicano del muro fronterizo
RIAD, Arabia Saudita— El Comité del Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO solicitó hoy que Estados Unidos restablezca la conectividad ecológica del sitio de patrimonio mundial Reserva de la Biosfera El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar, dañado por el muro fronterizo estadounidense. El muro impide el paso de vida silvestre, como el berrendo sonorense, entre Estados Unidos y Mexico.
Read more.World Heritage Committee Urges U.S. to Protect Mexican Site From Border Wall
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia— The UNESCO World Heritage Committee requested today that the United States restore ecological connectivity to a Mexican World Heritage site harmed by the U.S. border wall. The wall impedes wildlife passage, including for the Sonoran pronghorn, between the United States and the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve in Mexico.
Read more.Rare Arizona Springsnail Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
AJO, Ariz.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the Quitobaquito tryonia, a tiny springsnail found only at a single spring in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.California Legislature Passes Bill Ending Exemption for Coastal Oil Development
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California legislature passed Senate Bill 704 today, and the legislation is awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval. Approved by at least 80% of both the California Assembly and Senate, the bill amends the Coastal Act to remove an “industrial override” provision favoring approval for oil and gas developments along the coast, regardless of whether they meet resource protection policies.
Read more.Biden Administration Working Group Recommendations Offer First Step to Protect Communities, Environment From Destructive Mining
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration’s Interagency Working Group released recommendations today to update hardrock mining laws and regulations. Tribes and conservation groups welcomed this first step but urged President Biden to use his authority to make additional improvements to protect communities, sacred places and water resources. The administration formed the working group in February 2022 as part of its efforts around “Securing a Made in America Supply Chain for Critical Minerals.”
Read more.United States Finds China’s Pangolin Trade Undermines Wildlife Treaty
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced that China’s failure to halt its trade in endangered pangolins diminishes the effectiveness of an international wildlife treaty. Following the certification, which was published late Friday, President Biden must decide by late October whether to impose a trade embargo against China to prompt its compliance.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Celebration to Honor Tribes, Conservation Advocates, Congressmembers
WASHINGTON— A coalition of conservation organizations will on Sept. 13 present Tribes, conservation advocates and members of Congress with awards for their work defending imperiled species and the Endangered Species Act. The ceremony is open to members of the media and will be held at the Library of Congress.
Read more.Analysis: U.S. Lags Behind Other G20 Nations at Adding Sustainability Into Dietary Guidelines
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today released an analysis of the dietary guidelines of the G20 countries that found the United States has fallen behind in including sustainability.
Read more.Hábitat de la vaquita marina se mantiene como “Patrimonio en Peligro”: UNESCO
RIAD, Arabia Saudita— El Comité del Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO decidió hoy mantener el estatus de “en peligro” el hábitat de la vaquita marina y el pez totoaba. Sólo quedan 10 vaquitas en el mundo en una pequeña zona del Golfo de California. El comité instó a México a adoptar medidas correctivas inmediatas para salvar a la marsopa en peligro crítico de extinción.
Read more.UNESCO World Heritage Committee: Vaquita Porpoise Habitat Still “In Danger”
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia— The UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided today to maintain the “in danger” status for the last remaining habitat of the vaquita porpoise and the totoaba fish. Only 10 vaquitas remain in the world, all in a small area of Mexico, and the committee urged Mexico to immediately adopt corrective measures to save the critically endangered porpoise.
Read more.Lawmakers, Youth, Frontline Advocates Rally Thursday in D.C. to Urge Biden Action on Fossil Fuels
WASHINGTON— Members of Congress, youth and climate justice advocates will rally on Capitol Hill Thursday morning to urge President Biden to use his executive powers to stop approving fossil fuel projects, phase out fossil fuels on federal lands and waters, and declare a climate emergency. The rally comes ahead of the March to End Fossil Fuels, Sept. 17 in New York City and the United Nations’ Climate Ambition Summit Sept. 20. It will include colorful banners and signs.
Read more.New Scorecard Shows New Mexico Governor on Verge of Failing on Climate
SANTA FE, N.M.— New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has failed to use the power of her office to adopt policies and take actions that address the climate emergency, according to a scorecard released today by the Center for Biological Diversity and endorsed by numerous environmental and Indigenous organizations.
Read more.Virtual Film Festival Highlights Link Between Food Justice, Sustainability
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will host its fourth annual virtual Food Justice Film Festival from Sept. 14 to Sept. 17, featuring award-winning films and interviews with organizers and activists. This year’s featured films are Food Chains, El Susto, Migrant Dreams and Seeding Change. The film festival is free and open to the public.
Read more.EPA Agrees to Issue Standards for Protecting U.S. Waters From Ship Pollution, Invasive Species
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency agreed today to finalize nationwide standards that will protect U.S. waterways from harmful vessel discharges. Under the agreement, the agency must release final regulations on ballast water discharges by Sept. 24, 2024.
Read more.Ohio to Consider Strongest Clean Water Act Protections for Two Rivers
COLUMBUS, Ohio— The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it will consider recategorizing Big Darby Creek and Little Darby Creek as Outstanding National Resource Waters — the strongest level of protection under the Clean Water Act.
Read more.Legal Victory Puts Hellbender Back on Track for Endangered Species Protection
NEW YORK— In response to a lawsuit filed by five conservation groups, a federal judge found today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2019 denial of Endangered Species Act protection for the eastern hellbender salamander was arbitrary and unlawful.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets State of Utah for Failing to Protect Great Salt Lake
SALT LAKE CITY— Conservation and community groups sued the state of Utah today for its failure to ensure that enough water reaches the Great Salt Lake to prevent ecological collapse.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Grizzlies, Lynx from Clearcutting Project Near Yellowstone National Park
MISSOULA, Mont.— Conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approving a massive timber sale on the border of Yellowstone National Park that would destroy habitat for grizzly bears, lynx and other embattled wildlife.
Read more.Miami-Dade Commissioners to Vote on Future of Miami Wilds Development
MIAMI— Following a lawsuit filed by conservation groups, the Board of County Commissioners for Miami-Dade County will meet Wednesday, Sept. 6, to vote on the future of the Miami Wilds theme park, retail, hotel and parking lot development. The development threatens several endangered species and their critical habitat on and around the proposed project area.
Read more.Global Plastics Treaty Chair Releases ‘Zero Draft’ Ahead of Third Meeting
NAIROBI— The chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution released the “zero draft” of the global plastics treaty today. This preliminary document is a starting point for negotiations. The treaty’s third negotiating session, or INC-3, will begin in Nairobi, Kenya, on Nov. 13.
Read more.Oregon Agency Ramps Up Wolf Killing to Appease Livestock Industry
PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials today announced the killing of two members of the Wildcat pack, one of three wolf families for whom the department has issued kill orders in the past six weeks.
Read more.Four New Yet-To-Be-Named Wolf Packs Confirmed in California
SAN FRANCISCO— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported today that four new packs of wolves have been confirmed in California in the past five months.
Read more.Study: 12% of Americans Account for 50% of U.S. Beef Consumption
NEW ORLEANS— New research from Tulane University, supported by the Center for Biological Diversity, found that half of all beef eaten on a given day in the United States is consumed by 12% of the population.
Read more.Mexican Gray Wolves Receive More Protections From Government Killings
TUCSON, Ariz.— Wildlife Services, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has released a new set of standards it will use to determine the cause of livestock deaths in Arizona and New Mexico. Conservation groups have sought such changes to ensure Mexican gray wolves aren’t unfairly blamed for livestock deaths.
Read more.Analysis: Campus Contraception, Sex Ed Access Vary Widely Across Country
TUCSON, Ariz.— Contraception access and sex education on college campuses vary widely and are sorely lacking at many schools across the country, according to a Center for Biological Diversity analysis released today.
Read more.Appeals Court Strikes Down Forest Service Approval of Gold Drilling in California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada
SAN FRANCISCO— A federal appeals court reversed the decision of a lower court that would have allowed exploratory drilling in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. The drilling threatened to harm an endangered fish and a dwindling population of bi-state sage grouse.
Read more.Pillar Coral Proposed for Increased Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service proposed today to change the status of the pillar coral, a species found in Florida waters and elsewhere in the Caribbean, from threatened to endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal is based on population declines and susceptibility to a recently emerged coral disease, according to the Service.
Read more.Four California Foothill Yellow-legged Frog Populations Protected Under Endangered Species Act
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— In response to a Center for Biological Diversity petition and lawsuits, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected four populations of foothill yellow-legged frogs in California under the Endangered Species Act. The protected frog populations are in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills, North Feather River, Central Coast and South Coast.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Massive Offshore Lease Sale for Failing to Consider Gulf Communities, Climate
WASHINGTON— Gulf community and environmental groups sued the Interior Department today to challenge an offshore oil and gas lease sale that would offer up more than 67 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico. The department plans to hold the sale Sept. 27.
Read more.Lawsuit Spurs Agreement to Better Protect Endangered Rice’s Whales From Offshore Drilling
BALTIMORE— Under an agreement approved today in U.S. District Court in Maryland, federal agencies will seek better ways to protect endangered Rice’s whales and other imperiled marine species from harmful oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
Read more.Court Order Sought to Block Clearcutting Project Near Nevada’s Great Basin National Park
LAS VEGAS, Nev.— Conservation groups, joined by Tribal leaders, filed a motion for a preliminary injunction today to block a Bureau of Land Management deforestation project on public lands near Nevada’s Great Basin National Park.
Read more.Court Petition Seeks Reversal of Water Diversion Threatening Utah’s Green River
DENVER— Conservation groups asked a federal appeals court today to reconsider a decision allowing Utah to divert tens of thousands of additional acre-feet of water each year from the Upper Colorado River Basin at the Green River below Utah’s Flaming Gorge Dam.
Read more.Federal Judge to Hear Arguments Thursday on Mining Exploration in Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains
TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal judge will hear arguments Thursday on conservation groups’ request for a preliminary injunction to stop two mineral exploration projects in southern Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains. In June the groups filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of the projects, which could result in around-the-clock drilling in the biologically sensitive habitat for up to seven years.
Read more.Only Four Collared Wild Mexican Gray Wolves Survive in Mexico
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservationists sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today warning about the severely low numbers of Mexican gray wolves in Mexico. The agency relies on the Mexican population of wolves as a buttress against extinction in the United States.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Massive Habitat Reduction for Endangered Snakes in Arizona, New Mexico
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for reducing critical habitat for two endangered snakes in Arizona and New Mexico by more than 90% from its original proposal.
Read more.Biden Administration Urged to Ditch Planned Hydrogen Investments
WASHINGTON— A nationwide coalition of more than 180 conservation, Indigenous, faith, labor and social justice organizations urged the Biden administration today to scrap plans to rapidly expand investment in the production and use of hydrogen. The U.S. Department of Energy is championing hydrogen as a supposed climate solution despite the heavy reliance of fossil fuels in its production.
Read more.Judge Rules EPA Failed to Protect Endangered Wildlife From Cadmium Water Pollution
TUCSON, Ariz.— In a precedent-setting decision, a federal judge ruled late Friday that the Environmental Protection Agency violated the Endangered Species Act in 2016 when it failed to assess harms to endangered species before nearly tripling the levels of the heavy metal cadmium allowed in U.S. waters. The ruling, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, follows a 2022 lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Analysis: Plant-Based Diets Are Key to Climate Change Emergency Response
TUCSON, Ariz.— A new scientific review by the Center for Biological Diversity finds that plant-based diets can help ease the public health challenges of climate-fueled environmental emergencies. The review also found that federal nutrition policy falls far short of preparing the public for the health and environmental crises they face.
Read more.Four Freshwater Mussels, One Crayfish Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
NASHVILLE, Tenn.— In response to a legal petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect four freshwater mussels and a crayfish under the Endangered Species Act. The Center and its allies petitioned for protection of all five species in 2010.
Read more.Two Texas Catfish Proposed for Endangered Species Protections
SAN ANTONIO— Responding to a Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect two aquifer-dwelling catfish in Texas as endangered species. The agency has been aware since 1982 that the toothless blindcat and the widemouth blindcat were being killed when they were pumped up from deep wells in the Edwards Aquifer and were headed toward extinction.
Read more.Rare Oregon, Northern California Sand Dune Phacelia Protected Under Endangered Species Act
ASHLAND, Ore.— In response to a petition and lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the sand dune phacelia as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also designated 180 acres as protected critical habitat for this coastal dune plant in 13 units in Coos and Curry counties in southern Oregon, and Del Norte County, California.
Read more.Idaho Club Renews Plan to Build Housing, Marina on Trestle Creek, Threatening Imperiled Fish
SANDPOINT, Idaho— A developer has renewed plans to build luxury housing and a private marina on the shores of Idaho’s Trestle Creek with a proposal that would harm a key spawning site for threatened bull trout.
Read more.More Than 140,000 Americans Call on Biden Administration to Restore Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity joined more than 140,000 people today urging the Biden administration to restore the full power of the Endangered Species Act. The public comments submitted today are in response to the Biden administration’s proposal to retain most of the Trump-era regulations that severely weakened protections for our nation’s most imperiled animals and plants.
Read more.Appeals Court Throws Out Permit for Utah’s Uinta Basin Railway
WASHINGTON— A federal appeals court today rejected the U.S. Surface Transportation Board’s permit for the proposed Uinta Basin Railway, designed to quadruple oil production in Utah’s Uinta Basin and move crude through the Colorado Rockies to Gulf Coast refineries.
Read more.Court Scraps Massive Montana Logging Project Threatening Grizzlies, Old Forests
MISSOULA, Mont.— A federal judge late Thursday ruled in favor of conservation groups and scrapped the massive Black Ram logging project in Montana’s Kootenai National Forest. The project threatened a small and imperiled population of grizzly bears near the Montana-Canada border.
Read more.Rare Alabama Mussel Saved From Certain Extinction
STEELE, Ala.— The Center for Biological Diversity and allies celebrated a win today when Alabama Power filed a petition to surrender its preliminary permit for the Chandler Mountain pumped storage project.
Read more.Bass Population Doubles Below Glen Canyon Dam, Worsening Extinction Risk for Rare Grand Canyon Fish
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— Federal researchers reported Wednesday that despite last fall’s eradication efforts the number of invasive smallmouth bass more than doubled in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam since last year, imperiling the already threatened native humpback chub.
Read more.North Carolina’s Magnificent Ramshorn Snail Receives Endangered Species Act Protections
WILMINGTON, N.C.— In response to a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued a final rule protecting North Carolina’s magnificent ramshorn snail as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also designated two ponds and 739 acres in the Cape Fear River watershed as critical habitat for the snail.
Read more.Buscan protección para el lince en México
LA PAZ, México— El Centro para la Diversidad Biológica solicitó hoy a la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Semarnat) que proteja a los linces bajo la lista de especies en riesgo. Los linces enfrentan numerosas amenazas, incluidas el comercio ilegal, la caza, la pérdida de hábitat, la urbanización, las colisiones con vehículos y el muro fronterizo de EE. UU.
Read more.Protections Sought to Safeguard Mexican Bobcats
LA PAZ, Mexico— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned Mexico’s environmental ministry today to protect bobcats under the country’s list of species at risk. Mexican bobcats face numerous threats, including illegal trade, hunting, habitat loss, urbanization, vehicle collisions and the U.S. border wall.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Challenge Massive Timber Sale in Montana’s Bitterroot National Forest
MISSOULA, Mont.— The Center for Biological filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approving a massive timber sale in Montana’s Bitterroot National Forest. The proposed logging project is in the heart of the Bitterroots and in important habitat for both bull trout and grizzly bears, two species protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Texas Kangaroo Rats Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
WICHITA FALLS, Texas— Responding to a Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the Texas kangaroo rat as an endangered species. The agency also proposed protecting 597,069 acres in Childress, Cottle, Hardeman, Wichita and Wilbarger counties in North Texas as critical habitat for the animals.
Read more.Rare Nevada Butterfly Moves Closer to Endangered Species Protection
RENO, Nev.— Responding to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the bleached sandhill skipper, an extremely rare species of butterfly found only in far northern Nevada, may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.U.S. Proposes Ban on Imports, Exports of Banggai Cardinalfish
WASHINGTON— NOAA Fisheries has announced a proposed rule to ban the import and export of threatened Banggai cardinalfish, following a 2021 petition from conservation groups.
Read more.Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary Raises Urgency for Biden to Declare Climate Emergency
WASHINGTON— One year after President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, the need is more urgent than ever for him to declare a climate emergency, phase out fossil fuels, and fast-track distributed energy systems.
Read more.Court Rejects Trump Administration Denial of Critical Habitat Protection to Endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebees
WASHINGTON— A federal judge on Friday rejected the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to refuse to designate critical habitat for highly endangered rusty patched bumblebees and ordered the Service to reconsider.
Read more.Reward Raised to $15,000 for Information on Red Wolf Killing in North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity today increased the reward to $15,000 for information leading to a successful prosecution in the illegal killing of an endangered red wolf in Washington County, North Carolina.
Read more.Napa County to Decide Fate of Controversial Vineyard Project Tuesday
NAPA, Calif.— The Napa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider the controversial Le Colline vineyard project proposed in Angwin. The vineyard conversion project would destroy 28 acres of forest and shrublands, block a crucial wildlife corridor and increase wildfire risk and could pollute a nearby creek and lake that supply Napa’s drinking water.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Approval of Alaska LNG Exports
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Conservation groups sued the federal government today for approving exports from the Alaska LNG Project, which would transport gas from Alaska’s North Slope to Asia.
Read more.Court Dismisses Utah Suits, Upholds Presidential Authority to Establish National Monuments
SALT LAKE CITY— A federal judge today dismissed two lawsuits filed by the state of Utah that attempted to undo President Biden’s restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments and attacked the Antiquities Act as unlawful.
Read more.Court Ruling Signals Gray Wolves Need More Regions to Recover
WASHINGTON— A federal judge today refused to dismiss the Center for Biological Diversity’s lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, saying the agency has not met federal requirements for a nationwide gray wolf recovery plan.
Read more.Environmental Groups Ask to Join EPA Fight Against Colorado Effort to Hide Air-Pollution Data
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity and 350 Colorado asked a court today for permission to join the Environmental Protection Agency’s fight against a Polis administration lawsuit seeking to block public access to data detailing oil and gas industry air pollution.
Read more.Habitat Protections Proposed for Endangered New Mexico Butterfly
CLOUDCROFT, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed designating nine areas in New Mexico, totaling 1,637 acres, as critical habitat for the endangered Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly.
Read more.New Mexico Governor Urged to Ban Oil Wells Near Schools to Protect Children
SANTA FE, N.M.— Environmental, public health and social justice groups today urged New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to establish statewide health buffer zones to prohibit oil and gas wells within one mile of schools and other educational facilities.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Denial of Endangered Species Protection to Gopher Tortoise
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Nokuse Education, Inc. sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for denying Endangered Species Act protections to gopher tortoises across most of their range. The decision left the imperiled reptiles without lifesaving federal safeguards in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and most of Alabama.
Read more.Threatened Caribbean Corals Receive Critical Habitat Protections
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service announced critical habitat designations today for five species of Caribbean corals. The agency’s final rule protects 6,500 square miles of marine habitat in Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Navassa Island and the Flower Gardens Banks in the Gulf of Mexico.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Challenging Montana’s Wolf Trapping Program
HELENA, Mont.— The Center for Biological Diversity notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of its intent to sue over the permitting of a Montana wolf pelt export program that may harm endangered Canada lynx.
Read more.Landmark Water Case Reaches Nevada Supreme Court
CARSON CITY, Nev.— A 15-year campaign to stop real estate developers and water speculators from building a sprawling new city in the middle of the Nevada desert will come before the state Supreme Court today.
Read more.EPA Petitioned to Require Accurate Measurement of Smog-Causing Pollution From Flares at Four Colorado Oil, Gas Well Pads
WELD COUNTY, Colo.— Conservation and public-health groups have filed a petition urging the Environmental Protection Agency to require adequate testing of the toxic air pollution emitted by four oil and gas well pads owned and operated by the Bonanza Creek Energy Operating Company.
Read more.Biden Designates Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— President Biden used the Antiquities Act today to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in northern Arizona, permanently protecting nearly 1 million acres of public land surrounding the iconic national park. Proposed to the Biden administration by the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai Tribe, and I’tah Kukveni means “our ancestral footprints” in Hopi.
Read more.Climate, Air Pollution Protest Targets Biden Fossil Fuel Plan for Colorado’s Front Range
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians today challenged the Bureau of Land Management’s plan to continue fossil fuel leasing in eastern Colorado, including the Front Range. The Eastern Colorado Resource Management Plan will govern 658,200 acres of public lands and more than 3 million acres of federal minerals, including oil, gas, and coal, for up to 20 years.
Read more.Thousands Oppose Industrial Carbon Waste Dumping in National Forests
WASHINGTON— More than 9,000 people today urged the U.S. Forest Service to halt plans to allow carbon waste from industrial sources like fossil fuel power plants to be dumped in national forests.
Read more.Oil Company Ordered to Permanently Close Oil Wells, Restore Habitat in California’s Carrizo Plain National Monument
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif.― The Bureau of Land Management late Wednesday ordered an oil company to permanently close and remove 11 long-dormant oil wells inside the Carrizo Plain National Monument, a unique landscape in central California famous for its vibrant springtime wildflower displays and rare wildlife.
Read more.Collective Bargaining Agreement Ratified at Center for Biological Diversity
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and the Workers for Biological Diversity today announced the ratification of a collective bargaining agreement. The agreement, codifies many Center policies and benefits, increases traditional raises and paid time off, enhances consistency and transparency, and upholds the organization’s longstanding commitment to equity and diversity.
Read more.Legal Agreement Will Help Protect Endangered Wildlife From Pesticides Applied to Waterways
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity has reached a legal agreement requiring two federal agencies to assess harms to threatened and endangered wildlife from the direct application of pesticides to waters.
Read more.EPA Petitioned to Update 47-Year-Old Toxic Pollutant List
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups submitted a formal legal petition today urging the Environmental Protection Agency to add more than 1,000 industrial and commercial pollutants to its outdated list of toxic pollutants requiring regulation under the Clean Water Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges National Forest Policies Favoring Cows Over Endangered Species in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon sued the U.S. Forest Service today to challenge policies that protect cattle grazing at the expense of endangered species and native wildlife dependent on fragile streams in the Coronado National Forest in Arizona.
Read more.To Address Deadly Heat, Policymakers Must Ban Utility Shutoffs, Ramp Up Solar, Phase Out Fossil Fuels
WASHINGTON— More than 170 social justice, environmental, faith, health and labor groups urged key policymakers today to implement lifesaving bans on utility disconnections, ramp up renewable energy and resilient water systems, and phase out fossil fuels — the root cause of this summer’s extreme heat. The groups say President Biden’s Thursday announcement of limited measures to help communities survive deadly, record-shattering heat ignores the urgent short- and long-term solutions needed to address the climate emergency.
Read more.EPA Makes Pesticide Incident Reports Publicly Available for First Time
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it will make the most recent 10 years of pesticide incident reports available to the public in a searchable database to be updated every month.
Read more.Three Brazilian Butterflies Proposed for U.S. Endangered Species Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed protecting three Brazilian butterflies under the Endangered Species Act today. The proposed protections respond to a legal agreement stemming from a Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit filed in 2021.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect 20 Threatened Coral Species in Caribbean, Indo-Pacific
HONOLULU— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the National Marine Fisheries Service today for failing to protect 20 coral species in the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific. The corals all received Endangered Species Act listings in 2014 but not protections offered by the law, including prohibitions on collection and sale.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Nantahala-Pisgah Forest in North Carolina From Destructive Logging
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— Conservation groups filed a formal notice of their intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service to protect the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest from a disastrous forest plan that threatens imperiled species, including endangered bats.
Read more.AgLogic Asks EPA to Dramatically Expand Florida Use of Dangerous Pesticide
WASHINGTON— Pesticide-maker AgLogic has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to approve use of the dangerous pesticide aldicarb on Florida oranges and grapefruits.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Denial of Endangered Species Protection to Bridled Darter
ATLANTA, Ga.— The Center for Biological Diversity has just notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service it intends to sue the agency for denying Endangered Species Act protection to a fish called the bridled darter.
Read more.Freshwater Mussel Proposed for Protection in Seven Eastern States
WASHINGTON— In response to a legal petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the green floater, a freshwater mussel found from New York to North Carolina, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also proposed designating 1,586 stream miles of critical habitat.
Read more.Key Private Property in Bears Ears National Monument to Be Protected Forever
BLUFF, Utah— After a 16-month effort, the most important parcel of private land surrounded by Bears Ears National Monument has been permanently protected by The Wildlands Conservancy. The conservancy owns and manages the largest nonprofit nature preserve system on the West Coast.
Read more.Dozens of Southern Animals, Plants Closer to Endangered Species Protections
WASHINGTON— In response to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today agreed to issue long overdue decisions on whether 31 Southeast and two Southwest animals and plants warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Two Texas Mussels Move Closer to Endangered Species Protections
LAREDO, Texas— Responding to a 2020 lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect two species of Texas freshwater mussels under the Endangered Species Act and designate critical habitat for them.
Read more.Report: Carbon Storage, Sequestration Value of California’s Native Habitats Overlooked
OAKLAND, Calif.— The untapped potential of carbon storage and sequestration in different native habitats is too often ignored in California’s land-use decisions, according to a new report published today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Groups Win Legal Challenges to Massive Bay Area Biofuel Refinery Projects
MARTINEZ, Calif.— Communities for a Better Environment and the Center for Biological Diversity won legal victories today over Contra Costa County’s approval of two proposed biofuel refinery conversions in the Bay Area. The Superior Court of Contra Costa County found the county relied on incomplete and misleading environmental reviews in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Invests $5.1 Million to Save Endangered Butterflies, Fish, Plants, Mollusks
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it is providing $5.1 million to fund crucial conservation work for some of the most critically imperiled plants and animals in the nation.
Read more.Biden Oil and Gas Proposal Marks Massive Climate Failure
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration released proposed regulations today that would continue expanding oil and gas extraction on federal public lands, marking yet another major climate failure by the administration.
Read more.BLM Halts Drilling Near Nevada’s Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
LAS VEGAS, Nev.— The Bureau of Land Management has officially withdrawn its authorization of a proposed lithium mining exploration project at the edge of Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in southern Nevada.
Read more.Interior Department Urged to Deploy Solar Power on Federal Canals
WASHINGTON— More than 125 groups are urging the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Interior Department to develop a new initiative to deploy solar power above the nearly 8,000 miles of canals owned and operated by the federal government.
Read more.Nearly Half a Million People Call on Forest Service to Protect Mature, Old-growth Forests, Trees
WASHINGTON— More than 488,000 people are calling on the U.S. Forest Service to protect mature and old-growth trees and forests from logging on federal land as a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy.
Read more.House Republicans Advance Funding Bill Attacking Environment, Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The House Appropriations Committee passed a funding bill today with massive cuts to the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The legislation, passed along party lines, also contains dozens of poison pill riders attacking public health, the environment and endangered species.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Critical Habitat Delay for Endangered Arizona Squirrels
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of their intent to sue the agency for its delay in protecting habitat essential to the survival and recovery of southeast Arizona’s highly endangered Mount Graham red squirrels.
Read more.Energy Department Refuses to Set Standards for Evaluating New Gas Exports
WASHINGTON— After a 10-year delay, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday denied a petition for rulemaking calling on the agency to issue regulations defining whether proposed gas exports are consistent with the public interest.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks Enforceable Rules to Prevent Washington Wolf Killings
SEATTLE— Conservation groups petitioned the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Tuesday for rules requiring the use of nonlethal deterrence measures before killing wolves. The petition comes after the commission failed to adopt similar rules last year despite Gov. Jay Inslee’s order to undergo rulemaking.
Read more.Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl Again Protected Under Endangered Species Act
TUCSON, Ariz.— Following multiple petitions and lawsuits, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today again protected the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl as threatened under the Endangered Species Act after it lost protections 17 years ago.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Rallies for Tribes’ Grand Canyon National Monument Proposal
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— Center for Biological Diversity members are traveling from across Arizona today to support the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition’s proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument at a federal listening session in Flagstaff. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai Tribe, and I’tah Kukveni means “our ancestral footprints” for the Hopi Tribe.
Read more.Hundreds of Different Species Identified in Craggy Mountains BioBlitz in North Carolina
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity and its partners recently completed a bioblitz in the proposed Craggy National Scenic Area that identified more than 1,600 organisms and 647 species. Dozens of expert naturalists and hundreds of community scientists teamed up to explore the Craggy Mountains in North Carolina and identify as many plant and animal species as possible.
Read more.Critical Habitat Protection Proposed for Green Sea Turtles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In response to a legal agreement with environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries today proposed to designate roughly 8,850 acres of beaches and nearly 428,000 square miles of coastal waters as protected critical habitat for six distinct populations of green sea turtles.
Read more.FEMA Pulls Oregon Logging Road Funding In Response to Lawsuit
PORTLAND, Ore.— In response to a lawsuit filed Monday by the Center for Biological Diversity and Cascadia Wildlands, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has pulled its authorization of federal disaster relief funding to rebuild Cook Creek Road. The road would have been used for logging in Oregon’s Tillamook State Forest.
Read more.Legal Agreement Following Court Win Secures Plan to Protect Pacific Humpbacks From Deadly Entanglements
SAN FRANCISCO— The National Marine Fisheries Service agreed today to establish a team to reduce whale entanglements in a federal fishery off the West Coast in a legal agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity. The Service will establish the team by Oct. 31, 2025.
Read more.Golden Paintbrush Recovery Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success Story
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finalized removing the golden paintbrush from the endangered species list after the flowering plant recovered in the Pacific Northwest.
Read more.Biden Declines to Embargo Products From Mexico Despite Vaquita Violation
WASHINGTON— President Biden announced today that he will not embargo products from Mexico despite the country’s failure to halt illegal wildlife trade threatening the critically endangered vaquita porpoise.
Read more.Court Order Sought to Block Drilling at Nevada’s Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
LAS VEGAS, Nev.— Conservation advocates asked a federal judge today to prevent the launch of a lithium exploration project on the border of Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in southern Nevada. The motion for a preliminary injunction comes after the groups sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management earlier this month for approving the project.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Guam’s Endangered Species From Construction, Operation of U.S. Marine Corp Base
HAGÅTÑA, Guam — The Center for Biological Diversity and Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Navy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect endangered species from the construction and operation of Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz in Guam.
Read more.House ‘Extinction Rider’ Seeks to Gut Imperiled Birds’ Protections
WASHINGTON― U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) has introduced a must-pass Interior Department appropriations bill with riders that would gut Endangered Species Act protections for the lesser prairie chicken and imperiled populations of sage grouse. The birds all teeter on the brink of extinction.
Read more.California Regulator Halts New Oil, Gas Wells Following Lawsuit
LOS ANGELES— A judge approved an agreement today to end litigation over approvals for 17 new oil and gas wells, some near homes and schools, in Los Angeles and Kern counties. The agreement comes after the state oil and gas regulator cancelled and rescinded approvals for the new wells.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges FEMA-Funded Logging Road in Oregon’s Coast Range
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Cascadia Wildlands sued the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for authorizing federal disaster relief funding to rebuild Cook Creek Road, a logging road in Oregon’s Tillamook State Forest.
Read more.Court Order Sought to Block Mining Exploration in Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups asked a federal judge today for a preliminary injunction to stop the launch of two mineral exploration projects in southern Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains. Today’s move comes after the groups filed a lawsuit in June challenging the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of the drilling projects, which could result in around-the-clock drilling in the biologically sensitive habitat for up to seven years.
Read more.18 Navajo Chapters Oppose Huge Pumped Storage Projects Threatening Arizona’s Black Mesa
BLACK MESA, Ariz.— Tó Nizhóní Ání, Diné Citizens Against Ruining our Environment and the Center for Biological Diversity submitted resolutions to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today from Navajo chapters and agencies opposing three pumped storage projects on the Navajo Nation’s Black Mesa, southeast of Kayenta. A total of 18 chapters and agencies have passed resolutions opposing the projects.
Read more.EPA Orders Warning Labels on Seresto Flea Collars Linked to Thousands of Pet Injuries, Deaths
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency today ordered warning labels be placed on Seresto flea and tick collars, which have been linked to tens of thousands of pet injuries and deaths in recent years.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s 2023-2025 Renewable Fuels Standard
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s fuel volume requirements for corn ethanol and other biofuels for 2023-2025. Last month the EPA set the 2022 required minimum volume for transportation sector use at roughly 15 billion gallons of corn ethanol and 5.63 billion gallons of advanced biofuels.
Read more.Petition Calls on Federal Government to End Fast-Tracking of Offshore Oil Drilling Projects in Gulf of Mexico
WASHINGTON— Six environmental groups submitted a petition today to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management calling on the agency to end a routine practice of fast-tracking approval for offshore oil and gas projects. The Interior Department first adopted a “categorical exclusion” for oil and gas activities in 1981, allowing exploration and development plans to win approval for much of the Gulf of Mexico without undergoing the site-specific analysis normally required by the National Environmental Policy Act.
Read more.Federal Court Stays Mountain Valley Pipeline’s Biological Opinion Again
WASHINGTON— The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily halted the Mountain Valley Pipeline today, issuing a stay of the biological opinion and incidental take statement under the Endangered Species Act. The massive pipeline project threatens imperiled species like the candy darter and Roanoke logperch.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Challenging EPA’s Failure to Address Dangerous Nitrogen Air Pollution
OAKLAND, Calif.— Conservation and public-health groups filed formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to review and update the air-pollution limits that protect human health from harmful nitrogen pollution nationwide.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed Challenging EPA’s Approval of Colorado Smog-Reduction Plan
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity and 350 Colorado filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of a plan that failed to adequately reduce smog in the Metro Denver and North Front Range by July 2021.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Mine Drilling at Nevada’s Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
LAS VEGAS, Nev.— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management today challenging the agency’s approval of exploratory mineral drilling near the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
Read more.Federal Public Lands Rule Should Strengthen Protections for Wildlife, Waters, Climate
WASHINGTON— People submitted tens of thousands of comments to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management by today’s deadline on the agency’s long-awaited conservation rule governing 245 million acres of public lands. The Center for Biological Diversity’s comments generally support the new proposed rule but urge the Biden administration to strengthen it to benefit wildlife, water and the climate.
Read more.Federal Court Rejects Weld County’s Request to Exempt Fossil Fuel Companies From Smog-reduction Measures
DENVER— A federal appeals court today rejected an attempt by commissioners in Colorado’s Weld County to let some oil and gas operations off the hook for their contribution to asthma-causing smog in the Denver and Front Range region.
Read more.Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
SILVER CITY, N.M.— In response to more than 20 years of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the dunes sagebrush lizard is endangered and warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Legal Intervention Defends EPA Approval of California Clean Truck Rule
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity joined seven other groups today to intervene in lawsuits regarding clean truck standards in California. The intervention seeks to defend California’s ability under the Clean Air Act to set truck emissions standards stronger than those of the federal government. The lawsuits were brought against the Biden administration by a variety of trucking and petroleum industry groups, along with several states.
Read more.Biden Administration Rejects Calls to Phase Out Oil, Gas on Public Lands by 2035
WASHINGTON— Responding to a lawsuit by conservation groups, the Biden administration has officially rejected a rulemaking petition from more than 360 U.S. climate, Indigenous and conservation groups to phase out oil and gas extraction on public lands by 2035.
Read more.Report Finds Americans Support Secondhand, DIY Gifts
TUCSON, Ariz.— A new report by the Center for Biological Diversity found that 56% of Americans are likely to give a secondhand gift and 68% are likely to make a handmade or DIY gift during the holiday season.
Read more.‘Protectors’ Art Exhibit Spotlights People Working to Save Species From Extinction
PORTLAND, Ore.— The plight of endangered species and the inspiring stories behind those trying to save them are the focus of a new traveling art exhibit launching today. The exhibit is a partnership between the Center for Biological Diversity and the Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative.
Read more.Petition Urges Interior Department to Ban ‘Cyanide Bombs’ On Public Lands
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity, Predator Defense and scores of other conservation groups petitioned the U.S. Interior Department today to ban the use of M-44 devices, commonly known as ‘‘cyanide bombs,’’ on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. These wildlife-killing devices are spring-loaded ejectors armed with cyanide powder that have injured people and inhumanely killed thousands of animals every year.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Oregon’s Salmon, Orcas From Irresponsible Floodplain Development
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups filed a formal notice of their intent to sue the Federal Emergency Management Agency over its failure to protect floodplain-dependent imperiled salmonids and orcas in Oregon that are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.California Legislature Passes Joshua Tree Protection Law
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California lawmakers today passed the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, permanently protecting the iconic and imperiled species.
Read more.Small Florida Fish Is Endangered Species Act Success
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today removed a small Florida fish called the Okaloosa darter from the endangered species list because it has recovered. After decades of conservation work, the tiny fish is no longer in danger of extinction.
Read more.Two Freshwater Mussels Receive Endangered Species Act Protections in Arkansas, Missouri
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— In response to a 2010 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final rule today to protect the western and Ouachita fanshell mussels under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also designated 489 miles of critical habitat in the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Missouri for these threatened species.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Final Endangered Species Act Protection for Pyramid Pigtoe Mussels
NASHVILLE, Tenn.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to finalize Endangered Species Act protections for a freshwater mussel called the pyramid pigtoe which has disappeared from nearly 80% of its range.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Final Endangered Species Act Protections for Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit today against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to finalize Endangered Species Act protections for the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, which survives in low numbers in southern Arizona, Texas and portions of Mexico.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Final Endangered Species Act Protections for Mt. Rainier White-Tailed Ptarmigan
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to finalize Endangered Species Act protections for the Mt. Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan, which is immediately threatened by climate-related snowpack changes in Washington’s Cascades.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Final Endangered Species Act Protections for Foothill Yellow-Legged Frogs in California
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit today against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to finalize Endangered Species Act protections for foothill yellow-legged frogs in California.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Protections for Humboldt Martens, Tall Western Penstemon
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit today against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to finalize critical habitat for Humboldt martens and to protect the tall western penstemon under the Endangered Species Act. Both species are imperiled and need strong federal protections to prevent their extinction.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Endangered Species Protections for New Mexico Chipmunk, Six Texas Mussels
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit today against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to finalize Endangered Species Act protections for the Peñasco least chipmunk, which lives in New Mexico, and six Texas mussel species suffering from habitat destruction and pollution.
Read more.Biden Administration Should Remove Border Walls, Keep Wildlife Corridors Open Along U.S.-Mexico Border
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Biden administration should remove border walls in six locations along the U.S.-Mexico border, abandon plans to build new sections of wall and remove stadium lighting from conservation lands, the Center for Biological Diversity said in comments submitted today to Customs and Border Protection. The comments are in response to the agency’s request for input on proposed remediation projects in California, Arizona and New Mexico.
Read more.Biden Administration Retains Key Trump-era Extinction Policies
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration today proposed revisions to Trump-era regulations that severely weakened protections for our nation’s most imperiled animals and plants, keeping in place some of the most significant rollbacks to the Endangered Species Act in the law’s 50-year history.
Read more.EPA Renewable Fuels Standard Shortchanges Imperiled Species Review
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency shirked its legal obligation to protect imperiled plants and animals in a final rule released today setting fuel volume requirements for corn ethanol and other biofuels through 2025.
Read more.50 Groups Petition to End California’s Dirty Biomass Loophole
OAKLAND, Calif.— More than 50 environmental and justice organizations petitioned the California Public Utilities Commission today to end a nearly two-decades-old “free pass” given to biomass power plants under the state’s greenhouse gas emission performance standard. The commission carved out this free pass based on the false premise that electricity made from biomass is not a significant source of carbon emissions.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Mineral Exploration Threatening Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains, Endangered Species
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service today to challenge its authorization of two mineral exploration projects in Arizona’s rugged and biologically diverse Patagonia Mountains, just north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The federal agency’s recent approval means drilling operations could begin immediately and continue around-the-clock for seven years.
Read more.Rare Southern Mussel Proposed for Endangered Species Protections
COLUMBUS, Ga.— Following a decade of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to list the southern elktoe mussel as endangered. The Service also proposed to designate 578 river miles in Alabama, Georgia and Florida as critical habitat.
Read more.Nevada Sen. Cortez Masto Pushes Bill for Colorado River Water to Feed Las Vegas Sprawl
LAS VEGAS— Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced legislation today to force approval of the Horizon Lateral Pipeline, which would deliver Colorado River water to feed new sprawl development south of Las Vegas.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Failure to Protect Salmon From Toxic Tire Chemical
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the Oregon and California state transportation agencies for failing to consider fatal impacts to salmon from toxic tire pollution.
Read more.Biden Administration Drops Appeal of Court Decision on Threat to Endangered Whales From Shipping Lanes
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Biden administration has abandoned its appeal of a 2022 court ruling holding that the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Coast Guard failed to meet Endangered Species Act requirements when designating shipping lanes into the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and the San Francisco Bay.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges TVA’s Backroom Deal, Flimsy Environmental Analysis
NASHVILLE, Tenn.— The Sierra Club, Appalachian Voices and the Center for Biological Diversity, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, filed a lawsuit this week against the Tennessee Valley Authority over the federal utility’s plans to replace a coal plant with a new gas-fired power plant in Cumberland City, Tennessee.
Read more.500+ International Groups: Biden Must Stop Fossil Fuel Expansion Ahead of September Climate Summit
WASHINGTON— More than 500 groups from six continents sent a letter to President Biden today demanding he stop fossil fuel expansion ahead of U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s climate ambition summit this September.
Read more.California Commission Advances Protection for California Sage Grouse
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Fish and Game Commission elevated the greater sage grouse to a candidate species today, providing full California Endangered Species Act protections to the birds for at least a year. In the interim, the Department of Fish and Wildlife will conduct a scientific review and recommend whether the birds should be permanently protected under the Act.
Read more.Bills Introduced to Ban Deadly ‘Cyanide Bombs’ on Public Lands
WASHINGTON— Bills introduced Tuesday by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) would ban the use of wildlife-killing M-44 devices, commonly known as ‘‘cyanide bombs,’’ on public lands. These deadly devices are spring-loaded capsules armed with cyanide spray that have injured people and inhumanely killed thousands of animals every year.
Read more.Wandering Mexican Wolf Asha Returned to Wild After Capture
PHOENIX— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it returned Asha, a well-known Mexican gray wolf, to the wilds of Arizona. She was captured last January for wandering outside of an arbitrary management zone and heading north into the southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico. Her journey last winter broke new ground and sent her east of Interstate 25, across Interstate 40, and up near Taos.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Timber Sale Threatening Rare Mature Forests, Wildlife in Colorado
DOLORES, Colo.— Forest advocates sued the U.S. Forest Service today for violating environmental laws when it approved a nearly 23,000-acre timber sale that would cut large, century-old ponderosa pine trees and threaten wildlife in southwestern Colorado’s San Juan National Forest.
Read more.Legal Petition Demands Biden Administration Halt Imports of Saudi Arabian Fossil Fuels
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce today to evaluate, review and ban all fossil fuel imports from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — including all oil products — under the U.S. Trade Act because of the national security threat these imports pose to the United States.
Read more.Biden Administration Urged to Reject Hydrogen Hubs
ALBUQUERQUE/TIWA TERRITORY, N.M.— A coalition of Indigenous, climate, environmental justice and youth advocates urged the Department of Energy today to reject funding for the Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub, which is intended to rapidly expand hydrogen production in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Read more.Rare Texas Plant Proposed For Endangered Species Protections
HOUSTON— Following a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting the Navasota false foxglove as an endangered species. The three-foot-tall, purplish-pink wildflowers are known to exist in just three locations on 1.9 acres spread across east Texas, areas the Service proposed to protect as critical habitat.
Read more.Top Scientists: California Must End Neighborhood Oil Drilling, New Fossil Fuel Permits
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— More than 100 scientists sent a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom today urging him to stop new oil and gas permit approvals, especially in and near neighborhoods. In the midst of a climate and public health crisis, California regulators have approved more than 1,000 new oil and gas permits this year — more than 600 of them within 3,200 feet of homes, schools and other sensitive sites.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Speed Endangered Species Protection for Ghost Orchid
HOLLYWOOD, Fla.— The Institute for Regional Conservation, the Center for Biological Diversity and the National Parks Conservation Association notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of their intent to sue the agency for delaying critically needed Endangered Species Act protection for the ghost orchid.
Read more.Legal Agreement Gives West Coast Fishers New Shot At Crucial Protections
SAN FRANCISCO— In a legal victory, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today agreed to reconsider whether West Coast fishers in northern California and southern Oregon warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Press Conference Monday to Explain Harms From Environmental Law Rollbacks
WASHINGTON— Legal experts and representatives from Indigenous and environmental groups will hold a virtual press conference Monday to discuss the environmental law rollbacks in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
Read more.Rare New Mexico Plant Proposed for Endangered Species Protections
SILVER CITY, N.M.— Following a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the swale paintbrush as an endangered species. The 19-inch-tall, yellowish-reddish flower is known to exist in only a single location in southwestern New Mexico’s bootheel.
Read more.Legal Intervention Defends Protections for Lesser Prairie Chickens
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Texas Campaign for the Environment moved today to intervene in a lawsuit to defend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to protect lesser prairie chickens under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Legal Victory Gives Southern Hognose Snake Another Chance at Endangered Species Protections
WASHINGTON— In a legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to consider granting Endangered Species Act protections to the southern hognose snake. The species lives in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
Read more.Federal Judge Nixes Approval of Idaho Phosphate Mine
BOISE, Idaho— A federal judge on Friday fully vacated a set of approvals by the Bureau of Land Management authorizing development of the Caldwell Canyon phosphate mine in southeastern Idaho.
Read more.Supreme Court Denies Oil Industry Challenge to California Offshore Fracking Moratorium
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Supreme Court today refused to hear a challenge to a court-ordered prohibition on offshore fracking in federal waters off the California coast.
Read more.Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations End in Paris With “Zero Draft” Still to Come
PARIS— The second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, or INC-2, ended today with a “zero draft” of a treaty expected before INC-3 and no sign from the U.S. of firm commitments to curb plastic production.
Read more.Embattled Puerto Rico Dredging Project Faces Court Hearing
WASHINGTON— A federal district court will hear oral arguments Monday in a lawsuit that challenges a proposed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging project in San Juan Bay, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico residents and environmental groups will hold a rally outside the courthouse before the hearing.
Read more.Secretary Haaland Protects Chaco Canyon From Oil, Gas Drilling
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— In response to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s decision today to prohibit new federal oil and gas leasing within 10 miles of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, members of the Greater Chaco Coalition called on the Biden administration to end all new federal fossil fuel leasing across the country.
Read more.Debt Ceiling Deal Stains Biden’s Legacy on Climate, Environmental Justice
WASHINGTON— Congress today passed a debt ceiling deal negotiated between President Biden and House Republicans that expedites the super-polluting Mountain Valley Pipeline, dramatically rolls back the National Environmental Policy Act, and weakens social safety nets for working families in exchange for a modest raising of the debt ceiling.
Read more.Idaho, Wyoming Urged to Require Bear Identification Course for Black Bear Hunters
JACKSON, Wyo.— Nine conservation organizations sent letters today urging the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Idaho Department of Fish and Game to require black bear hunters to take a bear identification course before getting a hunting license. Hunters continue to kill grizzlies, claiming they thought they were black bears.
Read more.New Mexico Creates School Health Buffer to Protect Against Oil, Gas Pollution
SANTA FE, N.M.— New Mexico Public Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announced an executive order today that bans new oil and gas leasing on state lands within one mile of schools and other educational facilities.
Read more.Upcoming Sage Grouse Plans Offer Biden Administration Chance to Protect Dwindling Species
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration’s long-awaited greater sage grouse land-use plans for 10 Western states could save the dwindling species, but some of the preliminary alternatives ignore the science showing what the birds need to survive, conservation groups said in a letter submitted today to the Bureau of Land Management.
Read more.California Assembly Approves Expansion of Toxic Rat Poisons Ban
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Assembly passed legislation on a 57-12 vote that expands protection for children, pets and wildlife from toxic rat poisons. Spearheaded by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Burbank), the California Ecosystems Protection Act of 2023, or Assembly Bill 1322, now awaits Senate approval.
Read more.Two South American Birds Proposed for U.S. Endangered Species Protections
WASHINGTON— Responding to a Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting two curassows from Bolivia and Peru under the Endangered Species Act. Both birds are threatened by hunting and habitat destruction.
Read more.Congress Urged to Pass Clean Debt Ceiling Bill
WASHINGTON— Environmental justice and environmental groups urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and members of Congress today to vote on a clean debt ceiling bill without the poison pills that harm disadvantaged communities and the climate.
Read more.Biden Sacrifices Climate, Working Families in Debt Ceiling Deal
WASHINGTON— President Biden unveiled details of a deal today with House Republicans that expedites the climate-killing Mountain Valley Pipeline, dramatically rolls back the National Environmental Policy Act, and freezes nondefense spending for agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and Interior Department in exchange for a modest raise of the debt ceiling.
Read more.Estados Unidos podrá imponer un embargo a México por violar un tratado de vida silvestre
WASHINGTON— El Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE. UU. anunció hoy que México no ha logrado detener el comercio ilegal de vida silvestre que amenaza a la vaquita marina en peligro crítico de extinción, reduciendo de la eficacia de un tratado internacional sobre la vida silvestre. Bajo la ley estadounidense, el presidente Biden decidirá mediados de julio si toma acción contra México, incluida la imposición de un embargo comercial. Si el presidente no prohibiera las importaciones de todos los productos de vida silvestre de México, debe explicar por qué.
Read more.U.S. Finds Mexico Is Undermining Wildlife Treaty, May Impose Embargo
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Mexico has failed to halt the illegal wildlife trade threatening the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, diminishing the effectiveness of an international wildlife treaty. Under U.S. law, President Biden must now decide by mid-July whether to take action against Mexico, including imposing a trade embargo. If the president fails to ban imports of all wildlife products from Mexico, he must explain why.
Read more.Court Overturns Federal Authorization to Kill 72 Grizzlies Near Yellowstone
PINEDALE, Wyo.— The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s authorization of the killing of up to 72 grizzly bears on public land just outside of Yellowstone National Park violated federal law.
Read more.Judge Rules Arizona Lawsuit Challenging Interstate 11 Will Move Forward
TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal judge has denied a government motion to partially dismiss conservation groups’ lawsuit challenging the Federal Highway Administration’s approval of route options for Interstate 11. The proposed 280-mile highway would run between Nogales and Wickenburg, Arizona.
Read more.Legal Victory Moves Oregon Coast Tiger Beetle One Step Closer to Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— In response to litigation brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must decide by August 2026 whether to protect the imperiled Siuslaw hairy-necked tiger beetle under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Two New Groups of Wolves Confirmed in Northern California
SAN FRANCISCO— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported today that two new groups of wolves have been confirmed in northern California — one in Tehama County and the other in western Lassen County. If the department designates each as a pack, they would become the fifth and sixth confirmed wolf packs in the Golden State in 100 years.
Read more.California Supreme Court to Hear Arguments Thursday Over Monterey Oil, Gas Drilling Restrictions
SAN FRANCISCO— The California Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday in a lawsuit that will determine whether Monterey County’s local ordinance banning new oil and gas wells and phasing out wastewater disposal is preempted by state laws.
Read more.Minnesota Bans Commercial Trapping of Wild Turtles
ST. PAUL, Minn.— Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz today signed into law a ban on commercial collection of wild turtles in the state. Each year, for-profit trappers have collected thousands of turtles from the state’s waterways, mostly to sell for food, traditional Asian medicines or pets.
Read more.Report: Proposed Interstate 11 Would Worsen Arizona’s Water Crisis
TUCSON, Ariz.— The proposed Interstate 11 through Arizona would spur dramatic population growth and an unsustainable increase in water demand, according to a new report.
Read more.Federal Protection Sought for Washington Coast Spring Chinook Salmon
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Pacific Rivers filed a petition today to protect Washington coast spring-run Chinook salmon under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Nearly 2,000 Acres of Critical Habitat Protected for Endangered Miami Tiger Beetle
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated 1,869 acres of lifesaving critical habitat for the endangered Miami tiger beetle in Miami-Dade County. The beetle currently survives in only two isolated populations, separated by urban development.
Read more.Smalltail Shark Moves Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON— Responding to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced today that protecting the smalltail shark under the Endangered Species Act may be warranted. The smalltail shark population has declined by more than 80% globally over the past 27 years.
Read more.Judge Rules Colorado Failed to Protect Waterways from Factory Farm Pollution
DENVER— A Colorado court has ruled that the state’s Department of Public Health & Environment violated state and federal laws by failing to protect waterways with essential monitoring provisions in a statewide general water-pollution permit for concentrated animal feeding operations.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Statement on Secretary Haaland Meeting on Proposed Monument
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK— The Center for Biological Diversity issued the following statement in response to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s meeting today with the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition concerning its proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” to the Havasupai, and I’tah Kukveni means “our footprints” to the Hopi.
Read more.Washington Wildlife Agency Recommends Reducing Gray Wolf Protections
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife today recommended that state protections for Washington’s wolves be reduced from endangered to sensitive.
Read more.Blumenthal, Grijalva Introduce Bill to Save Endangered Butterflies, Fish, Plants, Mollusks
WASHINGTON— Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) have introduced the Extinction Prevention Act of 2023, which would provide $20 million per year to fund crucial conservation work to recover the most endangered groups of species in the United States.
Read more.10 Reasons to Celebrate Endangered Species Act on Endangered Species Day
PORTLAND, Ore.— To celebrate National Endangered Species Day tomorrow and the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act this year, the Center for Biological Diversity is highlighting 10 reasons to be grateful for the Act — one of the United States’ bedrock environmental laws. Since it was passed in 1973, the Act has saved species, secured habitats and protected entire ecosystems.
Read more.Connecticut Celebration to Mark 50 Years of Endangered Species Act Success
BRIDGEPORT, Conn.— The Center for Biological Diversity will join Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo on Friday, May 19, to celebrate Endangered Species Day and the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Appeals Court to Hear Arguments Wednesday Challenging Massive Wyoming Fracking Project
DENVER― A federal appeals court panel will hear arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by conservation groups challenging a Trump-era plan to allow a massive gas field in southwestern Wyoming. Pronghorns and sage grouse rely on the 220-square-mile sagebrush habitat for their survival.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Reduce Air Pollution From Oil, Methane Gas Industries in Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today against the Environmental Protection Agency for delays in deciding whether to approve or reject Pennsylvania’s outdated plan to clean up smog from the methane gas industry. The methane gas is mainly extracted using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Nevada’s Railroad Valley Toad
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect the critically imperiled Railroad Valley toad under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Biden’s Mediocre Mitigation Policy Skimps on Habitat Protection for Rare Wildlife
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration issued a mitigation policy today that will guide how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reduces and offsets harms to endangered species when reviewing federal actions and projects.
Read more.California Oil Regulators Sued Over New Oil, Gas Wells Near Homes, Beaches
LONG BEACH, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued California oil regulators today for approving about two dozen new oil and gas wells in Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo counties close to homes, beaches and important habitat without conducting the required environmental review.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Gulf of Mexico Wildlife From Offshore Drilling
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Interior Department for failing to adequately protect endangered whooping cranes, Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, manatees and other imperiled species from the dangers of offshore oil and gas extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.
Read more.La Captura Incidental de Mamíferos Marinos en las Pesquerías de Ecuador Amenaza el Acceso al Mercado de Mariscos de los Estados Unidos de América
WASHINGTON – Un reporte publicado hoy por grupos conservacionistas y de protección animal descubre que la industria pesquera de Ecuador no cumple con los estándares de Estados Unidos para limitar la captura incidental de ballenas y delfines. En consecuencia, Ecuador puede perder acceso al mercado de importación de mariscos de EE. UU. para algunos productos en 2024. Ecuador exporta a EE. UU. alrededor de USD 1.600 millones de mariscos por año.
Read more.New Mexico Sued Over Failure to Control Skyrocketing Oil, Gas Pollution
SANTA FE, N.M.— A coalition of Indigenous peoples, youth, frontline community members and environmental groups sued New Mexico, the state legislature, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state agencies today for violating their state constitutional duty to control the rapidly growing pollution from the oil and gas industry.
Read more.Marine Mammal Bycatch in Ecuador’s Fisheries Threatens Access to U.S. Seafood Market
WASHINGTON— A report released today by conservation and animal protection groups finds that Ecuador’s fishing industry does not meet U.S. standards for limiting whale and dolphin bycatch. As a result, Ecuador may lose access to the U.S. seafood import market for some products in 2024. Ecuador exports around USD $1.6 billion of seafood to the United States annually.
Read more.Biden, Congressional Democrats Urged to Accelerate Renewable Energy, Deprioritize Fossil Fuels
WASHINGTON— More than 290 groups urged President Biden and Congressional Democratic leaders today to take action and accelerate renewable energy, address electric transmission challenges, and advance environmental justice.
Read more.Rally to Launch Landmark N.M. Constitutional Lawsuit Over Oil, Gas Pollution
SANTA FE, N.M.— A coalition of Indigenous peoples, youth, frontline community members and environmental groups will rally in front of the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico tomorrow to mark the filing of a lawsuit against New Mexico, the state legislature, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other defendants for violating their state constitutional duty to control the oil and gas industry’s growing pollution.
Read more.Maine Flower Becomes Endangered Species Act Success Story
PORTLAND, Maine— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that an endangered flower in Maine is recovering under the Endangered Species Act and has been downlisted to threatened status.
Read more.Community Groups to Pack Tennessee Valley Authority Board Meetings Tuesday, Wednesday
NORRIS, Tenn.― Community groups, coal-ash cleanup workers and others will face the Tennessee Valley Authority’s board at its meetings Tuesday and Wednesday to demand that the utility protect workers and environmental justice communities and transition to 100% clean, renewable energy. The board meets this week to hear public comments and hold its quarterly meeting.
Read more.Reward Raised to $15,000 for Info on Arkansas Bald Eagle Killings
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— The Center for Biological Diversity today increased the reward to $15,000 for information leading to a conviction for the illegal killing of four bald eagles in northern Arkansas.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Road Reopening in Oregon’s Tillamook State Forest
PORTLAND, Ore.—The Center for Biological Diversity and Cascadia Wildlands filed a notice of intent today to sue the Federal Emergency Management Agency for funding the reopening of Cook Creek Road in the Oregon Coast Range.
Read more.Federal Officials Weigh In on Protecting Coastal Birds at Florida State Park
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is concerned about deadly bird entanglements at Florida’s Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier and is committed to “exploring options with others to find a resolution,” according to a new letter from the agency to conservation groups.
Read more.EPA: Three Popular Neonicotinoid Pesticides Likely to Drive More Than 200 Endangered Plants, Animals Extinct
WASHINGTON— An assessment released today by the Environmental Protection Agency found that three popular neonicotinoid insecticides are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of more than 200 plants and animals protected under the Endangered Species Act. This includes 25 insect species and more than 160 plants dependent on insect pollination.
Read more.Sex Ed For All Month Highlights Need For Comprehensive Sex Ed in Schools
TUCSON, Ariz.— May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time when community leaders, caring adults, allies and advocates call on local school boards, parent-teacher associations, and lawmakers to invest in sex education that meets the needs of young people and support sex education programs that promote critical thinking, communication skills, sexual health and wellness, consent and self-esteem.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges California’s Regressive Rooftop Solar Policy
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity, The Protect Our Communities Foundation and the Environmental Working Group late Wednesday petitioned the California Court of Appeal to review the state’s new rooftop solar policy. The policy, which took effect April 15, significantly slashes the credit new solar users get for sharing their extra solar energy with the grid.
Read more.Biden Administration Sued for Failing to Protect Endangered Species Habitat From Harmful Pesticides
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to push it to take action to stop endangered species from being harmed by pesticides in habitats that are critical to their survival.
Read more.Senate Takes Unprecedented Vote to End Lesser Prairie Chicken Protections
WASHINGTON— Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) joined Senate Republicans today in using the Congressional Review Act to strip away Endangered Species Act protections for the critically imperiled lesser prairie chicken. This is the first time in the CRA’s 30-year history that Congress has attempted to use this law to rescind federal protections for an individual species.
Read more.Threatened Idaho Plant Finally Receives Critical Habitat
BOISE, Idaho— Following litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated critical habitat today for the slickspot peppergrass, an Idaho plant that’s protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency’s final rule sets aside 78,009 acres in Ada, Elmore, Gem, Payette and Owyhee counties.
Read more.Wildlife Data: Massive U.S. Mammal Imports Threaten Biodiversity
WASHINGTON— The United States imported more than 250 million mammal parts for commercial use between 2016 and 2020, according to data obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Read more.Colorado Judge Pushes Polis’ Administration on West Elk Coal Mine Air Quality Permit
GUNNISON, Colo.— A Colorado judge today set a deadline for Gov. Jared Polis’ administration to draft an air quality permit for the West Elk coal mine and ordered a state agency to report progress to ensure the tardy permitting remains on track.
Read more.D.C. Federal Appeals Court to Hear Arguments Wednesday Challenging Oil Train Approval
WASHINGTON― A federal appeals court panel will hear arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by conservation groups challenging the U.S. Surface Transportation Board’s approval of the proposed Uinta Basin Railway. The railway, which could facilitate the quadrupling of oil extraction in northeast Utah’s Uinta Basin, would move crude from Utah through Colorado to Gulf Coast refineries.
Read more.Forest Service Clearcutting Plan Next to Yellowstone National Park Threatens Grizzlies, Old Growth
WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont.— Conservation groups late Monday challenged a U.S. Forest Service plan to clearcut more than 5,500 acres of pine forests just outside Yellowstone National Park, in the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The plan also calls for logging across an additional 9,000 acres and bulldozing up to 56 miles of roads in the area, including through old-growth forests.
Read more.High Levels of Dangerous ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in California’s Most-Used Insecticide
WASHINGTON— California’s most-used insecticide, along with two other pesticides, is contaminated with potentially dangerous levels of PFAS “forever chemicals,” according to test results released today by the Center for Biological Diversity and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Federal Failure to Protect Manatees
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, Miami Waterkeeper, and Frank S. González García sent a notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect the West Indian manatee under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Congressional Resolution Urges Biden to Declare Climate Emergency, Phase Out Fossil Fuels
WASHINGTON— Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) reintroduced a resolution today calling on President Biden to declare a climate emergency and use existing non-emergency powers to lead a multiagency, massive-scale response to the climate crisis.
Read more.Gov. DeSantis Urged to Veto Radioactive Roads Bill
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— More than 20 conservation organizations across the Southeast urged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis today to veto House Bill 1191, which would allow the use of radioactive fertilizer waste in road construction across the state.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Texas Wildlife Habitat, Beach Access From More Exploding Rockets
BROWNSVILLE, Texas— Following a massive rocket explosion in South Texas, national and local environmental groups and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, Inc. sued the Federal Aviation Administration today for failing to fully analyze and mitigate the environmental harms resulting from the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy launch program at Boca Chica.
Read more.Florida Issues Draft Permit for Piney Point Phosphate Facility Following Clean Water Act Lawsuit
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following litigation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued a draft Clean Water Act permit for the Piney Point phosphate facility in Manatee County. The previous permit for the facility expired in March 2001.
Read more.Bi-State Sage Grouse Get Another Chance for Endangered Species Act Protections
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it is reopening consideration of whether to list the bi-state sage grouse as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges U.S. Forest Service Failure to Protect Arizona’s Lower Salt River
PHOENIX— A coalition of conservationists, environmentalists and birders sued the U.S. Forest Service today for failing to protect the Lower Salt River Recreation Area from hundreds of unowned horses that threaten endangered species habitat.
Read more.South Llano Springs Moss Protected As Endangered, Denied Habitat Protection
AUSTIN, Texas— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the South Llano Springs moss as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, but the agency denied critical habitat protection. Globally only 1,000 square feet of this moss remain, at one vulnerable site.
Read more.Two Missouri Crayfish Receive Endangered Species Protection
ST. LOUIS, Mo.— Following litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the Big Creek and St. Francis River crayfish as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also designated 2,112 river miles of critical habitat in the Missouri Ozarks for the two crayfish.
Read more.Nevada Senator Introduces Bill to Give Away Public Lands to Mining Industry
WASHINGTON— Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto introduced legislation today that would allow the mining industry to turn public lands into toxic mining-waste dumps.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets U.S. Delay on Petition to Phase Out Public Lands Oil Drilling
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Interior Department today for failing to respond to a rulemaking petition to phase out oil and gas extraction on federal public lands.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered West Virginia Species From Coal Hauling
RICHWOOD, W.Va.— Conservation groups notified the U.S. Forest Service today they intended to sue over the agency’s failure to protect endangered species from the harmful effects of coal hauling in the Monongahela National Forest.
Read more.Court Blocks Logging in Montana’s Kootenai National Forest
MISSOULA, Mont.— A federal judge today halted logging and road construction for the large Knotty Pine timber sale project in the Kootenai National Forest. The project threatens a small, imperiled population of grizzly bears near the Montana-Canada border.
Read more.Wetland-Dependent Desert Flower Protected Under Endangered Species Act
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the Wright’s marsh thistle as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also designated 159 acres in seven areas as protected critical habitat for the imperiled wetlands plant.
Read more.Southern Resident Orcas Move Closer to Oregon Endangered Species Protections
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to advance a petition seeking to protect Southern Resident orcas under the state Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Massive Warehouse Project in Napa County
AMERICAN CANYON, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued American Canyon today for approving a 2.4 million-square-foot warehouse project that would increase air pollution, contribute to the climate crisis, and pave over wetlands and wildlife habitat.
Read more.Forest Service Plans First National Rule to Protect Mature, Old-Growth Trees, Forests
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Forest Service today announced a pathway for protecting mature and old-growth trees and forests as part of a strategy to improve the climate resilience of federally managed forests. The agency proposed a rulemaking process which will include a public comment period to gather input on new policies the agency can adopt.
Read more.Legal Agreement Spurs Analysis of California Gillnets’ Threat to Humpback Whales
SAN FRANCISCO— The National Marine Fisheries Service agreed today to complete a new assessment of the threat of drift gillnets in California to endangered humpback whales. In the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 fishing seasons an estimated 12 Pacific humpbacks were caught in the California drift gillnet fishery, according to federal reports.
Read more.Federal Court Allows California Offshore Drilling Lawsuit to Proceed
LOS ANGELES— A federal court today allowed a lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s failure to review outdated plans for offshore oil platforms near Huntington Beach to proceed. The judge rejected the Biden administration’s attempt to dismiss the case on the grounds the court did not have jurisdiction to hear it.
Read more.Analysis Finds Most Wool Knitwear Is Blended With Plastic
NEW YORK, N.Y.— More than half of wool knitwear is blended with synthetic fibers derived from fossil fuels, a new analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity and Collective Fashion Justice has found.
Read more.Southern Resident Orca Buffer Bill Clears Washington Legislature
SEATTLE— A bill to create a 1,000-yard buffer around the critically endangered Southern Resident orcas is headed to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk for his signature after clearing a final legislative hurdle on Monday. Senate Bill 5371 requires that boaters stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Residents, beginning in 2025.
Read more.Oregon’s Annual Wolf Report Reveals Only Three Additional Wolves
PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon’s wolf population increased by just three confirmed animals in 2022 — rising from 175 to 178 wolves — according to a report released today by the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. High levels of wolves killed by people likely explains the stalled recovery of the state’s wolf population.
Read more.49 Endangered Hawaiian Species to Gain Lifesaving Habitat Protections
HONOLULU— In a legal victory stemming from a Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to designate protected critical habitat for 39 endangered plants and 10 endangered animals.
Read more.Endangered Mexican Gray Wolf Killed by Government Agents in New Mexico
SILVER CITY, N.M.— An endangered Mexican gray wolf has been killed in New Mexico by federal employees, according to a document released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Affectionately named Rusty by a middle school student in a nationwide contest, the wolf was killed on April 12, leaving behind his likely pregnant mate and several yearling pups. The Service quietly authorized the killing on March 29, 2023 — the 25th anniversary of Mexican wolves’ return to the wild.
Read more.Farmers, Conservationists Ask Court to Strike Down Crop-Damaging Dicamba Pesticide
TUCSON, Ariz.— Four public-interest organizations representing farmers and conservationists filed arguments seeking to have a federal court again strike down the Environmental Protection Agency’s controversial approval of the drift-prone, volatile herbicide dicamba.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Massive Habitat Reduction for Endangered Snakes in Arizona, New Mexico
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for reducing critical habitat for two endangered snakes by more than 90% from what it originally proposed to protect the animals.
Read more.Biden Auto Emissions Rules Fail to Meet Climate Emergency
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration proposed new tailpipe emissions standards today that fail to rein in massive carbon pollution from millions of new gas-powered SUVs, pickup trucks and cars.
Read more.Statement Supporting Tribes’ Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument Proposal
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition proposed today that President Biden designate 1.1 million acres of ancestral Tribal and federal public land around Grand Canyon National Park as the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” to the Havasupai, and I’tah Kukveni means “our footprints” to the Hopi.
Read more.Una Demanda Impugna los Fondos de FEMA destinados a Reconstruir la Red Eléctrica de Puerto Rico Basada en Combustibles Fósiles
WASHINGTON— Grupos de conservación y comunitarios han presentado hoy una demanda contra la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias y el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional acerca de los planes de reconstruir la red eléctrica de Puerto Rico y volver al modelo centralizado de producción de energía basado en combustibles fósiles en vez de invertir en la energía renovable distribuida que necesitan los puertorriqueños.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges FEMA Funding to Rebuild Puerto Rico’s Fossil Fuel-Dependent Electric Grid
WASHINGTON— Conservation and community groups sued the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security today over their plans to rebuild Puerto Rico’s centralized electric grid back to the fossil fuel status quo instead of investing in the distributed renewable energy Puerto Ricans need.
Read more.EPA Sued Over Unregulated Water Pollution From Oil Refineries, Plastics Plants, Other Industries
WASHINGTON— Environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to set limits on harmful chemicals like cyanide, benzene, mercury and chlorides in wastewater emitted by oil refineries and plants that produce chemicals, fertilizer, plastics, pesticides and nonferrous metals.
Read more.New Study: Cows Are Damaging Nearly Every River Mile of San Pedro Conservation Area in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— A new survey shows cow grazing has significantly damaged almost all of nearly 42 river miles surveyed in the San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area, putting the area’s remarkable ecosystem and endangered species at risk.
Read more.Texas Flower Threatened By Urban Sprawl Wins Endangered Species Act Protection
SAN ANTONIO— Thanks to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is placing the bracted twistflower on the list of threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The flower is in the path of expanding development along the Interstate 35 corridor of central Texas, and today’s protection comes after 48 years of delay.
Read more.Legal Victory Speeds Habitat Protection for Endangered Miami Tiger Beetles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to finalize critical habitat for endangered Miami tiger beetles by May 8. The announcement marks a legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity, Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, and Tropical Audubon Society. These native beetles face devastating habitat loss from unfettered development and sea-level rise.
Read more.U.S. to Decide Whether Mexico's Failure to Protect Vaquita Warrants Embargo
NEW YORK— In a settlement filed in court Friday, the U.S. Department of the Interior agreed to determine whether Mexico has failed to stop illegal fishing and trade of totoaba that is driving the vaquita porpoise’s extinction. The determination could result in an embargo against Mexico.
Read more.Washington’s Wolf Population Increased Just 5% in 2022
OLYMPIA, Wash.— Washington’s wolf population increased by just 5% in 2022, according to figures released today by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. That increase is far less than what’s necessary to achieve a healthy wolf population in the state.
Read more.New Group of Wolves Confirmed in California’s Tehama County
SAN FRANCISCO— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife this week confirmed that photographs of three wolves were captured on trail cameras recently in Tehama County. The trio marks the fifth potential pack in nearly 100 years to establish itself in the state.
Read more.Atlantic Humpback Dolphin Recommended for Endangered Species Act Listing
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service announced a proposed rule today to list the Atlantic humpback dolphin under the Endangered Species Act, in response to a 2021 petition filed by the Animal Welfare Institute, the Center for Biological Diversity and VIVA Vaquita. Following a 60-day public comment period, the agency has until April 2024 to make a final decision on protections.
Read more.California Agency Recommends Advancing Protection for Sage Grouse
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife late Wednesday recommended that the state’s greater sage grouse move toward protection under the state’s Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Tennessee’s Barrens Darter Back on Track for Endangered Species Protections
WASHINGTON— In a legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to again consider granting Endangered Species Act protections for the Barrens darter. Named for its home on the Barrens Plateau of central Tennessee, the darter is one of the rarest fish in North America.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered Crayfish Pushed to the Brink of Extinction by Coal Mining in Appalachia
CHARLESTON, W.Va.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Appalachian Voices filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failure to protect the endangered Guyandotte River crayfish and the threatened Big Sandy crayfish from coal mining pollution. Both species are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Threatened Fish Receives 524 Miles of Lifesaving Habitat in Mississippi
JACKSON, Miss.— Following a decade of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated 524 river miles of critical habitat for the threatened Pearl darter.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges California State Park Plan Allowing Off-Road Vehicles
SACRAMENTO— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the California State Department of Parks and Recreation and the Park and Recreation Commission today challenging the general plan revision for Red Rock Canyon State Park, which allows off-highway vehicles on two park roads and the Ricardo Campground.
Read more.Congress Urged to Zero Out Funding for Federal Oil, Gas Programs
WASHINGTON— A coalition of 215 groups today urged House and Senate leaders to end funding for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s fossil fuel extraction programs on public lands and waters.
Read more.Federal Judge Allows Massive Willow Oil Project Construction to Proceed in Western Arctic
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— A federal judge today ruled in favor of oil giant ConocoPhillips by denying a motion for preliminary injunction brought by environmental groups as part of a lawsuit challenging the Willow project in Alaska’s Western Arctic. The ruling allows construction activities planned for the remaining three weeks of the construction season, including constructing roads and a gravel mine as a first step toward developing a massive oil-extraction operation.
Read more.EPA: Sulfoxaflor Insecticide Likely Puts 63 Endangered Species in Jeopardy of Extinction
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency released a final biological evaluation today showing that a single chemical, the bee-killing insecticide sulfoxaflor, is likely putting 4% of all endangered plants and animals in jeopardy of extinction.
Read more.California State University Northridge to Host Free Screening of Childfree by Choice Film
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and California State University, Northridge will host a free screening of My So-Called Selfish Life, directed by Therese Shechter, a documentary that examines the choice to be childfree and the importance of reproductive rights and justice. The screening will be held at California State University, Northridge and followed by a Q&A and panel discussion about the relationship between reproductive freedom and the environment.
Read more.California Court Blocks Massive Sprawl Development in Riverside County
RIVERSIDE, Calif.— A California appeals court has ordered Riverside County to set aside its approval of an 8,725-unit development because its environmental review of the project was inadequate. Thursday’s ruling from the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two said the county had approved Villages of Lakeview without analyzing water supply impacts or providing a workable plan to offset damage to the nearby San Jacinto Wildlife Area.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Gold Drilling in California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups filed an appeal Tuesday in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging a lower court ruling allowing exploratory drilling in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains that threatens an endangered fish and a dwindling population of bi-state sage grouse.
Read more.Secretary Buttigieg Urged to Deny $2 Billion in Tax-Free Bonds for Utah Oil Train
SALT LAKE CITY— More than 150 conservation and climate groups today joined Colorado federal, state and local lawmakers to urge Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to deny Utah officials’ $2 billion request to help them build an oil train. The tax-exempt bonds, requested earlier this month by Utah’s Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, will cost taxpayers up to $80 million a year for decades.
Read more.Judge Deals Another Blow to Tejon Ranchcorp Project
LOS ANGELES— A judge has ordered Los Angeles County to set aside its approval of Tejon Ranchcorp’s Centennial, a sprawling housing development that would bring 57,000 residents to the fire-prone outskirts of the county. The ruling by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff directs the county to set aside the environmental review and all approvals related to the project.
Read more.California Takes Important Steps Alongside Tribes to Protect Clear Lake Hitch
CLEARLAKE, Calif.— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced a list of commitments aimed at protecting Northern California’s imperiled Clear Lake hitch.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Biden Administration Over Failure to Act on Petition to Prohibit Pesticides in Endangered Species Critical Habitat
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to respond to a January 2019 petition to prohibit nearly all uses of pesticides in areas designated as critical habitat for endangered species.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Protected Habitat for Endangered Corals
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the National Marine Fisheries Service today for failing to finalize protections for 12 coral species around Florida and islands in the Pacific Ocean. Pillar coral, mountainous star coral and the others were all listed under the Endangered Species Act in 2014 but have not received the critical habitat designation the law requires.
Read more.CITES Sanctions Mexico for Failing to Protect Vaquita Porpoises
GENEVA— The Secretariat to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora today announced trade sanctions against Mexico for its failure to control illegal fishing and trade that endangers the vaquita porpoise. Mexico will no longer be able to commercially export millions of dollars of wildlife products to most nations around the globe.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Federal Deforestation Project Near Nevada National Park
RENO, Nev.— Western Watersheds Project and the Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management today to challenge a massive vegetation removal project near Great Basin National Park that violates several environmental laws.
Read more.Legal Agreement Will Bring New Protections From Logging to Oregon Coast Coho Salmon
PORTLAND, Ore.— Resolving multiyear litigation over the harms of logging to coho salmon, conservation groups reached an agreement today with the Oregon Department of Forestry to greatly expand stream buffers across more than half a million acres of the Tillamook and Clatsop state forests.
Read more.New Eastern Monarch Butterfly Count Indicates Pollinator Still Threatened
WASHINGTON— The annual count of migratory monarchs that spend the winter in Mexico is once again dismal for the iconic orange-and-black butterflies. This year’s count showed a 22% decline from 2022, leaving the butterfly highly vulnerable to extinction.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Denial of Endangered Species Protection to Gopher Tortoise
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Nokuse Education, Inc. filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for denying Endangered Species Act protections to the eastern population of gopher tortoises. The decision left the beleaguered reptiles without lifesaving federal safeguards in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and most of Alabama.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Targeting Grazing Destruction of Arizona’s San Pedro Conservation Area
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society filed a formal notice of their intent to sue the U.S. Bureau of Land Management today for failing to protect endangered species in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area from rampant trespass livestock grazing.
Read more.50 Groups Send Letter to Oregon Lawmakers Urging Passage of Senate Bill 85-1
SALEM, Ore.— The Stand Up to Factory Farms coalition sent a letter from 50 organizations to Oregon lawmakers today urging passage of Senate Bill 85-1, which would pause factory farm permitting to better address the operations’ pollution risks.
Read more.Hippos Move Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protections
WASHINGTON— After a petition and threat to sue from animal protection and conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that the common hippopotamus may qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.California Bill to Expand Community, Wildlife Protections Against Rat Poisons
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Burbank) is spearheading a bill to expand restrictions on toxic rat poisons and increase protections for children, pets and wildlife from unintentional poisoning.
Read more.Injunction Seeks to Block Logging in Montana’s Kootenai National Forest
MISSOULA, Mont.— Conservation groups asked a federal court today to block logging and road construction for the large Knotty Pine timber sale project in the Kootenai National Forest. The project threatens a small and imperiled population of grizzly bears near the Montana-Canada border.
Read more.Rare Daisy Imperiled by Gold Mining Moves Closer to Federal Protection
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the rare Inyo rock daisy may require federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, kicking off a year-long review of threats to the plant.
Read more.UN Chief Calls for Halt to New Fossil Fuel Development Ahead of Climate Ambition Summit
NEW YORK— The United Nations Secretary General set strong conditions for joining a global climate ambition summit in September, including ceasing all licensing and funding of new oil and gas development and halting expansion of existing oil and gas reserves. This price of entry puts the United States at risk of being shut out of the meeting. The announcement from U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres came as the latest U.N. climate report declared drastic fossil fuel cuts are necessary to avert catastrophic warming.
Read more.Tiny Virginia Fish Moves Toward Endangered Species Act Protection
RICHMOND, Va.— In response to a legal petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the roughhead shiner, an olive minnow found only in the upper James River watershed in western Virginia, may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Two Southern Freshwater Mussels Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
DALLAS— In response to a Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protection for two freshwater mussels in five southern states and designated 1,860 river miles as critical habitat.
Read more.Court Voids Colorado’s OK of Increased Air Pollution From Tanker Truck Facility in Commerce City
DENVER— A state judge has voided a permit issued by the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division allowing a tanker truck repair shop to emit more asthma-causing air pollution. Polar Service Center is located in a part of Commerce City already heavily overburdened with pollution.
Read more.Events in Arizona, New Mexico to Mark Silver Anniversary of Mexican Gray Wolves in Wild
SILVER CITY, N.M.— Public events throughout the Southwest this spring will mark the 25th anniversary of the first release of Mexican gray wolves into the wild.
Read more.Protections Sought for Rare Mojave Desert Wildflower Threatened by Urban Sprawl, Energy Development
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity today petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect a rare desert wildflower under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over U.S. Delay on Petition to Phase Out Oil Drilling on Public Lands
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups today filed a notice of their intent to sue the U.S. Interior Department for failing to respond to a petition to phase out oil and gas extraction on public lands.
Read more.California Regulators Urged to Delay Harmful Rooftop Solar Plan
SAN FRANCISCO— California regulators should revise a new rooftop solar plan to make solar more affordable for low-income communities, dozens of groups will tell the California Public Utilities Commission at its meeting Thursday. The commission’s plan drastically slashes the credit new solar users would get for sharing their extra solar energy with the grid.
Read more.Sunflower Sea Star Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
SAN FRANCISCO— Responding to a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity, the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed today to protect imperiled sunflower sea stars as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.New Study Reveals Deadly Disease Spread Among African Amphibians
DAVIS, Calif.— Multiple strains of a deadly fungal pathogen are spreading among frogs across Africa, posing serious and widespread threats to amphibian populations, according to a scientific study published today in Frontiers in Conservation Science.
Read more.Expanded Habitat Protections Sought for Imperiled Desert Fish in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal petition today urging the federal government to expand the critical habitat designation for the Sonora chub, a small desert fish facing major threats.
Read more.Court: U.S. Failure to Protect Pacific Humpbacks From Deadly Entanglements Was Unlawful
SAN FRANCISCO— A federal court ruled in favor of the Center for Biological Diversity yesterday in a lawsuit arguing that the National Marine Fisheries Service failed to protect endangered Pacific humpback whales from deadly entanglements in sablefish pot gear off California, Oregon and Washington.
Read more.Biden Administration Sued Over Willow Oil Project in Alaska’s Western Arctic
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Earthjustice filed a lawsuit yesterday on behalf of conservation groups to stop the massive Willow oil drilling project in Alaska’s Western Arctic, which the Biden administration approved March 13. This approval of an enormous new carbon pollution source undermines President Biden’s promises to slash greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and transition the United States to clean energy.
Read more.University of Mary Washington to Host Free Screening of Childfree by Choice Film
FREDERICKSBURG, Va.— The Center for Biological Diversity and University of Mary Washington will host a free screening of My So-Called Selfish Life, directed by Therese Shechter, a documentary that examines the choice to be childfree and the importance of reproductive rights and justice. The screening will be held at University of Mary Washington and followed by a Q&A and panel discussion about the relationship between reproductive freedom and the environment.
Read more.Another Wild Wolf Killed in New York, Radio-Isotope Test Confirms
ALBANY, N.Y.— Conservation groups announced today that testing by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Museum revealed that a wolf killed in upstate New York in 2021 was eating a wild diet and was a wild wolf.
Read more.New York Moth Receives Endangered Species Protections After 30 Years
WASHINGTON— After more than 30 years of consideration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finalized the listing of the rare bog buck moth as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. But the agency failed to designate any critical habitat for the moth, despite habitat protections being critical to the species’ survival.
Read more.U.S. Urged to Tighten Data Standards for Aquarium Fish Imports
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to require and report species-level data for all ornamental fish brought into the country for the aquarium trade. As today’s letter notes, maintaining and disclosing reliable species information from the national database would aid conservation measures for fish threatened by overexploitation.
Read more.Nevada Bill Would Let State Wildlife Agency Conserve Monarchs, Other Pollinators
RENO, Nev.— Nevada’s Assembly Natural Resources Committee will consider a bill today that would give the state’s Department of Wildlife authority to manage pollinators and other insects that need conservation.
Read more.Biden Administration Approves Major Alaskan Arctic Drilling Project
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration released the final Willow Master Development Plan today, greenlighting the oil development project in Alaska’s Western Arctic. The final version of the project would allow for drilling at three pads.
Read more.Legal Challenge Filed to Halt Caltrans’ Richardson Grove Project
EUREKA, Calif.— Conservation groups and Humboldt residents filed a legal challenge this week to a fourth attempt by Caltrans to approve the controversial Richardson Grove Project.
Read more.Glen Canyon Dam Operations Must Safeguard Grand Canyon’s Rare Fish, Conservationists Warn
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation must manage Colorado River flows to prevent non-native smallmouth bass populations from establishing, thereby jeopardizing threatened humpback chub in the Grand Canyon, conservationists warned in formal comments submitted today.
Read more.Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to Hear Testimony Friday on Abuses at U.S. Factory Farms
LOS ANGELES— The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights will hear testimony on Friday about human rights abuses linked to industrial meat, egg and dairy facilities in the United States. The testimony is part of the commission's multi-day period of sessions focused on “Reimagining Rights in the Americas.”
Read more.Struggling Freshwater Mussels Protected Under Endangered Species Act
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Responding to a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today listed the round hickorynut and longsolid freshwater mussels as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also set aside 2,136 river miles of critical habitat from Pennsylvania to Mississippi.
Read more.Report: TVA Clean-Energy Transition Could Create Jobs, Save Billions
WASHINGTON— The nation’s largest public utility, the Tennessee Valley Authority, could create thousands of new jobs, improve public health, and help meet President Biden’s climate pledge if it transitions to 100% clean energy by 2035, according to a new study.
Read more.EPA Petitioned to Halt Export of U.S.-Banned Pesticides to Developing Countries Unless Approved by Their Governments
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for International Environmental Law filed a legal petition today urging the Environmental Protection Agency to forbid export of pesticides banned in the United States to any country without prior consent of that country’s relevant authorities.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Imperiled Alligator Snapping Turtles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to force it to ensure protections for 12 plants and animals under the Endangered Species Act, including the alligator snapping turtle and Suwannee alligator snapping turtle.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Imperiled Fishes in Utah, Nevada
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to force it to decide whether to protect Utah’s least chub and Nevada’s Fish Lake Valley tui chub under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Congress Urged to Spend $841 Million to Fully Fund Endangered Species Protection
WASHINGTON— More than 120 conservation groups urged Congress today to significantly increase the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s budget for endangered species conservation from $331 million to $841 million.
Read more.Petition Seeks to Protect Pygmy Rabbits Under Endangered Species Act
SALT LAKE CITY— Conservation organizations submitted a petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today requesting protection of pygmy rabbits under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Biden Decision to Open 73.3 Million Acres of Gulf of Mexico for Oil Leasing
WASHINGTON— Gulf community and environmental groups filed a legal challenge in federal court today to the Department of the Interior’s lease sale 259. The sale would offer 73.3 million acres of the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas leasing.
Read more.Global Wildlife Trade Agreement Marks 50th Anniversary
WASHINGTON— Fifty organizations from around the world are urging an ambitious response to the extinction crisis as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species turns 50 years old on Friday.
Read more.Caltrans Again Approves Richardson Grove Project
EUREKA, Calif.— Caltrans is attempting to approve the controversial Richardson Grove Project for a fourth time. The project would realign portions of Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park to facilitate passage of oversized commercial trucks, risking damage to a grove of ancient redwoods up to 3,000 years old. To realign the road, Caltrans proposes cutting and paving over roots of adjacent old-growth redwood trees.
Read more.Frecklebelly Madtom Receives Endangered Species Protections in Georgia, Tennessee
ATLANTA— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued a final rule that protects a population of frecklebelly madtom in the Upper Coosa River of Georgia and Tennessee as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also proposed to designate 134 miles of the Etowah and Conasauga rivers as protected critical habitat, but the proposal would allow logging to continue.
Read more.In Response to Lawsuit, EPA Agrees to Timeline for First Updates to Slaughterhouse Water-Pollution Standards in Nearly 20 Years
WASHINGTON— In a victory for clean water, the Environmental Protection Agency announced its intent today to publish updated water-pollution control standards for slaughterhouses and animal rendering facilities by August 2025.
Read more.Analysis: 4 Years Into Polis Administration, Coal Is Still Colorado’s Main Electricity Source as State Lags Behind on Green Energy
DENVER— Four years into Gov. Jared Polis’ administration, Colorado lags behind many other states in transitioning to a renewable energy economy, according to recently released U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
Read more.Florida Legislature Considers Use of Radioactive Phosphogypsum in Road Construction
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Legislature introduced two bills today that would pave the way for the use of radioactive phosphogypsum in road construction.
Read more.Mexican Gray Wolf Population Grew 23% in 2022
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the number of Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest grew by 45 animals last year — from 196 in 2021, to 241 in 2022. Of those wolves, 136 were in western New Mexico and 105 in eastern Arizona.
Read more.Motion Filed to Defend Forest Service Removal of Feral Cows From Gila National Forest
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a motion today to intervene in a New Mexico Cattle Growers Association lawsuit that seeks to stop the U.S. Forest Service from removing feral cows from the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico.
Read more.'New York Times' Ad Blasts Automaker Climate Hypocrisy, Urges Biden Action
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and GreenLatinos placed a full-page ad in The New York Times today blasting automaker doublespeak on clean vehicles. The ad calls on President Biden to make the manufacturers cut carbon emissions 75% by 2030 and boost electric vehicle, or EV, access and production.
Read more.Florida Rule to Protect Diamondback Terrapins From Recreational Crab Traps to Take Effect Wednesday
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— A new rule aimed at protecting diamondback terrapin turtles from drowning in recreational blue crab traps will go into effect Wednesday, March 1.
Read more.Rare Milkweed Gains Endangered Species Protection, Critical Habitat
RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the prostrate milkweed as endangered. Only 24 populations of the plant survive, in south Texas and northern Mexico, where they serve as an important food source for pollinators like bees and imperiled monarch butterflies.
Read more.House Republican Bill Would Upend Bedrock Environmental Review Law
WASHINGTON— The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday on legislation introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) that would curtail environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Read more.EU Plan to Protect Marine Species Falls Short, Threatens Seafood Exports to United States
BRUSSELS— The European Commission’s EU Action Plan released this week falls short of protecting and restoring marine species and jeopardizes continued access for EU fish products to the lucrative U.S. seafood market, according to a coalition of animal welfare and conservation groups.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Calls for Protection of Atlanta Forest, Independent Probe of Activist Killing
ATLANTA— Standing in solidarity with local organizations, communities and forest defenders who have been safeguarding the South River Forest for years, the Center for Biological Diversity is calling for the permanent protection of Atlanta’s biologically diverse forest and an independent investigation into the killing of a 26-year-old activist fighting to protect it.
Read more.Court Backs Removal of Feral Cattle From Gila Wilderness
ALBUQUERQUE— The U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico today announced its decision to deny a request for a temporary restraining order to stop the removal of feral (unbranded and unauthorized) cattle from the Gila Wilderness.
Read more.Coloradans Strongly Support Wolf Restoration at Denver Meeting
DENVER— Scores of Coloradans today voiced their support for science-based, ecologically friendly wolf restoration throughout Colorado during a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission hearing on a draft wolf plan.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Colorado Wolves From Hunters at Wyoming Border
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity today notified the U.S. Forest Service of its intent to sue over the agency’s failure to protect wolves from hunters in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. The lawsuit would seek a ban on wolf hunting and trapping in the entire forest, which straddles the Colorado-Wyoming border.
Read more.Suit Launched to Force EPA to Tackle Toxic Air Pollution From Colorado Fossil Fuel Waste Disposal Plant
PARACHUTE, Colo.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed notice today of its intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to respond to the Center’s challenge to the methods used to control toxic air pollution at a facility that disposes of liquid waste from fracking and oil and gas production.
Read more.California Spotted Owl Gets Endangered Species Act Protections After 23 Years
SAN FRANCISCO— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will protect the California spotted owl under the Endangered Species Act. The owls have seen their numbers dwindle because of logging and climate change, among other threats.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Require California to Close Loophole, Regulate Pesticide-Treated Seeds
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Environmental and public health groups have filed a legal challenge seeking to close the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s loophole allowing crop seeds treated with pesticides to avoid regulation as pesticides.
Read more.Florida Commissioners Advance Rules Aimed at Curbing Bird Deaths at Skyway Pier
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.— The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted today to move forward with proposed regulations meant to address bird deaths and injuries at the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. But commissioners directed staff to consider significantly limiting the proposal, which wildlife advocates say already fails to truly protect thousands of birds from deadly fishing gear entanglements.
Read more.Legal Agreement Forces EPA Action to Reduce Dangerous Smog Levels in Parts of California, Texas
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency agreed today to meet deadlines for reducing smog in parts of California and Texas that have some of the nation’s worst air pollution.
Read more.Legal Win Protects Minnesota’s Rare Lynx From Cruel, Indiscriminate Trapping
MINNEAPOLIS— A federal judge today ordered the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to ban most uses of strangulation snares in northeastern Minnesota.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges White House Offices for Records on Endangered Species Delays
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the White House’s Office of Management and Budget and its Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs today for refusing to release records on their roles in delaying protections for species listed under the Endangered Species Act. The offices had illegally delayed protection of critical habitat for shorebirds called red knots by more than seven months.
Read more.Forest Plan Fails Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The U.S. Forest Service released the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest Plan today, quadrupling logging and reducing protections for the most visited national forest in the country.
Read more.Petition Seeks Oregon Endangered Species Protection for Southern Resident Orcas
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, and Whale and Dolphin Conservation filed a petition today to protect Southern Resident orcas under the Oregon Endangered Species Act. As of the most recent census, just 73 Southern Resident orcas remain, divided among three family groups.
Read more.Muro fronterizo de EE.UU. pone en peligro sitio del Patrimonio Mundial en México
PARÍS— El Centro para la Diversidad Biológica solicitó hoy enlistar como “en peligro” un sitio en México del Patrimonio Mundial dañado por el muro fronterizo de EE. UU. El controvertido muro de EE. UU. corta en dos el hábitat desértico protegido más grande del mundo, bloqueando la conectividad escencial.
Read more.U.S. Border Wall Endangers Mexican World Heritage Site
PARIS— The Center for Biological Diversity called for “in danger” status today for a Mexican World Heritage site harmed by the U.S. border wall. The controversial U.S. wall cuts the world’s largest swath of protected desert habitat in two, walling off critical habitat connectivity.
Read more.18,000 People Urge Federal Officials to Boost Manatee Protections
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received more than 18,000 letters today supporting a petition to increase protections for West Indian manatees. The imperiled animals have been dying in record numbers in Florida waters.
Read more.Proposed Rule Allows for Widespread Killing of Reintroduced Colorado Wolves
DENVER— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a proposed wolf management rule that would allow livestock operators and federal and state agents to kill wolves. The rule would let ranchers kill wolves even on public lands, without requiring the use of nonlethal conflict prevention measures first.
Read more.Vessel Strike Killed Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.— A North Atlantic right whale that washed up dead onto the shore Sunday was likely killed by a vessel collision, NOAA Fisheries announced today. The results of a necropsy determined the cause of death to be “blunt force trauma,” which indicates the animal was struck by a passing vessel.
Read more.Expertos se oponen a eliminar la protección a la boa puertorriqueña
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Expertos puertorriqueños están denunciando la propuesta del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre (FWS en inglés) de los Estados Unidos de quitar protecciones federales a la boa puertorriqueña. No hay información poblacional de estas serpientes tímidas y endémicas, sin embargo, las amenazas que llevaron a su designación como una especie en peligro de extinción continúan en la isla.
Read more.Experts Oppose Proposed Removal of Puerto Rican Boa Protections
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Puerto Rican snake experts are denouncing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to remove federal protections from the Puerto Rican boa and plan to oppose the move during a Feb. 16 public hearing.
Read more.Legal Action Launched to Protect Hippos Under Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON— Animal protection and conservation groups today sent a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to respond to a legal petition to protect the common hippopotamus under the Endangered Species Act. The Service was required to respond to the March 2022 petition within 90 days, but nearly a year has passed, and the agency still has not responded.
Read more.Rechazo enérgico a la injerencia de EUA en la política agrícola y de alimentación en México
El Centro para la Diversidad Biológica y Greenpeace México rechazan enérgicamente la intervención de los Estados Unidos en la decisión de México de eliminar gradualmente el glifosato y el maíz transgénico producido utilizando prácticas agrícolas intensivas en plaguicidas.
Read more.Statement on U.S. Intervention in Mexico’s Phaseout of Genetically Engineered Corn
The Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace México strongly condemn the United States’ heavy-handed intervention into Mexico’s decision to phase out genetically engineered (GE) corn that’s produced using pesticide-intensive farming practices and the herbicide glyphosate.
Read more.Faith Communities to Hold Thursday News Conference to Urge Utah Legislature to Save Great Salt Lake
SALT LAKE CITY— Utah religious leaders will hold a news conference Thursday at the Utah State Capitol to urge Utah lawmakers to do everything in their power to restore the Great Salt Lake to ecological health.
Read more.Legal Intervention Supports EPA Permit Requirements for St. Croix Refinery
ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands— Community and conservation groups filed a motion to intervene yesterday in a case concerning Environmental Protection Agency air permits for a shuttered oil refinery. The Environmental Justice Clinic at Vermont Law and Graduate School filed the motion in the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of their clients, St. Croix Environmental Association, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club.
Read more.Recovery of Once Rare Wood Stork Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it’s proposing to remove the wood stork from the endangered species list because the bird has recovered.
Read more.Florida’s Proposal to Curb Bird Deaths at Skyway Pier Falls Short
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced proposed regulations today to address bird deaths and injuries at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. The move comes after nonprofit rescuers, wildlife groups and academics highlighted the thousands of birds rescued from entanglement at the pier over the past two years.
Read more.Legal Action Launched Over White House Delay on Red Knot Habitat Protections
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today sent a notice of intent to sue the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for illegally delaying protection of the red knot shorebird’s critical habitat by more than seven months. Habitat loss has helped drive a drastic decline in the migrating shorebird’s population.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Nevada Gov. Lombardo’s Unconstitutional Natural Resource Agency Appointment
CARSON CITY, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity and a former state employee sued Gov. Joe Lombardo today to challenge his Jan. 6 appointment of former state Sen. James Settelmeyer to be director of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Read more.Imperiled Leopards One Step Closer to Increased Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON— In response to a lawsuit by animal protection and conservation groups, today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finally agreed to a June 2027 deadline to determine if leopards warrant increased protection under the Endangered Species Act. Increased safeguards would ensure closer scrutiny of African leopard trophy imports and help boost funding to counter suspected population declines.
Read more.Snake Experts to Oppose Removing Federal Protections From Puerto Rican Boa
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday about its proposed rule to remove Endangered Species Act protections from the Puerto Rican boa. The Puerto Rican boa is currently listed as an endangered species.
Read more.Legal Filing Targets North Dakota’s Latest Lawsuit to Force More Oil, Gas Lease Sales on Public Lands
BISMARCK, N.D.— Climate and conservation groups defended the Biden administration in a brief filed today responding to a federal lawsuit brought by North Dakota seeking to force the federal government to hold more oil and gas lease sales in the state.
Read more.Biden Administration’s Postponement of Oil, Gas Lease Sales to Be Defended by Conservation Groups
CASPER, Wyo.— Seventeen conservation groups represented by Earthjustice and the Western Environmental Law Center moved to intervene today to defend the Biden administration’s 2021 postponement of several oil and gas lease sales.
Read more.New Joshua Tree Bill Spurs California Commission to Delay Decision on Protecting Iconic Plants
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously today to postpone a decision on whether to permanently protect western Joshua trees under the California Endangered Species Act. The commission agreed to wait to see whether a new bill proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration becomes law.
Read more.Wildlife Agency Fails to Address Extinction in Changes to Endangered Species Regulations
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it will be revising regulations governing the process for issuing permits under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act. The changes are a huge missed opportunity because they afford no new protections to threatened and endangered plants and animals, conservationists say.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Failure to Protect Rare Wildlife From South Florida Development
MIAMI— Conservation groups sued the National Park Service today for failing to protect the endangered Florida bonneted bat, Miami tiger beetle, Bartram’s scrub-hairstreak, endangered plants and globally imperiled pine rocklands from the destructive effects of the Miami Wilds water park and retail development in South Florida.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Delay of Endangered Species Act Protection for 15 Animals, Plants
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for delaying critically needed Endangered Species Act protection for 15 imperiled plants and animals. The species range from cactus ferruginous pygmy owls in the Sonoran Desert to tall western penstemons in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect U.S. Waters From Ship Pollution, Invasive Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to finalize nationwide standards that would protect U.S. waterways from harmful vessel discharges.
Read more.New Analysis: 40% of U.S. Wildlife, Ecosystems Are Imperiled
WASHINGTON— A new report on the status of U.S. wildlife conservation reveals that 40% of animals, 34% of plants and 40% of ecosystems nationwide are at risk. Released today, the analysis — Biodiversity in Focus: United States Edition — was compiled by NatureServe, a nonprofit organization that assembles conservation data from a national network of scientists and organizations.
Read more.State Efforts to Remove Federal Grizzly Protections Move Forward
BOZEMAN, Mont.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued a finding stating that removing federal protections from grizzly bear populations in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems “may be warranted.” Removing Endangered Species Act safeguards could pave the way for the trophy hunting of grizzly bears in parts of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
Read more.Senate to Consider Legislation to Protect America’s Children From Toxic Pesticides
WASHINGTON— U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced legislation today to increase protections against exposure to toxic pesticides.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Sprawl Development in Northern California Wildfire Zone
CHICO, Calif.— A coalition of environmental groups sued the city of Chico today for approving a development with nearly 2,800 housing units without properly assessing or mitigating wildfire and other environmental risks. The Valley’s Edge project would bring nearly 5,700 residents to an area that has burned repeatedly and is adjacent to the town of Paradise, which was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire.
Read more.Celebrating 50 Years of Endangered Species Act Success
WASHINGTON— Conservation and wildlife advocacy groups are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Endangered Species Act this year, commemorating five decades of effective and crucial protection for imperiled animals and plants.
Read more.Two Ohio Waterways Nominated for Strongest Clean Water Act Protections
COLUMBUS, Ohio— The Center for Biological Diversity and its partners filed a formal request today with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency seeking protective designations for the Big and Little Darby creeks near Columbus. The Outstanding National Resource Waters designations would afford the creeks the strongest level of protection under the Clean Water Act.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks Environmental Review Improvements Promised by Biden
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Council on Environmental Quality today to strengthen the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act to better tackle the climate crisis, meaningfully address environmental justice and push agencies to make better, more environmentally protective decisions.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Few Remaining Streaked Horned Larks As Endangered
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity and the Audubon Society of Portland sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect streaked horned larks, once-numerous birds found in Washington and Oregon, as endangered.
Read more.Federal Officials Miss Deadline to Protect Ghost Orchid As Endangered
HOLLYWOOD, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has missed the statutory deadline to make a decision on protecting the iconic ghost orchid, leaving the species in a regulatory limbo without crucial safeguards. The deadline was Jan. 24, but currently the Service is not scheduled to make a decision until 2026.
Read more.Mosaic Mining Workshops Fail to Stem Pollution Concerns
ARCADIA, Fla.— The Mosaic Company, one of the world’s largest fertilizer manufacturers, will complete its mining workshop series today before the DeSoto County Board of Commissioners. Mosaic wants to mine 18,000 acres in DeSoto County, but the company needs the commission to rezone the land to allow mining.
Read more.Dragado a La Bahía De San Juan Provocará Un Gran Daño Social Y Ambiental
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– Las organizaciones ambientales y comunitarias El Puente-Enlace Latino de Acción Climática, CORALations y el Centro para la Diversidad Biológica denunciaron este martes que el acuerdo reciente entre el Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército de los EE.UU. y la Autoridad de los Puertos de Puerto Rico para comenzar el dragado de la Bahía de San Juan, provocará grandes daños ambientales y sociales.
Read more.Corps Schedules Massive Dredging Project Despite Public Health, Environmental Objections
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Puerto Rico Ports Authority announced an agreement today to proceed with dredging in San Juan Bay, Puerto Rico. The project will deepen and widen shipping channels to allow massive liquefied natural gas and long-range oil tankers to import foreign fossil fuels. A lawsuit pending in federal district court challenges the Army Corps’ dredging project.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Lifesaving Protections for Montana’s Arctic Grayling
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Conservationists sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today seeking protections for Montana’s Arctic grayling population under the Endangered Species Act. The parties — the Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project and Butte resident Pat Munday — are represented by Earthjustice.
Read more.New Mexico Butterfly Gains Endangered Species Act Protection
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— In response to multiple petitions and lawsuits from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly as an endangered species.
Read more.Report: U.S. Utilities Shut Off Power 5.7 Million Times as Shareholders, Executives Raked in Billions
WASHINGTON— Utility companies have disconnected U.S. households more than 5.7 million times since 2020 while shelling out billions to shareholders and top executives, according to Powerless in the U.S., a new report from the Center for Biological Diversity, Energy and Policy Institute and BailoutWatch.
Read more.50 Groups Urge N.M. Governor to End Oil, Gas Extraction by 2034
SANTA FE, N.M.— More than 50 Indigenous, environmental and social justice organizations marked the start of New Mexico’s 2023 legislative session by calling on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to promote strong science-based climate legislation that phases out oil and gas production by 2034.
Read more.Federal Judge Finds BLM Imperiled Sage Grouse, Broke Environmental Laws in Approving Idaho Phosphate Mine
BOISE, Idaho— A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that in approving the Caldwell Canyon phosphate mine the Bureau of Land Management had failed to adequately assess environmental harms, including harms to vital habitat for the imperiled sage grouse.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Imperiled Southern Hognose Snakes
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to gain Endangered Species Act protection for southern hognose snakes in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
Read more.College of Charleston to Host Free Screening of Childfree by Choice Film
CHARLESTON, S.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity will host a free screening of My So-Called Selfish Life, directed by Therese Shechter, a documentary that examines the choice to be childfree and the importance of reproductive rights and justice. The screening will be held at the College of Charleston and will be followed by a Q&A and panel discussion about the relationship between reproductive freedom and the environment.
Read more.U.S. Forest Service Restores Critical Protections to Tongass National Forest
JUNEAU, Alaska (Áakʼw Ḵwáan Territory)— In a win for Southeast Alaska communities, wildlife and the climate, the U.S. Forest Service today reinstated Roadless Rule protections across the Tongass rainforest in Southeast Alaska.
Read more.Oil Industry Seeks Supreme Court Review of California Offshore Fracking Ban
WASHINGTON— The American Petroleum Institute and two oil companies filed a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court today, seeking a review of a lower court decision that halted offshore fracking in federal waters off California. A previous request by the Biden administration to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for an “en banc” review of the ruling was denied.
Read more.Biden Administration Oil, Gas Drilling Approvals Outpace Trump’s
WASHINGTON— Federal data show the Biden administration approved 6,430 permits for oil and gas drilling on public lands in its first two years, outpacing the Trump administration’s 6,172 drilling-permit approvals in its first two years.
Read more.San Clemente Island Bell’s Sparrow Flies Off Endangered Species List
LOS ANGELES— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it’s removing the Bell’s sparrow and four plants found only on San Clemente Island from the endangered species list due to recovery.
Read more.24 Groups Urge Federal Overhaul of Weak Habitat Protections for Florida Bat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— More than twenty environmental organizations have urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide additional habitat protections for the Florida bonneted bat. The endangered native bats face devastating habitat loss from climate change and urban sprawl.
Read more.House Bill Would Sacrifice Public Lands to Draw From Strategic Petroleum Reserve
WASHINGTON— House Republicans will today likely pass H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act, which would sacrifice millions of acres of public lands. The legislation by Rep. McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) would prevent the White House from using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve unless the percentage of public lands and offshore waters leased for oil and gas increases by the same percentage as any future drawdown from the reserve.
Read more.Removal of Wandering Mexican Wolf Dismays Conservationists
SANTA FE, N.M.— A female Mexican gray wolf known as Asha was captured in northern New Mexico by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Defend Climate, Clean Air From Fracking in New Mexico’s Permian Basin
SANTA FE, N.M.— Conservation groups, led by citizens from Carlsbad, N.M., filed suit today to overturn the Biden administration’s approval of nearly 6,000 acres of oil and gas leases in southeast New Mexico’s Permian Basin.
Read more.U.S. Court in Tucson to Hear Arguments on Proposed Freeway Threatening Wildlife, Public Lands
TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal judge will hear arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by conservation groups challenging the Federal Highway Administration’s approval of Interstate 11. The proposed north-south highway in Arizona would destroy pristine Sonoran Desert, harm threatened desert tortoises and other wildlife, and worsen air pollution.
Read more.Sickle Darter Receives Critical Habitat Protection in Tennessee, Virginia
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposed rule today to protect 104 miles of rivers as critical habitat in Tennessee and Virginia for a fish called the sickle darter under the Endangered Species Act. The Service designated the sickle darter as a threatened species in November.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Challenge EPA’s Failure to Protect Colorado From Oil, Gas Industries’ Asthma-Causing Smog
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency today to limit pollution from drilling and hydraulic fracturing for oil and methane gas in Colorado.
Read more.Legal Intervention Defends Protections for Arctic Ringed Seals
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a motion today to intervene in a lawsuit regarding protections for the Arctic ringed seal. The intervention seeks to defend the federal government’s rejection of the state of Alaska’s efforts to end Endangered Species Act protections for the seal.
Read more.Legal Arguments Begin in Case Challenging EPA’s Decision to Authorize Medically Important Antibiotic as Citrus Pesticide
SAN FRANCISCO— The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral argument on Monday challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the medically important antibiotic streptomycin as a pesticide on citrus crops.
Read more.Biden Administration Sinks Emergency Petition to Shield Right Whale Moms, Calves From Vessel Strikes
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service today denied an emergency petition that sought to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from being struck and killed by vessels in their calving grounds off the coast of the southeast United States. The species is down to about 70 reproductive females.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Biden EPA Failure to Cut Airplane Soot Pollution
WASHINGTON— Environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today over its rule that fails to cut aircraft particulate matter pollution, commonly known as soot and smoke.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Approval of Sea Port Oil Terminal
BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas— Environmental and community groups sued the U.S. Department of Transportation today over its approval of the Sea Port Oil Terminal, also known as SPOT, a proposed massive Gulf Coast deepwater oil-export facility off the coast of Brazoria County, Texas.
Read more.Letter Urges Agencies to Let Mexican Gray Wolf Continue Northern New Mexico Travels
SANTA FE, N.M.— Conservation advocates today sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish urging the agencies to allow a female Mexican gray wolf to continue her wandering journey in northern New Mexico.
Read more.Petition Seeks Hounding Ban in Wisconsin’s Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
MILWAUKEE— Wildlife conservation and animal protection groups petitioned the U.S. Forest Service today to ban hounding in Wisconsin’s Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Hounding is the practice of training and using dogs to hunt and chase down black bears and other wildlife.
Read more.Petition Seeks Sea Otter Reintroduction Along Broader West Coast
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a petition today asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reintroduce sea otters to a large stretch of the West Coast. Threatened southern sea otters occupy only 13% of their historic range, and a small population of the animals currently lives on California’s central coast.
Read more.Appeal Targets Environmental Justice Harms From California’s Rooftop Solar Plan
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity, Protect Our Communities Foundation and the Environmental Working Group today appealed the California Public Utilities Commission’s decision to significantly slash compensation to the state’s rooftop solar customers. The commission’s decision will harm the ability of environmental justice communities to go green.
Read more.U.S. Tags Mining Company for Trespassing in Protected Tiehm’s Buckwheat Habitat
RENO, Nev.— The U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a trespassing notice today to Australian mining company Ioneer after the Center for Biological Diversity documented harm from drilling operations to the critical habitat of an endangered plant called Tiehm’s buckwheat.
Read more.Plan to Cut Down Potter Valley Eagle Tree on Hold for Nesting Season
POTTER VALLEY, Calif.— A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit allowing a utility company to cut down a Mendocino County tree containing a bald eagle’s nest has been put on hold for the remainder of the nesting season.
Read more.U.S. Court in Denver to Hear Challenge on Water Contract Threatening Utah’s Green River
DENVER— The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments Thursday on a challenge to a federal decision allowing Utah to take tens of thousands of additional acre-feet of water each year from the Upper Colorado River Basin at the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. The Interior Department’s 2019 decision failed to account for drought-induced climate warming.
Read more.Sen. Schumer Wins 2022 Rubber Dodo Award
WASHINGTON— Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer won the Center for Biological Diversity’s Rubber Dodo award today for inserting a last-minute rider into the 2023 omnibus budget bill that potentially condemns the North Atlantic right whale to extinction.
Read more.Potter Valley Eagle Tree Still Stands
POTTER VALLEY, Calif.—Pacific Gas and Electric has agreed to a temporary reprieve for a bald eagle’s nest proposed for removal in Mendocino County while negotiations continue between the company, the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, and environmental groups.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Oregon Spotted Frogs in Upper Deschutes River
BEND, Ore.—The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue two federal agencies for approving a habitat conservation plan in the upper Deschutes River that fails to ensure the Wickiup Dam won’t drive the threatened Oregon spotted frog extinct.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Delay in Reducing Harmful Soot Pollution in California, Pennsylvania
OAKLAND, Calif.— Conservation and public health groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to ensure that an effective plan is in place to reduce soot pollution in Los Angeles.
Read more.Tribal Nation, Environmental Groups Demand Reprieve for Bald Eagle Nest in Northern California
WILLITS, Calif.— The Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians and environmental advocates are calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revoke a permit that would allow Pacific Gas & Electric to cut a tree in Mendocino County that contains a historic eagles nest.
Read more.Oregon Butterfly Is Endangered Species Act Success
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Fender’s blue butterfly will be downlisted from endangered to threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. This action is based on the recovery of butterfly populations in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Read more.Oregon, Northern California Coastal Chinook Salmon Move Closer to Endangered Species Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— In response to a petition by the Native Fish Society, Center for Biological Diversity and Umpqua Watersheds, the National Marine Fisheries Service determined today that the Oregon Coast and southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Chinook salmon may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.300 Groups Urge Biden Administration to Phase Out Federal Fossil Fuels to Keep Climate Promises, International Commitments
WASHINGTON— More than 300 community groups sent a letter to the Interior Department today outlining nine concrete steps it has authority to take to bring public lands and waters management in line with climate science and the president’s own climate promises.
Read more.Forest Service Urged to Reject Massive Idaho Gold Mine Threatening Endangered Species, Public Health
MCCALL, Idaho— A planned open-pit cyanide leach gold mine in Idaho’s Salmon River Mountains would jeopardize public health and clean water, harm endangered species, violate Indigenous treaty rights and permanently scar thousands of acres of public land in the headwaters of the South Fork Salmon River, a coalition of local and national conservation groups said.
Read more.$15,000 Reward Offered for Info on Oregon Wolf Killed Illegally in Late 2022
PORTLAND, Ore.— Wildlife conservation groups today announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the illegal killing of a collared male wolf in Klamath County late last fall.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Tiehm’s Buckwheat From Cattle Trampling
RENO, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to protect the rare Nevada wildflower Tiehm’s buckwheat from destruction due to cattle grazing. The notice seeks to remove cattle from the buckwheat’s federally protected critical habitat.
Read more.Critical Habitat in California Wine Country Slated for Conservation
NAPA COUNTY, Calif.— Approximately 2,300 acres of intact wildlife habitat in Napa County is expected to be sold to a land trust for permanent protection under an agreement announced this week.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Federal Emergency Management Agency Documents on Fossil Fuel Spending
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Federal Emergency Management Agency today for failing to release public records about the agency’s spending on energy-related projects and assistance to help communities rebuild after disasters. The records should show how much FEMA spends on fossil-fuel related projects compared to renewable energy alternatives.
Read more.U.S. Urged to Deny Huge Arizona Pump Storage Projects Targeting Black Mesa
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— Tó Nizhóní Ání, Diné Citizens Against Ruining our Environment and the Center for Biological Diversity have filed motions urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny preliminary permit applications for three pump storage projects southeast of Kayenta on the Navajo Nation.
Read more.Hawai‘i’s Iconic ‘I‘iwi Receives Habitat Protections
HONOLULU— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it plans to designate more than 275,000 acres as protected critical habitat for the threatened ‘i‘iwi, the best known of Hawai‘i’s imperiled honeycreepers.
Read more.Court Forces EPA to Address Harms of Four Pesticides to Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals today ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to address the harms of four pesticides to endangered plants and animals.
Read more.Senate Democrats Pass Extinction Omnibus, Endangering Right Whale
WASHINGTON— The Democratic-controlled Senate passed its massive omnibus funding package today that includes an unprecedented right whale extinction rider. The measure will allow the U.S. lobster fishery to delay for six years essential conservation actions to prevent fishing gear from entangling and killing critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. The rider was inserted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Read more.Svitlana Romanko, Joye Braun Honored With Rose Braz Award for Bold Activism
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity today awarded the 2022 “Rose Braz Award for Bold Activism” to Svitlana Romanko and posthumously to the late Joye Braun.
Read more.Legal Victory: Court Rules EPA’s Registration of Bee-Killing Insecticide Unlawful, Citing Failure to Assess Risks to Endangered Species
SAN FRANCISCO— In a major win for pollinators and other wildlife, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit today ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to protect endangered species from the bee-killing insecticide sulfoxaflor. The court held that the agency’s 2019 decision to allow new uses of sulfoxaflor across more than 200 million acres of pollinator-attractive crops violated the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Biden Administration Oil Leasing in Alaska’s Cook Inlet
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— National and community-based environmental groups filed a legal challenge today to stop the Department of the Interior’s lease sale in Cook Inlet, Alaska. Lease sale 258, scheduled for Dec. 30, would auction off nearly a million acres of federal waters in southcentral Alaska, opening the door to decades of future oil and gas drilling.
Read more.Nearly 4,200 Acres of Habitat Protected for Endangered Florida Fern
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected 4,195 acres of critical habitat for the endangered Florida bristle fern. The fern, found in small patches in Miami-Dade and Sumter counties, is acutely threatened by historic and ongoing habitat loss from development and sea-level rise.
Read more.Minnesota Releases Final Wolf Management Plan
MINNEAPOLIS— The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources today released its final wolf management plan, which will guide the state’s wolf conservation efforts for the next decade. It replaces a previous plan that was last updated in 2001.
Read more.Right Whale Condemned to Extinction in Senate Omnibus
WASHINGTON— With no process or accountability, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy inserted an unprecedented right whale policy rider into the omnibus funding budget released today. Schumer’s measure gives the U.S. lobster fishery six years to delay necessary actions to prevent fishing gear from entangling and killing critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
Read more.BLM Starts Permitting for Nevada Lithium Mine That Threatens Rare Wildflower
RENO, Nev.— The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced the start of environmental review today for a Nevada lithium mine that jeopardizes an endangered wildflower, kicking off a 30-day scoping comment period that spans the holidays.
Read more.Biodiversity Summit Agrees to Protect 30% of Planet by 2030
MONTREAL— A global agreement was reached today to protect 30% of terrestrial, freshwater and marine areas by 2030. The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP15, in Montreal concluded by adopting the “Kunming-Montreal Global biodiversity framework.” The framework centers the role of Indigenous Peoples in meeting the habitat goals and vastly increases financing for biodiversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges San Bernardino County Approval of Polluting Warehouse Near Schools, Homes
BLOOMINGTON, Calif.— Environmental justice and conservation groups sued San Bernardino County today for approving a Bloomington warehouse complex without adequately addressing the harms it will cause to air quality, public health and housing.
Read more.Southeast Freshwater Champion Receives 2022 E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Award
GAINESVILLE, Fla.— Jim Williams, Ph.D, an icon of research and advocacy for endangered species in the American Southeast, is the 2022 recipient of the Center for Biological Diversity’s annual E.O. Wilson Award for Outstanding Science in Biodiversity Conservation.
Read more.Federal Officials Urged to Save Coastal Birds at Florida State Park
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups sent a letter today urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enforce the Migratory Bird Treaty Act if Florida doesn’t swiftly rein in threats to protected coastal birds at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.
Read more.Colorado Judge Rules Polis Administration Broke Air Quality Law Over West Elk Coal Mine Permit
GUNNISON, Colo.— A Colorado court has ruled that Gov. Jared Polis’ administration violated state law by failing to act on an air pollution permit for the West Elk coal mine in western Colorado.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Stop Arizona Border Shipping Containers From Damming Streams, Washes
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s administration and state contractor AshBritt, Inc., for violating federal law by blocking streams and washes along the U.S.-Mexico border with hundreds of shipping containers.
Read more.Whitebark Pine Protected as Threatened Under Endangered Species Act
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the whitebark pine will be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The pine is the most widespread tree to receive such protection. It occurs in high-elevation areas of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Nevada.
Read more.Demanda empuja a EE. UU. a sancionar a México mientras la vaquita marina se acerca a la extinción
NUEVA YORK— Organizaciones ambientalistas demandaron hoy al Departamento del Interior de EE. UU. ante un tribunal federal para forzar una decisión largamente postergada de sancionar a México por permitir la pesca y el comercio ilegales que ponen en peligro a la vaquita marina.
Read more.Tiehm’s Buckwheat Protected as Endangered Species
RENO, Nev.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized Endangered Species Act protection today for the rare wildflower Tiehm’s buckwheat, responding to a petition and litigation from the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Pushes U.S. to Sanction Mexico as Vaquita Porpoise Nears Extinction
NEW YORK— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Department of the Interior today in federal court to force a long overdue decision to sanction Mexico for allowing illegal fishing and trade that endanger the vaquita porpoise.
Read more.International Coalition Urges Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to Investigate Abuses of Industrial Meat, Egg, Dairy Facilities
WASHINGTON— Indigenous, human-rights, conservation, and public-health groups are asking the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to hold a thematic hearing on human-rights abuses caused by industrial meat, egg and dairy facilities across the American continents.
Read more.Reindeer Population Wins Endangered Species Protection in Time for Holidays
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protected the Dolphin and Union caribou today as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This specific population of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) — also known as reindeer — inhabits the Arctic regions of Canada’s northern territories. The endangered listing restricts trade in Dolphin and Union caribou in the United States.
Read more.EPA Report: Automakers Stalling on Clean Vehicles
WASHINGTON— Major automakers are selling millions of gas guzzlers and a relative handful of electric and other clean vehicles, making little progress against pollution, according to the Automotive Trends Report released today by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Read more.Petition Seeks Jaguar Reintroduction, Habitat Protection in New Mexico, Arizona
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to reintroduce jaguars to the Southwest. The largest cat in the Americas was put on the endangered species list 50 years ago, but because of federal inaction, only a single known wild jaguar now survives in the United States.
Read more.Heavy Reliance on Wolf Killing in Colorado’s Draft Management Plan
DENVER— Colorado Parks and Wildlife today unveiled a draft restoration and management plan for wolves in the state. But the proposed plan allows for wolves to be killed frequently and would let the state remove protections before a sustainable population is established.
Read more.Rising Threats to Wildlife Reported by Red List as Global Biodiversity Negotiations Plod On in Montreal
MONTREAL— An update released today by the International Union for Conservation of Nature found that 28% of plants and animals around the globe are threatened with extinction. The new IUCN Red List identifies 42,108 species as threatened out of 150,388 species for which there is enough information to determine a conservation status.
Read more.Court Orders U.S. to Examine California Shipping Lanes’ Role in Endangered Whale Deaths
OAKLAND, Calif.— A federal court ruled in favor of the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth Wednesday in their lawsuit challenging the failure of the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Coast Guard to protect endangered whales from being struck by ships using California ports.
Read more.Scientists Demand Endangered Species Act Protection for Pacific Walrus
WASHINGTON— Twelve scientists urged the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to promptly protect the Pacific walrus under the Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biological Diversity first submitted a petition to list the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) as threatened or endangered in 2008, more than a decade ago.
Read more.Uranium Mine Gears Up Near Grand Canyon National Park
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— The Pinyon Plain Mine (formerly Canyon Mine) appears to be gearing up for uranium mining operations fewer than 10 miles from the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Hundreds more uranium mines could eventually be developed on federal public lands near Grand Canyon National Park if the Senate fails to pass Senate Bill 387, the Grand Canyon Protection Act.
Read more.Defense Bill Includes Massive Military Land Grab in Nevada
RENO, Nev.— The final version of the National Defense Authorization Act released Tuesday night by the House Rules Committee contains provisions that would enable an enormous military land grab in Nevada.
Read more.Legal Agreement Blocks Oil Drilling on 725,000 Acres of California Central Coast
MARINA, Calif.— A federal judge approved an agreement today to suspend new oil and gas leasing across more than 725,000 acres of public lands in California’s Central Coast and the Bay Area. The legal agreement was reached by conservation groups, Monterey County, Santa Cruz County and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Highly Endangered Amargosa Voles in California
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management today to protect highly imperiled Amargosa voles from unmanaged recreational use within their federally protected critical habitat. The voles’ small range is limited to dense bulrush marshes near a popular hot spring in the Mojave Desert outside Tecopa, California.
Read more.Global Leaders at COP15 Urged to Stop Extinction Now
MONTREAL— Thousands of scientists and advocates from around the world are urging international biodiversity conference delegates to draft an ambitious framework to end the extinction crisis and safeguard biodiversity and Indigenous communities. The 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP15, opens today in Montreal.
Read more.Tuesday Morning Rally to Urge Congress to Oppose Manchin’s Dirty Deal
WASHINGTON— Members of Congress and climate justice advocates will rally Tuesday morning outside the Cannon House Office Building to oppose Sen. Joe Manchin’s massive giveaway to the fossil fuel industry.
Read more.750 Groups Blast Manchin Ploy to Include Dirty Deal in Defense Bill
WASHINGTON— As West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin continues to promote his fossil fuel permitting scheme, more than 750 climate, environmental justice, public health, youth and progressive organizations sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressional leadership today opposing what they call a “cruel and direct attack on environmental justice communities.”
Read more.Emergency Endangered Species Act Protections Sought for Clear Lake Hitch
CLEARLAKE, Calif.— Together with the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake and the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, the Center for Biological Diversity urged Interior Secretary Debra Haaland and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to provide emergency protections to the Clear Lake hitch.
Read more.Newsom Administration Sued Over New Oil, Gas Wells Near Homes, Recent Spills
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued California oil regulators today for approving more than a dozen new oil and gas wells in Los Angeles and Kern counties, some near homes and schools, without conducting a required review intended to protect public health and the environment.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges City of Bakersfield’s Diversions of Kern River
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— Conservation groups have sued the city of Bakersfield for diverting water from the Kern River and ignoring the harms such diversions do to the community and wildlife. The lawsuit, filed in Kern County Superior Court on Wednesday, seeks greater protections for the river, which is completely dry near Bakersfield because of diversions for agricultural use.
Read more.EPA Renewable Fuels ‘Set Rule’ to Destroy Habitat, Kill Endangered Species, Degrade Water Quality
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency released its long-delayed proposal today establishing fuel volume requirements for corn ethanol and other biofuels for 2023, 2024 and 2025. The so-called “set rule” was the EPA’s first opportunity to set such volume requirements at any level, including below the congressionally mandated floors in place over the previous decade.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Seek Federal Protections for Two Turtles, Rare Flower
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice of intent today to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect the alligator snapping turtle, Pearl River map turtle and bracted twistflower under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Dixie Valley Toad Receives Final Endangered Species Protections
RENO, Nev.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it has finalized Endangered Species Act protections for the highly imperiled Dixie Valley toad. The toad was protected under a rare emergency order in April, and those emergency protections expire Dec. 2.
Read more.Florida Strengthens Manatee Protections in Boater Safety Courses
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In response to a petition from conservation organizations, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted today to amend its boater safety course to protect imperiled manatees and other marine life.
Read more.Endangered Wildlife Win Protections From Lead on National Wildlife Refuges
WASHINGTON— A federal judge today ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take measures to protect endangered wildlife harmed by expanded hunting and fishing on national wildlife refuges. The protections include phasing out the use of poisonous lead ammunition and tackle at several refuges across the country.
Read more.Two California Plants Saved From Extinction by Endangered Species Act
LOS ANGELES— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to remove two Channel Islands plants from the endangered species list because they have successfully recovered.
Read more.$60K Awarded to Students Focused on Protecting Southern California’s Signature River
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.— The Utom Conservation Fund, a group of cultural and environmental organizations, has awarded $60,000 in scholarships and fellowships to students dedicated to the conservation of the Santa Clara River, also known as Utom.
Read more.Northern Long-Eared Bats Win Endangered Species Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed northern long-eared bats as endangered today, reversing a previous “threatened” listing that allowed destructive activities like clearcutting to proceed in the bats' habitat.
Read more.New Lawsuit Demands National Gray Wolf Recovery Plan
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the failure of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a national gray wolf recovery plan under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.CITES Meeting Concludes With Bids to Open Ivory, Rhino Horn Trading Defeated
PANAMA CITY— Countries at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species meeting confirmed votes Thursday rejecting resumption of the ivory and rhinoceros horn trade, sparing elephants and rhinos from increased threats.
Read more.CITES Vote Grants 21 U.S. Turtle Species International Trade Protections
PANAMA CITY— Countries from around the globe voted at the CITES conference today to restrict trade in 21 U.S. turtle species. The decision was made at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Read more.Groups Petition EPA to Require Better Measurement of Toxic Air Pollution Emitted by Colorado Plant’s Disposal of Fossil Fuel Waste
PARACHUTE, Colo.— Conservation and public health groups filed a petition today urging the Environmental Protection Agency to require adequate measurement of the toxic air pollution being emitted by a facility that disposes of liquid waste from fracking and oil and gas production.
Read more.Critical Habitat Proposed for Endangered Florida Bonneted Bat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a court-ordered agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday proposed protecting nearly 1.2 million acres of critical habitat for the endangered Florida bonneted bat. The native bat faces devastating habitat loss from climate change and urban sprawl.
Read more.Conservation Groups Intervene to Protect Utah Monuments, Antiquities Act
SALT LAKE CITY— Conservation groups filed a motion today to intervene in two lawsuits challenging President Biden’s restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. The lawsuits, led by the state of Utah, also attack the Antiquities Act as unlawful.
Read more.Legal Victory: Court Orders EPA to Protect Endangered Wildlife From Toxic Pesticide
WASHINGTON— A federal appeals court ordered the Environmental Protection Agency today to fulfill its long-delayed mandatory duties to protect endangered species from the highly toxic insecticide cyantraniliprole.
Read more.EPA Requires St. Croix Refinery to Obtain New Air Permit Before Restarting
ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that the oil refinery on St. Croix cannot restart without a new comprehensive Clean Air Act permit, called the Prevention of Significant Deterioration permit.
Read more.New Washington Wildlife Commission Policy Forecloses Spring Bear Hunt
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 5-4 on Friday to adopt a policy that forecloses spring black bear hunting, effectively ending the hunt unless the commission votes to reverse its decision in the future.
Read more.Petition Urges Fish and Wildlife Service to Protect Manatee as Endangered
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, Miami Waterkeeper, Save the Manatee Club and Frank S. González García today petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to increase protections for West Indian manatees. The petition urges the Service to reclassify the species from threatened to endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.New Survey: 90% of Americans Want Less Materialistic Holidays
TUCSON, Ariz.— A new national survey by the Center for Biological Diversity found that 90% of Americans wish the holiday season was less materialistic and 87% believe the holidays should be more about family and caring for others, not giving and receiving gifts. The paid, national random online survey of over 900 people was conducted between Sept. 27 and Oct. 17, 2022.
Read more.COP27 Makes Breakthrough on Loss and Damage But Flops on Fossil Fuels
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt— The United Nations climate summit ended in Egypt today with a critical failure to include commitments to phase out all climate-heating fossil fuels as the science behind the Paris Agreement demands.
Read more.Petition Seeks California Endangered Species Protection for Sage Grouse
SAN DIEGO— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition today to protect greater sage grouse in the state under the California Endangered Species Act. The petition, filed with the California Fish and Game Commission, demonstrates that most of the greater sage grouse populations in California have declined significantly and are at imminent risk of being wiped out.
Read more.Nations Vote to Restrict Trade in 3 Imperiled Indo-Pacific Sea Cucumbers
PANAMA CITY— Parties to CITES voted today to protect the pineapple sea cucumber, the amberfish sea cucumber and the red-lined or ‘candycane’ sea cucumber. All species are threatened by trade and will be protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Read more.Lesser Prairie Chicken Protected Under Endangered Species Act
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— In a victory for lesser prairie chickens, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it would protect the iconic grassland bird under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.New Mexico, Arizona Advocates Rally at Forest Service to Support Urgent Climate Action
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Activists rallied at the Forest Service Region 3 headquarters in Albuquerque today to call on federal agencies and the Biden administration to enact meaningful solutions to the climate crisis, including protecting carbon-storing mature and old-growth trees from logging and ending fossil fuel extraction.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Critical Habitat for Rare South Florida Beetle
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to push the agency to protect endangered Miami tiger beetles by designating lifesaving critical habitat. The proposed critical habitat includes areas in Miami’s Richmond Pine Rocklands, which are under imminent threat from development.
Read more.Judge Allows Biden Administration to Delay Restoring Critical Endangered Species Act Protections
WASHINGTON— In a major setback for wildlife protection and conservation, a federal district court today sided with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, delaying the restoration of comprehensive Endangered Species Act protections for hundreds of species and the places they call home.
Read more.120-Plus Groups Call on EPA to Protect Black, Indigenous, People of Color From Pesticides
WASHINGTON— More than 120 groups today urged Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to put commonsense safeguards in place to better protect Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, as well as low-wealth communities, from disproportionate harm from pesticides.
Read more.Biden Administration Announces Tighter Rules for African Elephant Imports
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed new restrictions today on U.S. imports of sport-hunted African elephant trophies and live trade. The proposal halts trophy imports from countries who cannot certify annually that their elephant populations are “stable or increasing,” have up-to-date population data, or have adequate conservation legislation. But today’s proposal stops short of a total ban on trophy and live elephant imports.
Read more.Historic Announcement Ends Net Pen Fish Farms in Washington
SEATTLE— In an announcement late Monday night, the Washington Department of Natural Resources revealed it would not be renewing any of Cooke Aquaculture’s permits for in-water fish net pens in Washington state.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Army Corps Decision Imperiling Wetlands Near Okefenokee Swamp
WASHINGTON— On behalf of four conservation groups, the Southern Environmental Law Center today challenged, in federal court, a decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to unlawfully reinstate jurisdictional determinations that removed Clean Water Act protections from almost 600 acres of wetlands on the doorstep of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Rare Nevada Fish
RENO, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect the Fish Lake Valley tui chub under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Utah’s Least Chub
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect the imperiled least chub under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.8 Billion People on Earth Crowding Out Imperiled Animals, Plants
TUCSON, Ariz.— The world population hit 8 billion people today, accelerating the global extinction crisis for animals and plants imperiled by population growth’s effects on habitat, water, air, and other natural resources.
Read more.Albuquerque Rally at Forest Service Headquarters Aims to Protect Mature Forests, Keep Fossil Fuels In the Ground
ALBUQUERQUE— Conservation groups will rally in front of the U.S. Forest Service Region 3 headquarters in Albuquerque Wednesday to urge the Biden administration to stop logging mature and old-growth forests on public lands and enact a lasting rule to protect them. The groups also will deliver petitions and letters from thousands of people who want these climate-saving carbon sinks protected.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Imperiled Southern Hognose Snake
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for denying Endangered Species Act protections to the southern hognose snake. The species lives in coastal plain habitat in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. It used to also be found in Alabama and Mississippi, but populations there have disappeared.
Read more.Report: U.S. Agencies Undermine Biden’s Pledge to Protect Climate-Saving Forests
WASHINGTON— As world leaders gather to address the climate crisis, U.S. land management agencies are undermining President Biden’s commitment to conserve mature and old-growth forests and trees by logging thousands of acres on public lands that serve as climate-saving carbon sinks, according to a new report released today.
Read more.Female Horseshoe Crabs Protected From Bait Harvest in Delaware Bay
LONG BRANCH, N.J.— The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted today to temporarily halt the harvest of female horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay, a crucial nesting area and stopover habitat for endangered red knots and other migratory shorebirds that feed on the crabs’ eggs.
Read more.Shortfin Mako Shark Denied Federal Protections
WASHINGTON— The highly imperiled shortfin mako shark was denied federal protection today by NOAA Fisheries, which stated that a listing under the federal Endangered Species Act is “not warranted.” In June 2022 Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity threatened to sue the agency for failing to meet its statutory deadline to make this decision.
Read more.California’s Revised Net Metering Plan Still Fails Environmental Justice Communities
SAN FRANCISCO— The California Public Utilities Commission’s proposed revised state net-metering plan, released today, abandons the hefty solar tax from last year’s proposal but still threatens to put affordable renewable energy out of reach for most communities.
Read more.Nations to Meet in Panama to Tackle Wildlife Trade
PANAMA CITY, Panama— Officials from around the globe will convene in Panama City Nov. 14 for the triennial conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The CITES treaty regulates trade in imperiled or potentially threatened animals and plants, and plays a critical role in combating wildlife exploitation, a key driver of the extinction crisis.
Read more.Endangered Species Condoms Sent to UN to Highlight Population Growth’s Effects on Biodiversity
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity has mailed Endangered Species Condoms to the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Environment Program, and the United Nations Secretary General to encourage the organization to talk about how continued unsustainable population growth negatively affects biodiversity. The message is exceptionally important as humanity exceeds 8 billion people on Nov. 15.
Read more.Legal Petition Urges Biden Administration to Stop New Deepwater Ports for Oil, Gas Exports
HOUSTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and 289 organizations sent a legal petition today to the Maritime Administration, or MARAD, an agency in the U.S. Department of Transportation, demanding that the Biden administration halt approvals of new deepwater port infrastructure for oil and gas exports.
Read more.15 Turtle Experts Back Florida’s Continued Ban on Breeding Diamondback Terrapins for Profit
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— A group of 15 leading turtle experts sent a letter today urging Florida wildlife commissioners to maintain rules that prohibit for-profit breeding of native diamondback terrapin turtles.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered Species From Cattle Grazing in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon filed a notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their repeated failure to control cows illegally grazing in endangered species critical habitat, primarily along the Salt River and its tributaries.
Read more.Investigators Uncover Rampant Wildlife Trafficking in Mexico
LA PAZ, Mexico— A report from the Center for Biological Diversity released today finds that trafficking of imperiled wild animals is widespread across Mexico. Species like jaguars, sloths, howler monkeys, crocodiles, sea cucumbers and parrots are traded openly in a robust digital marketplace aided by social media.
Read more.A sólo un clic, tráfico de vida silvestre en México
LA PAZ, México— “Vendo o cambio, bonito ejemplar de cocodrilo mexicano, gente seria, no preguntones, ni chinches $$$”. Así se promueve en redes sociales Juan, joven originario de Chimalhuacán, Estado de México, que ofrece dos ejemplares de cocodrilo de pantano, sin documentación o registro a través de un grupo de Facebook.
Read more.Biden Administration Flouts Climate Goals With Inflation Reduction Act’s First Onshore Oil, Gas Lease Sales
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration is working against U.S. climate goals and failing to protect communities, water and wildlife by auctioning oil and gas leases on public lands under the Inflation Reduction Act, climate and conservation groups said in formal comments submitted today.
Read more.Sickle Darter Protected as Threatened Under Endangered Species Act
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— In response to a 2010 petition and 2015 agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a final rule to protect the sickle darter as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. But in today’s decision, the agency failed to designate critical habitat for the fish.
Read more.Fish and Wildlife Service Drops Ball on Protecting 42 Species
PORTLAND, Ore.— For the sixth fiscal year in a row, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has failed to follow its own workplan for addressing a backlog of plants and animals waiting for protection decisions under the Endangered Species Act. Among those left in the lurch are the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle, Mt. Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan and whitebark pine.
Read more.Newly Obtained EPA Documents Reveal Seresto Flea Collars Now Linked to More Than 100,000 Reports of Harm to Pets, Nearly 2,700 Deaths
WASHINGTON— Reports of harm to pets wearing Seresto flea collars have now soared to 100,592, including 2,698 deaths, according to new Environmental Protection Agency incident reports obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Bans Livestock Grazing Across 33,000 Acres in Big Win for Sage-Grouse, Other Wildlife
BRIDGEPORT, Calif.— The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest released its final decision today to deny cattle grazing on almost 33,000 acres of scenic, biodiverse public lands in the Eastern Sierra. The area harbors habitat for bi-state greater sage-grouse, rare Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep and Lahontan cutthroat trout.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Colorado’s Approval of Increased Air Pollution From Tanker Truck Facility in Commerce City
DENVER— Conservation and community groups sued the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division today for issuing a permit allowing Polar Service Center, a tanker truck repair shop, to emit increased asthma- and cancer-causing air pollution.
Read more.Pacific Fisher to Gain 41,000 Additional Acres of Protected California Habitat
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif.— Following years of efforts by the Center for Biological Diversity and other conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed increasing the amount of protected critical habitat for Pacific fishers in the southern Sierra Nevada by 41,041 acres.
Read more.California Regulators Urged to Ban Herbicide Linked to Parkinson’s Disease
OAKLAND, Calif.— Conservation and public health groups today called on the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to reevaluate approval of the herbicide paraquat and ban its use in the state.
Read more.California Court Blocks Harmful Dam Project in Stanislaus County
PATTERSON, Calif.— A judge has rejected plans to build a new dam in the Central Valley, ordering the Del Puerto Water District to vacate its approval of the project.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Plain City Wastewater Permit to Protect Ohio’s Big Darby Creek
COLUMBUS, Ohio— The Ohio Environmental Council, Center for Biological Diversity and Darby Creek Association appealed a Plain City Wastewater Treatment Plant permit Wednesday that would double the amount of polluting discharge the facility is allowed to release into Big Darby Creek.
Read more.Court Allows Environmentalists’ Request to Intervene in Exxon Trucking Case
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— A federal judge ruled today that conservation and Indigenous groups can help legally defend Santa Barbara County’s denial of ExxonMobil’s proposal to truck vast quantities of oil along dangerous California roads.
Read more.Environmentalists Seek to Join Federal Fight Against Arizona Shipping Containers Along Border
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity asked a federal judge today for permission to join the Biden administration as a defendant in Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s lawsuit challenging federal authority along the Arizona-Mexico border.
Read more.Maui Hotel, Conservation Groups Reach Agreement to Protect Endangered Hawaiian Petrel
WAILEA, Hawai‘i— In accordance with a recent settlement agreement, the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui has implemented protective measures, including reducing lighting, to help protect the endangered ‘ua‘u, or Hawaiian petrel. The agreement, which was finalized on Oct. 21, resolves an Endangered Species Act case brought by Conservation Council for Hawai‘i and the Center for Biological Diversity, which were represented by Earthjustice.
Read more.Emergency Petition Seeks to Shield Right Whale Moms, Calves From Ship Strikes
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed an emergency rulemaking petition with the National Marine Fisheries Service today to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from being struck and killed by vessels in their calving grounds off the coast of the southeast United States.
Read more.New Tulsa Mural Will Highlight Endangered American Burying Beetle
TULSA, Okla.— The Center for Biological Diversity will host a community event in Tulsa on Saturday, Nov. 5, to celebrate a new mural of the American burying beetle, a vibrant endangered insect.
Read more.Petition Seeks to Protect Smalltail Shark Under Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a petition today urging the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect the smalltail shark under the Endangered Species Act. The smalltail shark population has declined by more than 80% globally over the past 27 years.
Read more.California Crab Season Delayed to Protect Whales From Entanglements
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today the state will delay the opening of the commercial Dungeness crab season to protect endangered humpback whales and other marine life from deadly entanglements. The department’s Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program determined that too many whales are present for crabbing to occur safely.
Read more.Legal Petition Urges California Officials to Phase Out Deadly Pesticide Linked to Climate Change
OAKLAND, Calif.— Environmental groups filed a formal legal petition today urging the California Air Resources Board to phase out the insecticide sulfuryl fluoride because of its significant contribution to global warming.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Streaked Horned Larks as Endangered
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity and the Audubon Society of Portland filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to better protect the streaked horned lark, a rare bird found in Washington and Oregon.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Humpback Whales From California Gillnet Entanglements
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity sued NOAA Fisheries today to force it to protect endangered Pacific humpback whales from entanglements in California drift gillnets. In the past two fishing seasons an estimated 12 Pacific humpbacks were caught in the California drift gillnet fishery, according to federal reports.
Read more.Maui Lighting Ordinance Victory for Seabirds, Turtles
KAHULUI, Hawai‘i— In a victory for seabirds and turtles, Maui today approved an ordinance regulating the amount of blue light that outdoor lighting fixtures can emit on the island. The ordinance, which was supported by the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Council of Hawai‘i and Earthjustice, will help endangered sea turtles and Hawaiian petrels.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Seeking Final Endangered Species Protection for Nevada’s Rare Tiehm’s Buckwheat
RENO, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to force it to finalize Endangered Species Act protections for the rare Nevada wildflower Tiehm’s buckwheat.
Read more.Rare Cuckoo Bumblebees Move One Step Closer to U.S. Endangered Species Protection
TUCSON, Ariz.— In response to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to a deadline of December 2024 to determine whether Suckley’s cuckoo bumblebees warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Lesser Prairie Chickens Under Endangered Species Act
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect lesser prairie chickens.
Read more.Emperor Penguins Win U.S. Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today granted the emperor penguin protection under the Endangered Species Act because of threats from sea-ice loss driven by the climate crisis. The decision follows a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Montana’s Arctic Grayling
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Conservationists filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for once again denying Montana’s Arctic grayling population Endangered Species Act protections. The parties — the Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project, and Butte resident Pat Munday — are represented by Earthjustice.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Arizona Plan to Block Jaguar Migration With Shipping Containers
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of intent to sue Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s administration to challenge plans to obstruct a critical jaguar and ocelot migration corridor with shipping containers along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Read more.As U.S. Pesticide Law Turns 50, Assessment Highlights Fast-Track Approvals of Poisons Banned Across Much of World
WASHINGTON— Fifty years after Congress passed the current Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act to protect people and the environment, the law has instead fast-tracked approval of dangerous pesticides banned across much of the world.
Read more.Rare Oregon Wildflower Moves Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that they would consider protecting the tall western penstemon under the Endangered Species Act. The agency now has 12 months to decide whether to protect the imperiled flower.
Read more.Rare Southern Bog Turtle Moves One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protection
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it would consider protecting the southern population of the imperiled bog turtle under the Endangered Species Act. The agency now has 12 months to decide whether to protect the turtle, which lives in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.
Read more.Famed Ghost Orchid Moves One Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
HOLLYWOOD, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will consider granting Endangered Species Act protection to the ghost orchid, a critically endangered flower. Under federal law, the agency now has until January 2023 to make a decision.
Read more.Daemen University to Host Free Screening of Childfree by Choice Film
BUFFALO, N.Y.— The Center for Biological Diversity will host a free screening of My So-Called Selfish Life, directed by Therese Shechter, a documentary that examines the choice to be childfree and the importance of reproductive rights and justice. The screening will be held at Daemen University and will be followed by a Q&A and panel discussion about the relationship between reproductive freedom and the environment.
Read more.Two California Salamanders Proposed for Endangered Species Protections
CARLSBAD, Calif.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting two species of salamander in Southern California under the Endangered Species Act, while denying protections to a third. The Kern Canyon slender salamander will be protected as threatened and the relictual slender salamander as endangered. The agency declined to protect the Kern Plateau salamander.
Read more.Aquatic Critical Habitat Proposed for Threatened Nassau Grouper
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed to protect more than 900 square miles in the western North Atlantic Ocean for the threatened Nassau grouper. The fish’s nearshore ocean habitat faces threats from pollution and climate change harms like ocean warming and acidification.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Risky Project in San Diego County’s Wildfire Zone
SANTEE, Calif.— Conservation organizations have filed another lawsuit over the city of Santee’s approval of the Fanita Ranch project. The suit is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that the large-scale development project does not proceed in a wildfire-prone area without the necessary review of wildfire risk.
Read more.Eight South Florida Plants Get Proposal for Critical Habitat Protection
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In response to litigation filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect more than 570,000 acres of habitat for eight imperiled Florida plants. All eight plants can be found in the few remaining pockets of pine rockland habitats, which have been reduced by at least 98%.
Read more.Two South Florida Snakes Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protections
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In response to a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to list the Key ringneck snake and Rim Rock crowned snake as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also proposed to protect 2,604 acres and 5,972 acres of critical habitat for the ringneck and crowned snake, respectively.
Read more.Legal Agreement Requires EPA to Set New Limits on Soot, Sulfur, Nitrogen Air Pollution
OAKLAND, Calif.— A federal judge approved a legal agreement today requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to update measures protecting the environment from soot, sulfur and nitrogen air pollution by Dec. 10, 2024.
Read more.Gopher Tortoise Denied Lifesaving Endangered Species Act Protection
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a petition and lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today denied Endangered Species Act protections to the eastern population of gopher tortoise. The eastern population of animals are found in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and most of Alabama.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks TVA Documents on Energy Plans, Fossil Fuel Industry Communications
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Tennessee Valley Authority today for failing to release thousands of pages of public records concerning the agency’s plans to build new gas plants, obstructing the transition to more affordable and resilient renewable energy.
Read more.$51,400 Reward Offered for Info on Washington Wolf Poisonings
SEATTLE— Conservation and animal-protection groups announced today an increased reward of $51,400 for information leading to a conviction in the illegal poisoning deaths of six wolves in northeastern Washington earlier this year.
Read more.La Junta de Puerto Rico rechaza la petición de la EPA de verter residuos de dragado en el océano
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— La Junta de Planificación de Puerto Rico se ha opuesto formalmente al plan del gobierno federal de verter millones de metros cúbicos de residuos de dragado en cinco lugares en el mar alrededor de Puerto Rico.
Read more.Puerto Rico Board Denies EPA Request to Dump Dredge Waste in Ocean
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— The Puerto Rico Planning Board has formally objected to the federal government’s plan to dispose of millions of cubic yards of dredge waste in five ocean sites around Puerto Rico without further environmental studies.
Read more.Legal Victory Speeds Habitat Protection for Endangered Florida Bonneted Bat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to propose critical habitat for the endangered Florida bonneted bat by Nov. 15, 2022, marking a legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity, Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association and Tropical Audubon Society. The indigenous bat faces devastating habitat loss from sea-level rise and urban sprawl.
Read more.Biden Begins Massive Inflation Reduction Act Oil Leasing on Public Lands
WASHINGTON— The Bureau of Land Management announced plans this morning to begin auctioning off oil and gas leases to satisfy Inflation Reduction Act provisions that condition renewable energy rights-of-way on new oil and gas leasing.
Read more.Imperiled San Francisco Bay Fish One Step Closer to Protection
SAN FRANCISCO— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting the San Francisco Bay population of longfin smelt as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The formerly abundant native fish has seen its population plummet in recent decades.
Read more.USDA’s $2.8 Billion Climate-Smart Corporate Handout Raises Questions About Industry Influence
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a Freedom of Information Act request seeking records from communications between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and large corporate meat and dairy industry trade groups about massive funding increases for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities projects.
Read more.Federal Officials Release Final Revised Mexican Gray Wolf Plan
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released its final revised Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan with court-ordered measures to lower deaths, including those caused by illegal killings. Mexican gray wolves are one of the most endangered canids in the world, with only 196 counted in Arizona and New Mexico earlier this year.
Read more.Critical Habitat Proposed for Louisiana Pinesnake in Louisiana, Texas
NEW ORLEANS— In response to litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect 209,520 acres of critical habitat for the Louisiana pinesnake in central Louisiana and east Texas.
Read more.Alpine Flower in Northern California Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
EUREKA, Calif.— In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect the Lassics lupine under the Endangered Species Act with 512 acres of critical habitat in California’s Humboldt and Trinity counties.
Read more.Snail Darter Swims Off Endangered List
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today removed the snail darter from the endangered species list because the fish has recovered. Thanks to collaborative conservation efforts since it was protected in 1975, the little fish is no longer in danger of extinction.
Read more.Hurricane Ian Reveals Dangers of Proposal to Use Toxic Phosphogypsum in Road Construction
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following Hurricane Ian’s path of destruction across Florida, demolished roads and collapsed bridges highlight the danger of proposals to use toxic, radioactive phosphogypsum waste in road construction. For years, lawmakers have attempted to allow this dangerous practice.
Read more.California Oil Group Pays Fees to Advocacy Groups It Harassed, But Dodges Multimillion Dollar Judgment
LOS ANGELES— The California Independent Petroleum Association, an oil industry trade association, paid the city of Los Angeles, Youth for Environmental Justice, South Central Youth Leadership Coalition, and the Center for Biological Diversity nearly $650,000 as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan today, after years of litigation.
Read more.Forest Service to Hold Public Hearing on Controversial Holland Lake Lodge Expansion
MISSOULA, Mont.— The U.S. Forest Service is holding a public hearing Tuesday in Condon, Montana, to take public comment on a controversial proposal by ski industry giant POWDR Corp. to triple the size of the historic Holland Lake Lodge and expand its use to include winter recreation. Originally built in 1925, and then rebuilt in 1947 following a fire, the Holland Lake Lodge currently accommodates 50 people for small summer events.
Read more.Biden Administration Greenlights Work on California Pipeline Linked to 2021 Huntington Beach Oil Spill
LONG BEACH, Calif.— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a key permit on Friday for underwater repairs that will allow the restart of the 42-year-old pipeline that ruptured off Orange County in October 2021. The rupture spilled tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean.
Read more.Wildlife Connectivity Bill Becomes Law in California
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Safe Roads and Wildlife Protection Act into law today, paving the way for more wildlife crossings and road improvements across the state.
Read more.New Red Wolf Recovery Plan Needs Public Input
RALEIGH, N.C.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued a revised draft recovery plan for the red wolf, the world’s most endangered canid, following a 2020 legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity. The plan proposes several beneficial actions the federal government should take, including the establishment of new populations and ways to reduce human-caused wolf deaths.
Read more.10 Biden Administration Actions for Sustainable Food
WASHINGTON— Today’s White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health is jumpstarting a critical conversation about food and nutrition security. The Biden administration acknowledges the connection between climate change and food security, but its proposal lacks the urgency to address the existential threat the climate emergency poses to agriculture and the availability of nutritious food.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Outdated Offshore Oil Plans in California
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today for failing to review decades-old plans for offshore oil platforms near Huntington Beach. The lawsuit comes a year after a major oil spill linked to Platform Elly in the region caused significant damage to wildlife and beaches.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Protection for Central Tennessee’s Imperiled Barrens Darter
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today over the agency’s denial of Endangered Species Act protections to the Barrens darter. Named for its home on the Barrens Plateau of central Tennessee, the darter is one of the rarest fish in North America.
Read more.Rare Florida Keys Lizard Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
MIAMI— Following a 2020 legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting the Florida Keys mole skink as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also proposed designating 7,068 acres of protected critical habitat.
Read more.Army Corps to Revoke Permit for Lake Pend Oreille Marina, Housing Development in Idaho
SANDPOINT, Idaho— In response to litigation from the Center for Biological Diversity and Idaho Conservation League, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to revoke its permit for the Idaho Club’s marina and lakeside housing development at the mouth of Trestle Creek on Lake Pend Oreille. The creek accounts for more than half of the annual bull trout spawning sites in the Pend Oreille Basin, a species protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Manchin Pushes Most Significant Environmental Rollback in Decades
WASHINGTON— After weeks of keeping the public and virtually all members of Congress in the dark, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin today released the details of their secret deal that Manchin demanded as payment for voting to pass the Inflation Reduction Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Threatened Coral Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of intent to sue the federal government for failing to protect 20 coral species in the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific. The corals all received Endangered Species Act listings in 2014 but not the protective regulations the law requires, including prohibitions on collection and sale.
Read more.Dozens of Groups Urge Interior Department to Greenlight Okefenokee World Heritage Bid
ATLANTA— More than 30 national, state and local organizations urged Secretary of the Interior Debra Haaland and the U.S. Department of the Interior today to formally authorize the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s bid for World Heritage listing.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Arizona Fort’s Fake Groundwater Pumping Credits That Threaten San Pedro River
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups have appealed a federal court ruling to challenge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s granting groundwater credits to the U.S. Army’s Fort Huachuca that fail to return water to the imperiled San Pedro River.
Read more.Legal Agreement Spurs EPA to Take Stronger Steps to Reduce Smog Pollution in Areas of Five States With Some of Nation’s Worst Air Quality
OAKLAND, Calif.— As a result of a legal agreement with environmental groups, the Environmental Protection Agency has downgraded the smog pollution rating in portions of five states from “serious” to “severe.” The downgrade will trigger more protective measures to reduce the dangerous levels of smog pollution.
Read more.Victory: Court Nixes Air Permits for Formosa’s Huge Petrochemical Complex in Cancer Alley
ST. JAMES, La.— Louisiana’s 19th Judicial District Court has reversed the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s decision to issue air permits that Formosa Plastics needed to build its proposed petrochemical complex in St. James Parish.
Read more.Dozens of Conservation Groups, Scientists Call on New York to Protect Wolves
ALBANY, N.Y.— Nearly 40 regional and national conservation groups and leading independent scientists sent a letter today urging the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to take concrete steps to protect wolves returning to the state.
Read more.Judge Vacates Approval of Cadiz’s California Desert Water Grab
LOS ANGELES— A federal judge has vacated a U.S. Bureau of Land Management decision that would have allowed Cadiz Inc. to repurpose a mothballed oil-and-gas pipeline to drain a large aquifer in the Mojave Desert.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Force Biden Administration to Protect Red Squirrel, Nation’s Most Endangered Mammal, From Extinction
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups have sued the Biden administration to force two federal agencies to comply with the Endangered Species Act and protect imperiled Mount Graham red squirrels in southeastern Arizona from extinction.
Read more.California Should Reject Solar Tax, Boost Solar in Environmental Justice Communities
SACRAMENTO— More than 125 California and national climate and equity groups, representing millions of people, called on the governor’s office today to reject the California Public Utility Commission’s proposed solar tax and maintain the state’s solar credit to grow rooftop solar in environmental justice communities.
Read more.With Offshore Drilling Set to Surge, EPA Urged to Halt Fracking Waste Discharges Into Gulf of Mexico
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity urged the Environmental Protection Agency today to prohibit discharges of fracking chemicals into the Gulf of Mexico.
Read more.Tricolored Bats Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— In response to a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect tricolored bats as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. But the agency failed to designate critical habitat for the imperiled bats.
Read more.Mining Ship Departs Mexico’s Manzanillo After Shock Decision to Greenlight Deep-Sea Mining Test
MEXICO CITY— The Hidden Gem, the world’s largest vessel dedicated specifically to mining the seafloor for minerals, is staging its first mining operation. It will depart Wednesday from the Mexican Pacific port of Manzanillo.
Read more.New Wolf Family Seen in Northern Oregon’s Cascades
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reported Monday evening that a new family of wolves was photographed by biologists from the Confederated Tribe of the Warm Springs using a trail camera in August. The wolf family consists of two adults and two pups.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect West Coast Fisher
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity and allies sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for denying endangered species protection to West Coast fishers. Fishers are relatives of mink, otters and wolverines and live in old-growth forests.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Push EPA to Enforce Clean Air Act Protections for UNC-Chapel Hill’s Coal-Fired Power Plant
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and the town of Carrboro, North Carolina, filed a formal notice of intent today to sue the Environmental Protection Agency to force it to act on a petition challenging the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s inadequate air-pollution permit.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect U.S. Waters From Ship Pollution, Invasive Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth filed a notice of intent today to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to finalize nationwide standards to protect U.S. waterways from harmful vessel discharges. These discharges carry invasive species, pathogens and other pollutants that pose serious threats to the nation’s waters, ecosystems, economy and public health.
Read more.Agreement Reached to Protect Endangered Species From Livestock in National Conservation Area in Arizona
PHOENIX— A federal judge approved an agreement today to protect critical habitat for threatened and endangered species from cattle grazing in southeastern Arizona’s Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Grizzlies from Expanded Grazing in Montana’s Paradise Valley
MISSOULA, Mont.— Nine conservation organizations filed a lawsuit today to challenge the U.S. Forest Service’s 2021 decision to authorize expanded livestock grazing on six allotments on the east side of Montana’s Paradise Valley. The allotments lie just north of Yellowstone National Park in occupied grizzly bear habitat.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Delay in Smog Reduction in Five States
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health filed an updated lawsuit today to sue the Environmental Protection Agency to force it to ensure that effective smog-reduction plans are in place in five states.
Read more.Virtual Film Festival Highlights Link Between Food Justice, Sovereignty, Sustainability
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will host its third annual virtual Food Justice Film Festival from Sept.15-18, featuring award-winning films and interviews with filmmakers and activists. This year’s featured films are Poisoning Paradise; Fruits of Labor; RETURN: Native American Women Reclaim Foodways for Health and Spirit; From Gangs to Gardens; The Seed Saver; and I’m Just a Layman in Pursuit of Justice: Black Farmers Fight Against the USDA. The film festival is free and open to the public.
Read more.Court Upholds Federal Action to Protect Right Whales From Deadly Entanglements in Lobster Gear
WASHINGTON— A federal court has rejected a lobster industry attack on the science supporting recent federal efforts to protect critically endangered right whales from deadly entanglements in lobster gear. The industry sued the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation and Defenders of Wildlife intervened to defend the science.
Read more.Federal Lawsuit Challenges Forest Service OK of Oil Railway Right-of-Way
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service today to challenge the agency’s approval of construction of an oil railway through a protected roadless area of the Ashley National Forest in Utah.
Read more.Documents: Army Corps Decided to Resume Border Wall Construction 10 Days Into Biden Term
WASHINGTON— Public records show the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided to resume border wall construction just 10 days into the 60-day pause President Biden imposed when he took office last year. The records, obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity under the Freedom of Information Act, make clear that the Army Corps’ career staff was committed to continuing construction of Trump’s border wall.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Critical Habitat for Rare South Florida Beetle
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today that they intend to sue over the agency’s failure to make a timely designation of lifesaving critical habitat for the endangered Miami tiger beetle.
Read more.Legal Agreement Blocks Drilling on 58,000 Acres in Montana, Dakotas Pending New Analysis
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Conservation groups and the Bureau of Land Management have reached an agreement that will prevent new oil and gas drilling on 58,000 acres of public lands in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota pending a new analysis of its potential harm to groundwater and the climate.
Read more.New Report Explores Link Between Environmental Harms of Capitalism, Reproductive Health
TUCSON, Ariz.— A new report from the Center for Biological Diversity explores the harms caused by environmental threats like pollution and climate chaos to fertility, pregnant people, fetuses, infants and children.
Read more.More Than 80 Conservation Groups Urge Congress to Reject Mountain Valley Pipeline in Manchin Side Deal
WASHINGTON— More than 80 conservation groups sent a letter today urging congressional leadership to reject Sen. Joe Manchin’s proposal to fast-track the approval of the Mountain Valley Pipeline as part of any “permitting reform” deal struck between Manchin and Democratic leaders.
Read more.Court Rejects Wyoming, Industry Challenge to Biden Administration Postponement of Oil, Gas Lease Sales
WASHINGTON— A federal judge in Wyoming has affirmed the Biden administration’s decisions to postpone oil and gas lease sales in early 2021, holding that the federal government has broad authority to postpone sales to address environmental concerns.
Read more.Rigorous New Study Finds Significant Water Pollution From Cattle Ranching at Point Reyes National Seashore
POINT REYES, Calif.— The most rigorous independent water quality report ever conducted in Point Reyes National Seashore has just been released by Turtle Island Restoration Network. It reveals that water pollution dangerous to public health and the environment persists at the seashore. The report, produced by geoenvironmental engineer Douglas Lovell, documents consistent and significant water quality pollution in this national park unit caused by subsidized private ranching.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for West Coast’s Bull Kelp
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned NOAA Fisheries today to grant Endangered Species Act protection to bull kelp, which faces grave threats from climate change and coastal development. The range of these underwater forests extends along the western coast of the United States.
Read more.California Lawmakers OK Climate Package With Buffer Zones, Carbon Capture
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California legislature approved a suite of climate measures today, including historic health-and-safety setbacks that protect communities from oil and gas drilling, in its closing 2022 session.
Read more.Biden Administration Backs Offshore Fracking in California
LOS ANGELES— The Biden administration filed a request today asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court decision that halted offshore fracking in federal waters off California. Today’s filing asks for an “en banc” review of the key ruling.
Read more.Federal Agencies Urged to Update Mining Rules, Halt Industry Handouts
WASHINGTON— Tribal, conservation and community groups representing millions of people filed formal comments with federal agencies today calling for more protective hardrock mining rules and legislation, including requiring mineral recycling to protect people and the environment.
Read more.144,000 Call for Protecting Mature, Old-Growth Federal Forests, Trees From Logging
WASHINGTON— Environmental groups delivered 144,000 public comments today urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Interior Department to protect mature and old-growth forests and trees on federal public lands from logging.
Read more.Court Sends Two Unlawful Oil Lease Sales in Gulf of Mexico Back for Reconsideration
WASHINGTON— The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the Trump administration unlawfully auctioned off millions of acres to oil companies in two 2018 Gulf of Mexico lease sales.
Read more.California Senate Passes Safe Roads Bill, Putting Statewide Wildlife Connectivity Within Reach
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Senate passed the Safe Roads and Wildlife Protection Act on Monday in a 35-0 vote, paving the way for more wildlife crossings across the state’s roadway system. Assembly Bill 2344 now awaits approval from the governor after a concurrence vote in the Assembly, which it passed in May.
Read more.Legal Agreement Moves Dunes Sagebrush Lizard One Step Closer to Protection
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed yesterday to decide by June 29, 2023, whether to protect the imperiled dunes sagebrush lizard under the Endangered Species Act. The lizard has been waiting for protection for four decades.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Marina, Housing Development on Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille
SANDPOINT, Idaho— The Center for Biological Diversity and Idaho Conservation League, or ICL, filed suit today against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Army Corps of Engineers for approving the Idaho Club’s lakeside marina and housing development along Lake Pend Oreille near Trestle Creek. The creek is one of the most important spawning streams for federally protected bull trout in the Pacific Northwest.
Read more.California Clean Car Rule Fails to Match Climate Urgency
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California’s Air Resources Board is set to finalize an auto emissions rule today that falls short of needed progress and jeopardizes the state’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2045.
Read more.Video: California Wolf Who Journeyed to Oregon Likely a Father
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a report today announcing video footage of the den site of what could be a relatively new wolf family in southwestern Oregon. This is the first known modern-day instance of a California wolf dispersing to Oregon and likely starting a family.
Read more.Legal Agreement Requires U.S. to Re-Examine Harms to Whales From Pacific Offshore Oil Drilling
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity, Department of the Interior and National Marine Fisheries Service reached an agreement today that requires the agencies to re-examine the risks and harms to whales and other endangered species from continued oil and gas drilling in federal waters off California.
Read more.Over 650 Groups Call on Congressional Leaders to Reject Manchin’s Dirty Pipeline Deal
WASHINGTON— More than 650 climate, environmental justice, public health, youth, and progressive organizations sent a letter to congressional leadership today to oppose the fossil fuel expansion deal proposed by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin to Democratic leadership in exchange for his support of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Read more.Federal Protection Sought for Rare Salamander in Coal Country
CHARLESTON, W.Va.— The Center for Biological Diversity and 10 partner organizations petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect the yellow-spotted woodland salamander under the Endangered Species Act. Only a few hundred of these salamanders likely remain.
Read more.Biden’s ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuel’ Goals Mired in Myth: Report
WASHINGTON— Sustainability and supply issues will make it impossible to reach the Biden administration’s goal to meet 100% of U.S. jet fuel demand with aviation biofuels by 2050, according to a new report by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Federal Safeguards Urged For Colorado Wolves in 2023 Reintroduction
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity has urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to limit the killing of wolves that will be reintroduced in Colorado in 2023. The federal protections — requested in a Center letter sent this week — would override a Colorado Parks and Wildlife plan, which could allow for the widespread killing of wolves.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Seeking National Gray Wolf Recovery Plan
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today that it intends to sue over the agency’s failure to develop a national wolf recovery plan as required by the Endangered Species Act. The planned lawsuit would seek to require the Service to draft a recovery plan that includes all populations of wolves in the contiguous United States.
Read more.Nevada Legislative Committee Advances Bill Request for Managing Butterflies, Other Invertebrates
CARSON CITY, Nev.— The Nevada Legislative Joint Interim Standing Committee on Natural Resources today advanced a recommendation for a bill draft request to give the Nevada Department of Wildlife authority to manage and protect terrestrial invertebrates, including monarch butterflies and bees.
Read more.Rare Nevada Fish Advances Toward Endangered Species Protection
RENO, Nev.— In response to a Center for Biological Diversity petition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Fish Lake Valley tui chub may qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Service has one year to complete a full status review and decide whether to protect the fish.
Read more.Cancer-Linked Pesticide 1,3-D Moves Closer to Reapproval
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency proposed today to reapprove the cancer-linked fumigant 1,3-Dichloropropene with a less-protective classification that will increase exposure levels considered to be safe by 90-fold.
Read more.State Votes to Protect Imperiled Wildflower Threatened by California Gold Mining
LOS ANGELES— The California Fish and Game Commission agreed today to temporarily protect Inyo rock daisies under the California Endangered Species Act while the state studies whether to safeguard them permanently.
Read more.Magnificent News for Endangered North Carolina Snail
WILMINGTON, N.C.— In response to a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting North Carolina’s magnificent ramshorn snail as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also designated two ponds in the Cape Fear River watershed as critical habitat for the snail.
Read more.UN Urged to Protect Pantanal As Fires Threaten World Heritage Site
PARIS— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned today for “in danger” status for the Pantanal World Heritage site in Brazil, which has been ravaged by severe, human-caused fires in recent years. As this year’s fire season escalates, fire outbreaks are jeopardizing the Pantanal — the world’s largest tropical wetland — and its imperiled wildlife.
Read more.Agencies Warned for Failing to Protect Endangered Species From South Florida Water Park Development
MIAMI— Conservation groups notified the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today that they intend to sue the agencies for failing to protect the federally endangered Florida bonneted bat, Miami tiger beetle, Bartram’s scrub-hairstreak and other imperiled species from the destructive effects of the Miami Wilds water park and retail development in south Florida.
Read more.Una demanda impugna proyecto de ampliación para el envío de gas natural licuado a Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Grupos ambientales y comunitarios presentaron hoy una demanda en el tribunal federal de distrito contra el Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército de los Estados Unidos por sus planes de ampliar el canal de navegación de la Bahía de San Juan para buques de gran tamaño. Esta ampliación del puerto implica el dragado y la disposición de más de dos millones de yardas cúbicas de sedimentos para profundizar y ampliar los canales de navegación, lo que causaría graves daños ambientales.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Project Expanding Liquified Natural Gas Shipping to Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Conservation and climate groups filed a lawsuit in federal district court today against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over its plans to expand the San Juan Bay shipping channel for massive vessels. This port expansion involves the dredging and disposal of more than two million cubic yards of sediment to deepen and widen shipping channels.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Habitat for Tennessee’s Endangered Barrens Topminnow
MANCHESTER, Tenn.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agency’s failure to designate critical habitat for the highly endangered Barrens topminnow, found in only a handful of streams on the Barrens Plateau in middle Tennessee.
Read more.Legal Agreement to Permanently Close Oil Wells, Restore Habitat in California’s Carrizo Plain National Monument
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif.― Conservation groups today announced a legal agreement securing the permanent closure and restoration of 11 long-dormant oil wells inside the Carrizo Plain National Monument, a unique landscape in central California famous for its vibrant springtime wildflower displays and rare wildlife.
Read more.Climate Bill Heads to Biden for Signature, Forecasts Fall Fossil Fuel Fight
WASHINGTON— The House of Representatives passed the Democrats’ climate and healthcare spending bill today, sending the biggest-ever U.S. government climate investment package to the president for his signature.
Read more.Judge Reinstates Obama-Era Coal Leasing Moratorium on Federal Lands
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— A federal judge in Montana District Court ruled today to reinstate a moratorium on new coal leasing on public lands, halting all coal leasing on federal lands until the Bureau of Land Management completes a more sufficient environmental analysis.
Read more.Legal Agreement Blocks Oil, Gas Leasing on 2.2 Million Acres in Colorado
DENVER— Conservation groups and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management have finalized a legal agreement that will prevent new oil and gas leasing across 2.2 million acres of southwestern Colorado until the agency supplements its environmental analysis and releases an amended plan for lands in the area.
Read more.Report: Southern California’s Signature River Under Threat
LOS ANGELES— A new report published today called on decision-makers in Ventura and Los Angeles counties to apply sustainable water-management practices to the Santa Clara River, known as Utom to the Chumash people.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Protected Habitat for 49 Endangered Hawaiian Species
HONOLULU— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect critical habitat for 49 endangered Hawaiian Islands species.
Read more.Florida Petitioned to Protect Manatees by Improving Boater Safety
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation organizations petitioned the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission today to amend its boater-safety course to protect the state’s imperiled manatees, other marine mammals, sea turtles and coastal birds. Watercraft collisions killed at least 1,153 Florida manatees from 2010 to 2021, according to state officials.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Lesser Prairie Chicken From Extinction
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today that it would sue the agency for failing to protect lesser prairie chickens under the Endangered Species Act if it did not do so within 60 days.
Read more.Federal Officials Commit to Feral Cow Removal Throughout San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society have reached a legal agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management guaranteeing that the agency will remove all trespass cows from the entire San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. The BLM has also agreed to inspect, repair and maintain the conservation area’s boundary fencing to keep the trespass cows out.
Read more.Pressure Mounts on Agriculture Secretary to Reject Hazardous Utah Oil Trains
SALT LAKE CITY— More than 100 environmental, climate and frontline Gulf Coast groups, representing millions of supporters across the country, today urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to stop the Uinta Basin Railway. The proposed railway would create 53 million tons of new carbon pollution every year by opening Utah’s remote Uinta Basin to more oil extraction.
Read more.New Report Outlines Blueprint for Rewilding American West
SAN FRANCISCO— A first-of-its-kind analysis by 20 leading scientists has identified a network of 11 federally owned reserves where wolves and beavers could be restored across the western United States. Restoring these keystone species could also improve degraded habitat relied on by 92 threatened and endangered species, including the Gunnison sage-grouse and the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Seeking EPA Pollution Limits for Arizona Creek Threatened by Copper Mine
SUPERIOR, Ariz.— Conservation groups filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today in response to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s decades-long failure to limit pollution in Queen Creek.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Restore Federal Protection to Northern Rockies Wolves After Government Misses Deadline
VICTOR, Idaho— Wildlife conservation organizations sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for missing its deadline to decide whether gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains warrant federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Endangered Species Protections Sought for Rare Nevada Butterfly
RENO, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to grant Endangered Species Act protection to an extremely rare butterfly called the bleached sandhill skipper.
Read more.U.S. to Finally Decide Protection for Foreign Birds, Butterflies
WASHINGTON— In a legal agreement finalized today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to finally decide whether seven foreign wildlife species should be granted U.S. Endangered Species Act protections.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Washington’s Failure to Enact Wolf Management Rules
OLYMPIA, Wash.— Five conservation groups filed a lawsuit today asking a state court to enforce Gov. Jay Inslee’s order directing state wildlife officials to enact wolf management rules. The rules should have outlined what steps must be taken before wolves can be killed for conflict with livestock.
Read more.‘Emergency’ Loophole Used to OK Highly Toxic Pesticide for 10th Straight Year
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency reported this week that it issued so-called “emergency” approvals to spray various neonicotinoids and pyrethroids — insecticides the agency itself recognizes as “very highly toxic” to bees and aquatic insects — on more than 370,000 acres of crops across the U.S.
Read more.Viva El Jefe! Arizona’s Famous Jaguar Lives, But What’s His Future?
TUCSON, Ariz.— News that the beloved jaguar El Jefe has been spotted alive and well in Sonora, Mexico, is tempered by concerns that his potential pathway back to the United States could be blocked by the border wall and his last known territory in Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains is threatened by the construction of a copper mine.
Read more.Petition Seeks to Withhold Federal Funding From Montana, Idaho Over Wolf-Killing Legislation
BOZEMAN, Mont.— A petition filed today by 27 conservation groups calls on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to disqualify Montana and Idaho from receiving millions of dollars in federal conservation funds because of the aggressive anti-wolf legislation the states enacted in 2021.
Read more.Federal Court Cites Human Health, Climate Costs in Rejecting Massive Wyoming, Montana Coal Mining Plan
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— A federal judge late Wednesday struck down two U.S. Bureau of Land Management resource management plans that failed to address the public health consequences of allowing massive amounts of coal, oil and gas production from public lands and minerals in the Powder River Basin, including approximately 6 billion tons of low-grade, highly polluting coal over 20 years.
Read more.Pups Confirmed in Two California Wolf Packs
SAN FRANCISCO— Two of California’s three existing wolf families, the Lassen pack and the Whaleback pack, have again produced pups this year, according to a quarterly report published late Tuesday by the California Department of Fish and Game.
Read more.Legal Agreements Block Drilling, Fracking Across 1 Million Acres in Central California
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— Community and conservation groups and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management reached an agreement today to suspend new oil and gas leasing across more than 1 million acres of public lands in California’s Central Valley and Central Coast.
Read more.Legal Agreement Halts Construction at Nevada Geothermal Project to Weigh Harm to Rare Toad
RENO, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity and geothermal developer Ormat reached a legal agreement today to halt construction of the Dixie Meadows Geothermal Project until the risks to the endangered Dixie Valley toad can be fully evaluated. The Center’s co-plaintiffs, the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, and the Department of the Interior were also parties to the agreement.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Names Elise Bennett Florida Director
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity announced today that Elise Bennett has been promoted to the position of Florida director.
Read more.Federal Proposal Aims to Protect Endangered Right Whales From Ship Strikes
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service proposed a rule today to better protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from being run over and killed by vessels in U.S. waters.
Read more.Hundreds of Climate, Community Groups Tell Biden, Congress: No Fossil Fuel Expansion in Reconciliation Bill
WASHINGTON— More than 350 conservation and community groups, representing millions of people, called on President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today to reject fossil fuel expansion during negotiations over a reconciliation package.
Read more.States Push National Greenhouse Gas Pollution Cap
WASHINGTON— Seven states and the territory of Guam called on President Biden and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today to set a nationwide greenhouse gas pollution cap under the Clean Air Act.
Read more.Manchin Poison Pills Buried in Inflation Reduction Act Will Destroy Livable Climate
WASHINGTON— A proposed climate and energy package would require massive oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, reinstate an illegal 2021 Gulf lease sale and mandate that millions more acres of public lands be offered for leasing before any new solar or wind energy projects could be built on public lands or waters.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Southern Plains Bumblebee
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to grant Endangered Species Act protection to the highly imperiled Southern Plains bumblebee.
Read more.Tribunal de Colorado accede a considerar un desafío legal ante la falta del estado de proteger las vías fluviales y la vida silvestre de la contaminación de las granjas industriales
DENVER— La Oficina de Tribunales Administrativos de Colorado accedió a considerar un desafío legal por parte del Centro para la Diversidad Biológica y Food & Water Watch a un permiso estatal general de contaminación del agua para las Operaciones Concentradas de Alimentación Animal.
Read more.Colorado Court Agrees to Hear Legal Challenge to State’s Failure to Protect Waterways, Wildlife From Factory Farm Pollution
DENVER— The Colorado Office of Administrative Courts has agreed to hear a challenge by the Center for Biological Diversity and Food & Water Watch to a statewide general water-pollution permit for concentrated animal feeding operations.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Western Colorado’s Air From Arch Coal’s West Elk Mine
GUNNISON, Colo.— Conservation groups sued Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’s administration today over its failure to ensure the West Elk coal mine in western Colorado complies with state and federal clean-air laws.
Read more.Asheville Rally Aims to Protect Country’s Most Popular National Forest
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— At a pivotal moment, the Center for Biological Diversity is organizing a rally on Monday, Aug.1, to protect the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest from logging. The Pisgah is the country’s most-visited national forest.
Read more.DNA Test Confirms Another Wolf Killed in New York
ALBANY, N.Y.— A recent DNA analysis of an 85-pound canid shot by a hunter in central New York in December shows that the animal was a gray wolf. According to the Maine Wolf Coalition, at least 10 other wolves have been killed south of the St. Lawrence River, once thought to be too great a barrier for wolves to cross.
Read more.New Wolf Pack Confirmed in Western Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reported today that a new wolf pack has established itself in the Upper Deschutes wildlife management unit in Klamath and Deschutes counties. Not yet named, the wolf family gave birth to at least five pups this year, which were photographed on July 4 by a department trail camera.
Read more.Biden Stops Short of Declaring National Climate Emergency
WASHINGTON— President Biden announced a series of executive actions targeting the climate crisis today, and while he described the crisis as “an emergency,” he stopped short of the national climate emergency declaration called for by the Center for Biological Diversity and more than 1,200 other groups.
Read more.Sens. Manchin, Daines Attack Climate Protections for Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will consider and mark up a number of bills on Thursday, including S. 2561, which would alter the requirements for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management regarding when they must update their land-management plans to protect endangered species.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Energy Department Documents on Overdue Grid Study
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Department of Energy today for failing to release public records about the agency’s long-overdue study on energy transmission bottlenecks across the country.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Damaging Renewable Fuels Standard
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s fuel volume requirements for corn ethanol and other biofuels for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Earlier this month the EPA set the 2022 required minimum volume for transportation sector use at roughly 15 billion gallons of corn ethanol and 5.63 billion gallons of advanced biofuels.
Read more.Biden Administration Repeals Second Trump Rule Limiting Habitat Protections for Imperiled Species
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration today repealed a second Trump-era regulation that significantly weakened habitat protections for threatened and endangered species.
Read more.Marin County Adopts Long-Overdue Protections for Endangered Coho Salmon
MARIN COUNTY, Calif.— The Marin County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a conservation ordinance on Tuesday that would protect coho salmon habitat and end a 15-year legal battle over California’s most important watershed for the endangered species.
Read more.EPA Finds New Insecticide Is Putting Over 100 Species in Jeopardy of Extinction
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency released a draft biological evaluation today showing that the bee-killing insecticide sulfoxaflor is potentially putting 24 species of insects in jeopardy of extinction, including Karner blue butterflies and American burying beetles.
Read more.Biden Administration Rejects Legal Petition to Phase Out Use of Toxic Agricultural Pesticides on National Wildlife Refuges
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today denied requests by conservationists and members of Congress to phase out the use of agricultural pesticides on national wildlife refuges.
Read more.Legal Victory: Court Orders New Endangered Species Review for Toxic Fungicide
SAN FRANCISCO— In a major win for conservationists and wildlife, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ordered the Environmental Protection Agency today to review the potential harm a toxic new fungicide poses to endangered species by June 2023.
Read more.Conservationists, Wildlife Advocates Propose Colorado Wolf Restoration Plan
DENVER— A group of 14 conservation and wildlife organizations, led by WildEarth Guardians, today put forward their “Colorado Wolf Restoration Plan” as a science-based proposal to guide wolf reintroduction and recovery in Colorado following the passage of Proposition 114 in 2020. The plan focuses on bringing about the immensely positive ecological, economic, and social opportunities for Coloradans and the Colorado landscapes that have been missing wolves for so long by ensuring a self-sustaining, robust population of wolves throughout the Western Slope.
Read more.Biden’s Top Five Climate Executive Actions
WASHINGTON— With climate provisions stripped from Democrats’ economic package by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), President Biden’s executive powers are front and center in protecting U.S. international commitments and preserving a livable planet.
Read more.LA County Sued Over Faulty Environmental Review Process for Los Angeles River Master Plan
LOS ANGELES— Conservation groups LA Waterkeeper and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Los Angeles County over the recently updated LA River Master Plan, adopted on June 14, which is intended to guide development along the Los Angeles River for the next 25 years.
Read more.Victory for Nevada Lands, Wildlife: House Committee Rebuffs Proposed Military Land Grab
RENO, Nev.— Late on Tuesday the House Rules Committee declined to advance an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act from Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) that would have transferred hundreds of thousands of acres of public land to the military and private developers.
Read more.Congress Urged to Boost Appropriations for Biden’s Clean Energy Orders
WASHINGTON— Dozens of environmental and labor groups urged House and Senate leaders to increase funding for President Biden’s historic executive orders to spur domestic renewable energy production under the Defense Production Act.
Read more.Federal Appeals Court Reinstates Right Whales’ Seasonal Protection
BOSTON— In a victory for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today reinstated a seasonal prohibition on lobster fishing using vertical lines in federal waters off the Maine coast.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Fish and Wildlife Service’s Inadequate Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Efforts
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today in U.S. District Court challenging a new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service management rule that fails to provide for the recovery of the Mexican gray wolf, among the most endangered mammals in the United States.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over EPA’s Authorization for Limitless Smog From Fracking in Denver, North Front Range Areas
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Environmental Protection Agency today to force it to require Colorado to limit pollution from drilling and hydraulic fracturing for oil and methane gas in the Metro Denver area and the Denver Julesburg basin.
Read more.Report: Federal Logging Projects Put 10 Climate-Saving Forests on Chopping Block
PORTLAND, Ore.— Federal agencies are targeting mature and old-growth forests for logging, according to a new report, despite these trees’ extraordinary ability to curb climate change and President Biden’s directive to preserve them.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Fight EPA’s Delay in Reducing Harmful Soot Air Pollution
OAKLAND, Calif.— Environmental and public-health groups filed notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that effective plans are in place to reduce dangerous soot air pollution in Los Angeles and Imperial County, California.
Read more.World’s Most Endangered Whales Move Closer to Expanded Habitat Protections off Alaskan Coast
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— NOAA Fisheries announced today that expanding critical habitat protections in Alaska for North Pacific right whales — the most endangered whale population in the world — may be warranted.
Read more.Court Victory: Federal Failure to Protect Right Whales from Deadly Entanglements Violates Law
WASHINGTON— A federal court ruled in favor of the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, and Defenders of Wildlife in a long-running case challenging NOAA Fisheries’ failure to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from deadly entanglements in American lobster fishing gear.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Federal Plan Authorizing Killing of 72 Grizzlies Near Yellowstone
PINEDALE, Wyo.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club filed an appeal today challenging a federal plan authorizing the killing of up to 72 grizzly bears to accommodate livestock grazing in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest, near Yellowstone National Park.
Read more.Biden Administration Paves Way for Railway That Will Quadruple Oil Production in Utah’s Uinta Basin
SALT LAKE CITY— The U.S. Forest Service has rejected challenges to the Uinta Basin Railway, saying the project is in the public interest even as it predicts the oil railway could increase climate pollution in the U.S. by nearly 1%.
Read more.Biden Administration Moves to Curb Single-Use Plastic in Federal Purchasing
WASHINGTON— In response to a legal petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and 180 other community and conservation groups, the U.S. government announced today that it will evaluate ways to reduce its purchases of unnecessary single-use plastic.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Critical Habitat for Endangered Florida Bonneted Bats
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to push the agency to protect endangered Florida bonneted bats by designating lifesaving critical habitat. The bats face devastating habitat loss from sea-level rise and urban sprawl.
Read more.Supreme Court Leaves Open Powerful Climate Pathway for Biden, EPA
WASHINGTON— The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision last week curtailing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate power plant pollution left untouched one of the strongest tools to reduce greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act — a nationwide greenhouse gas pollution cap.
Read more.Federal Court Restores Critical Endangered Species Act Protections
WASHINGTON— In a win for wildlife protection and conservation, a federal district court today restored comprehensive Endangered Species Act regulatory protections to hundreds of species and the places they call home.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Fight EPA’s Delay in Smog Reduction in San Diego, Placer County, Ventura County, Colorado, North Dakota, Pennsylvania
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health filed a notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that effective smog-reduction plans are in place in four states.
Read more.Alabama Mussel Gains Endangered Species Protection, 36 River Miles of Protected Habitat
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— In response to a decade-long campaign by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protected the Canoe Creek clubshell today under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also protected 36 river miles of the Alabama mussel’s critical habitat in St. Clair and Etowah counties.
Read more.Legal Warning Challenges Plan to Log Thousands of Acres of Oregon’s Old-Growth Forest Reserves
MEDFORD, Ore.— A coalition of Oregon conservation organizations notified the Bureau of Land Management today it intends to sue the agency to protect marbled murrelets and coastal martens from a plan by the agency to log thousands of acres of old-growth forest in areas designated as late-successional reserves. The reserves were designated as part of the Northwest Forest Plan to protect the two threatened species, as well as hundreds of others.
Read more.Gulf of Mexico, Alaska Targeted for Offshore Oil, Gas Leasing in Biden Plan
WASHINGTON— President Biden’s Interior Department proposed today to conduct up to 11 lease sales of offshore waters to oil and gas companies for drilling and fracking. The draft proposal could offer 10 lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and potentially one in Cook Inlet, Alaska. All sales would take place between 2023 and 2028.
Read more.Mexican Gray Wolf Rule Finalized to Eliminate Population Cap
SILVER CITY, N.M.— Meeting a July 1 court-ordered deadline in litigation brought by conservationists, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finalized a rule that ends its 2015 regulatory commitment to remove from the wild all endangered Mexican gray wolves above a population cap of 325.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Crucial Grizzly Habitat in Montana’s Oldest Forests
MISSOULA, Mont.— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service today to challenge its approval of a massive logging project that would clearcut thousands of acres and log mature and old-growth forest in the Kootenai National Forest in northwestern Montana.
Read more.Fisheries Service Finalizes Protections Against Three Pesticides Harming Salmon, Orcas
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service released a final biological opinion today establishing critical protections for salmon and Puget Sound orcas from exposure to three widely used insecticides — chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Critical Habitat for Eastern Black Rail
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to designate critical habitat for the eastern black rail. The rail needs healthy and intact wetland habitat to survive.
Read more.Supreme Court Limits Climate Action Under Clean Air Act
WASHINGTON— The Supreme Court today limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate power plant emissions under the Clean Air Act. The decision in West Virginia v. EPA is a blow to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from coal and gas fired power plants. It spotlights the need for the Biden administration to use its broad range of executive powers to combat the climate emergency.
Read more.EPA Urged to Reject Carbon Capture Projects in Central California
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— Citing threats to the environment and public health, more than 80 environmental justice and conservation groups urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today to stop an influx of carbon capture, use and storage, or CCUS, project applications in California’s Central Valley.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Biden’s Resumption of Oil, Gas Leasing on Public Lands
WASHINGTON— Climate and conservation groups filed a lawsuit late Tuesday challenging the Biden administration’s resumption of oil and gas leasing on public lands today — the first auctions since the president paused leasing shortly after taking office.
Read more.Rural New Mexico County Votes to Stop Funding Federal Wildlife-Killing
SILVER CITY, N.M.— Grant County commissioners voted 2-1 against renewing a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program last Thursday because the federal agency, which kills carnivores on behalf of the livestock industry, ignored requirements within its last contract.
Read more.Court Halts Logging of Elliott State Forest Tract Sold to Private Timber Company
EUGENE, Ore.— A U.S. District Court judge issued a ruling today preventing Scott Timber from clearcutting old-growth forest that was previously part of the Elliott State Forest. The court found that the proposed logging of the Benson Ridge parcel by the subsidiary of Roseburg Forest Products would harm and harass threatened marbled murrelets, in violation of the federal Endangered Species Act. The court’s ruling permanently enjoins logging of the occupied murrelet habitat.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Federal Failure to Protect Shortfin Mako Shark
WASHINGTON— Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity sent a notice today of their intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to protect the shortfin mako shark under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Demandan por la falta de protección federal del tiburón mako de aleta corta como especie amenazada o en peligro de extinción
WASHINGTON— Defenders of Wildlife y el Centro para la Diversidad Biológica enviaron hoy una notificación sobre su intención de demandar a NOAA Fisheries por no haber resuelto en torno a la protección del tiburón mako de aleta corta bajo la Ley de Especies en Peligro (ESA, por sus siglas en inglés). La ley exige que NOAA Fisheries determine si se justifica la inclusión del tiburón mako de aleta corta en la ESA a más tardar 12 meses después de recibir una petición de inclusión en la que haya llegado a un “dictamen positivo de los 90 días”.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade
Statement from Kierán Suckling, executive director, Center for Biological Diversity:
Read more.New Vilsack Guidance to Forest Service Falls Short of Protecting Old, Mature Forests
WASHINGTON— Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack signed a memorandum today clarifying the U.S. Forest Service’s direction on climate policy. The memo follows a recent White House executive order highlighting the importance of conserving mature and old-growth forests on federal lands as a climate solution.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Endangered Species Protections for Colorful Arizona Snake
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for denying Endangered Species Act protections to the Tucson shovel-nosed snake for a second time. The snakes live only in a small area of southern Arizona.
Read more.Biden Administration Rescinds Trump Rule Limiting Habitat Protections for Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration finalized a rule today rescinding a Trump-era regulation that severely limited the government’s ability to protect habitat that imperiled animals and plants like wolverines and golden-winged warblers need to survive and recover.
Read more.Imperiled Southeast Flower Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
ATLANTA— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect the Ocmulgee skullcap as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Only 19 populations of this rare flower remain in Georgia and South Carolina, with many of these having fewer than 20 individual plants.
Read more.House Democrats Provide Long-Overdue Funding for Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON— The House Appropriations Committee will vote on a funding bill today for the U.S. Department of the Interior that would provide $355 million for endangered species conservation — an increase of $77 million above last year’s budget.
Read more.Oregon Commission Votes to Better Protect Wildlife From Trapping
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted new rules today that reduce some of the state’s trap check times, making it less likely that animals will suffer for extended periods of time and more likely that non-target wildlife can be safely released.
Read more.California Commission Deadlocks on Protecting Western Joshua Trees as Threatened Species
LOS ANGELES— The California Fish and Game Commission deadlocked today on whether to give western Joshua trees permanent protection under the state’s Endangered Species Act, delaying a final decision until at least October.
Read more.EPA Confirms Three Widely Used Neonicotinoid Pesticides Likely Harm Vast Majority of Endangered Plants, Animals
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency released final biological evaluations today confirming that three widely used neonicotinoid insecticides likely harm roughly three-fourths of all endangered plants and animals, including all 39 species of amphibians protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Report: TVA’s New Board Members Can Fast-Track Transition to 100% Renewable, Just Energy Future
WASHINGTON— The Tennessee Valley Authority’s new board members will have the legal authority to transform the nation’s largest public power provider from a fossil-fuel utility to a renewable energy pioneer, according to a report released today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Agencies Warned for Ignoring Florida Nuclear Plant’s Harm to American Crocodiles
MIAMI— The Center for Biological Diversity warned the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that they’re violating the Endangered Species Act by failing to lawfully consult over the Turkey Point Nuclear Plant’s current harm to imperiled American crocodiles and their habitat. The violations relate to the federal approval of a 20-year operational extension for nuclear units 3 and 4 at Turkey Point.
Read more.Petition Aims to Protect Great Hammerhead Sharks Under Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a petition today urging the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect the great hammerhead shark under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.100 Groups Urge Global Leaders to Stop Extinction
WASHINGTON— More than 100 organizations from five continents today urged negotiators headed to a world biodiversity meeting to commit to stopping human-caused extinctions of species. The groups’ letter comes as negotiations over the global framework to combat biodiversity loss are set to resume June 21 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Read more.Virgin Islands Flower Finally Gets Endangered Species Protections After 47 Years
BOQUERÓN, Puerto Rico— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the marrón bacora as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and designated 2,548 acres as critical habitat. Marrón bacora is a 10-foot-tall flowering shrub that has been reduced to just seven fragmented populations on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, and one population on Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Read more.Temblor Legless Lizard Wins California Endangered Species Act Protections
LOS ANGELES— In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously agreed today to protect the Temblor legless lizard under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The move grants legal protection to the rare lizards for at least a year.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Habitat for 12 Endangered Coral Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to finalize protections for 12 coral species around Florida and islands in the Pacific Ocean. The corals all received Endangered Species Act listings in 2014 but not the critical habitat designation the law requires.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Biden-Approved Oil Drilling Permits for Failing to Protect Climate-Imperiled Wildlife, Public Lands
WASHINGTON— Environmental organizations sued the Bureau of Land Management today for issuing more than 3,500 oil and gas drilling permits in New Mexico and Wyoming during the first 16 months of the Biden administration in violation of the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The lawsuit was filed in the federal District Court of Washington, D.C.
Read more.House Passes Historic Legislation Securing Billions for Imperiled Wildlife
WASHINGTON— The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, H.R. 2773, by a 231 to 190 vote today. If approved by the Senate, the legislation will provide unprecedented levels of funding to states, Tribal Nations and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve and recover imperiled wildlife and plant species, including those listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.9th Circuit Court to Hear Arguments Wednesday Challenging Geothermal Plant Endangering Sacred Site, Rare Toad
SAN FRANCISCO— Attorneys for conservation advocates and the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe will present oral arguments Wednesday to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco challenging the government’s approval of a geothermal power plant. The plant threatens to destroy a Nevada sacred site and drive the rare Dixie Valley toad to extinction.
Read more.Commission Votes Wednesday on Protecting California’s Joshua Trees as Threatened Species
LOS ANGELES― The California Fish and Game Commission will vote Wednesday on whether to permanently protect western Joshua trees under the state’s Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Delayed Protection Imperils Oregon Beetle, Virgin Islands Plant, Two Southeast Mussels
SALEM, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to determine if the Siuslaw hairy-necked tiger beetle warrants Endangered Species Act protection, and for failing to finalize protection for three other species, a plant called the marrón bacora and the longsolid and Canoe Creek clubshell mussels.
Read more.Lawmakers, Organizations Warn Biden Against Rushed Pipeline Restart Off California Coast
LONG BEACH, Calif.— A coalition of groups today joined eight Southern California members of Congress in urging the Biden administration not to issue fast-track authorization for the repair and restart of Amplify Energy’s offshore oil pipeline, which ruptured off the California coast in October.
Read more.El Cuerpo de Ingenieros Enfrentará Demanda por Proyecto de Transporte de GNL en Puerto Rico por Impactos a la Vida Silvestre y a las Comunidades
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— El Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército recibió hoy una notificación advirtiendo que su proyecto de dragado para ampliar el canal de navegación de la Bahía de San Juan viola la Ley de Especies en Peligro de Extinción. El proyecto permitiría el paso de mega buques que transporten gas natural licuado (GNL).
Read more.SpaceX’s Texas Site Needs Full Environmental Review, Conservationists Say
BROWNSVILLE, Texas— The Federal Aviation Administration today declined to conduct a full environmental review of the proposed expansion of SpaceX’s launch site at Boca Chica, Texas, despite calls from conservation organizations to take a closer look at the environmental impacts of the rocket launches.
Read more.Congress to Hold Wednesday Hearing on Seresto Flea Collars Linked to Deaths of Over 2,500 Pets
WASHINGTON— The House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy will hold a hearing on Wednesday to investigate the Seresto flea collar, which has been linked to thousands of pet deaths.
Read more.Army Corps to Face Lawsuit for Puerto Rico LNG Shipping Project’s Threats to Wildlife, Communities
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— The Army Corps of Engineers received a notice letter today warning that its dredging project to expand the San Juan Bay shipping channel violates the Endangered Species Act. The project would permit the passage of mega vessels carrying liquified natural gas, or LNG.
Read more.Endangered Species Protection Sought for North Carolina’s Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamanders
BAT CAVE, N.C.— Conservation groups petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect Hickory Nut Gorge green salamanders under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Mobile Billboard Calls Out Biden’s Broken Climate Promises During Santa Fe Visit
SANTA FE, N.M.— Friends of the Earth, the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians will display a mobile billboard Saturday during President Biden’s visit to Santa Fe, criticizing the administration for its broken promises to end oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters. Biden will receive an update on the historic wildfires that have burned nearly 500 square miles of New Mexico.
Read more.Rare Southwest Wildflower Protected Under Endangered Species Act
TUCSON, Ariz.— In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the Arizona eryngo under the Endangered Species Act. Only four populations of the critically imperiled wetland plant survive in Arizona and Mexico.
Read more.Conservationists Urge Halt to Mexico’s Maya Train Project, Call For Sanctions
MEXICO CITY— Conservation groups filed comments today with Semarnat, Mexico’s environmental ministry, identifying a large number of omissions and inaccuracies in a government assessment of the environmental impacts of the section five south of the Maya train project.
Read more.Lawsuits Challenge Two Massive Bay Area Biofuel Refinery Projects
OAKLAND, Calif.— Communities for a Better Environment and the Center for Biological Diversity sued Contra Costa County on Tuesday over its rushed approval of two proposed biofuel refineries in the Bay Area using incomplete and misleading environmental reviews.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Wetland-Dependent Midwestern Snake
CHICAGO— The Center for Biological Diversity and Hoosier Environmental Council sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for denying Endangered Species Act protections to the imperiled Kirtland’s snake.
Read more.Legal Petition Aims to Phase Out Toxic Lead Ammo, Fishing Tackle on National Wildlife Refuges
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity, Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Sierra Club filed a formal legal petition today calling on the U.S. Department of the Interior to phase out the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on national wildlife refuges. Numerous scientific studies have linked lead ammunition to poisonings of wildlife and people.
Read more.Senate Committee Considers Grand Canyon Protection Act
PHOENIX— A U.S. Senate subcommittee held a hearing today for the Grand Canyon Protection Act, an important step toward passage of legislation to protect about 1 million acres of public lands near Grand Canyon National Park from toxic uranium mining. The Act would make permanent a ban on mining that was enacted administratively in 2012.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Compel EPA to Enforce Smog-Reduction Measures in Los Angeles, Sacramento, New Hampshire
OAKLAND, Calif.— Environmental and public-health groups filed a lawsuit today against the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that Los Angeles, Sacramento and New Hampshire have effective plans to reduce dangerous smog pollution.
Read more.Selkirk’s Piping Plover Mural Highlights Endangered Species
SELKIRK, Manitoba— The Center for Biological Diversity and Interlake Art Board will host a community event on June 15 to celebrate a new mural of the piping plover, an endangered shorebird that summers in Canada and the northern United States before flying south for the winter.
Read more.Biden Use of Defense Production Act Signals Pivot on Climate, Renewables
WASHINGTON— President Biden signaled a major shift in climate strategy today, announcing executive actions that use the Defense Production Act to manufacture solar panel components, heat pumps, insulation, and grid transformers needed to speed the country toward renewable energy.
Read more.California Drift Gillnets Entangled About 12 Humpback Whales in 2021
SAN FRANCISCO— After new federal reports estimated that the California drift gillnet fishery caught about 12 Pacific humpbacks in 2021, the Center for Biological Diversity warned the National Marine Fisheries Service today to expect to be sued for failing to protect these endangered whales from entanglements in drift nets.
Read more.New Right Whale Endangered Species Condom Distributed for World Ocean Day, Marine Mammal Protection Act Anniversary
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity will head to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, June 8 to distribute Endangered Species Condoms in honor of World Ocean Day and mark the 50th anniversary of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Read more.9th Circuit Affirms Moratorium on Offshore Fracking Off California, Orders More Review
LOS ANGELES— A federal appeals court today affirmed a lower court decision that prohibits offshore fracking in federal waters off the California coast.
Read more.EPA Finalizes Damaging Renewable Fuels Standard
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to finalize its renewable fuel standards for corn ethanol and other biofuels for 2020, 2021 and 2022 today, setting the 2022 required minimum volume for transportation sector use at roughly 15 billion gallons of corn ethanol and 5.63 billion gallons of advanced biofuels.
Read more.Conservationists Back Havasupai Tribe’s Opposition to Grand Canyon Uranium Mine
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK― Conservation groups joined the Havasupai Tribe today to denounce the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s approval of a key permit for a uranium mine near Grand Canyon’s South Rim. On Friday the Tribe sent a letter to Arizona officials reasserting its opposition to the mine and calling for new hydrological studies, regular meetings and monitoring data for the Pinyon Plain Mine.
Read more.Legal Agreement Will Protect Critical Habitat for Threatened Florida Manatees
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In a legal agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife and Save the Manatee Club, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service committed today to revise critical habitat for the Florida manatee by September 2024. The manatee’s critical habitat has not been updated since its original designation in 1976.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Pesticide-Spraying Program Affecting Millions of Acres of Western Rangelands
WASHINGTON— The Xerces Society and Center for Biological Diversity sued the federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today over its program allowing insecticide spraying on millions of acres in 17 western states.
Read more.Southern California Fish Move Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
LOS ANGELES— In response to a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to dates by which it will make decisions on whether Santa Ana speckled dace and Long Valley speckled dace warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Giraffes One Step Closer to U.S. Endangered Species Protections
WASHINGTON— In response to a lawsuit by conservation and animal protection groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to a deadline of November 2024 for deciding if giraffes warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.$30,000 Reward Offered for Info on Washington Wolf Killings
SEATTLE— Conservation and animal-protection groups announced a combined $30,000 reward today for information leading to a conviction in the illegal killing of four wolves in northeastern Washington earlier this year.
Read more.Court Restores Wolverine Protections While Agency Reconsiders Endangered Species Decision
MISSOULA, Mont.— In a victory for wolverines, a Montana District Court decided late Thursday to restore the species as a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The court agreed with conservation groups that wolverines need additional protections while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reconsiders its 2020 decision not to protect the species as threatened or endangered.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Stop Extinction of Guam’s Endangered Animals, Plants
HAGÅTÑA, Guam— The Center for Biological Diversity, Blue Ocean Law and Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian notified the U.S. Navy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today that they intend to sue to stop the ongoing construction of a machine gun range and the relocation of 5,000 U.S. Marines to Guam.
Read more.California Assembly Passes Bill to Improve Wildlife Connectivity, Public Safety
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Assembly passed legislation on Wednesday that would improve wildlife connectivity and make California roads safer. The Safe Roads and Wildlife Protection Act would prioritize wildlife crossings and other infrastructure projects that improve wildlife connectivity and reduce wildlife-vehicle collision risk.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Seek Habitat Protection for 49 Endangered Hawaiian Species
HONOLULU— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect critical habitat for 49 endangered Hawaiian Islands species. These species include the ‘Akē‘akē, also known as the band-rumped storm-petrel, and the Nalo Meli Maoli, also called the Hawaiian yellow-faced bee.
Read more.Legal Petition Urges EPA to Require Commonsense Safeguards on Pesticide Labels to Protect Farmworkers, Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a petition for rulemaking to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs today to require new safeguards on pesticide labels. The new measures would be aimed at protecting people and endangered species. Pesticide labels and instructions must be followed properly for the use of a pesticide to be considered lawful.
Read more.Eastern Monarch Butterfly Population Up Slightly, Still Below Extinction Threshold
WASHINGTON— The yearly count released today of monarch butterflies that overwintered in Mexico continues to show imperilment for the migratory butterfly. This year’s count of 2.84 hectares (7 acres) of occupied winter habitat is up slightly from last year but still below the 6 hectare threshold scientists say is necessary for the iconic pollinator to be out of the extinction danger zone in North America.
Read more.Utah Judge to Hear Arguments Wednesday on Misuse of Public Money for Oil Train
SALT LAKE CITY― A Utah district court judge will hear arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by conservation groups challenging the misuse of public funds on fossil fuel projects, including the proposed Uinta Basin Railway.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Challenging USDA’s Failure to Protect Endangered Species From Insecticide Sprays Over Millions of Acres in U.S. West
WASHINGTON— The Xerces Society and Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent today to sue the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s secretive Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for failing to properly consider harms to endangered species caused by insecticide spraying across millions of acres of western grasslands.
Read more.Oregon’s North Coast Red Tree Voles Get New Shot at Crucial Protections
PORTLAND, Ore.— In a legal victory, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to reconsider whether red tree voles on Oregon’s North Coast need protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Service has until January 31, 2024, to make a decision.
Read more.Federal Judge Stops 35,000-Acre Fracking Plan in Western Colorado
DENVER― A U.S. District Court judge today vacated a federal plan that allowed fracking across 35,000 acres of Colorado’s Western Slope.
Read more.Federal Watchdog to Investigate EPA’s Inaction on Seresto Flea Collars
WASHINGTON— The Office of Inspector General for the Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is investigating whether the agency violated federal law by failing to take action on the Seresto flea collar linked to thousands of pet deaths.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Dunes Sagebrush Lizard From Extinction
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for again stalling in making a decision on whether to grant Endangered Species Act protections to the dunes sagebrush lizard. The agency has delayed protecting the lizard for four decades.
Read more.Legal Protests Target Biden’s Plans To Resume Oil, Gas Leasing on Public Lands
WASHINGTON— Climate, conservation and community groups from across the country filed administrative protests today challenging the Biden administration’s plans to resume oil and gas leasing in June, saying the president should end new leasing to heed his own climate goals while protecting communities, water and wildlife.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks Federal Trade Commission Investigation of Energy Utility Abuses
WASHINGTON— More than 230 consumer, environmental and public interest groups urged the Federal Trade Commission today to investigate the electric utility industry for widespread abuses. These include bribery, fake dark-money campaigns and denying customers access to renewable energy.
Read more.Court Rules Federal Agency Wrongly Withdrew Bi-State Sage Grouse Protections
SAN FRANCISCO― A federal court has ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service illegally withdrew its proposal to list the bi-state sage grouse as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Massive Kootenai National Forest Timber Sale Challenged by Conservation Groups
MISSOULA, Mont.— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service today to stop a large timber sale in the Kootenai National Forest that threatens a small and imperiled population of grizzly bears near the Montana-Canada border. The groups notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of their intent to sue it, as well.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges California Biofuel Refinery Expansion
LOS ANGELES— Environmental justice and conservation groups sued the city of Paramount, California today over its approval of a biofuel refinery expansion without adequate environmental review.
Read more.Legal Agreement Requires Federal Government to Update Marine Mammal Assessments
WASHINGTON— In response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network, the Biden administration today agreed to release long-overdue population reports for manatees in Florida and Puerto Rico and sea otters and walruses in Alaska, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Read more.Mexican Gray Wolf Rule Eliminates Cap on Population, Restricts Killing
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed today that it will eliminate its current population cap of 325 Mexican gray wolves that are allowed to live in the wild in the Southwest. Today’s announcement follows a 2018 legal victory by conservation organizations. In the same decision, the agency rejected science-based reforms that would increase genetic diversity at a faster rate.
Read more.Rare Florida Lizard Back on Course for Endangered Species Protection
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In response to a Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to reconsider its denial of Endangered Species Act protections to the Cedar Key mole skink, a highly imperiled lizard found only on a few islands off Florida’s Nature Coast. The Service must make a new decision by July 31, 2024.
Read more.Federal Appeals Court Upholds Decision to Halt Rosemont Mine in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal appeals court today upheld the invalidation of the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of a controversial open-pit copper mine in southern Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Delay of Endangered Species Protections for 11 Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity announced its intent today to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for delaying critically needed Endangered Species Act protections for 11 imperiled plants and animals. The species range from the Puerto Rico harlequin butterfly and the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle to a rare wetlands wildflower found only in Arizona and Mexico.
Read more.Lawsuit Expands Challenge to Damaging Grazing in Agua Fria National Monument in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society initiated new legal proceedings against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management today to stop cattle in four grazing allotments from further damaging streams and riparian areas of the Agua Fria National Monument in central Arizona.
Read more.Legal Appeal Aims to Defend Wyoming’s Path of the Pronghorn From Massive Fracking Project
DENVER— Conservation groups today appealed a federal court’s decision upholding a Trump-era plan to allow 3,500 new gas wells in southwestern Wyoming.
Read more.Lawsuit: EPA Must Protect Manatees From Water Pollution
ORLANDO, Fla.— Three conservation groups sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to protect manatees and sea turtles from water pollution in Florida.
Read more.Legal Agreement Forces EPA to Assess Toxicity of Plastics
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency will analyze the toxic effects of polyvinyl chloride, commonly referred to as “PVC” or “vinyl”, as the result of a legal agreement reached today with the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Documents on Biden Administration Plans to Weaken Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s failure to release documents detailing discussions between political officials, other agency staff, and members of Congress over potential legislation that would further weaken the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Report: Electric Utilities Shut Off Power 3.6 Million Times While Increasing Payouts to Shareholders, Executives
WASHINGTON— Electric utilities have disconnected U.S. households more than 3.5 million times since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, while shareholder returns and executive compensation have skyrocketed, according to Powerless in the Pandemic 2.0, a new report from the Center for Biological Diversity and BailoutWatch.
Read more.Arizona OKs Uranium Mining Permit That Puts Grand Canyon’s Groundwater, Springs at Risk
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality approved an aquifer protection permit late Thursday for a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges U.S. Postal Service Plan to Buy 150,000 Gas-Guzzling Trucks
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity, CleanAirNow, Sierra Club, and 16 states filed lawsuits in California federal court today challenging the U.S. Postal Service’s decision to replace its aging fleet with close to 150,000 gas-burning delivery trucks.
Read more.Tope Sharks Take Step Toward Endangered Species Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— Following a petition, the National Marine Fisheries Service has announced that the tope shark — also known as the “soupfin shark” — may warrant protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Legal Actions Challenge Huge Logging Project in Los Padres National Forest
VENTURA, Calif.— A coalition of environmental, business and recreational organizations — joined by the county of Ventura and the city of Ojai — filed suit in federal court today to challenge a commercial logging and vegetation removal project atop Pine Mountain and Reyes Peak in the Los Padres National Forest.
Read more.Proposed Montana Gypsum Mine Scrapped in Victory for Rare Plant
BILLINGS, Mont.— The mining company Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua has withdrawn its plan for gypsum mining exploration in southern Montana’s Pryor Desert. The plan would have disturbed Jurassic Period fossils, Crow and Northern Cheyenne archaeological sites, the imperiled greater sage grouse and many sensitive plant species, including the thick-leaf bladderpod.
Read more.500 Global Groups Urge Biden to End Fossil Fuel Era in Response to Russia-Ukraine War
WASHINGTON— More than 500 organizations from six continents sent a letter to President Biden and other world leaders today, urging them to speed the end of the fossil fuel era and spur a just and equitable transition to 100% renewable energy.
Read more.Lawsuit Demands Halt to Mexico’s Maya Train
CANCUN, Mexico— Conservation groups have sued the Mexican government over its plan to build a “Maya train” through one of Mexico’s most biodiverse forests. This controversial tourist train — one of President López Obrador’s flagship infrastructure projects — will connect holiday destinations across the Yucatán peninsula. The lawsuit challenges the government’s failure to issue an environmental assessment before approving the train’s fifth and most-controversial section.
Read more.Rare Southern Nevada Wildflower, Bee One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protections
LAS VEGAS— In response to litigation from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to dates for decisions on endangered species protections for the Las Vegas bearpoppy and the Mojave poppy bee, as well as 25 other species across the United States.
Read more.Monarch Butterflies, Dozens of Other Species One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protections
WASHINGTON— In response to three lawsuits brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to dates for decisions on whether 18 plants and animals from across the country warrant protection as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The Service will also consider identifying and protecting critical habitat for another nine species.
Read more.Federal Officials Forced to Reexamine Kentucky Pipeline’s Threats to Endangered Bats
CEDAR GROVE, Ky.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will return to the drawing board to ensure that a proposed methane gas pipeline will not jeopardize the survival of three imperiled bat species.
Read more.First Red Wolf Pups Born in Wild Since 2018, Raising Hope for Brighter Future for Species
ALBERMARLE, N.C.— For the first time in four years, a litter of pups has been born into eastern North Carolina’s struggling population of wild red wolves. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Red Wolf Recovery Program staff confirmed this week that six pups were born to a wild red wolf pair in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. The Service announced late Thursday night that the new litter includes four females and two male pups.
Read more.Cultural, Environmental Groups Launch Utom Conservation Fund Scholarship, Fellowship
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.— An alliance of cultural and environmental organizations launched fellowships and scholarships today worth $100,000 for students committed to the protection of Southern California’s signature river. The Utom Conservation Fund Scholarship and Fellowship, announced on Earth Day, will be awarded to high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate school students committed to researching and preserving the cultural values and ecological function of the Utom watershed.
Read more.Biden Launches Process for Protecting Mature, Old-Growth Forests on Federal Lands
SEATTLE— President Joe Biden will issue an executive order today that directs federal agencies to conduct an inventory of mature and old-growth forests on America’s federal lands so that policies can be adopted to protect them. The administration framed the move as a key strategy to store carbon and address climate change.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal OK of Arizona Freeway That Will Harm Climate, Wildlife, Public Lands
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups sued the Federal Highway Administration today to challenge its approval of Interstate 11, a proposed north-south highway in Arizona that would destroy pristine Sonoran Desert, harm threatened desert tortoises and other wildlife, and worsen air pollution.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Rare Parasitic Bumblebees That Play Critical Role in Keeping Other Bee Populations Diverse, Robust
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether Suckley’s cuckoo bumblebees warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.For Earth Day, ‘Frostpaw the Polar Bear’ to Urge Rep. DeLauro, Sen. Leahy to Fully Fund Endangered Species Act
NEWTOWN, Conn.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Frostpaw, the Center’s polar bear mascot, will be tending a booth at Newtown Earth Day on Saturday, April 23 to hand out endangered species postcards that urge Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to increase funding for endangered species and help stem the global extinction crisis.
Read more.Group Celebrates Earth Day by Expanding Nature Preserve System Throughout West
BEND, Ore.— The Wildlands Conservancy, owner of California’s largest nonprofit nature preserve system, announced today the group’s expansion into additional Western states. The Conservancy’s first out-of-state acquisition is the purchase of the 30,000-acre Cherry Creek Ranch in central Oregon, newly named Enchanted Rocks Preserve after the landscape’s fascinating geology.
Read more.Top Scientists: California Must End Neighborhood Oil Drilling, Phase Out Fossil Fuels
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Nearly 200 scientists marked Earth Week by sending a letter today calling on the Newsom administration to immediately end neighborhood oil drilling and rapidly phase out fossil fuel production in California.
Read more.Oregon’s Wolf Population Increases by Only Two After Year of Poaching Deaths
PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon’s wolf population increased by two confirmed animals in 2021 — from 173 to 175 wolves — according to a report released today by the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. There were 21 reported packs in 2021, while the number of breeding pairs decreased by one for a total of 16.
Read more.Legal Action Defends Endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
WASHINGTON— Longtime conservation partners the Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society took to the courts today to fight once more to protect the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher. This tiny, highly endangered songbird depends on the increasingly rare and threatened streamside forests of the arid southwestern United States.
Read more.15,000 Endangered Species Condoms to Be Given Away for Earth Day
TUCSON, Ariz.— More than 140 volunteers will give away 15,000 free Endangered Species Condoms from the Center for Biological Diversity in time for Earth Day on Friday. The condoms will be given away at Earth Day events and on college campuses across the country.
Read more.New Study Shows People of Color in U.S. Are More Likely to Be Harmed by Pesticides Due to Weak Regulations, Lax Enforcement
WASHINGTON— A peer-reviewed study published today in the academic journal BMC Public Health finds that Black, Indigenous and people of color, along with low-income communities, shoulder an outsized burden of the harms caused by pesticides in the United States.
Read more.Legal Victory Secures Habitat Protection for 23 Imperiled Micronesian Species
HAGÅTÑA, Guam— Following a successful legal challenge by the Center for Biological Diversity and Blue Ocean Law, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must now identify and protect critical habitat for 23 endangered and threatened species located throughout greater Micronesia. The Service now has to act on critical habitat for these nine rare animals and 14 plants by June 26, 2025.
Read more.Appeals Court Upholds Habitat Protections for New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse
DENVER, Colo.— The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge brought by two cattlemen’s associations seeking to overturn the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse’s critical habitat designation. This decision gives this remarkable mouse a fighting chance of survival.
Read more.Biden Administration to Restart Oil, Gas Leasing on Public Lands
WASHINGTON— The Bureau of Land Management announced today that it will resume oil and gas leasing on public lands, violating President Biden’s campaign promise to end new oil and gas leasing and locking in new extraction that thwarts his pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more.‘Los Angeles Times’ Ad Urges California to Ramp Up Clean Car Rules
LOS ANGELES— Environmental, equity and health groups placed a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times today warning that California’s weak draft auto emissions rule falls short of needed progress and jeopardizes the state’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2045.
Read more.California’s Clear Lake Hitch Back on Track for Endangered Species Protections
CLEAR LAKE, Calif.— In a legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to again consider Endangered Species Act protections for the Clear Lake hitch. This large minnow is found only in Northern California’s Clear Lake.
Read more.Mining Company Told to Stop Illegal Dumping in Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue an international mining company to protect critical desert streams and washes in southern Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains.
Read more.Temblor Legless Lizard Gets Closer to California Endangered Species Protection
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife today recommended that the Temblor legless lizard move toward protection under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The action came in response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Independent Scientific Review Panel: EPA’s Weakening of Groundwater Protections From Pesticides Is Not Justified
WASHINGTON— In a peer-review report released this week, an independent panel of scientists gave a scathing critique of recent changes made by the Environmental Protection Agency to weaken its estimates of pesticide pollution in U.S. groundwater.
Read more.California Issues Weak Clean Cars Rule, Fails to Lead Aggressive Electric Push
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California proposed a new clean car rule today that jeopardizes the state’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2045. The Advanced Clean Cars II Rule charts inadequate progress toward 100% zero-emission vehicle, or ZEV, sales and ignores tailpipe pollution from millions of gas-powered cars sold until that transition is complete.
Read more.State Wildlife Agency Recommends Ending Protection for California’s Climate-Threatened Western Joshua Trees
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— In a report released today, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended ending interim protections for imperiled western Joshua trees, opening the door for widespread destruction of one of California’s most iconic species.
Read more.Federal Officials Revise Plan to Recover Endangered Mexican Gray Wolves
SILVER CITY, N.M.— Responding to a legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will release a draft revision to its 2017 Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan. The new draft, which will be released Thursday, is intended to provide measures to reduce human-caused mortality that the 2017 plan lacked.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Seek Federal Protection for Thick-Leaf Bladderpod
BILLINGS, Mont.— Three conservation groups today announced their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect the thick-leaf bladderpod, a rare plant found only at the base of the Pryor Mountains in southern Montana and northern Wyoming. The plant is under imminent threat from gypsum mining.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Push EPA to Set New Limits on Soot, Sulfur, Nitrogen Pollution
OAKLAND, Calif.— Environmental groups filed a lawsuit today to force the Environmental Protection Agency to update limits on harmful soot, sulfur and nitrogen air pollution.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Nevada’s Railroad Valley Toad
RENO, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition today with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the critically imperiled Railroad Valley toad, which is threatened by a proposed lithium production project and oil drilling.
Read more.New Report: Gender Equity Solutions Missing From Municipal Climate Plans
TUCSON, Ariz.— A newly released report by the Center for Biological Diversity that analyzed municipal climate plans found that, although women and gender-diverse people are disproportionately affected by climate change, none of the reviewed plans mentioned family planning, contraception, or reproductive health solutions. Only one mentioned gender equity.
Read more.Autoridad ambiental del T-MEC recomienda investigación formal por fallas en la protección de la vaquita marina en México
MONTRÉAL— Un organismo clave del acuerdo comercial entre México, Estados Unidos y Canadá (T-MEC) recomendó hoy una investigación formal sobre el incumplimiento de México de sus leyes de pesca y de vida silvestre, lo que está causando la casi extinción de la vaquita marina. Redes de pesca ilegales colocadas para atrapar camarones y totoabas, un pez en peligro y codiciado en China por su vejiga natatoria, enredan y matan a la vaquita. Es probable que queden diez o menos vaquitas.
Read more.International Environmental Authority Recommends Full Investigation of Mexico’s Vaquita Failures
MONTRéAL— A key U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement body recommended a formal investigation today into Mexico’s failure to comply with its fishing and wildlife trade laws, which is causing the near-extinction of the vaquita porpoise. Illegal fishing nets set to catch shrimp and totoaba, an imperiled fish coveted in China for its swim bladder, entangle and kill vaquita. Ten or fewer vaquita likely remain.
Read more.More Than 200 Wolves Reported in Washington in 2021
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The official Washington wolf population numbers released today show a statewide total of 206 wolves in 33 packs, with 19 successful breeding pairs. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife documented 30 wolves killed by people in 2021, up from 16 last year.
Read more.New Dungeons & Dragons Book to Support Endangered Species Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity is partnering with Mage Hand Press and creator Lucas Zellers to resurrect the histories of extinct animals in a surprising new way: through the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.
Read more.Documents: Biden Administration Misled Public Over Secret Plan to Weaken Whooping Crane Protections
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been planning to weaken whooping crane protections since early 2021, according to federal documents obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Developer Ditches Plan to Dam Arizona’s San Francisco River
PHOENIX— A developer notified federal regulators today that it has abandoned plans for a 200-foot-tall dam along a remote, biodiverse stretch of the San Francisco River at the Arizona-New Mexico border.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Stop Power Plant Construction, Save Nevada Toad After Endangered Species Listing
RENO, Nev.— The Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice of intent today to sue the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to halt construction of the Dixie Meadows geothermal power plant. Federal wildlife managers say the plant poses a significant risk of extinction to the Dixie Valley toad.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Redwood Forest in California From Logging
MENDOCINO, Calif.― Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to stop the Mendocino Redwood Company from logging nearly 1,000 acres of redwood forest in a California watershed that provides habitat for threatened northern spotted owls and fish.
Read more.140 Groups Call for Major Reforms at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Restore Scientific Integrity
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and 139 other organizations sent a letter today urging U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams to take immediate action to reform the agency’s process for listing imperiled species as threatened or endangered.
Read more.Bill Calls for Turbocharging Renewable Energy Manufacturing Under Defense Production Act to Ensure True Energy Security, End Fossil Fuels
WASHINGTON— U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) introduced legislation today that would require President Biden to use the Defense Production Act to build a renewable energy industrial base to protect communities and achieve energy independence from fossil fuels.
Read more.Los Angeles County Moves to Limit New Sprawl in Fire-Prone Areas
LOS ANGELES— The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved an update to the county’s general plan today that limits new development in wildfire hazard zones, reducing regional risk as California braces for what could be another intense fire season.
Read more.Federal Court Rejects Fort Huachuca’s Groundwater Pumping Plan for Fourth Time
TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal judge has rejected the latest plan by the U.S. Army and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service aimed at preventing damage to the San Pedro River and its endangered species from groundwater pumping to serve Fort Huachuca and the Fort’s population in surrounding areas.
Read more.Congress Introduces Legislation to Ban Wildlife Killing Contests on Public Lands
WASHINGTON— More than a dozen members of Congress introduced legislation today that would prohibit organizing, sponsoring, conducting or participating in wildlife killing contests on more than 500 million acres of U.S. public lands.
Read more.New Coalition Pressures Tennessee Valley Authority to Cut Fossil-Fuel Emissions, Ramp Up Renewable Energy
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Dozens of organizations in the Tennessee Valley came together today to launch the Clean Up TVA Coalition, demanding immediate action from the Tennessee Valley Authority to cut carbon emissions and transition to a fossil-fuel-free and just energy future by 2030.
Read more.California Oil Company Warned for Cutting Corners in Repairing Leaky Pipeline
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity warned DCOR, LLC in a letter today that the company failed to comply with a California law requiring a Coastal Development Permit for its repair of an offshore oil pipeline that leaked in December.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Gives Rare Nevada Toad Emergency Endangered Species Protection
RENO, Nev.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it would immediately protect the rare Dixie Valley toad under the Endangered Species Act on an emergency basis. The toads face an acute threat of extinction from the construction of a geothermal power plant adjacent to their only home at Dixie Meadows, a hot spring-fed wetland in Churchill County, Nevada.
Read more.100 Groups Demand EPA Set Protective Airplane-Pollution Limits
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and more than 100 allies submitted comments today opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed particulate matter pollution standards for aircraft.
Read more.Arizona Game and Fish Fails to Ban Spring Bear Hunting With New Guidelines
PHOENIX, Ariz.— The Arizona Game and Fish Commission finalized new five-year hunting guidelines today that offer slightly better protections for mountain lions and bears but still fail to give the animals a fair chance, allowing hound hunting and a spring bear hunt to proceed.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Stop Destruction of Endangered California Tiger Salamander Habitat
SANTA MARIA, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity notified the Santa Maria Airport District this week of its intent to sue over the destruction of hundreds of acres of critical habitat for endangered California tiger salamanders.
Read more.Alaska’s Ice Seals Gain Critical Habitat Protection
WASHINGTON— Following a legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced two final rules today to protect critical habitat for bearded seals and ringed seals, two types of Arctic ice seals in Alaska.
Read more.Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers Rose to Just Under 200 Last Year
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The population of endangered Mexican gray wolves in Arizona and New Mexico grew by 10 animals last year, from 186 animals in 2020 to 196 in 2021. While this represents an overall increase, the pace of recovery is being hampered by illegal killings, disease, and genetic mismanagement.
Read more.Coastal California Sunflower Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success
EUREKA, Calif.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today changed the Endangered Species Act status of beach layia, a small sunflower that grows only in California’s coastal dunes, reclassifying it from endangered to threatened. The change is due to reduced impacts from offroad vehicles, grazing, and development throughout much of the species’ range.
Read more.Groups Call for Oil Industry to Fund California’s Costly Oil Well Cleanup
OAKLAND, Calif.— California climate, health and community groups sent a letter to the U.S. Interior Department today urging it to force polluters to pay for the cleanup of tens of thousands of dangerous abandoned oil and gas wells in the state.
Read more.Biden Budget Shortchanges Key Programs to Protect, Recover Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— Despite an overall increase of $86.4 million for endangered species conservation, President Biden’s fiscal year 2023 budget request, released today, still falls short of what’s needed to stem the loss of our nation’s biodiversity and halt the global extinction crisis.
Read more.Endangered Species Protection Sought for Tiny Virginia Fish
RICHMOND, Va.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a legal petition today seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the roughhead shiner, an olive-colored minnow found only in the upper James River watershed in western Virginia.
Read more.Agreement Prohibits Military Spending on Border Wall, Requires Restoration, Damage Study
WASHINGTON— Several federal agencies and the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife and Animal Legal Defense Fund reached an agreement today that prohibits military spending on border walls.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Fight EPA Delay in Reducing Asthma-Causing Smog
WASHINGTON— Four environmental groups filed a lawsuit today to force the Environmental Protection Agency to downgrade the smog rating in eight areas from serious to severe. The downgrade in the ratings will trigger more protective measures to reduce pollution emissions
Read more.New Documents: EPA Managers Reportedly Instructed Staff Not to Document in Emails Concerns About Flea Collars Linked to Thousands of Pet Deaths
WASHINGTON— Scientists in the Environmental Protection Agency’s pesticide office were instructed to refrain from emailing about their growing concerns about the safety of flea collars linked to thousands of pet deaths, according to statements in emails released under the Freedom of Information Act.
Read more.U.S. Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Hippos
WASHINGTON— Wildlife protection groups today petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect hippos under the Endangered Species Act. The legal petition was filed by the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.14,000 Objections Filed Against Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Plan
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— More than 14,000 objections have been filed in opposition to the federal plan for the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina, marking the highest number ever received by the U.S. Forest Service over such a plan.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect California’s Temblor Legless Lizard
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decide whether the temblor legless lizard in California warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Northern Long-Eared Bats Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— In a reversal of a previous “threatened” listing that exempted destruction of the northern long-eared bat’s habitat from protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued a proposal to list the bat as endangered. This change in legal status will afford the species far greater protection under the Endangered Species Act as it struggles to survive in the face of devastating white-nose syndrome and human development.
Read more.400,000 Native Animals Killed by Federal Program Last Year, New Data Shows
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services reported killing 404,538 native animals in 2021, according to new data released by the program today. The federal wildlife-killing program targets wolves, coyotes, cougars, birds and other wild animals, primarily to benefit the agriculture industry in states like Texas, Colorado and Idaho.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed Against EPA to Protect Endangered Species From Cadmium Pollution
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today against the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to assess harms to endangered species before nearly tripling the levels of dangerous cadmium pollution that are allowed in U.S. waters.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Interior Department Documents Behind Oil, Gas Leasing Report
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Climate and conservation groups sued the U.S. Interior Department on Friday for failing to release public records, including documents behind the development of a federal oil and gas leasing report, related to President Biden’s 2021 executive order to address climate change.
Read more.Rare Sand Dune-Dwelling Plant in Oregon, California Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— Following a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect the sand dune phacelia as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Just 26 populations of this rare plant remain in the coastal dunes of southern Oregon and northern California.
Read more.Washington Wildlife Commission Again Votes Down Spring Bear Hunt
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 5-4 today against a proposed 2022 spring bear-hunting season. The vote by the commission, which oversees the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, is the second related to this year’s season. It follows an attempt by hunting groups to reverse the original November 2021 suspension of the hunt.
Read more.U.S. Company Seeks to Extend License for Deep-Sea Mining in Pacific
WASHINGTON— Federal officials today published an application by Lockheed Martin to extend two licenses to mine the deep ocean. These licenses propose exploratory deep-sea mining work in the Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone, halfway between Mexico and Hawaii.
Read more.Mining Company Nixes California Gold Exploration That Threatened Rare Daisy
LOS ANGELES— A Canadian mining company has announced it’s suspending a proposal to expand gold mining exploration and road building on California’s Conglomerate Mesa after the U.S. Bureau of Land Management required an environmental impact statement for the project.
Read more.Oregon Department of Forestry Moves Flawed Endangered Species Plan Forward
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Department of Forestry and the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a draft environmental impact statement today for a habitat conservation plan that regulates logging on more than 600,000 acres of state forest in western Oregon.
Read more.Progressive Caucus Urges Biden to Declare Climate Emergency, Stop New Fossil Fuel Extraction, Turbocharge Renewables
WASHINGTON— The Congressional Progressive Caucus called on President Biden today to declare a climate emergency, ban federal fossil fuel leasing and extraction, and build distributed renewable energy systems under the Defense Production Act.
Read more.Five Years After ‘Cyanide Bomb’ Injures Idaho Teen, Efforts Continue to Ban Deadly Devices
WASHINGTON— This week marks the fifth anniversary of an Idaho teen nearly being fatally poisoned by an M-44, commonly known as a “cyanide bomb.” The incident received worldwide media coverage and spurred federal and state efforts to ban these wildlife-killing devices.
Read more.Federal Court Rejects Weld County’s Request to Delay Reductions of Dangerous Smog Pollution From Oil, Gas Operations
DENVER— A federal appeals court has rejected Weld County’s attempt to delay steps to reduce pollution from the Colorado county’s oil and gas operations that contributes to asthma-causing smog in the Metro-Denver and Front Range region.
Read more.Two Appalachian Crayfish Gain 446 Miles of Lifesaving Critical Habitat
CHARLESTON, W.Va.— Following a petition and lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated 446 stream miles of critical habitat for the Big Sandy and Guyandotte River crayfish in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia.
Read more.New Wildlife Data Reveals Disturbing U.S. Trophy Trade Trends
WASHINGTON— U.S. hunters imported more than 700,000 trophies taken from giraffes, rhinos and many other species around the globe from 2016 to 2020, according to data newly obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The data shows a steady and sizeable annual increase in U.S. trade in hunting trophies — including mounts, skulls, skins, teeth and other parts — throughout the Trump administration. The trophy trade declined only after the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Read more.California Court Rules Against Big Bear Development Over Wildfire Concerns, Harms to Rare Plant
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif.— A judge ruled against a controversial development proposed on the north shore of Big Bear Lake over concerns about wildfire evacuation risks and threats to a plant unique to the area.
Read more.CITES Approves Totoaba Trade in Major Blow to Imperiled Vaquita Porpoise
LYON, France— The Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora voted 9-6 Thursday to permit Earth Ocean Farms, an aquaculture facility in Mexico, to engage in trade of captive-bred totoaba fish. This decision may seal the fate of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, which becomes entangled in fishing nets used to catch totoaba for the totoaba bladder (or maw) trade.
Read more.CITES aprueba el comercio de totoaba en un gran golpe para la vaquita marina
LYON, Francia— El Comité Permanente de la Convención sobre el Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas de Fauna y Flora Silvestres (CITES) votó el jueves 9 a 5 para permitir que Earth Ocean Farms (EOF), una instalación de acuacultura en México, participe en el comercio internacional de peces totoaba criados en cautiverio. Esta decisión puede sellar el destino de la vaquita marina que está en peligro crítico de extinción, la cual queda atrapada en las redes de pesca que capturan totoaba para comercializar su vejiga (o buches).
Read more.Congress Urged to Increase Spending to $700 Million for Endangered Species Conservation
WASHINGTON— Citing the global extinction crisis, more than 150 groups urged Congress today to significantly increase the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s budget for endangered species conservation from $300 million to $704 million — an increase of more than $400 million over the fiscal year 2022 budget.
Read more.Expanded Alaska Habitat Protections Sought for World’s Most Endangered Whale
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Conservationists filed a formal petition today urging the federal government to expand the critical habitat designation in Alaska for North Pacific right whales — the most endangered whale population in the world.
Read more.Report Card: North Carolina’s Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Plan Flunks
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— A report card issued by the Center for Biological Diversity and endorsed by 100 organizations and businesses gives failing grades to the newly released Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Plan. The Forest Service plan would dramatically increase logging in the country’s most popular national forest while reducing protections for its most important recreation and conservation areas.
Read more.California Court Rejects Sprawl Development Near San Diego
SAN DIEGO— Citing wildfire concerns, a judge ruled against a 3,000-home development proposed for the city of Santee. The Fanita Ranch project would be built on more than 2,600 acres of fire-prone hillsides north of the city that serve as habitat for the coastal California gnatcatcher, western spadefoot toad and other rare species.
Read more.Biden Urged to Invoke Defense Protection Act, Resist Shortsighted Domestic Fossil Fuel Policies
WASHINGTON— Following President Biden’s announcement Tuesday that the United States will ban all Russian oil imports, more than 200 climate, Indigenous, social justice, religious, and progressive groups sent a letter to the White House today urging the president to invoke the Defense Production Act in order to ramp up the deployment of renewable energy to transition the world off the fossil fuels that are leading to global instability.
Read more.Omnibus Budget Ignores Climate Emergency, Extinction Crisis
WASHINGTON— The Democratic-controlled Congress today released the final appropriations bill to fund fiscal year 2022, which began five months earlier.
Read more.Santa Barbara County Rejects ExxonMobil Oil-Trucking Plan
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted today to reject ExxonMobil’s proposal to transport oil by tanker trucks along hazardous California highways. The plan would have helped the company restart three 1980s-era drilling platforms off the Santa Barbara coast that have been shut down since the Refugio oil spill disaster seven years ago.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Reverses Course, Asserts That Neurotoxic Pesticide Malathion Will Not Put a Single Protected Species At Risk of Extinction
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the widely used insecticide malathion does not pose an extinction risk to a single protected animal or plant and refused to implement any immediate, enforceable measures to protect species from the chemical poison.
Read more.Petition Urges Biden Administration to Strengthen Endangered Species Act to Save Life on Earth
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a comprehensive legal petition today urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to take bold, unprecedented action to stem the global wildlife extinction crisis by strengthening the Endangered Species Act’s implementing regulations.
Read more.Eighty Groups Demand Gov. Newsom Set Nation-Leading Clean Car Standard
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— More than 80 environmental and justice organizations delivered a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom today urging him to strengthen the state’s clean car regulations. The letter comes ahead of Newsom’s State of the State address Tuesday, in which he’s expected to outline his top priorities.
Read more.Legal Petition Demands Biden Administration Halt Imports of Russian Fossil Fuels
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce today to review and ban all fossil fuel imports from Russia — including oil, coal, petroleum gas products and petcoke — under the U.S. Trade Act because of the national security threat those imports pose to the United States.
Read more.Oregon Passes Law to Prevent Spread of Diseases Linked to Wildlife Trafficking
PORTLAND, Ore.— Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill into law today to help Oregon prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases linked to the import, trade and handling of wildlife. H.B. 4128 passed with bipartisan support in the Oregon legislature.
Read more.National Marine Fisheries Service Analysis: Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, Malathion Jeopardize Dozens of Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service released a revised draft biological opinion today finding that three widely used insecticides — chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion — jeopardize the continued existence of dozens of endangered marine species, including salmon and Puget Sound orcas.
Read more.Two Freshwater Mussels Proposed for Federal Protections in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisiana
ST. LOUIS— In response to a 2010 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect the western and Ouachita fanshell mussels under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also plans to designate 654 miles of protected critical habitat in Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri for the two species.
Read more.State of the Union: Amid Global Crisis, Biden Must Move to End Fossil Fuel Era
WASHINGTON— Kierán Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, released the following statement after President Biden’s State of the Union address.
Read more.Seabird Protection From Federal Fisheries On Horizon
WASHINGTON— In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said this week that it intends to regulate commercial fisheries’ incidental killing of seabirds. In an email sent Monday to the Center, the Service said it will publish a proposed bird-bycatch rule this summer.
Read more.U.S. Officials Urged to Deny Elephant Trophy Imports by March 16 Deadline
WASHINGTON— Conservation and animal welfare groups urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to deny permits to hunters seeking to import elephant trophies into the United States from Zimbabwe and Namibia. Under a settlement with the Dallas Safari Club, the agency must decide on eight pending permit applications by mid-March following a multi-year permitting hiatus for elephant trophy imports into the country.
Read more.Biden Climate Leadership Needed in Wake of Supreme Court Argument
WASHINGTON— The Supreme Court heard oral argument today in West Virginia v. EPA, a case that could shape the contours of the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate power plant emissions under the Clean Air Act. The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental respondent in the case, urged the court to either uphold the EPA’s authority to set appropriate standards for coal and gas fired power plants or dismiss the case for lack of appellate standing.
Read more.Last Rattlesnake Roundup in Georgia Replaced by Humane Wildlife Festival
ATLANTA— Following advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity and conservation allies, the Whigham Rattlesnake Roundup will hold its first ever wildlife-friendly event this Saturday, March 5. The revamped roundup in Whigham, Georgia, will celebrate snakes instead of collecting and butchering them for their meat and skins.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered Bats From Methane Gas Pipeline
CEDAR GROVE, Ky.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Kentucky Resources Council filed a formal notice of intent to sue two federal agencies for failing to protect imperiled bats from harm threatened by the construction of the proposed Bullitt County Transmission Line in Kentucky.
Read more.Grupos exhortan a juzgado mexicano fallar a favor de jóvenes indígenas mayas en amparo constitucional ante mega granja porcícola en Yucatán
CDMX, México— Grupos ambientalistas, científicos, médicos y expertos en salud pública presentaron hoy un informe legal que respalda las demandas constitucionales presentadas por jóvenes mayas, quienes se oponen a la aprobación y operación de una instalación industrial masiva de cerdos en tierras ecológicamente sensibles y culturalmente importantes en la península de Yucatán.
Read more.Mexican Court Urged to Rule for Indigenous Mayan Youth in Constitutional Challenge to Massive Industrial Hog Operation on Yucatán Peninsula
MEXICO CITY, Mexico— Conservation groups, scientists, doctors and public-health experts filed a legal brief today supporting constitutional claims raised by Mayan children who oppose approval and operation of a massive industrial hog farm on ecologically sensitive and culturally important lands in the Yucatán Peninsula.
Read more.Peppered Chub Placed on Endangered List
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service added a fish called the peppered chub to the endangered species list today. The agency also designated 872 river miles of critical habitat in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma for the chub, a 3-inch-long, torpedo-shaped fish of the Great Plains.
Read more.Supreme Court Argument Highlights Need for Biden Climate Action
WASHINGTON— A high-stakes argument before the Supreme Court on Monday will spotlight the urgent need for President Biden to take bold executive action to fight climate change, but the best outcome could be for the court to decline to decide the case at all.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets EPA’s Failure to Protect Washington’s Endangered Salmon, Orcas, Trout From Cyanide Pollution
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Western Environmental Law Center sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today over its failure to protect Chinook and coho salmon, Southern Resident killer whales, steelhead trout and bull trout from the effects of toxic cyanide in Washington’s waters.
Read more.Legal Petition Urges Biden Administration to Ban Toxic Agricultural Pesticides on National Wildlife Refuges
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Food Safety filed a legal petition today calling for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to end the use of dangerous agricultural pesticides on national wildlife refuges.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sued for Refusing to Stop Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon From Killing Endangered Animals, Plants
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to push it to take action to stop endangered species from being harmed by the pesticides chlorpyrifos and diazinon, as required by the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.BASF to Stop Selling Pesticide Trifludimoxazin Rather Than Continue Litigation
SAN FRANCISCO— In response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Food Safety and Center for Biological Diversity, chemical giant BASF has agreed to stop the manufacture and sale of the pesticide trifludimoxazin, according a court filing today.
Read more.$22,500 Reward Offered for Info on Illegal Killing of Wolf in Northeast Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation and animal-protection groups announced a combined $22,500 reward today for information leading to a conviction in the killing of a collared wolf outside the town of Cove in Northeast Oregon.
Read more.Report Details Key Powers Biden Can Unlock With National Climate Emergency, Echoes Congressional Calls for Declaration
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity released a groundbreaking report today outlining the suite of specific powers that President Biden could unlock to fight the climate crisis by declaring a national climate emergency.
Read more.Agreement Sets Swift Deadline for Decision on Dixie Valley Toad Protections
RENO, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reached an agreement today requiring the agency to decide by April 4 whether Nevada’s rare Dixie Valley toad warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Federal Regulators Urged to End Utility Practice of Funneling Ratepayer Money to Anti-Environment Trade Groups
WASHINGTON— More than 300 energy justice, environmental and community groups urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today to address utility company behavior that forces millions of customers to finance anti-environment trade groups.
Read more.New Report: More Than 200 Million Pounds of Pesticides in U.S. Are Applied to Crops Grown to Feed Animals on Factory Farms
NEW YORK— Hundreds of millions of pounds of toxic pesticides used in the United States are applied to corn and soy crops that are grown to feed factory farmed animals, according to a new report, Collateral Damage, released today by World Animal Protection, US and the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Nevada Geothermal Project Breaks Ground While Court Battles Rage
RENO, Nev.— Bulldozers broke ground this week at geothermal developer Ormat’s Dixie Meadows Geothermal Project in Churchill County, Nevada, while court battles over the project’s fate continue.
Read more.California Officials Urged to Decommission Leaky Offshore Oil Pipeline
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.— Eight conservation groups asked California officials today to reject plans to repair and restart a broken pipeline that caused a December oil spill in coastal waters off Orange County.
Read more.California Bill Aims to Improve Wildlife Connectivity, Public Safety
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Assemblymembers Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) and Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) introduced a bill on Wednesday that would prioritize crossings and other infrastructure projects that improve wildlife connectivity and make California roads safer.
Read more.Legal Intervention Backs California’s Authority to Protect Oceano Dunes From Off-Road Vehicles
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.— Conservation, Native American and community groups filed a motion this week to intervene in a lawsuit to defend the California Coastal Commission’s March 2021 decision phasing out off-highway vehicle use at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
Read more.Court Upholds Protections for California’s Western Joshua Trees
FRESNO, Calif.— A Fresno County Superior Court judge today rejected an effort by construction and real estate interests, along with the city of Hesperia, to strip away legal protections for the imperiled western Joshua tree.
Read more.Petition Aims to Protect Tope Shark Under Endangered Species Act
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation organizations submitted a petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service today requesting protection of the tope shark under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Missing Link in Biden’s Climate Agenda: Letting Older Trees Grow
WASHINGTON— A coalition of more than 70 groups launched a new campaign today called the Climate Forests Campaign and called on the Biden administration to take executive action to protect mature trees and forests on federal lands, which are critical in the fight against climate change.
Read more.Rare Plant in South Texas, Mexico Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas— Following a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the prostrate milkweed as endangered. Just 24 populations of the plant survive in South Texas and northern Mexico, where they serve up large quantities of nectar to bees and tarantula hawks.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Federal OK of Railway That Would Quadruple Oil Production in Utah’s Uinta Basin
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Surface Transportation Board today to challenge its approval of a new rail line designed to quadruple oil production in Utah’s Uinta Basin and send most of the crude to Gulf Coast refineries.
Read more.EE.UU. presenta demanda comercial en contra de México por la falta de protección a la vaquita marina
WASHINGTON— La Representante de Comercio de Estados Unidos, Katherine Tai, solicitó formalmente consultas medioambientales con México por su pesca ilegal con el objetivo de proteger a la vaquita marina, en peligro crítico de extinción. La solicitud es el primer paso en el marco del mecanismo de implementación y disputa del Acuerdo México-Estados Unidos-Canadá, que podría dar lugar a sanciones comerciales contra México.
Read more.U.S. Launches Trade Complaint Over Mexico’s Failure to Protect Vaquita
WASHINGTON— U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai formally requested environmental consultations with Mexico today over its illegal fishing. Aimed at protecting the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, the request is the first step under the enforcement and dispute mechanism of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which could lead to trade sanctions against Mexico.
Read more.Federal Court Restores Gray Wolf’s Endangered Species Act Protection
OAKLAND, Calif.— A federal judge today restored protection to gray wolves, reversing a Trump-era rule that removed Endangered Species Act protection from the animals across most of the country. Today’s ruling prohibits wolf hunting and trapping in states outside of the northern Rocky Mountains.
Read more.Endangered Species Condoms to Be Handed Out at El Paso Zoo for Valentine’s Day
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will give away free Endangered Species Condoms ahead of Valentine’s Day at the El Paso Zoo Society’s Wild at Heart event, an adults-only Valentine’s Day event featuring food, games, live music and education about some of the interesting mating courtships found in nature. The colorful condom packages include species threatened by human population growth and slogans like “Wrap with care, save the polar bear” and “When you’re feeling tender, think about the hellbender.”
Read more.30,000 Endangered Species Condoms to Be Distributed for Valentine’s Day
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will give away 30,000 free Endangered Species Condoms across the country ahead of Valentine’s Day to help couples understand population growth’s threat to wildlife and the planet. Distributions will occur at adult-only events, including the Virginia Zoo’s Kiss and Tail, the Tallahassee Museum’s Frolics of Florida, Zoo Idaho’s Date Night, and Safari West’s Wild Jungle Love in Santa Rosa, California.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Secure Endangered Status for Secretive Eastern Black Rail
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a Trump administration decision that the eastern black rail should have threatened rather than endangered status under the Endangered Species Act. The Service predicts that the critically imperiled marsh bird will likely be extinct by 2068.
Read more.Court Upholds Ventura County Ordinances to Safeguard Wildlife Connectivity
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.— A pair of Ventura County ordinances that increases protections for wildlife corridors has prevailed after a judge ruled on the side of county leaders and conservationists.
Read more.California Senate Bill Would Eliminate Dirty, Dangerous Offshore Drilling
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Legislation introduced today in the California Senate would phase out offshore drilling for oil and gas in the state’s coastal waters. The bill follows October’s big oil spill off Orange County and other recent oil industry spills and legal violations.
Read more.Army Corps Urged to Block Louisiana Methanol Facility Over Potential Groundwater Harms
NEW ORLEANS— Groups opposing a South Louisiana Methanol project sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today calling attention to the agency’s failure to obtain critical information about the facility’s possible threats to the freshwater Gramercy Aquifer. The $2.2 billion complex, planned for a 1,500-acre site in St. James Parish, would be one of the world’s largest methanol plants.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumblebees
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect imperiled Suckley’s cuckoo bumblebees under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Legal Petition Demands Biden Administration Stop Unlawful Gulf of Mexico Oil Drilling
WASHINGTON— More than 300 environmental, public health, Indigenous, faith-based and community groups sent a legal petition today demanding that the Biden administration immediately stop authorizing new exploration plans, development plans and drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico until it properly examines the climate damage from more offshore drilling.
Read more.Rare Montana Plant Moves Closer to Endangered Species Protection
BILLINGS, Mont.— In response to a 2021 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the thick-leaf bladderpod may qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Service will now begin a full status review of the species.
Read more.Maui Grand Wailea Resort Sued for Lights That Harm Endangered Seabirds
HONOLULU— Conservation groups in Hawai‘i, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit today against Maui’s Grand Wailea Resort for its bright lights that attract Hawaiian petrels, frequently leading to their grounding and death.
Read more.Variable Cuckoo Bumblebee Moves One Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the variable cuckoo bumblebee, a critically imperiled species that has not been observed since 1999, may warrant Endangered Species Act protection. The announcement kicks off a one-year status assessment of the species.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Critical Habitat for Florida Bonneted Bat, Again
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Tropical Audubon Society and the Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate lifesaving critical habitat for Florida’s largest bat.
Read more.Federal Appeals Court Axes Commercial Logging in Los Padres National Forest Roadless Area in California
LOS ANGELES― A federal appeals court blocked a commercial logging project in a roadless area of the Los Padres National Forest today, siding with three conservation groups to protect 1,100 acres of old-growth forest actively used by endangered California condors.
Read more.America COMPETES Act Includes Big Wins for Wildlife, Pandemic Prevention
WASHINGTON— The America COMPETES Act passed today by the U.S. House of Representatives contains several provisions that would help prevent future pandemics.
Read more.Federal Court Invalidates Another Key Permit in Endangered Species Act Case, Casting Serious Doubt on Future of Mountain Valley Pipeline
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit today invalidated the biological opinion and incidental take statement issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act for the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Read more.Legal Petition Urges Biden Administration to Stop Buying Single-Use Plastic
WASHINGTON— More than 180 community and conservation organizations filed a legal petition today demanding that the U.S. government stop buying plastic bags and other single-use plastic products. Supporting organizations include the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club, Oceana, Surfrider and Greenpeace.
Read more.Congressional Oversight Urged for Tennessee Valley Authority
WASHINGTON— Clean energy groups urged a congressional committee today to call Tennessee Valley Authority CEO Jeffrey Lyash before an oversight hearing to answer questions about the massive public utility’s business practices, including its financing of anti-environment trade groups.
Read more.Red Wolf Recovery Program to Resume in Earnest, Raising Ray of Hope for Survival
RALEIGH, N.C.— After years of litigation and advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity and its allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday night that it is revitalizing the effort to save the red wolf from extinction. In an online meeting, the Service announced that it is redoubling its efforts to ensure that the red wolf not only survives in the wild but makes a full recovery.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Challenging EPA’s Failure to Update Air Pollution Emission Standards for Soot, Sulfur, Nitrogen
OAKLAND, Calif.— Environmental groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency to force it to update limits on soot, sulfur and nitrogen air pollution.
Read more.Critical Habitat Protections Proposed for Tiehm’s Buckwheat
RENO, Nev.— As a result of successful litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting 910 acres of critical habitat for Nevada’s Tiehm’s buckwheat, including the areas where all the flower’s populations live and a 500-meter protective buffer.
Read more.In Another Endangered Species Act Success, Central California Coast Snail On Road to Recovery
MORRO BAY, Calif.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today formally changed the status of the Morro shoulderband snail from endangered to threatened, citing Endangered Species Act protections that have helped spur its recovery.
Read more.Federal, California Protections Sought for Rare Daisy Imperiled by Gold Mining
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity, California Native Plant Society and a botanist who studies the rare Inyo rock daisy formally petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect the rare daisy under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Read more.In-Danger Designation Requested for Pantanal Wetlands in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay
GLAND, Switzerland— Conservation groups sent an urgent letter to the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention today requesting a full assessment of damage caused by recent fires to in the Pantanal — the largest tropical wetland in the world — in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Health of Gadsden, Alabama Residents, Coosa River Wildlife From Chronic Sewage Overflows
GADSDEN, Ala.— Conservation and community groups sued the Water Works and Sewer Board of the city of Gadsden, Alabama today for neglecting its duty to maintain public sewers and not properly reporting on sewage pollution that it discharges, in violation of the Clean Water Act.
Read more.EPA to Consider ‘Emergency’ Use of Bee-Killing Pesticide Clothianidin on Florida Oranges for Ninth Straight Year
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is considering granting “emergency” approval of a bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticide for use on as many as 125,000 acres of Florida citrus crops, including oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, lemons and limes.
Read more.As Deaths Soar, Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Critical Habitat for Florida Manatees
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation organizations today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to revise outdated critical habitat for Florida manatees. A record number of manatees — more than 1,100 — died in 2021, with many of these deaths attributable primarily to pollution of manatee habitat.
Read more.Utah BLM Urged to Cease Destruction of Dinosaur Tracksite
SALT LAKE CITY— The Center for Biological Diversity sent a cease-and-desist letter to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Utah office today urging the agency to immediately halt the destruction of irreplaceable paleontological resources at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite near Moab.
Read more.Mr. Goodbar, Famed Wandering Wolf of Borderlands, Shot in New Mexico But Survives
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The endangered Mexican gray wolf who spent five days pacing along the border wall in New Mexico before turning back was found shot but alive Wednesday.
Read more.Court: Massive Offshore Oil Lease Sale in Gulf Based on Faulty Legal Analysis
WASHINGTON— The D.C. District Court today invalidated the Department of the Interior's decision to offer 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas leasing, marking a pivotal victory in the fight to defend Gulf communities and the planet from the worsening climate crisis.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Documents on Biden Administration’s Border Levee Wall Construction in Texas
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today for failing to release public records about construction of new border walls on levees along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
Read more.Under Pressure From EPA, North Carolina Moves to Comply With Clean Air Act Requirement for Deciding on Permits in 18 Months
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— The North Carolina Division of Air Quality has proposed a rule requiring state regulators to issue decisions on air-pollution permits within 18 months, as required by the federal Clean Air Act.
Read more.California Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Measure Z Oil, Gas Protections Case
SAN FRANCISCO— The California Supreme Court announced today that it will take up the years-long legal fight over Measure Z, a ballot initiative that would block oil and gas development in Monterey County.
Read more.100-Plus Environmental Groups Urge Agriculture Secretary to Block Oil Train Railway Through Utah, Colorado
WASHINGTON— More than 100 environmental organizations, representing millions of supporters across the country, urged Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack today to block a proposed right-of-way through a Utah national forest that would enable construction of the Uinta Basin Railway.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Denial of Endangered Species Protection for Florida Lizard
MIAMI— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for a Trump Administration decision to deny protection to the Cedar Key mole skink under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Whales, Other Endangered Animals From Pacific Offshore Oil Drilling
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Biden administration today for failing to protect endangered whales, sea turtles and other species from continued oil and gas drilling off California’s coast.
Read more.Agreement Reached to Ensure New Protections for Rare Mount Charleston Blue Butterfly as Nevada Ski Resort Expands
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity and Lee Canyon reached an agreement today to allow the proposed expansion of the Lee Canyon Ski Area to move forward with significant new protections in place for the endangered Mount Charleston blue butterfly.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Rare Oregon Wildflower
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to force it to respond to a petition to protect a plant called the tall western penstemon under the Endangered Species Act. The species is one of the rarest vascular plants in the Pacific Northwest and is threatened by development, habitat degradation, climate change and competition from non-native species.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Threatened Lynx, Bats From Massive Copper Mine in Superior National Forest in Minnesota
DULUTH, Minn.— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today, saying their approval of the PolyMet open-pit copper mine and land exchange in the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota violates the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Gov. Inslee Makes Three New Appointments to Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
OLYMPIA, Wash.— Gov. Jay Inslee appointed three new members to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission today. These new commissioners — Tim Ragen, John Lehmkhul and Melanie Rowland — will complete the nine-member body that makes decisions regarding management of the state’s fish, wildlife and other resources.
Read more.Denied Protection for Two Decades, New Mexico Butterfly Finally Proposed for ‘Endangered’ Status
WASHINGTON— In response to a third legal petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protection for the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly under the Endangered Species Act. The orange-and-black checkered butterfly is found only in high-elevation meadows around the village of Cloudcroft in the Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico. Only eight butterflies and no larval tents could be found in the latest survey.
Read more.Petition Aims to Protect Famed Ghost Orchids Under Endangered Species Act
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation organizations submitted a petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today requesting protection of the ghost orchid under the Endangered Species Act. The ghost orchid, one of the most famous and imperiled flowers in Florida, has declined by more than 90% globally.
Read more.Forest Service Proposes Quadrupling Timber Harvests in Country’s Most Popular National Forest
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The long-awaited Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest Plan released today proposes a massive increase in timber harvests while weakening protections for old-growth forests and rare species.
Read more.New Data: Biden’s First Year Drilling Permitting Stomps Trump’s By 34%
WASHINGTON— New federal data shows the Biden administration approved 3,557 permits for oil and gas drilling on public lands in its first year, far outpacing the Trump administration’s first-year total of 2,658.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks to Halt Federally Authorized Harm to Last of Alaska’s Cook Inlet Beluga Whales
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Investigation Agency, Alaska Wildlife Alliance, and Cook Inletkeeper submitted a legal petition today demanding that the Secretary of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service stop issuing “take” authorizations to oil companies and others to harm and harass Cook Inlet beluga whales in Alaska.
Read more.Legal Petition Calls On Biden to Phase Out Federal Oil, Gas by 2035
WASHINGTON— More than 360 climate, tribal, religious and conservation groups petitioned the Biden administration today to use its executive authority to phase out oil and gas production on public lands and oceans.
Read more.Agreement Reached Securing Clean Air Act Compliance for Colorado Coal Mine
DENVER— A federal judge approved a consent agreement today that requires Mountain Coal Co., a subsidiary of Arch Coal, to operate pollution-control equipment and obtain and comply with a Clean Air Act permit for its West Elk coal mine.
Read more.California Judge Revives Lawsuit Against Controversial Tejon Ranchcorp Development
LOS ANGELES— In a ruling that puts the fate of a destructive development outside Los Angeles once again in question, a judge declared today that two conservation groups are prevailing parties in a successful lawsuit, continuing the legal battle over the Centennial project.
Read more.$16,500 Reward Offered for Info on Wolf Killed Illegally in Oregon’s Wallowa County
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups announced today a $16,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the illegal shooting death of a two-year-old collared female wolf in Wallowa County in early January. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Turn in Poachers (TIP) division also offers a potential $300 reward for information regarding illegal wolf killings.
Read more.Petition Seeks to Protect Southern Bog Turtle Under Endangered Species Act
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition today urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the southern population of the bog turtle as a federal endangered species in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Destructive Grazing in Agua Fria National Monument
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management today to challenge widespread, destructive cattle grazing in streams and riparian areas of the Agua Fria National Monument in central Arizona.
Read more.EPA Reapproves Enlist One, Enlist Duo Pesticides With New Protections for Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency today issued seven-year reapprovals for both Enlist Duo and Enlist One for use on conventional and genetically engineered corn, cotton and soybeans.
Read more.Press Conference to Introduce New Utah 30x30 Coalition, Survey Results on Protecting Land, Water
SALT LAKE CITY— The new Utah 30x30 Coalition will hold a virtual press conference Thursday to announce its goals, invite Utahns to join the effort and release results of a survey showing what lands and waters Utahns want to see protected.
Read more.EPA Proposes Reforms to Assess New Pesticides’ Harms to Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency’s pesticide office announced new policies today designed to address the agency’s multi-decade failure to assess harms to endangered species before approving new pesticides.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Point Reyes Ranching, Elk-Killing Plan
POINT REYES, Calif.— Three conservation groups today filed a federal lawsuit challenging the National Park Service’s controversial management plan for expanding private agriculture at California’s Point Reyes National Seashore, one of a handful of national parks that permits cattle grazing.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Pacific Humpbacks From Deadly Fishing Gear
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the National Marine Fisheries Service today for failing to protect endangered Pacific humpback whales from deadly entanglements in sablefish pot gear off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.
Read more.California Court Orders Lake County to Set Aside Approval of Mega-Resort
LAKE COUNTY, Calif.— A judge has ruled that Lake County must set aside its approval of an ultra-luxury development in Northern California’s Guenoc Valley because it failed to consider the effect on community safety and wildfire evacuation from bringing thousands of new residents and visitors to the highly fire-prone area.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Imperiled Kirtland’s Snake
CHICAGO— Conservation groups formally notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of their intent to sue over a 2017 decision to deny the Kirtland’s snake protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Challenging EPA’s Failure to Protect Endangered Species From Hundreds of Harmful Pyrethroid Pesticides
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for approving more than 300 pyrethroid insecticide products without considering their harm to endangered plants and animals.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Fight EPA Delay in Reducing Smog in 6 States With Some of Nation’s Worst Air Quality
WASHINGTON— Two environmental groups filed a lawsuit today to force the Environmental Protection Agency to require areas in six states to clean up harmful smog pollution.
Read more.Judge Halts Nevada Geothermal Energy Project Days Before Bulldozers Set to Start Destroying Sacred Springs
RENO, Nev.— A federal judge today halted the start of construction on the Dixie Meadows geothermal energy project in central Nevada. The judge found that the project posed significant risk of harm to the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe and the ecosystems there.
Read more.Florida’s Panama City Crayfish Protected Under Endangered Species Act
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the Panama City crayfish as a threatened species with 4,138 acres of critical habitat.
Read more.Following California Oil Spill, Amplify Energy Is Warned That Pipeline Activities Are Unlawful Without Permit
LONG BEACH, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity sent a letter today to Amplify Energy — operator of the offshore oil pipeline that ruptured off the California coast in October — warning that its proposed activities to restart the pipeline are unlawful without a permit to disturb marine mammals. Amplify Energy has proposed to cut out portions of the broken pipeline, weld in new parts, sand blast the seafloor, and drop concrete mats in San Pedro Bay.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Tucson Shovel-Nosed Snakes Under Endangered Species Act
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for once again denying protection to Tucson shovel-nosed snakes under the Endangered Species Act. In response to a September 2020 petition from the Center, the Service denied protection to the species for the second time in September 2021.
Read more.Four California Frog Populations Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
SACRAMENTO— In response to a Center for Biological Diversity petition and lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed Endangered Species Act protection for four populations of foothill yellow-legged frogs in the Sierra Nevada and central and Southern California. This stream-dwelling frog species has disappeared from more than 50% of its historic habitat in the state.
Read more.Sunflower Sea Star One Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
SAN FRANCISCO— Following a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced today that imperiled sunflower sea stars may warrant protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Read more.California Court Rules Lawsuit Against State Oil Regulator Can Proceed
OAKLAND, Calif— A judge has ruled decisively in favor of the Center for Biological Diversity’s ability to proceed with a suit over California’s oil and gas regulator committing widespread violations of environmental laws. The regulator and an oil-industry lobbying group had tried to dismiss the Center’s case, but on Wednesday the court rejected their arguments.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Polar Bears From Arctic Oil Exploration
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice of intent today to sue the U.S. Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management for failing to protect imperiled polar bears from an oil exploration project in the Western Arctic.
Read more.Tecolote bajeño propuesto de nuevo para ser protegido bajo la Ley de Especies en Peligro de Extinción
TUCSON, Ariz.— Tras múltiples peticiones y demandas del Centro para la Diversidad Biológica y Defenders of Wildlife, el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. propuso proteger al tecolote bajeño una vez más conforme la Ley de Especies en Peligro de Extinción, esta vez como una especie amenazada.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Washington’s Endangered Salmon, Orcas, Trout From Cyanide Pollution
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation organizations filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue multiple federal agencies and Washington’s Department of Ecology for their failure to protect multiple populations of chinook and coho salmon, Southern Resident killer whales, steelhead trout and bull trout from the effects of cyanide in Washington’s waters.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Failure to Obey Court Order to Protect Endangered Wildlife From Toxic Pesticide
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing, over the past four years, to comply with a court order requiring it to protect endangered species from the toxic insecticide cyantraniliprole.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Biden Administration’s Texas Border Levee Wall Construction
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice of intent today to sue the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for failing to protect endangered ocelots during construction of border levees along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
Read more.Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owls Proposed for Renewed Endangered Species Act Protection
TUCSON, Ariz.— Following multiple petitions and lawsuits by the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect cactus ferruginous pygmy owls once again under the Endangered Species Act — this time as a threatened species.
Read more.Rare Southern California Butterfly Protected as Threatened Under Endangered Species Act
SAN DIEGO, Calif.— After nearly 30 years of petitions and lawsuits by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected one of Southern California’s rarest butterflies, the Hermes copper butterfly, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Biden Administration Finalizes Weak Auto Emission Standards
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration finalized new auto emission rules today that improve on those proposed in August but still fail to cut climate pollution fast enough to confront the climate emergency.
Read more.EPA to Be Sued for Failure to Protect Manatees From Water Pollution
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Three conservation groups issued a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to protect manatees from water pollution in Florida.
Read more.Biden Administration Rushes Forward on Likely Illegal Plan to Repair Pipeline Behind California Oil Spill
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is fast-tracking a likely illegal permit to repair a pipeline that recently spilled tens of thousands of gallons of oil off the Southern California coast, according to leaked documents obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Stop Geothermal Project From Destroying Nevada Springs
RENO, Nev.— The Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe and Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management Wednesday over its approval of the Dixie Meadows geothermal energy project, which could dry up nearby springs and harm an extremely rare amphibian, the Dixie Valley toad.
Read more.Court Urged to Overturn EPA Approval of Toxic New Pesticide Known to Harm Endangered Salmon, Sturgeon
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Food Safety and Center for Biological Diversity filed legal papers today seeking to strike down the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2021 approval of the pesticide trifludimoxazin, a potent herbicide approved nationwide for use in corn, soy and many other crops.
Read more.Florida Approves Rule to Protect Diamondback Terrapin Turtles From Collection, Drowning in Recreational Crab Traps
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Following nearly two years of advocacy and a petition filed by conservationists and turtle experts, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a final rule today to protect diamondback terrapins from wild collection and drowning in recreational blue crab traps.
Read more.Wandering Mexican Gray Wolf in New Mexico Blocked by Border Wall
SILVER CITY, N.M.— In the first documented instance of the U.S.-Mexico border wall separating two endangered wolf populations, a Mexican gray wolf — likely in search of a new home and mate — was blocked at the border in New Mexico last month. The wolf’s GPS collar periodically beamed his locations to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which last week released them to the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Napa Supervisors to Make Final Call on Walt Ranch Vineyard’s Climate Plan
NAPA, Calif.— The Napa County Board of Supervisors will consider on Tuesday an appeal of an approved climate mitigation plan for the Walt Ranch vineyard project. Local residents and Center for Biological Diversity staff will attend the meeting to urge the board to require science-based measures to offset the 14,000 carbon-sequestering trees that will be destroyed by this huge vineyard development.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Plans to Gut Protections for Whooping Crane, Florida Panther, Key Deer
WASHINGTON— Buried in the Biden administration’s unified regulatory agenda released last week is a plan by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to weaken or end protections for several iconic species, including the whooping crane, key deer and Florida panther.
Read more.Law Requires Biden to Cancel February Oil Lease Sale to Prevent Climate Harm
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups submitted formal comments today urging cancelation of February’s federal oil and gas lease auctions, saying the Biden administration is legally required to prevent harm from the leasing program’s greenhouse gas emissions, not just disclose it.
Read more.Legal Victory Compels Federal Wolf Trappers to Address Risks to Minnesota’s Endangered Lynx
MINNEAPOLIS— In response to legal action by the Center for Biological Diversity, two federal agencies have agreed to analyze and mitigate the risks to federally protected Canada lynx caused by the trapping of Minnesota’s wolves by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program.
Read more.Another Endangered Southeast Washington Wolf Killed Despite No New Livestock Conflicts
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today that a livestock owner in southeast Washington killed a juvenile wolf on Dec. 8, despite the lack of any new livestock conflicts since Nov. 15. An adult male wolf from the same pack already was killed by the agency Nov. 18.
Read more.New Global Extinction Assessment Highlights Imperiled Freshwater Species
WASHINGTON— An update released today by the International Union for Conservation of Nature found that more than a quarter of plants and animals around the globe are threatened with extinction.
Read more.California Botanist Named 2021 E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Award Recipient
CLAREMONT, Calif.— A conservation botanist and director of conservation at the California Botanic Garden, Naomi Fraga, Ph.D., is the 2021 recipient of the Center for Biological Diversity’s annual E.O. Wilson Award for Outstanding Science in Biodiversity Conservation.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks Federal Ropeless Rule to Save Whales, Turtles From Fishing Gear
WASHINGTON— Entanglement in fishing gear has become a leading threat to endangered whales and sea turtles on all U.S. coastlines. So the Center for Biological Diversity formally petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service today to require crab, lobster and other trap fisheries to convert to new ropeless or “pop-up” gear within the next five years. The petition requests that the agency prioritize the transition in national marine sanctuaries.
Read more.John Beard Jr. Honored With Rose Braz Award for Bold Activism
PORT ARTHUR, Texas— The Center for Biological Diversity has awarded the 2021 “Rose Braz Award for Bold Activism” to John Beard Jr.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Idaho Wolf Trapping Laws That Endanger Grizzlies, Lynx
BOISE, Idaho— Thirteen conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging Idaho’s extreme wolf-trapping rules, which facilitate the slaughter of up to 90% of Idaho’s gray wolf population. The lawsuit contends that continued and expanded wolf trapping and snaring will injure and kill non-target grizzly bears and Canada lynx, which are federally protected species.
Read more.Reward Increased to $36,000 for Info on Fatal Poisoning of Eight Gray Wolves in Eastern Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— Three conservation groups have added $10,000 to the reward for information leading to a conviction in the deliberate poisoning and killing of eight gray wolves in eastern Oregon earlier this year, bringing the total award to $36,000.
Read more.Biden Administration Moves to Withdraw Trump-Era Pipeline Approval for Cadiz’s California Desert Water Grab
LOS ANGELES— The U.S. Bureau of Land Management today moved to scrap a Trump administration decision challenged by conservation groups last March that illegally granted a pipeline right-of-way to Cadiz Inc. without the required environmental review.
Read more.Federal Process Could Reopen Vacant Hammond Grazing Allotments in Oregon
BURNS, Ore.— The U.S. Bureau of Land Management launched a process today that could allow new grazing on four allotments near Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon on public land previously grazed by Hammond Ranches. Conservation groups want cattle kept out of this sensitive wildlife habitat, which was subjected to decades of harmful grazing.
Read more.$26,000 Reward Offered for Info on Fatal Poisoning of 8 Gray Wolves in Eastern Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation and animal protection groups are offering a combined $26,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the deliberate poisoning and killing of eight gray wolves in eastern Oregon earlier this year.
Read more.Records Sought on Climate Failure of Biden Oil, Gas Review
WASHINGTON— Climate and conservation groups filed a Freedom of Information Act request today seeking public records from the Interior Department relating to its recent report reviewing the federal oil and gas leasing programs that presumes expanded leasing.
Read more.Atlantic Humpback Dolphin Takes Step Toward Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service announced today that it would begin a status review to determine whether the highly imperiled Atlantic humpback dolphin should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The agency’s decision came in response to a September petition filed by the Animal Welfare Institute, Center for Biological Diversity and VIVA Vaquita.
Read more.La Corte Constitucional de Ecuador hace valer los “Derechos de la Naturaleza” constitucionales para salvaguardar el Bosque Protector Los Cedros
QUITO, Ecuador— En un caso sin precedentes, la Corte Constitucional de Ecuador ha aplicado la disposición constitucional sobre los “Derechos de la Naturaleza” para salvaguardar el bosque nuboso Los Cedros de las concesiones mineras. La Corte votó 7 a favor y 2 abstenciones.
Read more.Ecuador's Highest Court Enforces Constitutional ‘Rights of Nature’ to Safeguard Los Cedros Protected Forest
QUITO, Ecuador— In an unprecedented case, the Constitutional Court of Ecuador has applied the constitutional provision on the “Rights of Nature” to safeguard the Los Cedros cloud forest from mining concessions. The court voted seven in favor, with two abstentions.
Read more.Legal Petition Demands Federal Government Use Buying Power for Climate Gains
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the General Services Administration today to use its unique buying power to advance climate goals by purchasing renewable energy and zero-emission vehicles.
Read more.Legal Motion Defends Rejection of Harmful Southern California Development
CALABASAS, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and the California Native Plant Society filed a motion this week to defend a Calabasas City Council’s denial of a residential and commercial development proposed for the city’s fire-prone hillsides. In May city leaders unanimously voted against the 180-unit West Village at Calabasas project, citing wildfire risks and the loss of open space.
Read more.Deadline Today: Will Nations Lose Access to U.S. Seafood Market?
WASHINGTON— By today’s deadline, seafood-exporting nations worldwide must have adopted regulations to reduce entanglements of whales, dolphins and seals in fishing gear or face a U.S. import ban.
Read more.Agreement Reached to Conduct New Status Review of California Spotted Owls
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups reached an agreement today with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the agency to conduct a new Endangered Species Act review of California spotted owls by Feb. 25, 2023.
Read more.New Study Finds Deadly Fungal Disease in California Salamanders
SAN FRANCISCO— A scientific study published today revealed the emergence of a deadly fungus in two terrestrial salamander species in California, signaling a need to end the dangerous wildlife trade. This is the first study to document the disease in these species.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Endangered Wildlife From Massive Sport Hunting, Fishing Expansion on National Wildlife Refuges
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect endangered wildlife harmed by expanded hunting and fishing on national wildlife refuges across the country.
Read more.California’s Epic Traveling Wolf OR-93 is Dead After Vehicle Strike Along I-5
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— State wildlife agency officials announced today that OR-93, a radio-collared male wolf from Oregon who first entered California on Jan. 30, has died after being struck by a vehicle along Interstate 5 in Kern County.
Read more.Biden Administration Urged to Consult Tribal Nations on Gray Wolf Management, Protection
WASHINGTON— Following the conclusion of last week’s White House Tribal Nations Summit, more than 60 conservation groups today called for the Biden administration to immediately relist the gray wolf and engage with Tribal nations on wolf management and protection.
Read more.Pearl River Map Turtles Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection in Mississippi, Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS— As the result of a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect Pearl River map turtles as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Historic Legislation Reintroduced in Congress to Ban Pesticides Dangerous to Children, Farmworkers
WASHINGTON— U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced historic legislation today to protect children and farmworkers by banning dangerous pesticides like paraquat, neonicotinoids and organophosphates.
Read more.Florida Order Weakens Protections for Imperiled Gopher Tortoise
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has issued an executive order that weakens protections for tortoises displaced from development sites around the state and authorizes indefinite “temporary relocation” measures. The order comes as uncontrolled urban sprawl has caused a shortage of relocation sites for the rare and beloved tortoise.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Statement on Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict
Statement from Kierán Suckling, executive director, Center for Biological Diversity, on the outcome of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial:
Read more.Biden Administration Urged to Protect Older, Mature Forests in Climate Action Plans
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration’s plans to help federal forests combat and adapt to climate change fail to protect mature and old-growth forests, a glaring omission conservation groups noted in formal comments submitted today.
Read more.California Supreme Court Review Sought for Oil, Gas Protections in Monterey County
MONTEREY, Calif.— Proponents of a Monterey County ballot initiative aimed at restricting oil and gas extraction and pollution asked the California Supreme Court today to overturn an appellate court decision that struck down major provisions in the ordinance.
Read more.Washington Wildlife Commission Suspends Spring Bear Hunt
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The state of Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 4-4 today to suspend a proposed 2022 spring bear-hunting season. The spring hunt, which the commission reviews annually, required a majority to authorize, so the tie vote puts the hunt on hold.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Speed U.S. Protection for Foreign Birds, Butterflies
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to propose Endangered Species Act protection for seven foreign wildlife species. The species — four butterflies and three birds — are parked on the Service’s “candidate” waitlist, where some have lingered unprotected for more than 30 years.
Read more.State Endangered Species Protection Sought for Rare Central California Lizard
McKITTRICK, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity formally petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission today to protect the Temblor legless lizard under the state’s Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Records on Federal Loans Fueling Coal, Gas Plants in Arizona, North Carolina
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service today for failing to release public records regarding federal loans to electric generation and transmission cooperatives in Arizona and North Carolina.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Address Sewage Overflows in Alabama, Coosa River
GADSDEN, Ala.— Conservation and community groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the city of Gadsden, Alabama for years of Clean Water Act violations by the city’s wastewater-treatment system. The city’s failure to properly maintain its system has resulted in cracked sewer pipes, leaking manholes, blockages and pump-station failures.
Read more.Report: Wool Production Carries Heavy Biodiversity Loss, Climate Price Tag
NEW YORK, N.Y.— Wool production is a key contributor to biodiversity loss and climate change, according to a new report released today by the Center for Biological Diversity and Collective Fashion Justice’s CIRCUMFAUNA initiative.
Read more.New FERC Commissioner Urged to Prioritize Environmental, Energy Justice
WASHINGTON— The Senate voted Tuesday evening to confirm Willie Phillips to fill an open seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Phillips, former chairman of the DC Public Service Commission, will serve a five-year term on the commission, which regulates energy infrastructure including pipelines, liquid natural gas terminals and interstate transmission of electricity, fracked gas and oil.
Read more.California’s Historic Dean Witter Ranch Protected for Conservation, Free Public Access
OAK GLEN, Calif.― After a two-and-a-half-year effort and with support from private donors, volunteers, state agencies, partner organizations and elected leaders, The Wildlands Conservancy, a California nonprofit, has secured the 29,600-acre Lone Pine Ranch ― which will be known as the Eel River Canyon Preserve.
Read more.Lawsuits Launched Over Denial, Delay of Federal Protections to 10 Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed two formal notices of intent today to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for denying or delaying Endangered Species Act protections for 10 species.
Read more.Court Reinstates Gulf of Maine Lobstering Restriction to Protect Endangered Right Whales
BOSTON— The First Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday granted an emergency motion to reinstate a seasonal prohibition on lobster fishing with buoy lines in an area roughly 30 nautical miles off the coast of Maine. The National Marine Fisheries Service implemented the measure to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from deadly entanglements in lobster gear.
Read more.Lawsuit Demands Crucial U.S. Wildlife Trade Data
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to release data on wildlife traded across U.S. borders. The United States imports millions of animals, plants and wildlife products each year from around the globe, and these imports are all tracked by the Service.
Read more.Legal Agreement on Seattle Harbor Project Will Help West Coast Orcas
SEATTLE— The Port of Seattle and Center for Biological Diversity have reached a legal agreement associated with the Seattle Harbor Navigation Improvement Project that will benefit orcas.
Read more.Biden Administration to Lease Out 80 Million Acres in Gulf of Mexico for Oil, Days After Climate Summit
WASHINGTON— The Interior Department is scheduled to auction off more than 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday for oil and gas leasing, the largest U.S. lease sale ever. The sale comes just days after President Biden pledged at COP26 to reduce climate emissions.
Read more.Agencies Warned Alabama Coal Mine May Violate State, Federal Laws
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two conservation groups today notified state and federal agencies, as well as Mays Mining Incorporated, that they intend to sue over the approval of a mine on the banks of the Mulberry Fork in Alabama.
Read more.EPA: Two Most Widely Used Pesticides Likely Harm Majority of Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the endocrine-disrupting pesticide atrazine and cancer-linked pesticide glyphosate are each likely to harm more than 1,000 of the nation’s most endangered plants and animals.
Read more.Freshwater Mussel Gains Endangered Species Act Protection in North Carolina, Virginia
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— Following a petition and lawsuits by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today listed the Atlantic pigtoe freshwater mussel as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and designated 563 river miles of protected critical habitat in North Carolina and Virginia.
Read more.COP26 Summit Ends Without Biden Taking Crucial Action on Fossil Fuels
GLASGOW, Scotland— The United Nations climate summit ended in Glasgow today with the United States still failing to make crucial domestic and global commitments to address the climate emergency.
Read more.Court Rejects Federal Attempt to Sink Right Whale Ship Strike Lawsuit
WASHINGTON— A federal court on Wednesday rejected the Biden administration's effort to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at protecting critically endangered right whales from being run over and killed by ships and boats in U.S. waters. The case challenges the National Marine Fisheries Service’s unlawful delay in responding to rulemaking petitions on vessel strikes.
Read more.Federal Judge to Hear Arguments on Removal of Federal Protection From Gray Wolves
OAKLAND, Calif.— Conservation advocates will present oral arguments Friday in U.S. District Court in a case that will decide whether federal Endangered Species Act protection is restored to gray wolves across much of the country.
Read more.After 46 Years, Rare Texas Flower At Last Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
AUSTIN, Texas— Following a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the beautiful but disappearing bracted twistflower, in central Texas, under the Endangered Species Act. With 16 remaining naturally occurring populations, plus one struggling introduced population, the twistflower will gain threatened status, protection of 1,606 acres as critical habitat, and eventually a recovery plan.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect African Leopards From U.S. Trophy Hunters
WASHINGTON— Animal protection and conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to propose stricter protections for African leopards under the U.S. Endangered Species Act to address the harms of trophy hunting.
Read more.Endangered Species Protection Proposed for Alligator Snapping Turtle
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a petition and legal victory from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting the alligator snapping turtle under the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species.
Read more.Anti-Fossil Fuel Protest Meets U.S. Interior Secretary at COP26
GLASGOW, Scotland— Leaders from the Build Back Fossil Free campaign unfurled a large banner today at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow urging the Biden administration to halt federal oil, gas and coal expansion on public lands and oceans.
Read more.Anti-Fossil Fuel Protest to Meet U.S. Interior Secretary at COP26
GLASGOW, Scotland— Grassroots leaders from the U.S. Gulf Coast will gather for a photo and speaking opportunity ahead of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s remarks at the U.N. climate summit today. Just three days after the end of COP26, the Biden administration is slated to hold a major offshore oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. The representatives of impacted communities and other climate justice groups in the Build Back Fossil Free campaign will demand President Biden keep his promise to end new federal fossil fuel leasing and permitting on public lands and waters.
Read more.Santa Barbara Commission Vote Puts Exxon Oil Trucking Plan on Thin Ice
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission voted today to recommend denial of ExxonMobil’s proposal to transport oil by tanker trucks along hazardous California highways. The plan would help the company restart three drilling platforms off the Santa Barbara coast.
Read more.Biden Makes Climate Pledge at Glasgow While Pushing Oil, Gas Leasing in U.S.
WASHINGTON— U.S. climate groups slammed the Biden administration today for ignoring climate impacts and refusing to stop oil and gas leasing on public lands despite President Biden’s Glasgow pledge to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The revised plans for February lease sales in seven western states, announced this week by the Bureau of Land Management, defer some acres to protect imperiled species but none for climate mitigation.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Endangered Species Act Protection for Rare California Fish
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect two populations of imperiled speckled dace under the Endangered Species Act. The Service failed to make required decisions on protection for the Santa Ana speckled dace, in Southern California, and the Long Valley speckled dace in Mono County, which is nearing extinction in the wild.
Read more.Outdated Offshore Drilling Plans Spur Lawsuit Notice After California Oil Spill
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the federal government for allowing Platform Elly and other offshore oil production in the Beta oilfield to operate under outdated drilling plans written in the 1970s and ‘80s. The notice comes after a major Southern California oil spill linked to Platform Elly.
Read more.California Delays Some Dungeness Crab Fishing to Protect Whales
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Following an entanglement of a humpback whale in California crabbing gear and information showing many humpback whales are currently feeding off California, the state’s fish and wildlife director ordered a delay today in opening some coastal areas to Dungeness crab fishing.
Read more.U.S. Grassroots Leaders Greet Biden at COP26 With Push to End Fossil Fuel Era
GLASGOW, Scotland— Grassroots leaders from the Build Back Fossil Free campaign rallied ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden’s remarks at the United Nations climate summit today in Glasgow, Scotland. Representatives of Indigenous, Black and frontline communities — along with dozens of other climate justice groups — demanded Biden take executive action to stop fossil fuel project approvals and declare a climate emergency.
Read more.New Analysis: Gov. Newsom Urgently Needs to Stop Permitting New Oil, Gas Wells in California
GLASGOW, Scotland— As a delegation of Newsom administration officials attends the U.N. climate talks following the governor’s call for an end to global reliance on oil, a new analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity shows the staggering cost of the state’s approval of new oil and gas wells, the majority of which are located in California’s most polluted communities.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Approval of Pennsylvania’s Flawed Plan for Reducing Asthma-Causing Smog From 8 Large Polluters
PHILADELPHIA— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of Pennsylvania’s plan to clean up smog from eight industrial polluters, including a fracked gas facility.
Read more.U.S. Activists: Biden Climate Credibility in Glasgow Depends on Executive Action
GLASGOW— U.S. grassroots activists from the Build Back Fossil Free coalition will gather for a photo and speaking opportunity ahead of President Biden’s remarks at the U.N. climate summit today. The representatives of frontline communities and dozens of other climate justice groups will demand Biden take executive action to stop fossil fuel project approvals and declare a climate emergency, building on the historic People vs. Fossil Fuels week of action last month in Washington, D.C.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Statement on Abortion Rights
Statement from Kierán Suckling, executive director, Center for Biological Diversity:
Read more.128 Groups to Biden Administration: Protect Old, Mature Forests
WASHINGTON— As the Biden administration prepares for the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, 128 environmental groups delivered a letter to the White House asking that the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management stop the logging of older forests and trees on public lands. The letter asks that this commitment be part of the United States’ larger climate goals.
Read more.Biden Administration Drops Ball on Federal Protections for More Than 60 Species Facing Extinction
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration failed to make required protection decisions for 66 imperiled species in fiscal year 2021, violating promises in a workplan developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 2016 plan was intended to address a backlog of hundreds of species awaiting protection, including the Hermes copper butterfly, Florida bonneted bat, Rio Grande cooter turtle and 63 more.
Read more.Federal Proposal Would Eliminate Cap on Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers, Restrict Killing
SILVER CITY, N.M.— Following a 2018 legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to eliminate its population cap on the number of Mexican gray wolves allowed to live in the wild in the Southwest.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Reduce Air Pollution From Oil, Methane Gas Industries in Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for approving Pennsylvania’s inadequate plan to clean up smog from the methane gas industry. The methane gas is mainly extracted using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
Read more.Biden Urged to Prioritize Environmental Justice in Build Back Better Act
WASHINGTON— Environmental groups called on Congress and the White House today to prioritize environmental justice in the Build Back Better Act. The Center for Biological Diversity, Food & Water Watch, Friends of the Earth, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change and WE ACT for Environmental Justice say this legislation will be a litmus test of President Biden’s commitment to make environmental justice a crucial pillar of his climate policy.
Read more.Gov. Inslee Urged to Take Emergency Action After Key Puget Sound Orca Dies
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Orca Relief Citizens’ Alliance urged Gov. Jay Inslee today to take immediate action to protect Puget Sound’s endangered Southern Resident killer whales after recent reports that a member of the L pod, a matriarch known as Marina, is missing and likely dead.
Read more.Legal Petition Challenges EPA Inaction on Factory Farm Air Pollution
WASHINGTON— As President Biden continues to promise that his administration will address the climate crisis and protect the air we breathe from industrial polluters, 24 advocacy organizations are demanding his Environmental Protection Agency live up to that promise by doing more to protect communities from factory farms.
Read more.Biden Administration to Rescind Trump Rules Limiting Habitat Protections for Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration announced today it will rescind two Trump regulations. One Trump rule severely limits the government’s ability to protect habitat that imperiled animals and plants need to survive and recover. The second opened up the exclusion of habitat from protection based on trumped-up economic claims.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Weak Climate Plan for Harmful Napa Vineyard Project
NAPA COUNTY, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed an appeal today challenging a mitigation plan that fails to address the climate harms of a massive vineyard project near Napa. The appeal to the Napa County Board of Supervisors outlines steps to improve mitigation for the destruction of more than 14,000 trees for the Walt Ranch development.
Read more.Biden’s Forest Service Poised to Facilitate Quadrupling of Crude Oil Production in Utah’s Uinta Basin Days Before Glasgow Climate Summit
SALT LAKE CITY— In a massive blow to U.S. efforts to address the climate crisis, the Biden administration is poised to approve a right-of-way through the Ashley National Forest that would take the climate-damaging Uinta Basin Railway one step closer to being built.
Read more.Humboldt Martens to Gain More Than 1 Million Acres of Protected Critical Habitat in Oregon, California
PORTLAND, Ore.— Following more than a decade of efforts by the Center for Biological Diversity and Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to designate 1,413,305 acres in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon as critical habitat for Humboldt martens, also known as coastal martens.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Gold Drilling in Sage Grouse Habitat in California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada
SACRAMENTO— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service today to stop exploratory drilling in California’s eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains that threatens an endangered fish and a dwindling population of bi-state sage grouse.
Read more.Oregon Kills Nearly All Remaining Members of Lookout Mountain Wolf Pack
PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials today announced that the agency killed three more members of the Lookout Mountain Pack, including a yearling and two pups too young to hunt, in response to conflicts with livestock in Baker County.
Read more.Five Executive Actions Biden Must Take As Climate Program Falters in Congress
WASHINGTON— As Congress struggles to pass major climate legislation, President Joe Biden can use existing executive powers to take at least five major actions to establish global leadership at the international climate talks in November, according to legal experts at the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Biden Administration Won’t Appeal Decision Shutting Down Western Arctic Oil Drilling Project
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Biden administration cemented a climate victory today by not appealing a federal district court decision halting ConocoPhillips’ Willow Master Development Plan. Willow would be the largest oil-and-gas drilling project in the Alaskan Arctic and would be located in a vast and biodiverse landscape in the Western Arctic.
Read more.Imperiled, Fish-Eating Snake Gains 447 Miles of Protected Streams in Arizona, New Mexico
SILVER CITY, N.M.— In response to nearly two decades of scientific and legal advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected 447 stream miles in the Southwest as critical habitat for the narrow-headed garter snake. That amounts to 23,785 protected acres in Arizona and New Mexico.
Read more.After Spill, Legal Petition Urges Biden Administration to End Oil Drilling Off California
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.— In the wake of Orange County’s disastrous offshore oil spill, more than 35 organizations sent an emergency legal petition today demanding that the Department of the Interior take emergency action to immediately suspend and ultimately cancel all oil and gas leases in federal waters off California.
Read more.San Luis Obispo County Approves Disputed Drilling at Arroyo Grande Oilfield
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.— The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors rejected an appeal from the Center for Biological Diversity and the pleas of concerned community members today in approving dozens of new oil and gas wells at the Arroyo Grande oilfield.
Read more.Court of Appeal Rejects California’s Blanket Approval of Pesticide Spraying
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— In a major victory for health and environmental groups, California’s Court of Appeal has ruled that a statewide pesticide-spraying program violates the law by failing to study and minimize the threats from pesticides and to properly inform the public about the risks of spraying.
Read more.Pacific Fishers to Gain Half Million Acres of Protected Critical Habitat in California
OAKLAND, Calif.— Following years of efforts by the Center for Biological Diversity and other conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to designate 554,454 acres in the southern Sierra Nevada as critical habitat for a distinct and endangered population of Pacific fishers.
Read more.Secretary Haaland Urged to Sign Order to End Extinction Crisis
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity, along with more than 100 other conservation groups, called on Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today to issue a secretarial order to halt the extinction crisis by protecting biodiversity and restoring abundant wildlife and plant populations both in the United States and around the world.
Read more.Court Rules Federal Officials Must Address Poaching of Mexican Wolves in New Recovery Plan
TUCSON, Ariz.— In response to a lawsuit by conservation groups, a judge has ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must add specific actions to address illegal killing of Mexican wolves to its plan for the species’ recovery.
Read more.California Protects Leatherback Sea Turtles as Endangered
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Fish and Game Commission voted today to protect leatherback sea turtles as endangered under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The commission acted on the recommendation of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is concerned by the turtles’ dramatic decline in state waters.
Read more.Agreement Reached to Protect Endangered Species From Livestock on Arizona’s Verde River
PHOENIX— A federal judge approved an agreement today among the Center for Biological Diversity, Maricopa Audubon Society, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife to protect the Verde River, its tributaries and streambanks from cattle grazing.
Read more.Court Strikes Down Oil Industry Pollution Protections in Monterey County
SAN JOSE, Calif.— A California appeals court on Tuesday struck down the landmark Measure Z ballot initiative that banned new oil and gas wells and phased out waste fluid disposal in Monterey County.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Minnesota’s Lynx, Wolves From Federal Trappers
MINNEAPOLIS— The Center for Biological Diversity notified two federal agencies today of its plans to sue for inadequate analysis of the risks to federally protected Canada lynx caused by trapping of wolves by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Agency’s Failure to Protect Imperiled Wildlife From Marine Highway Program
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration for failing to ensure that protected species are not jeopardized by the America’s Marine Highway Program. The program seeks to expand shipping on major rivers and coastal areas in Washington, Oregon, Virginia and other states where listed species are at risk.
Read more.Press Conference Wednesday at Interior Department to Deliver Millions of Signatures Calling for Ending Federal Fossil Fuel Extraction
WASHINGTON— Indigenous, climate and conservation groups, including members of frontline New Mexico communities, will hold a press conference Wednesday at the U.S. Interior Department before delivering letters and petitions from more than 1,000 groups containing millions of signatures calling for an end to federal oil, gas and coal extraction.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Government’s Failure to Protect Giraffes
WASHINGTON— Conservation and animal protection groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to propose critical Endangered Species Act protections for Africa’s rapidly dwindling giraffe population. Each year giraffe parts, including bones and skins, are imported into the United States to be turned into home décor, frivolous accessories and fashion.
Read more.Coalición internacional solicita a la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos que investigue las violaciones a derechos humanos de las mega fábricas de carne
WASHINGTON — Grupos indígenas y de derechos humanos, ambientalistas, personas científicas, médicas y expertas en salud pública solicitaron hoy a la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos que celebre una audiencia temática sobre los abusos de derechos humanos causados por las mega granjas o fábricas de carne, también conocidas como Operaciones Concentradas de Alimentación Animal, en toda América (incluyendo América del Norte y América del Sur).
Read more.International Coalition Petitions Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to Investigate Factory Farm Abuses
WASHINGTON— Indigenous and human-rights groups, conservationists, scientists, doctors and public-health experts petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights today to hold a formal hearing on human-rights abuses caused by factory farms, also known as industrial animal feeding operations, across North America and South America.
Read more.Del Rio Endangered Species Mural to Be Painted This Week, Celebration Slated for Oct. 16
DEL RIO, Texas— The Center for Biological Diversity and Del Rio’s Casa de la Cultura will host a community event Oct.16 to celebrate a new mural of the Mexican blindcat, an endangered catfish found in underground aquifers on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border in south Texas and northern Coahuila. The 250-square foot painting will be the latest installment in the Center’s national endangered species mural project, which highlights imperiled plants and animals that are special to their regions.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Failure to Protect Freshwater Endangered Species From Pesticides Applied Directly to Water
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity has sued the Environmental Protection Agency for issuing a Clean Water Act permit that fails to fully assess the risks posed to freshwater endangered species by pesticides applied directly to water.
Read more.Biden Administration Urged to Triple Listing Budget for Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity, along with 38 other conservation organizations, urged the Biden administration today to increase its request for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species Act listing budget for fiscal year 2023 to at least $63.7 million — more than three times the wildlife agency’s current budget.
Read more.Part One of UN Biodiversity Meetings Starts: Will World Call for Halt to Extinctions in 2022?
WASHINGTON— As countries prepare to gather online starting Oct. 11 for the 15th meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity, conservationists are calling on attendees to adopt an agreement to halt human-induced extinctions in 2022.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched After California Oil Spill to Protect Whales, Other Endangered Animals From Offshore Drilling
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent today to sue the Biden administration if it does not immediately reexamine the offshore oil industry’s threat to California’s endangered species and their habitats.
Read more.Court Rules Against San Diego Sprawl Development
SAN DIEGO— A judge on Thursday rejected the environmental review of a San Diego development that would pave over critical wildlife habitat while building 1,100 homes on fire-prone land.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect National Conservation Area in Arizona From Destructive Cattle Grazing
TUCSON, Ariz.― The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service today to force them to protect critical habitat for threatened and endangered species in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area in southeastern Arizona.
Read more.Analysis: Even Before Orange County Leak, California Pipeline Incidents Caused $1.2 Billion In Damages
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.— As Orange County beaches suffer a massive oil spill reportedly caused by an undersea pipeline linked to offshore drilling rigs, a new analysis reveals a troubling history of pipeline accidents in California.
Read more.Hundreds of Scientists Tell Biden: Halt Fossil Fuel Development Now
WASHINGTON— More than 330 U.S. research scientists sent a letter to President Biden today urging him to use his executive authority to stop all new fossil fuel projects and declare a climate emergency — actions they say are necessary to avoid the worst damages of the climate crisis and deliver on environmental justice.
Read more.Biden Administration Defends Wildlife Services’ Killing of Wolf Pups in Idaho
BOISE, Idaho—The Biden administration defended the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services’ actions in Idaho in a letter Tuesday after the agency preemptively killed eight wolf pups from Idaho’s Timberline pack in response to complaints from a rancher grazing livestock on public lands.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Trespass Grazing Destruction of Endangered Plant in Arizona’s San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management today for failing to protect a semi-aquatic endangered plant in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area from rampant trespass livestock grazing.
Read more.Legal Petition Demands Biden Administration Stop Unlawful Fossil Fuel Projects
WASHINGTON— More than 380 environmental, public health, Indigenous, faith-based and community groups sent a legal petition today demanding that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stop issuing permits, and revoke illegally and inappropriately issued permits, for fossil fuel infrastructure projects.
Read more.Oil Spill in Southern California Highlights Offshore Drilling’s Huge Risks
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.— The environmental disaster that spilled at least 126,000 gallons of crude oil into the ocean off Orange County this weekend is highlighting the massive risks of offshore drilling. The oil spill, first detected on Saturday around Huntington Beach, is disastrous for wildlife and will harm many species for months and years to come.
Read more.Objections Target Biden’s Oil Leasing Plan Amidst Climate ‘Code Red’
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed formal objections today to the Biden administration’s plans to offer 734,000 acres of public lands for oil and gas leasing amid what the president himself has called a climate “code red.” Oil and gas in the proposed leases contain up to 246 million tons of climate pollution — as much as 62 coal-fired power plants emit in one year.
Read more.Tiehm’s Buckwheat Moves Toward Endangered Species Act Protections
LAS VEGAS— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposed rule today to list the rare wildflower Tiehm’s buckwheat as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Santa Barbara County Planning Commission Rejects ExxonMobil’s Plan to Restart Offshore Platforms, Truck Oil
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission has voted to deny ExxonMobil’s proposal to transport oil by tanker trucks along hazardous California highway so it can restart three drilling platforms off the Santa Barbara coast. The 3-2 initial vote came unexpectedly on Sept. 29, during the first of two days of scheduled public hearings on the project, and is expected to be followed Nov. 3 with a formal vote and findings recommending the Board of Supervisors deny the project.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Utah’s Least Chub
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the imperiled least chub.
Read more.Federal Judge Overturns Oil, Gas Lease Sales on 58,000 Acres of Public Lands in Colorado
DENVER— A federal judge late Tuesday overturned the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s decision to lease 58,000 acres of public land in western Colorado for oil and gas extraction, agreeing with conservation groups that fracking and drilling will worsen air quality in a region where smog levels have exceeded federal pollution standards and threaten public health.
Read more.Report: Electric Utilities Took $1.25 Billion in Pandemic Bailouts, Shut Off Power to Households Nearly 1 Million Times
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and BailoutWatch today released Powerless in the Pandemic, a report showing that some of the nation’s top utilities received a collective $1.25 billion from last year’s government bailouts while shutting off families’ electric service nearly 1 million times.
Read more.9 Species From Hawaiʻi Lost to Extinction
HONOLULU— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to remove eight birds and a plant in Hawai‘i from the endangered species list because of extinction. They join the list of 650 U.S. species that have likely been lost to extinction.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Manatee County Over Proposal to Inject Toxic Waste From Piney Point Phosphogypsum Stack Into Aquifer
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups sent a notice today of their intent to sue Manatee County for its plan to inject toxic pollutants from the Piney Point phosphogypsum stack into the lower Floridan aquifer.
Read more.23 Species From 19 States Lost to Extinction
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to remove 22 animals and a plant from the endangered species list because of extinction. They join the list of 650 U.S. species that have likely been lost to extinction.
Read more.Oregon Coast Tiger Beetle Eyed for Endangered Species Act Safeguards
PORTLAND, Ore.— In response to a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the imperiled Siuslaw hairy-necked tiger beetle may qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.American Bumblebee Takes Step Toward Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the American bumblebee, whose populations have plummeted by nearly 90%, may warrant Endangered Species Act protection. The announcement kicks off a one-year status assessment of the species.
Read more.Santa Barbara County to Hold Public Hearings on ExxonMobil’s Plan to Restart Offshore Platforms, Truck Oil
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission will hold online public hearings Sept. 29 and Oct. 1 on ExxonMobil’s proposal to transport oil by tanker trucks along hazardous California highways so it can restart three drilling platforms off the Santa Barbara coast.
Read more.Southern California Fish One Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif.— In response to a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined today that the Long Valley speckled dace may be extinct in the wild and warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. The small fish formerly inhabited warm springs and creeks in the Upper Owens River watershed in Mono County.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Fight EPA’s Delay in Reducing Smog Pollution in 10 Areas With Some of Nation’s Worst Air Quality
WASHINGTON— Two environmental groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to find that 10 areas recently designated as in “serious” nonattainment for the Clean Air Act’s ozone standards missed deadlines to evaluate and reduce ozone pollution.
Read more.Federal Officials Urged to End States’ Wildlife Management Funding in Response to Extreme Wolf-Killing Programs
WASHINGTON— State game agencies could lose a substantial portion of their budgets for eradicating their wolf populations under a proposal put forward by the Global Indigenous Council, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), the Center for Biological Diversity and a coalition of 25 Native American, conservation, and animal welfare organizations. The plan would deny federal wildlife management funding to states that excessively target predators, such as wolves, cougars and grizzly bears.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA Approval of Deadly Pesticide for 15 More Years
SAN FRANCISCO— Farmworker groups, environmentalists and health organizations represented by Earthjustice sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for approving the continued use of the deadly pesticide paraquat, which has been linked to Parkinson’s disease.
Read more.Biden Administration Denies Protections to Imperiled Nevada Springsnails
LAS VEGAS— The Biden administration today denied Endangered Species Act protections to 10 rare species of Nevada springsnails, despite the dire threats of groundwater pumping and climate change faced by the tiny mollusks.
Read more.New Study: Tiny Minority of Local Poachers Is Driving Red Wolves to Extinction
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— A new study published in the journal Biological Conservation finds that poaching of red wolves is driven by a small minority of individuals who live in eastern North Carolina’s Red Wolf Recovery Area. The study indicates that the species enjoys robust local support among the general population, but a small group of local poachers has been effective in driving the species to the brink of extinction.
Read more.1,400 Endangered Species Condoms to Be Distributed at California Colleges, Universities for World Contraception Day
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will send 1,400 free Endangered Species Condoms to 12 college and university campuses across California in recognition of World Contraception Day on Sept. 26.
Read more.Poll: 3 in 4 Arizonans Oppose Resolution Copper Mine, Support Protecting Sacred Oak Flat
TUCSON, Ariz.— A public opinion poll among likely Arizona voters found that 74% oppose the proposed Resolution Copper mine, which would destroy Oak Flat, a Native American sacred site located in the Tonto National Forest east of Phoenix.
Read more.100 Groups Demand Biden Cut Airplane Climate Pollution
WASHINGTON— One hundred environmental, community and public-health groups called on the Biden administration today to set strong standards to cut airplane pollution and avoid industry-promoted biofuel greenwashing.
Read more.Oregon Expands Kill Order for Lookout Mountain Wolf Pack
PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials have expanded orders that authorize the killing of up to six members of the Lookout Mountain pack, including yearlings and 5-month-old pups. The latest kill order could leave the pack with just a single radio-collared female adult.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Federal OK of Off-Road Routes, Grazing Threatening Imperiled Species in California Deserts
SAN FRANCISCO— Environmental groups sued the Interior Department, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for authorizing damaging activities in the California Desert Conservation Area, including a vast network of off-road vehicle routes in the West Mojave Desert. The routes are driving desert tortoises and other threatened and endangered species closer to extinction and destroying these protected public lands.
Read more.Tribes, Indigenous Groups, Conservation Organizations File Petition to Strengthen Federal Mining Rules
WASHINGTON— Tribes, Indigenous groups and conservation organizations filed a rulemaking petition today with the U.S. Department of the Interior to improve and modernize hardrock mining oversight on public lands. The proposed revisions aim to safeguard critically important lands across the West and Alaska, including sacred lands and their cultural resources, vital wildlife habitat and invaluable water resources.
Read more.Lawsuit Calls Out Biden Administration for Allowing Oil Operators to Harm Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bears
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Conservation groups sued the Biden administration today for issuing a regulation that allows oil and gas companies to harass Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears despite the likelihood of causing injury and death.
Read more.Mobile Billboard to Be Launched Friday in Atlanta to Spotlight Proposed Mine’s Threat to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
ATLANTA— A mobile video billboard urging Georgians to help save the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from a proposed mine will begin a three-day tour of Atlanta on Friday.
Read more.BLM Withdraws Decision Allowing Grazing in California Area Protected for Desert Tortoises
SAN FRANCISCO— An appeal by environmental groups forced the U.S. Bureau of Land Management late Tuesday to withdraw its decision allowing cattle grazing on public lands near California’s Mojave Desert. The area had been deemed permanently off limits to grazing under an earlier agreement to protect the federally threatened desert tortoise and other sensitive plants and animals.
Read more.Maui Grand Wailea Resort Put on Notice for Lights That Kill Endangered Seabirds
HONOLULU— Conservation groups in Hawai‘i represented by Earthjustice sent a notice of intent today to sue the Grand Wailea Resort for violations of the Endangered Species Act if the hotel does not fix its lights that are killing native seabirds.
Read more.Wolves in Northern Rockies One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protection
VICTOR, Idaho— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that wolves in the West may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. The decision comes in response to an emergency petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Sierra Club.
Read more.Lake Sturgeon Will Get Endangered Species Decision in 2024
CHICAGO— A federal court has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make a determination by 2024 whether imperiled populations of lake sturgeon will be protected under the Endangered Species Act. Millions of these giant, ancient fish once lived in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin, but today the population is less than 1% of historic levels.
Read more.Formosa Plastics Fined $2.9 Million for Endangering Public, Workers in Texas
WASHINGTON— Formosa Plastics Group has agreed to pay $2.85 million in federal fines for injuring its workers and endangering public health during a series of explosions, fires and toxic chemical releases from its Point Comfort, Texas, petrochemical plant.
Read more.Virtual Film Festival Highlights Link Between Food, Environment, Social Justice
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will host its second annual virtual Food Justice Film Festival Sept. 16-19 featuring the award-winning documentaries Truly Texas Mexican, The Ants & The Grasshopper, The Harvest/La Cosecha and Seed: The Untold Story. Each film tells underrepresented cultural stories about food, the environment and social equity. The film festival is free and open to the public.
Read more.Santa Barbara County Staff Recommends Approval of ExxonMobil’s Plan to Restart Offshore Platforms, Truck Oil
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— Santa Barbara County’s Planning and Development Department has issued a staff report recommending that policymakers approve ExxonMobil’s proposal to transport oil by tanker trucks so it can restart three drilling platforms off the California coast. Opponents of the project vow to stop it, starting at Santa Barbara County Planning Commission hearings on the plan set for Sept. 29 and Oct. 1.
Read more.Federal Judge Blocks New Florida Law That Would Strip First Amendment Rights of Protesters
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— A federal judge blocked a new Florida law today that sought to dramatically curtail free speech and the right to assembly and slash legal protections for protesters.
Read more.New Legal Claims Challenge Feds’ Failure to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Fishing Gear Entanglement
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation and Defenders of Wildlife filed additional legal claims against the National Marine Fisheries Service today for failing to prevent critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from getting tangled up and killed in lobster gear.
Read more.México debe responder ante fallas en el cumplimiento de la legislación ambiental para proteger a la vaquita: Comisión del T-MEC
MONTREAL— Según una decisión de la Comisión para la Cooperación Ambiental, un organismo de escrutinio ambiental bajo el Acuerdo comercial México-Estados Unidos-Canadá (T-MEC), el gobierno de México debe responder ante las acusaciones de no haber hecho cumplir la legislación ambiental para proteger a la vaquita marina en peligro crítico de extinción.
Read more.USMCA Commission: Mexico Must Respond on Vaquita Enforcement Failures
MONTREAL— Mexico must respond to allegations that the government failed to enforce protections for critically endangered vaquita porpoises, according to a decision by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. The commission is an environmental review body under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.
Read more.Coalition Petitions Federal Government to Ban Coral-Killing Chemicals in Sunscreens
HONOLULU— A coalition of 60 community leaders, conservation organizations, businesses, elected officials and academics has petitioned the federal government to ban three harmful, coral-killing chemicals from sunscreens and other personal care products. The petition cites scientific studies on the dangers to Hawai‘i’s coral reefs and coastal ecosystems posed by oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene.
Read more.In Response to Lawsuit, EPA Pledges to Strengthen Standards for Slaughterhouse Water Pollution
WASHINGTON— In a victory for clean water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced late Wednesday that it will update water-pollution control standards for the slaughterhouse industry. The announcement follows a December 2019 lawsuit from community and conservation organizations challenging its prior decision not to do so.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed Over TVA’s Millions in Payments to Dirty Energy Lobbyists
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— The Center for Biological Diversity and allies sued the Tennessee Valley Authority today over millions of dollars in ratepayer money the public utility diverts to anti-environmental advocacy groups like the Edison Electric Institute and the Energy and Wildlife Action Coalition. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of Tennessee, seeks an order compelling the utility to address a 2020 petition and supporting evidence seeking to regulate this kind of spending.
Read more.California Oil Industry Lobby Group Files for Bankruptcy
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Independent Petroleum Association, one of the two main lobbying groups for the oil and gas industry in California, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a state bankruptcy court this week. The move comes after a Los Angeles court ordered the group to pay more than $2 million to the Center for Biological Diversity, youth groups from South Los Angeles and Wilmington, and the city of Los Angeles for filing a retaliatory lawsuit against them.
Read more.Nevada Urged to Shut Down Upcoming Bear Hunt as Wildfires Rage
RENO, Nev.— Wildlife advocates called on the Nevada Department of Wildlife today to shut down the state’s bear hunt in units affected by or adjacent to the recent catastrophic wildfires that have wreaked havoc on Sierra Nevada communities.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Rare Southeast Alaska Wolf
SITKA, Alaska— Conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the federal government for failing to act on a petition to protect Alexander Archipelago wolves in Southeast Alaska under the Endangered Species Act. Increased trapping and extensive logging have caused rapid population declines for these rare gray wolves.
Read more.Biden Administration to Reexamine Trump’s Plan For More Western Arctic Oil Leasing
ANCHORAGE— In response to a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the Biden administration has announced it will reexamine a Trump administration plan to drastically expand western Arctic oil and gas leasing.
Read more.Petition Seeks U.S. Protections for Atlantic Humpback Dolphin
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service today to list the Atlantic humpback dolphin under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Atlantic humpback dolphin populations are in serious decline, and the species is already recognized as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, Red List.
Read more.Biden Urged to Nominate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and more than 55 other organizations urged President Biden today to nominate a permanent director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Read more.‘Stop Extinction’ Event Will Urge Rep. DeLauro to Fully Fund Endangered Species Act
NEW HAVEN— The Center for Biological Diversity, Connecticut activists and Frostpaw, the Center’s polar bear mascot, will gather outside Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s office on Wednesday, Sept. 8, to urge her to increase funding for endangered species and help stem the global extinction crisis.
Read more.Oregon Denies Key Authorization for Controversial Dam in Mt. Hood National Forest
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has denied a water-quality certification for continued operations of Middle Fork Irrigation District’s water delivery system, including Clear Branch Dam, in Oregon’s Hood River basin. The decision came after conservation groups raised serious concerns about the project’s failure to comply with water-quality standards and its impact on threatened bull trout.
Read more.Federal Lawsuit Launched to Protect Pacific Humpbacks From Fishing Gear
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity sent a notice of intent today to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to protect endangered Pacific humpback whales from entanglements in sablefish fishing gear. The West Coast fisheries for the bottom-dwelling sablefish — also known as butterfish or black cod —operate without authorization to take whales under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Alabama’s Slenderclaw Crayfish Gains Endangered Species Act Protection With 78 River Miles of Critical Habitat
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.— Following more than a decade of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the slenderclaw crayfish as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The tiny crayfish survives only in two creeks on Sand Mountain, near Lake Guntersville in DeKalb and Marshall counties.
Read more.IUCN World Conservation Congress Convenes to Tackle Global Priorities
MARSEILLE, France— Members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will gather this week for the quadrennial World Conservation Congress to make critical policy decisions to address conservation priorities including the ongoing biodiversity crisis.
Read more.Pyramid Pigtoe Mussel Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Following more than a decade of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the pyramid pigtoe mussel as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Critical Habitat Proposed for Rare South Florida Beetle
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act for the endangered Miami tiger beetle.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed After Biden Opens 80 Million Acres of Gulf of Mexico for Oil
WASHINGTON— Immediately following the Biden administration’s decision to offer more than 80 million acres of the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas leasing, environmental and Gulf groups today filed a challenge to the lease sale in court.
Read more.Feds Issue Final Rule to Reduce North Atlantic Right Whale Entanglements in Fishing Gear
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service released its final rule today modifying regulations to reduce the number of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales killed in lobster gear off the coast of New England.
Read more.Historic Accomplishment: Snail Darter Recovered
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to remove the snail darter from the endangered species list due to recovery. Thanks to government and collaborative efforts, the little fish is no longer in danger of extinction.
Read more.Rare Arizona Plant Threatened by Rosemont Copper Mine Receives Endangered Species Act Protection
TUSCON, Ariz.— Following a petition and legal action from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Bartram’s stonecrop, a succulent found in southern Arizona, will receive protection as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.EPA: Neonicotinoid Pesticides Harm Vast Majority of All Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— Three neonicotinoid insecticides likely harm all of the country’s 38 protected amphibians and roughly three fourths of all other endangered plants and animals, according to long-anticipated studies released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Read more.House Democrats to Provide $100 Million for Critically Endangered Species in Reconciliation Bill
WASHINGTON— In a memo released today by the House Natural Resources Committee, House Democrats will provide $550 million to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the upcoming budget reconciliation package, including $100 million for some of the most critically imperiled species in the United States.
Read more.Washington Agency Issues Kill Order on Another Endangered Wolf Pack
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a new order today authorizing the killing of up to two members of the Togo wolf pack in Ferry County. The Togo pack currently consists of at least five adults and four pups, according to the department.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Dismal Pace of Foreign Wildlife Protections
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity announced its intent today to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to propose Endangered Species Act protection for 19 foreign wildlife species. The species, which include five butterflies, 13 birds and a clam, are parked on the Service’s “candidate” wait list, where some have lingered unprotected for over 30 years.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Approval of Destructive Northern California Development
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for approving a mixed-use development in Northern California and failing to protect endangered species habitat.
Read more.Biden EPA Urged to Strengthen Clean Car Rules to Protect Climate
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity offered live testimony today urging the Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen its newly proposed clean car rule to tackle the climate emergency. The Center argued at a public hearing that this make-or-break rulemaking can only meet President Biden’s climate commitments if it rejects the half-measures and loopholes in the current version.
Read more.Six Texas Freshwater Mussels Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
AUSTIN, Texas— Following litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect six species of Texas freshwater mussels under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also proposed designating 1,944 river miles as critical habitat for the mussels.
Read more.Report: California in Urgent Need of Wildlife Connectivity to Protect Animals, People
OAKLAND, Calif.— A report published today called on California lawmakers, who returned from their summer recess this month, to protect sensitive species and prevent dangerous vehicle collisions by prioritizing wildlife crossings on roadways.
Read more.Oregon Renews Kill Order for Members of Lookout Mountain Wolf Pack
PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials today re-authorized the killing of up to two more members of the Lookout Mountain wolf pack. The department first issued a kill order July 29, and two days later shot and killed two of the pack’s 4-month-old pups.
Read more.Judge Rules Homeland Security Failed to Consider Environmental Harm of Ramping Up Border Militarization
WASHINGTON— A federal judge ruled today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection violated federal law by failing to analyze potential environmental harms from escalating militarization along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Read more.Records Reveal Years of Illegal Oil Drilling at California’s Arroyo Grande Oilfield
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity informed San Luis Obispo County leaders today that the operator of the Arroyo Grande oilfield has been drilling illegal oil wells for years. Evidence of the illegal drilling was uncovered by the Center through a recent public information request.
Read more.Elusive Pacific Northwest Bumblebee Listed as Endangered
PORTLAND, Ore.— Following legal action by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today listed Franklin’s bumblebee as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Chispa Florida Celebrará Conferencia de Prensa Sobre Marea Roja con Grupos Latinos y de Defensa del Medio Ambiente
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— El sábado 21 de agosto a las 10 a.m. el programa Chispa Florida de Florida Conservation Voters y líderes de comunidades latinas e indígenas ofrecerán una conferencia de prensa y un día de acción para alertar sobre cómo la marea roja está afectando el agua de nuestras comunidades en la costa oeste de Florida. El agua sucia tiene un impacto desproporcionado en la salud física y mental de las comunidades latinas, negras e indígenas, así como en la economía y el medio ambiente.
Read more.Chispa Florida to Hold Red Tide Press Conference With Latinx, Environmental Advocacy Groups
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— On Saturday, Aug. 21 at 10 a.m., Florida Conservation Voters’ Chispa Florida program and Latinx and Indigenous community leaders will host a press conference and day of advocacy. The event will share how red tide is affecting our communities' water on the west coast of Florida. Dirty water disproportionately impacts the physical and mental health of communities of color as well as the economy and environment.
Read more.Court Rules Minnesota Lawsuit to Protect Lynx From Fur Trapping Can Continue
MINNEAPOLIS— A Minnesota federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity that seeks additional protections for federally protected Canada lynx can move forward. The case challenges state-permitted fur trapping in Minnesota that injures and kills Canada lynx.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Stop Destruction of Endangered Amargosa Vole’s California Habitat
TECOPA, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect critical habitat for Amargosa voles. The small, endangered mammals live only in marshes near increasingly popular desert hot springs in the Mojave Desert near Tecopa, Calif.
Read more.Court Blocks Massive Arctic Oil Development Project Defended by Biden Administration
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— A federal court in Alaska Wednesday vacated the approval of a large oil and gas project known as the Willow Master Development Plan in Alaska’s Western Arctic. The project was approved by the Trump administration but was being defended in court by the Biden administration, despite its climate action pledges and temporary suspension of fossil fuel leasing on public lands.
Read more.Interior Department Announces Federal Coal Review, First Step Toward Ending Federal Leasing Program
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration today announced the launch of a long-overdue formal climate review of the federal coal program. President Biden has paused federal oil and gas leasing pending a climate review of that program.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Regulate Plastic as Hazardous Waste
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to regulate a common plastic — polyvinyl chloride (commonly called PVC or vinyl) — as hazardous waste. PVC is one of the most widely used and discarded forms of plastic, yet numerous studies have found it’s highly toxic to human health and the environment.
Read more.Agreement Reached to Protect Endangered Species From Livestock on Arizona, New Mexico Waterways
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reached an agreement today to protect rivers and streams in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico from cattle grazing. This agreement comes more than 20 years after the agencies first promised to keep cows off these riparian habitats to safeguard rare plants and animals.
Read more.Army Corps Orders Full Environmental Review of Formosa Plastics’ Controversial Louisiana Plant
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today it will require a full “environmental impact statement” for the massive petrochemical complex Formosa Plastics proposes to build in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The decision is a major victory for opponents of the plant, who sued to block the project in January 2020 and convinced the Army Corps to suspend its permit last fall.
Read more.Petition Seeks Protection for Sunflower Sea Star After 90% Population Decline
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a federal petition today calling for the sunflower sea star to be protected under the Endangered Species Act. Sunflowers, one of the world’s largest sea stars, have declined rapidly because of sea star wasting disease. They’ve lost more than 90% of their Pacific Ocean population since 2013.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over EPA’s Delay in Fixing Colorado’s Plan to Reduce Smog, Acid Rain
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for its delay in fixing Colorado’s flawed plan to protect people, wildlife and natural areas from smog and acid rain.
Read more.Wisconsin Attorney General Files Suit to Remove Natural Resources Board Chair
MADISON, Wis.— Following a complaint by the Humane Society of the United States and Center for Biological Diversity, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has brought Natural Resources Board chair Frederick Prehn to court to oust him from his position. Prehn has refused to vacate his seat more than three months after his six-year term expired on May 1.
Read more.Report: Utah Board Misused Public Money on Fossil Fuel Projects, Failed to Fund Rural Community Needs
SALT LAKE CITY— The Utah Clean Infrastructure Coalition released a report today showing Utah’s Permanent Community Impact Fund Board has funneled more than $109 million in public money to projects that promote or expand fossil fuel extraction, violating the federal Mineral Leasing Act.
Read more.More Than 1,300 Acres of Critical Habitat Designated for Two Central Texas Salamanders
AUSTIN, Texas— Following a legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated 1,315 acres in the Austin area as protected critical habitat for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Protection for Northern California’s Clear Lake Hitch
CLEAR LAKE, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today, in the Northern District of California, against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service challenging the agency’s failure to protect a fish called the Clear Lake hitch under the Endangered Species Act. Despite clear scientific evidence that the hitch is likely to become an endangered species due to many threats, including climate change, the Trump administration denied it protection in a December 2020 determination.
Read more.Santa Barbara County Releases ExxonMobil’s Revised Plan to Restart Offshore Platforms, Truck Oil in California
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— Santa Barbara County has released a revised final environmental impact report for ExxonMobil’s proposal to transport oil by tanker trucks so it can restart three drilling platforms off California, setting up hearings and a vote on the project this fall. Santa Barbara County Planning Commission hearings on the plan were set for Sept. 29 and Oct. 1.
Read more.California Agency Recommends Listing Leatherback Sea Turtles as Endangered
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife released its recommendation today to protect leatherback sea turtles as endangered under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The status review precedes an October 2021 vote, by the California Fish and Game Commission, on whether to list the turtles.
Read more.Report to Be Released on Misuse of Public Funds on Utah Fossil Fuel Projects
SALT LAKE CITY— The Utah Clean Infrastructure Coalition will release a report Tuesday showing Utah’s Permanent Community Impact Fund Board has funneled more than $109 million in public money to projects that promote or expand fossil fuel extraction, in violation of the federal Mineral Leasing Act.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Federal Approval of Water Contract Threatening Utah’s Green River
WASHINGTON― Conservation groups today appealed a recent federal court decision upholding the Trump administration’s approval of a contract to allow additional water to be taken from the Green River below Utah’s Flaming Gorge Dam.
Read more.Challenge Filed Over Vermont’s Refusal to Protect Endangered Bats From Deadly Insecticide Spraying
MONTPELIER, Vt.— The Vermont Natural Resources Council and Center for Biological Diversity sued Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources today for refusing to require the Brandon-Leicester-Salisbury-Goshen-Pittsford Insect Control District to apply for permission to harm five threatened and endangered Vermont bat species.
Read more.Changes Sought for Florida Manatee Critical Habitat as Deaths Set New Record
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation organizations today filed a formal notice of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to revise outdated critical habitat for Florida manatees. More than 905 manatees have died in 2021, and those deaths are attributable primarily to habitat loss.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Failure to Control Air Pollution From Industrial Agriculture in Arizona
PHOENIX— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to require Arizona to control air pollution from industrial agriculture via proper permitting across most of the state.
Read more.North Carolina Air Regulators Eliminate Restrictions on Harmful Coal Emissions From UNC-Chapel Hill Power Plant
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The North Carolina Division of Air Quality has issued a new air-pollution permit for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s coal-fired power plant that eliminates crucial protections for local residents and the environment.
Read more.Instan a Comisión del T-MEC a investigar la falta de protección a la vaquita marina
MONTREAL— Grupos de conservacionistas solicitaron hoy a la Comisión de Cooperación Ambiental (CCA) investigar el incumplimiento del gobierno de México a sus leyes de pesca y comercio. Las fallas de cumplimiento del gobierno de México violan el nuevo Acuerdo Comercial entre México, Estados Unidos y Canadá (T-MEC) y, si continúan, provocarán la extinción de la vaquita marina.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Reduce Asthma-Causing Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution in Detroit, Baltimore
WASHINGTON— Three public health and conservation groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to ensure that parts of Maryland and Michigan have effective plans for cleaning up sulfur dioxide air pollution.
Read more.USMCA Commission Urged to Investigate Mexico’s Failure to Protect Vaquita Porpoise
MONTREAL— Conservation groups petitioned the Commission on Environmental Cooperation today to investigate Mexico’s failure to enforce its fishing and trade laws. Mexico’s enforcement failures violate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. If those enforcement failures continue, they’ll cause the vaquita porpoise to go extinct.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Finalize Habitat Protections for Two Appalachian Crayfish
CHARLESTON, W.Va.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect critical habitat in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky for the Guyandotte River crayfish and the Big Sandy crayfish.
Read more.Court Orders EPA to Address Use of Oil Dispersants on Offshore Spills
BERKELEY, Calif.— A federal district court judge ruled today in favor of a coalition of individuals and environmental groups and ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to update its decades-old regulations on the use of toxic chemical dispersants in oil spill responses.
Read more.Rep. DeFazio Introduces Bill to Ban Deadly ‘Cyanide Bombs’ on Public Lands
WASHINGTON— A bill introduced by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) seeks to ban the use of wildlife-killing M-44 devices, commonly known as ‘‘cyanide bombs,’’ on federal public lands. These deadly devices — spring-loaded capsules armed with cyanide spray — have injured people and inhumanely killed thousands of animals every year.
Read more.Los Angeles Leaders Urged to Advance City’s First Wildlife Connectivity Ordinance
LOS ANGELES— Conservation organizations urged the Los Angeles City Council today to approve and implement the city’s first wildlife connectivity ordinance to protect imperiled animals and crucial open space and reduce wildfire risk.
Read more.U.S. Wildlife Officials Punt on Foreign Species Protections, Again
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will keep 19 imperiled wildlife species on its “candidate” wait list, delaying much-needed Endangered Species Act protections. Some of the species, which include 13 birds, five butterflies and a clam, have been awaiting U.S. protections for more than 30 years.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Recognizes Employee Union After Card Check
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity recognized its new employee union today following a union card count showing that 68% of the eligible workers support joining the union.
Read more.Cooke Aquaculture Secures Permit to Stock Risky Washington Fish Farm
SEATTLE— Despite ongoing litigation and timing questions regarding the lease for the facility, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has granted fish farming giant Cooke Aquaculture a permit to stock its Hope Island facility in-water net pens with steelhead.
Read more.466 Groups Urge Biden to Fill FERC Seat With Environmental, Energy Justice Champion
WASHINGTON— More than 460 environmental and energy justice, racial justice, faith and youth organizations from across the United States sent a letter today urging President Joe Biden to appoint a nominee to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission who will champion environmental and energy justice.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Cattle Grazing That Threatens Streamside Meadows, Endangered Species in New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society sued the U.S. Forest Service today to challenge its failure to protect streamside meadows in New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains from cattle. The areas are critical habitat for the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.
Read more.Biden Yields to Automakers, Issues Weak Emissions Standards
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration is proposing new tailpipe emissions standards today that are weaker than what automakers agreed to with the Obama administration nearly a decade ago.
Read more.Rep. Tlaib Introduces Utility Debt Cancellation Bill
WASHINGTON— Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) today introduced the Maintaining Access to Essential Services Act, which would provide nearly $40 billion to help wipe away household water, power and broadband debt across the country.
Read more.Biden Administration Lets Oil Companies Disturb Polar Bears, Walruses in Alaska’s Western Arctic, Beaufort Sea
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Biden administration issued a final rule today allowing oil and gas companies operating in the Beaufort Sea and Western Arctic to harass polar bears and Pacific walruses when drilling or searching for oil for the next five years.
Read more.Two of California’s Three Wolf Packs Confirmed to Have Pups
SAN FRANCISCO— Two of California’s three existing wolf families, the Lassen pack and the Whaleback pack, have produced pups this year, according to a new quarterly report published by the California Department of Fish and Game.
Read more.Utah Judge to Hear Case on Misuse of Public Money on Fossil Fuel Projects
SALT LAKE CITY― A Utah district court judge will hear arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by conservation groups challenging the misuse of public funds on fossil fuel projects.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Delays Decision on Revising Critical Habitat for Mount Graham Red Squirrels
TUSCON, Ariz.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has delayed providing urgently needed revisions to the critical habitat essential to the survival and recovery of southeast Arizona’s highly endangered Mount Graham red squirrels.
Read more.Emperor Penguin Proposed for U.S. Endangered Species Protection
WASHINGTON— Following a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed the emperor penguin for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The species is gravely threatened by sea-ice loss driven by the climate emergency.
Read more.Federal Ban Sought to End Dangerous Trade in Live Wild Birds, Mammals
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups petitioned the Biden administration today to ban U.S. imports and exports of all live birds and mammals, including for food, pets and other uses. A proactive ban would reduce the risk of future zoonotic disease outbreaks like COVID-19, which jump from wildlife to people.
Read more.EPA Reapproves Pesticide Linked to Parkinson’s Disease
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency today reapproved paraquat, the most acutely lethal pesticide still in use.
Read more.Sierra Nevada Red Fox Population Gains Endangered Species Act Protection
SACRAMENTO— In response to a petition and lawsuits from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today granted endangered status to a population of one of North America’s rarest mammals, the Sierra Nevada red fox.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Imperiled Fish in Death Valley Region
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to seek Endangered Species Act protection for three populations of speckled dace that inhabit desert springs and streams in California’s Death Valley region.
Read more.Endangered Orcas’ West Coast Habitat Receives New Federal Protection
SEATTLE— Responding to legal pressure from the Center for Biological Diversity, the federal government finalized a new rule today expanding critical habitat protection along the West Coast for critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales. The population of Southern Residents stands at just 74 orcas.
Read more.Congress Calls for Lasting Protections for Migratory Birds
WASHINGTON— Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) joined with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and 47 original co-sponsors today to introduce the Migratory Bird Protection Act, which reaffirms long-standing protections for migratory birds against industrial take, or the unintentional but predictable killing of birds.
Read more.Energy Department Pushed for Roadmap on TVA’s Transition to 100% Just, Renewable Energy
WASHINGTON— More than 80 energy justice, racial justice, faith and youth organizations urged the U.S. Department of Energy today to release a roadmap detailing how the Tennessee Valley Authority will transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Read more.House Hearing to Focus on Bills to Save Critically Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife will hold a legislative hearing Thursday to review more than a dozen conservation bills, which would provide millions of dollars in long-overdue funding for protecting and recovering critically endangered species and ecosystems.
Read more.'New York Times' Ad Urges Biden to Dramatically Cut Tailpipe Pollution
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity placed a full-page ad in The New York Times today warning that President Biden will put the planet in peril if he yields to automakers by setting the weak, loophole-riddled emission rules the administration has reportedly chosen.
Read more.Lawsuit Threatened Over U.S. Failure to Protect Imperiled Wildlife From Marine Highway Program
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity fired a shot across the bow of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration today for failing to ensure that protected species are not jeopardized by the America’s Marine Highway Program. The program seeks to expand shipping on major rivers and coastal areas in Washington, Oregon, Virginia and other states where listed species are at risk.
Read more.Rare Southeast Alaska Wolf One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protection
SITKA, Alaska— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Alexander Archipelago wolves in Southeast Alaska may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act and started a year-long status review. The decision comes in response to a July 2020 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, Alaska Rainforest Defenders and Defenders of Wildlife.
Read more.La UNESCO insta a poner fin al muro fronterizo que amenaza la vida silvestre en sitio de Patrimonio Mundial en México
FUZHOU, China— El Comité del Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO instó hoy a los Estados Unidos a detener la construcción del muro fronterizo, trabajar con México para evaluar los daños del muro en la Reserva de la Biosfera El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar en México y en las tierras protegidas adyacentes en los Estados Unidos, y restaurar el paisaje y hábitat de la vida silvestre.
Read more.UNESCO Urges End to Border Wall Threatening World Heritage Site, Wildlife in Mexico
FUZHOU, China— The UNESCO World Heritage Committee today urged the United States to stop border wall construction. The committee also called on the United States to work with Mexico to assess damage from the wall to a World Heritage site in Mexico and adjacent protected lands in the United States and recommend ways to restore the landscape and wildlife habitat.
Read more.Lawsuit Forces EPA to Reduce Dangerous Smog Affecting Millions in California, Colorado
WASHINGTON— In response to a lawsuit filed by environmental groups, the Environmental Protection Agency committed today to steps that will ensure parts of California and Colorado have effective plans to reduce smog.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect National Conservation Area in Arizona From Destructive Cattle Grazing
TUCSON, Ariz.― The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society filed a notice of intent today to sue the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect critical habitat for threatened and endangered species in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area in southeastern Arizona.
Read more.Biden Administration Announces Decommissioning of Oil Rigs Off California
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The Biden administration today announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental analysis of the impacts of decommissioning oil and gas drilling platforms, pipelines and wells off southern California.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Seismic Oil, Gas Testing in Gulf of Mexico
GREENBELT, Md.— NRDC and partner groups Healthy Gulf, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Surfrider Foundation sued the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) today over a Trump administration decision to allow extensive seismic airgun testing in the Gulf of Mexico, with minimal protections for marine animals.
Read more.Wildlife Protection Groups Call on Wisconsin Attorney General to Remove Natural Resources Board Chair
MADISON, Wisc.— The Humane Society of the United States and the Center for Biological Diversity sent a letter today to Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul requesting legal action to remove Natural Resources Board Chair Frederick Prehn, who continues to hold office more than two months after his six-year term expired May 1.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Wildlife Agency for Failing to Protect Habitat for 23 Endangered Micronesian Species
HAGÅTÑA, Guam— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect critical habitat for 23 endangered species in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Territory of Guam.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Idaho’s Harmful Wolf-Hunting Laws
BOISE, Idaho— Ten groups filed a notice of intent today to sue the state of Idaho to challenge the state’s new wolf-hunting laws, which also pose a serious risk to federally protected species like lynxes and grizzly bears.
Read more.Gov. DeSantis Urged to Declare State of Emergency Due to Red Tide
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— More than two dozen local businesses and conservation groups today asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency due to the ongoing red tide and fish kills in and around Tampa Bay. The St. Petersburg city council and mayor also have requested that the governor declare a state of emergency to help coordinate and fund desperately needed cleanup efforts and mitigate the worsening red tide.
Read more.Groups Sue EPA Over Approval of Toxic Herbicide Citing Risks to Endangered Species, Drift Harms
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Food Safety and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit on Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of trifludimoxazin.
Read more.Mexico Drastically Eases Enforcement in Vaquita ‘Zero Tolerance’ Area
LA PAZ, Mexico— Mexico announced this week that it will ease enforcement in the vaquita’s core Upper Gulf of California habitat, at a time when only 10 of these unique, small porpoises remain on Earth. The move will hasten the porpoise’s extinction as vaquita are caught in the illegal gillnets of fishermen.
Read more.Navy to Reexamine Effects of Pacific Training Exercises on Endangered Whales
SAN DIEGO— The U.S. Navy announced this week that it will reevaluate the impacts of its testing and training exercises on endangered whales off Southern California and Hawaiʻi. The move comes in response to a notice of intent to sue from the Center for Biological Diversity, filed after two dead fin whales were found on the hull of a military destroyer in San Diego in May.
Read more.Buscan protección para el emblemático caracol rosado
LA PAZ, México— El Centro para la Diversidad Biológica presentó hoy una petición que busca la protección del caracol rosado bajo la Norma NOM-059-Semarnat-2010, una regulación que enlista a las especies en riesgo de extinción. El caracol rosado tiene una gran demanda por su carne y su emblemática concha, que se utiliza para decoración y joyería; la sobrepesca y la captura furtiva han provocado su declive en el Caribe mexicano.
Read more.Protection Sought for Mexico’s Iconic Queen Conch
LA PAZ, Mexico— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition today seeking protection for the queen conch under Mexico’s Standard NOM-059, a federal law that protects at-risk species from extinction, like the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The large, marine snail is heavily in demand for its meat and iconic shell, which is used for décor and jewelry; overfishing and poaching have caused its decline in the Mexican Caribbean.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Hawai‘i Land Board’s Failure to Protect Reefs, Fish From Aquarium Pet Trade
HONOLULU— Conservation groups, Native Hawaiian fishers and cultural practitioners sued the Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources today to protect West Hawai‘i’s reefs and coastal areas from commercial extraction of fish and other wildlife for the aquarium pet trade.
Read more.Biodiversity Negotiations Fail to Call for Global Halt to Species Extinctions
WASHINGTON— A draft of the global framework to combat biodiversity loss was released today, and it fails to call for a halt to species’ extinctions. The framework is being negotiated by parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity — 195 countries plus the European Union — and the Convention is meant to function as the premier international agreement on biodiversity conservation. The framework has been under negotiation since 2019 and is supposed to guide the parties in sustaining a healthy planet during the next decade and on to 2050.
Read more.517 River Miles of Lifesaving Habitat in Mississippi Proposed to Protect Threatened Pearl Darter
BILOXI, Miss.— Following nearly two decades of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect 517 river miles of critical habitat for the pearl darter, a threatened fish from Mississippi.
Read more.EPA Seeks Public Comments on Legal Petition to Cancel Seresto Flea Collars Linked to Deaths of Nearly 1,700 Pets
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is opening a 60-day public comment period on a legal petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity seeking to cancel the registration of the Seresto flea and tick collar linked to the deaths of nearly 1,700 pets.
Read more.Oregon Approves Petition to Increase Marbled Murrelet Endangered Species Protection
SALEM, Ore.— The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission today approved a petition filed by five conservation groups to give marbled murrelets more protection by reclassifying them from threatened to endangered under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The 4-3 decision comes two years after an Oregon judge ruled that the commission had violated state law by denying the petition without explanation in 2018.
Read more.Los Angeles Court Makes Oil Industry Pay Over $2 Million for Retaliatory Lawsuit
LOS ANGELES— A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered the oil industry this week to pay over $1.2 million in legal fees to Youth for Environmental Justice, the South Central Youth Leadership Coalition and the Center for Biological Diversity — and over $1 million to the city of Los Angeles — for bringing a retaliatory lawsuit against the groups.
Read more.Congress Must Pass Save Oak Flat Act to Protect Sacred Land in Arizona From Massive Copper Mine
WASHINGTON— More than 100 conservation, Indigenous and religious groups urged Congress today to pass the Save Oak Flat Act to protect the sacred site in central Arizona from being destroyed by a massive copper mine.
Read more.Offshore Fracking Report Finds Toxic Pollution in Gulf of Mexico
NEW ORLEANS— A report released today by the Center for Biological Diversity details how pervasive and damaging offshore fracking and other extreme oil and gas extraction methods have become in the Gulf of Mexico since 2010.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Rescinds Approval for Luxury Marina, Housing Development on Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille
SANDPOINT, Idaho— In response to a formal notice of intent to sue filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Lake Pend Oreille Water Keeper and Idaho Conservation League, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reinitiate consultation under the Endangered Species Act and analyze the impacts of constructing a marina with 124 boat slips and five large luxury houses on Trestle Creek, an important spawning stream for bull trout.
Read more.Indigenous-Directed Short Film Asks Interior Secretary Haaland to Return Federal Protection to Gray Wolves
BOZEMAN, Mont.— The Global Indigenous Council today released Family, a short film highlighting the deep cultural connection Indigenous nations share with wolves and the major threats currently facing imperiled wolves in the lower 48 states.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Reduce Razorback Sucker Protection Despite Lack of Successful Reproduction, Drying Colorado River
DENVER— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to reduce protection for a fish called the razorback sucker by reclassifying it from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The move comes despite threats to the fish’s wild populations and despite dire forecasts for worsening climate-driven declines in Colorado River flows. The fish, which can grow up to 3 feet long and live for 40 years, is threatened by population fragmentation by dams, predation by non-native fish, altered river flows and climate change.
Read more.EPA Withdraws Disastrous Trump-Era Radioactive Roads Approval
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Biden administration announced it is withdrawing approval given by the Trump administration to use phosphogypsum in construction. The retracted approval had allowed the use of toxic, radioactive waste in constructing roads in parts of the United States prone to sinkholes and erosion.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Industrial Stormwater Permit’s Failure to Control U.S. Plastic Pollution, Protect Endangered Species
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Environmental Protection Agency and federal wildlife agencies today over their approval of a Clean Water Act general permit covering stormwater discharges for thousands of industrial facilities across the country.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Overturn Denial of Endangered Species Protection to Eastern Hellbenders
NEW YORK— A lawsuit filed today by five conservation groups challenges a decision made by the Trump administration to deny Endangered Species Act protection to eastern hellbenders.
Read more.Environmentalists Set Deadline for Hawai‘i Department of Transportation to Fix Lights That Injure, Kill Rare Birds on Maui, Lāna‘i
HONOLULU— Two conservation groups today provided formal notice of their intent to sue the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation if it fails to take immediate steps to prevent bright lighting at state-operated airports and harbors on Maui and Lāna‘i from killing and injuring three species of critically imperiled seabirds.
Read more.Florida Freshwater Mussel Threatened by Phosphate Mine Receives 190 Miles of Lifesaving Critical Habitat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In response to several lawsuits brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated 190 miles of stream channels as critical habitat for the Suwannee moccasinshell, a freshwater mussel found only in north Florida. The moccasinshell’s habitat in the Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers has been harmed by pollution and reduced water flows and is now threatened by a proposed phosphate mine in Bradford and Union counties.
Read more.Golden Paintbrush Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success Story
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to remove a flowering plant called the golden paintbrush, in the Pacific Northwest, from the endangered species list due to its recovery.
Read more.Members of Congress Urge Secretary Haaland to Use Emergency Authority to Save Western Monarchs
WASHINGTON— Fourteen members of Congress, led by Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), urged Interior Secretary Deb Haaland today to take immediate action to protect the western population of monarch butterflies from extinction using her emergency authority under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Federal Protections for Black Teatfish Sea Cucumbers
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sent a notice of intent to sue the federal government today for failing to act on a petition to protect black teatfish sea cucumbers under the Endangered Species Act. Overfishing to supply the luxury seafood trade has caused rapid population declines for this sea cucumber species that is found in shallow waters outside the United States.
Read more.Court Rejects USDA’s Attempt to Kill Lawsuit Challenging Weakened Pig-Slaughter Rules
ROCHESTER, N.Y.— A federal district court judge ruled today that a lawsuit challenging a 2019 decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to dramatically reduce federal oversight and eliminate line speed limits at pig slaughterhouses can move forward.
Read more.Report: California Oil Among the Most Climate-damaging on Earth
LOS ANGELES— Oil produced in California is among the most climate-damaging on the planet and is rapidly getting worse, according to a new report released today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Forces EPA to Protect People in Seven States From Asthma-Causing Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution
WASHINGTON— In response to a lawsuit filed by three environmental groups, the Environmental Protection Agency committed to important steps under the Clean Air Act to protect people from dangerous sulfur dioxide air pollution in seven states.
Read more.Congress to President Biden: Declare Extinction Crisis a National Emergency
WASHINGTON— Nine members of Congress led by Reps. Marie Newman (D-Ill.) and Chuy García (D-Ill.) today introduced the Extinction Crisis Emergency Act, which would direct President Biden to declare the global wildlife extinction crisis a national emergency. The legislation would spur action across the entire federal government to stem the loss of animals and plants in the United States and around the world.
Read more.Arizona to Permit Grand Canyon Uranium Mine Despite Ongoing Flooding, Water Contamination
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality proposed an aquifer-protection permit Wednesday for a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park, with a history of flooding. The mine flooding threatens to deplete shallow aquifers and contaminated water is putting regional aquifers and the springs they feed at risk.
Read more.Federal Report Acknowledges Low Polar Bear Numbers
WASHINGTON— In response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Biden administration today released long-overdue population reports for polar bears in Alaska and sea otters in California.
Read more.Senators Support FERC Petition to Curb Misuse Of Ratepayer Funds on Anti-Environment Trade Groups
WASHINGTON— Five Democratic U.S. senators urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today to grant a Center for Biological Diversity petition that would change the way ratepayers are charged for payments utilities make to trade groups obstructing the renewable energy transition.
Read more.Endangered Black-Footed Ferrets Proposed for Reintroduction Throughout Arizona
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to reintroduce endangered black-footed ferrets to four new areas in Arizona once their prey, prairie dogs, have increased sufficiently in numbers. A fifth area’s prairie dog population needs more growth and would be considered for ferret reintroduction later.
Read more.Gov. DeSantis, Florida Regulators Sued for Mismanaging Toxic Waste at Piney Point, Endangering Public, Environment
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today against Gov. Ron DeSantis, the acting secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, HRK Holdings, LLC and the Manatee County Port Authority for the release of hundreds of tons of hazardous pollutants into Tampa Bay and groundwater.
Read more.New Wolf Pack Confirmed in California’s Plumas County
SAN FRANCISCO— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported today that a new wolf pack has established itself in southern Plumas County. Named the Beckwourth pack, the group of three wolves was first confirmed in May but not officially announced until today.
Read more.Smooth Coneflower Recovering, Proposed for Downlisting
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed downlisting the smooth coneflower from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal is based on increased occurrences of the flower and the growing number of populations in protected areas.
Read more.Groups File Legal Notice Over Montana Wolf Trapping’s Threat to Grizzlies, Lynx
BOZEMAN, Mont.— Citing the risk to other imperiled animals, Earthjustice sent a notice of intent to sue the state of Montana today for implementing new laws permitting snaring of wolves and expanding trapping seasons to reduce the wolf population.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges U.S. Failure to Protect Foreign Wildlife
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s failure to protect seven imperiled animals found outside U.S. borders. The animals include two beautiful Brazilian butterflies and a woodpecker threatened by U.S. jungle warfare training activities in Japan.
Read more.Campaign Launched to Overhaul State Management of Wolves
PORTLAND, Ore.— A new set of planning guides and resources was released today by conservation groups working to improve state management of gray wolves and move agencies across the country away from traditional practices that largely focus on killing wolves.
Read more.Recovering Blue Butterfly Proposed for Downlisting in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed downlisting the Fender’s blue butterfly from endangered to threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The proposal is based on the recovery of butterfly populations in northwest Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Read more.$15,000 Reward Offered for Info on Wolf Poaching in Stevens County
SEATTLE— Conservation groups announced today a combined $15,000 reward for information on the poaching of the breeding female of the Wedge wolf pack. The wolf was found dead of a gunshot wound May 26 in the Sheep Creek area of Stevens County in northeast Washington state.
Read more.Legless Lizard in California One Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
McKITTRICK, Calif.— In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Temblor legless lizard may qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Southern California Fish Moves Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
LOS ANGELES— In response to a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Santa Ana speckled dace, a small minnow native to Southern California streams, may qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Overturn Approval of Destructive Coal Mine in Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— Two conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Alabama Surface Mining Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a controversial open-pit coal mine on the banks of the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River in Alabama.
Read more.More than 50 Conservation Groups Ask Biden Administration to Immediately Restore Protections to Wolves in Northern Rockies
WASHINGTON— As state wildlife agencies in Idaho and Montana work to implement legislation aimed at drastically reducing wolf populations, more than 50 wildlife conservation groups today asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to immediately restore Endangered Species Act protections to gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains.
Read more.Federal Report: More Than 260 Migratory Bird Species in Need of Conservation
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a new report today on bird conservation that takes into account how human impacts on North American birds will intensify with ongoing climate change.
Read more.Coast Miwok Tribe Objects to Point Reyes Ranching, Elk-Killing Plan
POINT REYES, Calif.— The Coast Miwok Tribal Council, lineal descendants of the original inhabitants of Point Reyes, has sent Interior Secretary Deb Haaland a formal letter objecting to a National Park Service plan to prioritize cattle ranching and kill tule elk at Point Reyes National Seashore in Northern California.
Read more.Data From 17 States Shows Over 1 Million Power Shutoffs During Pandemic
WASHINGTON— More than 1 million household electricity shutoffs have occurred in 17 states since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an updated analysis of state utility commission data released today by the Center for Biological Diversity. Georgia Power, for example, reported shutoffs equivalent to nearly 8% of its customers.
Read more.Leader of Campaign to Stop Formosa Plastics Wins Top Environmental Award
SAN FRANCISCO — Louisiana’s Sharon Lavigne, who has led an international environmental campaign to stop Formosa Plastics from building one of the world’s biggest petrochemical complexes in her predominantly Black community, will be honored with a Goldman Environmental Prize today. She was recognized for stopping the Wanhua plastics plant, proposed for St. James Parish, Louisiana, in 2019 and her ongoing work against other polluting projects proposed for the region.
Read more.Arizona Plant Threatened by Rosemont Copper Mine Receives Endangered Species Protection
TUSCON, Ariz.— Following a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the beardless chinchweed will receive protection as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The Service designated 10,604 acres in Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties in Arizona as protected critical habitat for the rare sunflower.
Read more.Threatened by Climate Change, Mt. Rainier Ptarmigan Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protections
SEATTLE— In response to a petition and litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect the Mt. Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Following a Trump administration regulation, the Service declined to identify and protect critical habitat for the ptarmigan.
Read more.Legal Action Taken to Defend Essential Black Pinesnake Habitat in Alabama, Mississippi
MOBILE, Ala.— The Center for Biological Diversity today intervened in a lawsuit filed by a conservative legal group that aims to strip federal protections from some of the last, best remaining habitat for the threatened black pinesnake.
Read more.Biden Administration Urged to Release Critical Records on Wildlife Imports
WASHINGTON— More than 20 groups urged the Biden administration on Friday to release wildlife import and export data hidden from the public since 2015. The data documents the millions of plants and animals that enter and leave the United States each year for the exotic pet trade, hunting trophies, medicinal products, fashion, décor and more. It is a unique and invaluable source of information for conservationists, scientists and members of the media alike.
Read more.Developers End Pursuit of World’s Largest Methanol Refinery Planned for Washington
TACOMA, Wash.— In a stunning climate victory, Northwest Innovation Works, which backs a controversial fossil fuel processing and export proposal in Kalama, Washington, officially abandoned its fracked gas refinery and pipeline proposal, terminating the company’s lease with the Port of Kalama. The decision comes after years of local and regional activism to stop the massive fracked gas refinery, resulting in a series of legal defeats for the project.
Read more.Groups to Biden: Halt New Oil Drilling, Cancel Trump Leases on Public Lands
WASHINGTON— Climate and conservation groups today called on the Biden administration to halt new drilling permits and cancel unlawful Trump-era oil and gas leases on public lands. The letter urges the Interior Department to enact a range of interim actions to protect the climate, public lands, oceans and communities pending completion of the department’s climate review of federal fossil fuel programs.
Read more.Court Halts Drilling on 630 Square Miles of Federal Oil Leases in Key Sage Grouse Habitat
BOISE, Idaho— A federal judge on Wednesday suspended new drilling and fracking on 605 federal oil and gas leases spanning 403,820 acres of greater sage grouse habitat in Wyoming and Montana.
Read more.TVA’s Plans to Replace Largest Coal Plant With Dirty Gas Meet Opposition
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— The Center for Biological Diversity urged the Tennessee Valley Authority today to replace its largest coal plant with renewable energy sources that will protect the climate and public health. Today’s public scoping comments from the Center oppose the federal agency’s current plans to replace the Cumberland Fossil Plant near Clarksville, Tennessee, with polluting fossil gas.
Read more.First New Wolf Pups In a Century Born In Northern Colorado
DENVER— At least three wolf pups have been born in the North Park area of Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Gov. Jared Polis. These are the first wolves known to have been born in the wild in the state since 1926 or 1927.
Read more.Lifesaving Habitat Protection Proposed for Vanishing Mussel in Texas, New Mexico
EL PASO, Texas— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect 463 miles of the Rio Grande and its tributaries in Texas and New Mexico as critical habitat for the endangered Texas hornshell, a large brown and green mussel.
Read more.Forest Service Protections Sought for Wolves in Idaho, Montana Wildernesses
BOZEMAN, Mont.— A coalition of wildlife advocacy groups, represented by the non-profit environmental law firm Earthjustice, today asked the U.S. Forest Service to issue new protections for wolves in designated wilderness areas following Idaho and Montana’s enactment of a rash of aggressive anti-wolf laws.
Read more.‘A Wake for the Whales’ Marks Bay Area Deaths, Calls for New Protections
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups and whale lovers gathered today — which is World Oceans Day — at Crissy Field Beach in San Francisco to honor the 12 dead whales that have washed up in the Bay Area so far this year and call for greater protections. Attendees took actions calling for specific solutions to the three top threats to whales: ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and climate change.
Read more.EPA Agrees to Ban Endocrine-Disrupting Pesticide Propazine
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has reached an agreement to phase out the endocrine-disrupting pesticide propazine within one year.
Read more.North Carolina Catfish, Salamander Protected Under Endangered Species Act
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— Following a petition and lawsuits from the Center for Biological Diversity spanning a decade, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finalized protection for the Carolina madtom catfish and Neuse River waterdog salamander under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Federal Appeals Court Rejects Trump Administration’s Last-Minute Approval of Toxic Pesticide Banned in More Than 100 Countries
WASHINGTON— The federal Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia today rejected the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the highly toxic pesticide aldicarb on Florida oranges and grapefruits.
Read more.Flea-Control Products Found to Be Infested With Forever Chemicals
WASHINGTON— Popular pet flea collars and treatments contain high levels of toxic PFAS chemicals, according to laboratory test results posted today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered Mouse, Riparian Areas in New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service for failing to protect riparian areas in New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains from cattle. The area is critical habitat for the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.
Read more.Biden Administration Promises to Rescind, Revise Trump Endangered Species Rules
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration announced today it will rescind or revise five regulations instituted by the Trump administration that sharply undercut protections for the nation’s endangered species. The rules opened the door to consideration of economic factors in decisions for species protections, weakened protections for critical habitat and left threatened species without guaranteed protections.
Read more.Tucson Save Oak Flat Events to Send Off Apache Stronghold Members on D.C. Road Trip
TUCSON, Ariz.― Community events next week will rally support for the Save Oak Flat Act and send off members of Apache Stronghold as they start a cross-country road trip to Washington, D.C., to lobby for the bill’s passage. Stronghold leaders, including former San Carlos Apache Tribal Chairman Wendsler Nosie Sr., will attend a community event Sunday and an interfaith blessing Wednesday evening.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Utah Highway Through Protected Conservation Lands, Threatened Tortoise Habitat
ST. GEORGE, Utah— Conservation groups sued federal officials Thursday to stop construction of the Northern Corridor Highway, a controversial four-lane highway through the protected Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in southwest Utah.
Read more.‘A Wake for the Whales’ to Mark Bay Area Deaths, Call for New Protections
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups and whale lovers will gather on Tuesday, June 8, which is World Oceans Day, at Crissy Field East Beach in San Francisco to honor the 12 dead whales that have washed up in the Bay Area so far this year and call for greater protections.
Read more.Records: More Than 1,000 Loggerhead Sea Turtles Died in Mexico in 2020
LA PAZ, Mexico— According to newly obtained official data from the Mexican government, at least 1,088 North Pacific loggerhead turtles died in 2020 in Baja California Sur, Mexico, likely because of entanglement in fishing gear.
Read more.Federal Appeals Court Reverses Failure to Protect Pacific Walrus
SAN FRANCISCO— The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the Trump administration’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service improperly denied Endangered Species Act protections to the Pacific walrus.
Read more.Congressional Resolution Calls for Public Power System to Combat Climate Emergency
WASHINGTON— Democratic House Representatives Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman have introduced a congressional resolution that calls for transforming the country’s largely private energy system into a publicly owned and governed network. The resolution also urges a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030 and a ban on utility shutoffs, which disproportionately affect low-wealth people and communities of color.
Read more.Tiehm’s Buckwheat Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
LAS VEGAS— In response to a petition and litigation from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect Tiehm’s buckwheat under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Reverse Trump Administration Denial of Endangered Species Protection to West Coast Fishers
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its denial of Endangered Species Act protection to the majority of fishers on the West Coast.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Public Accountability for U.S. Financing of Climate-Damaging International Projects
WASHINGTON— Environmental groups sued the United States International Development Finance Corporation, or DFC, today for illegally exempting itself from the Sunshine Act, which requires multi-member federal agencies to open deliberations to the public. The DFC provides billions of dollars in financing each year to international projects, including fracking and environmentally destructive road-building.
Read more.Salmon Fishery Plan Change Proposed to Protect Endangered Orcas
SEATTLE— Federal fisheries managers proposed an amendment to the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan today to ensure critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales don’t starve. The proposal would limit non-tribal commercial Chinook salmon fishing in years where the estimated population falls below 966,000 salmon so that the orcas can still get enough to eat.
Read more.Biden Budget Fails to Address Extinction Crisis
WASHINGTON— With today’s release of President Biden’s first full budget, the administration signaled that stemming the wildlife extinction crisis and safeguarding the nation’s endangered species will not be a top priority, despite the warnings of scientists that one million species are at risk of going extinct around the world without intervention.
Read more.Biden Administration Proposes to Allow Oil Companies to Disturb Polar Bears, Walruses in Alaska’s Arctic
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Biden administration issued a proposed rule today allowing oil companies operating in the Beaufort Sea and Western Arctic to harass polar bears and Pacific walruses when drilling or searching for oil for the next five years.
Read more.In Court, Justice Department Defends Trump’s Approval of Large Oil-Drilling Project in Western Arctic
ANCHORAGE— The Department of Justice has filed a legal brief defending the Trump administration’s approval of a massive oil and gas project known as the Willow Master Development Plan in Alaska’s Western Arctic.
Read more.Agreement Reached to Speed Endangered Species Protection for Caribbean Lizards
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reached an agreement today that requires the Service to make endangered species decisions for eight rare species of skink — a type of lizard — by Dec. 12, 2024.The skinks are found on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and face extinction because of introduced predators, habitat destruction and climate change.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over DDT Ocean Dumping off Southern California
TORRANCE, Calif.— Following the recent discovery that up to 500,000 barrels of the banned pesticide DDT were dumped into the Pacific Ocean off Southern California, the Center for Biological Diversity sent Montrose Chemical Corp. and its successor parent company, Bayer Corp., a notice of intent to sue them today. Today’s notice letter calls for the companies to take responsibility for this toxic threat to public health and wildlife.
Read more.Florida Billboard Launched to Raise Awareness of Radioactive Toxic Waste
ARCADIA, Fla.— A new billboard message highlighting the risks phosphate mining and phosphogypsum pose to communities, water and the environment has been installed along State Route 70 in DeSoto County. The 36-foot-wide billboard directs motorists to www.RadioactiveFlorida.org.
Read more.Lesser Prairie Chicken Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— In response to a 2016 petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity and partners, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA Delay in Reducing Air Pollution From Oil, Methane Gas Industries in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia
WASHINGTON— Two environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to ensure that adequate plans are in place to control pollution from the oil and methane gas industry in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, home to almost 35 million people.
Read more.Documents: TVA Used $3M in Ratepayer Money to Fund Anti-Clean Energy Efforts
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Four nonprofit organizations called today for a federal investigation of newly uncovered records showing that the Tennessee Valley Authority used $3 million of ratepayer money to fund litigation and lobbying efforts by organizations that fight the EPA’s Clean Air Act rules. TVA is the largest public energy provider in the United States.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Wolves in Northern Rockies
VICTOR, Idaho— The Center for Biological Diversity, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Sierra Club today petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore federal protection under the Endangered Species Act to gray wolves, after Idaho and Montana passed legislation aimed at drastically reducing wolf populations in those states.
Read more.Gov. Newsom Urged to Invest $1 Billion in Wildlife Connectivity
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Conservation groups called on Gov. Gavin Newsom today to set aside $1 billion in his budget for increased investments in wildlife crossings and habitat connectivity.
Read more.EPA Watchdog Report: Senior Staffers in Trump EPA Changed, Omitted Science During 2018 Review of Dicamba; Skipped Internal Peer-Review Process
WASHINGTON— A scathing report released today by a federal oversight agency revealed that high-ranking officials in the Trump Environmental Protection Agency purposely excluded scientific evidence of dicamba’s drift risks before reapproving its use in 2018.
Read more.Attorneys General Demand Deeper Army Corps Analysis of Formosa Plastics’ Louisiana Project
NEW ORLEANS— New York State Attorney General Letitia James and four other attorneys general sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today demanding a deeper analysis of the climate, wildlife and environmental justice impacts of Formosa Plastics’ massive proposed petrochemical complex in St. James Parish, Louisiana.
Read more.Senate Bill Aims to Protect Americans From Utility Shutoffs, Mounting Debt Crisis
WASHINGTON— Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced a bill today that would place a national moratorium on the disconnection of electric, water and broadband utility service due to uncollected payments. An increasing number of people in the country are at risk of losing access to vital utilities, including electricity, water and broadband, as utility debt increases nationwide.
Read more.Wolf-Killing Could Disqualify Montana for $24 Million in Federal Funding, State Warned
BOZEMAN, Mont.— The Center for Biological Diversity called today for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission to show restraint in implementing new legislation that could lead to the slaughter of more than 80% of the state’s wolves.
Read more.Congress Introduces Bill to Save Endangered Butterflies, Fish, Plants, Mollusks
WASHINGTON— Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today reintroduced the Extinction Prevention Act of 2021, which would fund crucial conservation work for some of the most critically imperiled species in the United States.
Read more.Legal Petition Urges EPA to Assess Pesticides’ Harms to Soil Health
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth U.S. filed a formal legal petition today urging the Environmental Protection Agency to incorporate a robust assessment of harm to soil ecosystems in pesticide regulatory decisions.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Force Federal Regulation of PVC as Hazardous Waste
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the federal government for failing to regulate polyvinyl chloride — more commonly known as PVC or vinyl — as hazardous waste. PVC is one of the mostly commonly used and discarded forms of plastic, yet numerous studies have found it’s highly toxic to human health and the environment.
Read more.As New Algae Bloom Spreads Across Lake Okeechobee, Florida Urged to Set Standards Critical to Protecting People, Wildlife From Harmful Toxins
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.― Conservation groups sent a letter today urging Florida officials to set water-quality standards for the harmful toxins in algal blooms that threaten the health of the state’s residents and wildlife.
Read more.California to Close Commercial Crab Fishery Early to Avoid Whale Entanglements
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham today ordered the state’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery to close at noon on June 1 to avoid entangling endangered humpback whales now migrating along California’s coastline. The season typically ends June 30 in central California and July 15 in Northern California.
Read more.Environmental Groups Head to Court Against Biden Administration’s Defense of Federal Coal Leasing
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Tribal and environmental groups filed their opening brief today challenging the Biden administration’s decision to defend a Trump-era policy continuing coal leasing on public lands. The brief argues that the Trump administration unlawfully tried to paper over fatal flaws in its rushed attempt to justify a policy reopening public lands to polluting coal mining.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Reduce Asthma-Causing Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution in Detroit, Baltimore
WASHINGTON— Three conservation groups filed notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that parts of Maryland and Michigan have effective plans for cleaning up sulfur dioxide air pollution.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Florida Department of Environmental Protection, HRK Holdings, Manatee County Port Authority Over Piney Point Disaster
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups sent a notice today of their intent to sue the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, HRK Holdings and the Manatee County Port Authority for releasing hundreds of tons of toxic pollutants into Tampa Bay and groundwater, endangering the public, marine ecosystems and protected species.
Read more.Agreement Sets Swift Timeline for Federal Government’s Decisions on Tiehm’s Buckwheat Protection
LAS VEGAS, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reached an agreement today that requires the agency to decide by May 31 whether Nevada’s rare Tiehm’s buckwheat warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act. The agreement is the result of litigation by the Center and a recent ruling by a federal judge that the Service must make a determination on protections for the imperiled plant.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched After Pair of Fin Whales Killed During Military Exercise
SAN DIEGO— After two dead fin whales were found on the hull of a military destroyer in San Diego, California on May 8, the Center for Biological Diversity sent the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Navy a letter today demanding the agencies consult on ways to avoid killing endangered whales. The Center’s letter warned the agencies it will be forced to sue if they fail to do so.
Read more.Forest Service Halts Huge Clearcutting Plan Next to Yellowstone National Park That Threatened Grizzlies, Lynx
WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont.— Following a challenge by multiple conservation groups, the U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday that it was halting a plan to clearcut more than 4,600 acres of pine forests, log across an additional 9,000 acres and bulldoze up to 56 miles of road on lands just outside Yellowstone National Park in the Custer Gallatin National Forest.
Read more.Heinrich Fossil Fuels Transition Bill Is Step in Right Direction, But Needs Work to Make States Less Dependent on Oil, Gas Revenue
WASHINGTON— Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) plans to introduce legislation (Schools and State Budgets Certainty Act) to allow states to recoup revenue losses from the transition away from fossil fuels to meet the climate crisis.
Read more.Los Angeles County Leaders Urged to Put People, Wildlife First in L.A. River Master Plan
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity urged Los Angeles County officials today to enhance the ecological function of the L.A. River in its master plan, rather than placating outside interests by supporting harmful development projects.
Read more.President Biden’s TVA Nominees Urged to Lead Utility’s Transition to 100% Just, Renewable Energy
WASHINGTON— More than 200 energy justice, racial justice, faith and youth organizations are calling on President Joe Biden’s four nominees to the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors to commit to transitioning the utility to 100% renewable and just energy by 2030. TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider.
Read more.115 Top U.S. Wolf Experts, Scientists Urge Biden Administration to Restore Federal Protections for Gray Wolves
WASHINGTON— More than 100 scientists today called upon Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reinstate federal protections for gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.650 Groups Tell Congress: Leave Dirty Power Out of Clean Electricity Standard
WASHINGTON— More than 650 national advocacy and grassroots groups sent a letter today calling on Congress to develop a truly clean, renewable and just energy standard for electricity as part of an evolving infrastructure package.
Read more.Petition Filed to Save Gulf of Mexico Whale From Ship Strikes
WASHINGTON— A coalition of groups filed a petition today with the National Marine Fisheries Service to establish a year-round mandatory 10-knot speed limit and other vessel-related regulations within the core habitat of the Gulf of Mexico whale, south of the Florida panhandle.
Read more.Climate Lawsuit Challenges Fracking Plan That Threatens Three National Forests in Colorado
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service's 2020 approval of a plan that allows fracking across 35,000 acres of Colorado’s Western Slope. The North Fork Mancos Master Development Plan allows 35 new fracking wells in the North Fork Valley and Thompson Divide areas of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests.
Read more.Agreement Reached on Mining Exploration Permits Near Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota
DULUTH, Minn.— Conservation groups and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management reached an agreement today that requires the agency to revisit its decision to renew 13 prospecting permits. The permits could have allowed Antofagasta’s Twin Metals Minnesota to significantly expand its proposed sulfide-ore copper mine at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota.
Read more.Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumblebee Takes Step Toward Endangered Species Act Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Suckley’s cuckoo bumblebee, a critically imperiled species that has recently declined by more than 90%, may warrant Endangered Species Act protection. The announcement kicks off a one-year status assessment of the species.
Read more.Survey: Grazing Destroying Critical Habitat in Arizona’s Agua Fria National Monument
TUCSON, Ariz.― The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is failing to protect critical habitat for threatened and endangered species from destructive cattle grazing within Agua Fria National Monument, field surveys by the Center for Biological Diversity show. The Center has urged the BLM to remove the cattle so the monument’s streams and riparian areas can recover.
Read more.UN Report: Methane Cuts Are Critical to Confronting Climate Emergency
WASHINGTON— Slashing emissions from methane, including from the fossil fuel industry, is far more critical than previously thought to avoid the worst effects of climate change, according to a United Nations report released today.
Read more.Biden Administration’s ‘America the Beautiful’ Plan Opens Door for Arizonans to Protect Lands, Waters
TUCSON, Ariz.— Arizona conservation groups today welcomed the Biden administration’s plan to conserve at least 30% of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030 and urged state and local officials to commit to the urgent work of protecting biodiversity, slowing the wildlife extinction crisis and addressing the climate emergency.
Read more.Expertos en salud pública y conservacionistas piden al Tribunal Supremo de México que defienda la suspensión de la operación de una granja de 49 mil cerdos en la península de Yucatán
CDMX, México— Grupos conservacionistas, científicos, médicos y expertos en salud pública presentaron hoy un escrito legal en la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación de México apoyando los reclamos constitucionales planteados por niñas y niños mayas, que se oponen a la aprobación y operación de una granja industrial de animales en la Península de Yucatán.
Read more.Public Health Experts, Conservationists Ask Mexico’s Highest Court to Uphold Suspension of 49,000-Hog Industrial Animal Operation in Yucatán Peninsula
MEXICO CITY, Mexico— Conservation groups, scientists, doctors and public-health experts filed a legal brief with Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation today supporting constitutional claims raised by Mayan children who oppose approval and operation of an industrial animal operation in the Yucatán Peninsula.
Read more.Delaware Urged to Ban Commercial Trapping of Wild Turtles
DOVER, Del.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Delaware Riverkeeper Network petitioned the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control today to end commercial collection of the state’s common snapping turtles. Under current state law, turtle trappers can legally collect unlimited numbers of common snapping turtles to sell domestically or export for food and medicinal markets.
Read more.Bell’s Sparrow, Four Plants Found Only on San Clemente Island Are Latest Endangered Species Act Success
LOS ANGELES, Calif.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to remove Endangered Species Act protection from the San Clemente Island Bell's sparrow and four plant species, all found only on San Clemente Island, one of the Channel Islands off the southern coast of California.
Read more.New Study: Agricultural Pesticides Cause Widespread Harm to Soil Health, Threaten Biodiversity
WASHINGTON— A new study published today by the academic journal Frontiers in Environmental Science finds that pesticides widely used in American agriculture pose a grave threat to organisms that are critical to healthy soil, biodiversity and soil carbon sequestration to fight climate change. Yet those harms are not considered by U.S. regulators.
Read more.100,000 Petitioners Call for Biden to Act on Plastic Pollution, Production
SAN FRANCISCO— Members of the national coalition behind the Presidential Plastics Action Plan gathered outside the Environmental Protection Agency’s San Francisco office today to deliver more than 100,000 petitions calling for President Biden and his administration to adopt the plan.
Read more.Army Corps Sued for Failure to Protect Waterways, Endangered Wildlife From Pipeline Construction
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Environmental groups filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over a nationwide permit that allows streamlined development of oil and gas pipelines through wetlands, streams and rivers. The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Montana by the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, Waterkeeper Alliance and Montana Environmental Information Center.
Read more.Federal Officials Urged to End Idaho’s Wildlife Management Funding in Response to Extreme Wolf-Killing Legislation
BOISE, Idaho— In response to legislation recently approved by Idaho lawmakers that could lead to the slaughter of up to 90% of the state’s wolves, the Center for Biological Diversity today asked the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to disqualify Idaho from receiving federal funding under the Pittman-Robertson Act.
Read more.100,000 Petitioners Call for Biden to Act on Plastic Pollution, Production
SAN FRANCISCO— Members of the national coalition behind the Presidential Plastics Action Plan will gather outside the Environmental Protection Agency’s San Francisco office on Monday to deliver speeches and more than 100,000 petitions calling for President Biden and his administration to adopt the plan.
Read more.100-Plus Groups Demand Actions Critical to Protecting Endangered Species, Wildlife Refuges From Toxic Pesticides
WASHINGTON— More than 100 groups sent three letters to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today outlining urgent actions needed to protect the nation’s wildlife and their habitats from dangerous pesticides.
Read more.Southern California Mega-Warehouse Will Heavily Electrify Operations, Per Landmark Agreement Worth $47 Million
MORENO VALLEY, Calif.— Environmental and community groups reached a landmark settlement today with the developer of the World Logistics Center Project in Moreno Valley, California to invest approximately $47 million in electric vehicles and equipment, rooftop solar, EV charging infrastructure, and other solutions to electrify the facility and reduce harms to local air quality, wildlife and the climate.
Read more.Members of Congress Request $50 Million to Save Monarch Butterflies
WASHINGTON— For the first time ever, 56 U.S. representatives have urged the House Appropriations Committee to spend $50 million per year to stabilize and help recover monarch butterflies. Today’s letter, led by Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), notes that the monarch population has plummeted more than 80% in the past two decades.
Read more.Senate Urged to Reject Fossil Fuel Attorney Beaudreau for Deputy Interior Secretary
WASHINGTON— More than 30 conservation groups today urged members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to oppose attorney Tommy Beaudreau’s nomination for deputy Interior secretary, saying his representation of fossil fuel companies would undermine President Biden’s climate agenda. The committee is scheduled to consider Beaudreau’s nomination Thursday.
Read more.Los Angeles Leaders Urged to Prioritize Wildlife Corridor Funding
LOS ANGELES— Local conservation advocates will urge city leaders to make wildlife corridors a budget priority during a Thursday discussion with the Los Angeles planning and building and safety departments.
Read more.Minnesota Supreme Court Overturns PolyMet Mining Permit, Sends It Back for New Hearing
ST. PAUL, Minn.— The Minnesota Supreme Court sided with clean water advocacy groups and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa today, striking down PolyMet’s permit to mine and crippling the company’s sulfide mining proposal in northeastern Minnesota.
Read more.Video Shows NRA Leader Trying to Gun Down Imperiled African Elephant
WASHINGTON— Newly surfaced video shows Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, trying to kill an endangered savanna elephant in Botswana during a trophy hunt.
Read more.$40,000 Reward Offered Over Illegal Shooting of Mother Grizzly Bear in Idaho
ISLAND PARK, Idaho— Five conservation organizations are offering rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the illegal shooting of a female grizzly bear in Fremont County, Idaho. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game confirmed Monday that a 6-to-8-week-old cub also died in its den as a result of its mother’s death.
Read more.Groups File Third Intervention Defending Pause on Federal Oil, Gas Leasing
LAKE CHARLES, La.— Conservation groups moved today to intervene in a lawsuit defending the Biden administration’s decision to pause new federal oil and gas leasing while it reviews the government leasing program.
Read more.Federal Petition Seeks Ship Speed Limits to Protect Whales Off California
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a legal petition with the Biden administration today requesting mandatory speed limits for vessels off California to protect whales. Vessel strikes are one of the leading causes of death for blue, fin and humpback whales off California’s coast.
Read more.Bill Aimed at Killing 90% of Idaho’s Wolves Headed to Governor’s Desk
BOISE, Idaho— The Idaho House of Representatives today approved a bill allowing the state to hire private contractors to kill up to 90% of Idaho’s wolf population of approximately 1,500 wolves.
Read more.Northern Mexican Garter Snake Gains 20,326 Acres of Protected Critical Habitat in Arizona, New Mexico
TUCSON, Ariz.— In response to nearly two decades of action by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finalized critical habitat protection for the northern Mexican garter snake under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Approval of Southeast Idaho Phosphate Mine
BOISE, Idaho— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging a decision made by the Trump administration to greenlight the Caldwell Canyon phosphate mine in southeast Idaho.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Variable Cuckoo Bumblebee
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to grant Endangered Species Act protection to the critically endangered variable cuckoo bumblebee.
Read more.North Carolina Air Regulators Propose to Eliminate Restrictions on Harmful Coal Emissions From UNC-Chapel Hill Power Plant
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The North Carolina Division of Air Quality has proposed a new air-pollution permit for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s coal-fired power plant that eliminates crucial protections for local residents and the environment.
Read more.Forest Service’s Huge Clearcutting Plan Next to Yellowstone National Park Threatens Grizzlies, Lynx
WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont.— Four conservation groups today challenged a U.S. Forest Service plan to clearcut more than 4,600 acres of pine forests, log across an additional 9,000 acres, and bulldoze up to 56 miles of road on lands just outside Yellowstone National Park within the Custer Gallatin National Forest.
Read more.Newsom Announces Plans to Ban Fracking, Phase Out Oil Extraction in California
SACRAMENTO, Calif.― Gov. Gavin Newsom directed state agencies today to stop issuing new fracking permits by 2024 and analyze pathways to phase out oil extraction in California by 2045.
Read more.Washington’s Wolf Population Increased 22% in 2020
OLYMPIA, Wash.— Washington’s wolf population increased by 22% in 2020, according to figures released today by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This is an increase of 24 wolves, three packs and three additional breeding pairs from 2019.
Read more.Biden Administration Urged to Use Lacey Act to Ban Wildlife Imports That May Spread Disease
WASHINGTON— In a bid to reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases entering the United States, a group of conservation organizations urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to assess and designate wildlife species as “injurious” based on their potential to transmit diseases that could threaten human health.
Read more.U.S. Wildlife Officials Petitioned to Ban Import, Sale of Banggai Cardinalfish
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed a petition today urging the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to ban the import and sale of threatened Banggai cardinalfish from Indonesia.
Read more.U.S. Climate Target Falls Short of What Science, Justice Demand
WASHINGTON— The new U.S. target for reducing climate-heating emissions 50%-52% by 2030 fails to meet the demands of climate science and environmental and energy justice.
Read more.Oregon’s Wolf Population Grows to 173, But Pack Count Remains at 22
PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon’s wolf population increased by 15 confirmed animals, from 158 to 173 wolves in 2020, according to a report released today by the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. But the number of packs — 22 — stayed the same as last year, while breeding pairs declined from 19 in 2019 to only 17 in 2020.
Read more.Legal Victory Compels Federal Government to Decide on Tiehm’s Buckwheat Protections
RENO, Nev.— As a result of litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, a federal judge ruled today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must decide whether or not to protect Nevada’s rare Tiehm’s buckwheat under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Federal Analysis Finds Insecticide Malathion Imperils Continued Existence of 78 Endangered Plants, Animals
WASHINGTON— A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service analysis released today has found that the commonly used insecticide malathion jeopardizes the continued existence of 78 endangered plants and animals.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Statement on Guilty Verdict for Murder of George Floyd
Statement from Kierán Suckling, executive director, Center for Biological Diversity:
Read more.Earth Day Celebration at Port of Seattle Seeks to Protect Ocean, Endangered Orcas From Vessels in Salish Sea
SEATTLE— Thursday’s socially distanced Earth Day gathering across from the Port of Seattle offices will celebrate the year-long absence of noisy and polluting cruise ships from the Salish Sea.
Read more.After $6 Million Agreement, Dismissal Sought for Lawsuit Challenging Placer Ranch Development
PLACER COUNTY, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity requested the dismissal today of a lawsuit challenging the Placer Ranch development in Northern California.
Read more.Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Gains 298,845 Acres of Protected Critical Habitat in Seven Western States
TUCSON, Ariz.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated 298,845 acres in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas and Utah as critical habitat for the western yellow-billed cuckoo.
Read more.Biden Administration Protects Endangered Pacific Humpback Whale Habitat
SAN FRANCISCO— The Biden administration issued a final rule today protecting 116,098 square nautical miles of the Pacific Ocean as critical habitat for three populations of endangered humpback whales. The rule could begin to help protect migrating whales from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and oil spills.
Read more.Coalition Moves to Defend Biden Administration’s Oil, Gas Leasing Pause
CHEYENNE, Wyo.— Farmers and ranchers, conservation, recreation and tribal groups filed motions to intervene today to defend the Biden administration’s pause on federal oil and gas leasing pending the Interior Department’s comprehensive review of the program.
Read more.Judge Rules Against Federal Sheep Station Grazing in Idaho’s Centennial Mountains
BOISE, Idaho— A federal court today ruled against a U.S. Department of Agriculture decision to reauthorize and expand domestic sheep grazing in and around the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in the Centennial Mountains on the Idaho–Montana border.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Obtain Protection for Rare Southern Nevada Wildflower, Bee
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week to force it to protect 19 imperiled species under the Endangered Species Act, including southern Nevada’s own Las Vegas bearpoppy and one of its main pollinators, the Mojave poppy bee.
Read more.New Study: Undisclosed Inert Ingredients in Some Popular Roundup Products Found to Be Highly Toxic to Bumblebees
PORTLAND, Ore.— Popular herbicide products widely available at hardware and garden stores contain undisclosed “inert” ingredients that can kill bumblebees, according to a new study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
Read more.Corte de Ecuador insta a proteger ranas en peligro de extinción de proyecto minero y hacer cumplir los 'derechos de la naturaleza' constitucionales
QUITO, Ecuador— Grupos ambientalistas presentaron hoy un escrito legal instando a la Corte Provincial de Imbabura en Ecuador a detener todos los permisos ambientales de un proyecto minero, porque el gobierno no consideró los efectos de la mina sobre dos ranas en peligro de extinción recientemente descubiertas, entre otras especies vulnerables.
Read more.Ecuador Court Urged to Protect Endangered Frogs From Mining Project, Enforce Constitutional ‘Rights of Nature’
QUITO, Ecuador— Environmental groups filed a legal brief today urging the Provincial Court of Imbabura in Ecuador to halt all environmental permits for a mining project because the government failed to consider the mine’s effects on two endangered, recently discovered frogs, among other vulnerable species.
Read more.Federal Court Halts Proposed Rock Creek Mine in Montana’s Cabinet Mountains
MISSOULA, Mont.— The federal district court in Montana on Tuesday invalidated the federal government’s approval of the first phase of the Rock Creek Mine, a major copper and silver mine proposed beneath the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in northwest Montana.
Read more.Legal Agreement on Placer County Project Requires Climate Pollution Cuts, Secures Funding to Protect Wildlife Habitat
PLACER COUNTY, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity approved a legal agreement yesterday that secures significant measures to reduce greenhouse gases from a Placer County development, as well as funding for electric vehicles, habitat acquisition and environmental conservation efforts in the county and elsewhere in California.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Endangered Species Act Protections for 19 Species Left to Languish by Trump Administration
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect 19 imperiled species from across the United States under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Stop Post-Fire Logging on Oregon State Forest
PORTLAND, Ore.— A coalition of conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the ongoing post-fire clearcutting in the Santiam State Forest east of Salem. The state forest has been closed to visitors since the Labor Day wildfires and is currently being extensively logged by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Read more.200 Groups to Biden: Align Federal Fossil Fuel Programs With U.S. Climate Goals
WASHINGTON— Hundreds of climate, Native American, religious, business and conservation organizations today called on the Biden administration to do a comprehensive environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other laws to align federal fossil fuel programs with U.S. climate goals to curb global warming.
Read more.Lifesaving Critical Habitat Protection Proposed for Panama City Crayfish
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed protection today for 7,177 acres of critical habitat for Panama City crayfishes. The Center and Service also reached an agreement today requiring the Service to finalize listing protection by December.
Read more.Biden EPA Urged to Set Climate Pollution Cap
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and 350.org urged the Environmental Protection Agency today to set a nationwide greenhouse gas pollution cap under the Clean Air Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Refusal to Release Public Documents on Seresto Flea Collar Linked to Deaths of Nearly 1,700 Pets
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s failure to release documents regarding the Seresto flea and tick collar, which has generated more than 75,000 reports of harm ranging from skin irritation to death of pets.
Read more.Congress Urged to Reform Freedom of Information Act
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and 40 other public-interest and conservation groups urged Congress today to take immediate action to correct federal agencies’ refusal to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.
Read more.Congress Urged to Investigate Huge Wastewater Release, Threat of Catastrophic Collapse of Florida’s Piney Point Phosphogypsum Stack
WASHINGTON— Conservation and public-health groups called on Congress today to investigate the near-collapse of the radioactive Piney Point phosphogypsum stack and the ongoing emergency caused by the discharge of hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater.
Read more.Court Rules Marin County’s Protections for Endangered Coho Salmon Inadequate
SAN RAFAEL, Calif.— The Marin County Superior Court today ruled that the county in Northern California failed to adequately protect coho salmon and their habitat in the San Geronimo Valley.
Read more.Hike, Rally to Save Everglades’ Big Cypress Set for Saturday
BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE, Fla.— At 9 a.m. on Saturday conservation advocates Betty Osceola and the Rev. Houston Cypress will lead environmental leaders and the media on a socially distanced hike in Big Cypress National Preserve along the route of a proposed oil well pad access road.
Read more.Judge Blocks Massive Tejon Ranchcorp Development in L.A. County
LOS ANGELES— In a major victory against a destructive development larger than Griffith Park, a judge has issued a ruling blocking Tejon Ranchcorp’s Centennial. The project would have put 57,000 residents on remote, fire-prone wildlands 65 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.
Read more.Legal Petition Calls On EPA to Cancel Seresto Flea Collar Linked to Deaths of Nearly 1,700 Pets
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal legal petition today urging the Environmental Protection Agency to cancel the registration of the Seresto flea and tick collar linked to the deaths of nearly 1,700 pets.
Read more.Instan a funcionarios mexicanos a responder a los reclamos de comunidades mayas por las violaciones a sus derechos soberanos por la construcción de granjas industriales porcinas en la península de Yucatán
LA PAZ, México— El Centro para la Diversidad Biológica y Greenpeace México presentaron una solicitud formal instando al gobierno mexicano a respetar el derecho soberano de las comunidades Indígenas, según la ley mexicana, a los derechos humanos básicos, incluida la autodeterminación y la consulta sobre la concesión de permisos y el funcionamiento de las granjas industriales en expansión en los estados de Yucatán, Campeche y Quintana Roo, así como atender la solicitud de los pueblos mayas de una moratoria sobre todas las aprobaciones de nuevas de granjas industriales porcinas y ampliaciones hasta que se resuelvan los problemas de los derechos del pueblo maya y el daño a la calidad del aire y el agua, la biodiversidad y la salud humana.
Read more.Mexican Officials Urged to Address Violations of Mayan Sovereign Rights Caused by Construction of Industrial Pig Farms in Yucatán Peninsula
LA PAZ, Mexico— The Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace Mexico submitted a formal request today urging the Mexican government to respect the sovereign right of Indigenous communities under Mexican law and to basic human rights, including self-determination and consultation, on the permitting and operation of industrial pig farms in the states of Yucatán, Campeche and Quintana Roo.
Read more.Yellow Lance Mussel Gains 319 River Miles of Lifesaving Habitat in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland
RALEIGH, N.C.— Following 10 years of advocacy and litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized protection today for 319 river miles of critical habitat for the threatened yellow lance freshwater mussel in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Failure to Reduce Smog Pollution From Oil, Methane Gas Industries in California, Chicago
WASHINGTON— Two environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to require adequate smog controls for the oil and methane gas industry in the Metro Chicago area and five parts of California. Many of these areas, which together are home to more than 26 million people, already have some of the worst air quality in the country.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Overturn Trump Administration Denial of Endangered Species Protection to 21 Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agency’s denial of endangered species protection to 21 species under the Trump administration. From MacGillivray’s seaside sparrow on the Atlantic Coast to the Kirtland’s snake in the Midwest, these species face serious threats to their survival from habitat destruction, climate change, invasive species and pollution.
Read more.Endangered Species Protection Proposed for Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a petition and legal victory from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle under the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species.
Read more.Groups Sue to Prevent Imperiled Sea Turtles From Drowning in Fishing Nets
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today to prevent sea turtles from drowning when they get caught in shrimp trawl nets in the Gulf of Mexico and southeast Atlantic.
Read more.Endangered Candy Darter Fish Wins 368 Stream Miles of Protected Critical Habitat in Virginia, West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.V.— In response to a decade of action from conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finalized critical habitat protection for the candy darter, a small, brightly colored fish, under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.400 Groups Petition EPA to Control Methane, Ethane Pollution
WASHINGTON— More than 400 groups, representing tens of millions of people, petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency today to control harmful methane and ethane emissions that are the largest industrial source of compounds causing ozone pollution, also known as smog.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Federal OK of Vernal Pool Destruction in Northern California
CHICO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of its intent to file a lawsuit challenging the permitting of a Northern California development that would harm endangered species.
Read more.Imminent Failure of Phosphogypsum Stack in Tampa Bay Exposes Phosphate Industry Risks
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Manatee County officials have issued evacuation orders for the area surrounding Florida’s Piney Point in anticipation of the imminent catastrophic collapse of a phosphogypsum stack retention pond holding up to 700 million gallons of wastewater.
Read more.Ad Campaign Calls on Biden to Dramatically Cut Car Pollution
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity launched an online ad and petition campaign today urging President Joe Biden to set strong clean-car standards and reject automaker pleas for weak ones.
Read more.Legal Victory Puts Arizona, New Mexico Fish Back On Path to Federal Protections
TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal judge on Thursday overturned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2017 withdrawal of a proposed rule to protect the lower Colorado River basin roundtail chub as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The judge ordered the agency to reconsider within a year whether the fish warrants protection.
Read more.Exhorto a líderes mundiales de sancionar a México para salvar a las marsopas en peligro de extinción
WASHINGTON— En una serie de cartas entregadas hoy, grupos conservacionistas instaron a autoridades estadounidenses e internacionales a emplear sanciones para presionar a México y que salve a la vaquita marina, cuya población se ha reducido a tan solo 10 animales. A pesar de repetidas promesas durante décadas, el gobierno mexicano no ha logrado detener el uso de redes de enmalle mortales que enredan, ahogan y matan a estas marsopas, llevándolas a la extinción.
Read more.Global Leaders Urged to Sanction Mexico to Save Critically Endangered Porpoises
WASHINGTON— In a series of letters delivered today, conservation groups urged the United States and international authorities to use sanctions to pressure Mexico to save the vaquita, whose population has dwindled to just 10 remaining animals. Despite repeated promises for decades, the Mexican government has failed to stop the use of deadly gillnets that are entangling, drowning and killing these porpoises — driving them to extinction.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect 10 Species Left in Regulatory Purgatory by Trump Administration
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit today over the Trump administration’s failure to provide Endangered Species Act protection to 10 species it admitted needed them. The species that have been kept waiting are the monarch butterfly, eastern gopher tortoise, Peñasco least chipmunk, longfin smelt, three Texas mussels, magnificent ramshorn snail, bracted twistflower and northern spotted owl.
Read more.Federal Officials Discount Reintroduction, Recovery Proposals for Grizzly Bears in Long-Overdue Status Report
MISSOULA, Mont.— In response to a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a status report on the threats facing grizzly bears in the lower 48 states that declines to evaluate reintroduction proposals for areas of the species’ historical range.
Read more.Court Halts Funding of Unwarranted Colorado Mountain Lion, Black Bear Cull
DENVER— The U.S. District Court of Colorado has ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the law by funding a Colorado Parks and Wildlife plan to kill hundreds of mountain lions and dozens of black bears without properly analyzing the risks to those animals’ populations and the rest of the environment.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Feds Ignoring Ocean Acidification in Oregon
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to recognize that Oregon’s coastal waters are impaired by ocean acidification related to climate change, so that action can be taken to combat the problem.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Oregon Coast Spring Chinook Salmon
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Native Fish Society and Umpqua Watersheds filed a notice today of their intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service to force it to decide whether Oregon coast spring-run Chinook salmon warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. The decision has been overdue since last September.
Read more.Court Rejects Rule Allowing Oil Company to Harass Endangered Cook Inlet Beluga Whales
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— A federal court in Alaska today rejected a rule issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service allowing Hilcorp Alaska LLC to harm and harass Cook Inlet beluga whales and other marine mammals incidental to its offshore oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet.
Read more.WHO Report: Wildlife Exploitation Likely Caused COVID-19 Pandemic
GENEVA— The SARS-CoV-2 virus likely originated from human exploitation of wildlife, according to today’s findings from a World Health Organization-led investigation.
Read more.More Than 100 Conservation Groups, Businesses Urge Interior’s Haaland to Reject Oil-drilling in Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve
WASHINGTON— More than 100 conservation groups and businesses urged the U.S. Department of the Interior today to deny requests to drill for oil in Big Cypress National Preserve. The preserve, which is part of the greater Everglades region and a unit of the National Park System, provides vital habitat for endangered Florida panthers and Florida bonneted bats.
Read more.Petition Asks Federal Officials to Protect Rare Plant’s Habitat From Nevada Mine
LAS VEGAS— Conservationists submitted a petition to the Bureau of Land Management today nominating 4,015 acres of surrounding habitat for the rare plant Tiehm’s buckwheat as an “area of critical environmental concern.” This includes a one-mile buffer zone and would give the highly imperiled plant new management protection.
Read more.Federal Judge Voids Western Colorado Fracking Plan, Requires New Analysis of Climate Harm
DENVER— A federal judge Friday approved the Bureau of Land Management’s request to rescind the Grand Junction resource management plan following a lawsuit by environmental groups challenging the agency’s failure to analyze its potential harm to the climate. The plan, which the agency must now redo, opened nearly 1 million acres of public land in western Colorado to fracking and drilling and prioritized fossil fuel production over all other public-lands values.
Read more.New Federal Study: Extremely Toxic Pesticide Breakdown Products Found in 90% of Streams Sampled Across U.S.
PORTLAND, Ore.— Pesticides and their highly toxic, long-lived breakdown products were found in 90% of the 442 U.S. streams sampled by federal scientists, according to a new study published this week by a journal of the American Chemical Society.
Read more.New Recovery Plans Will Help Save Southeast’s Critically Imperiled Salamanders
PANAMA CITY, Fla.— Following a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today published draft recovery plans for the critically endangered reticulated and frosted flatwoods salamanders in Florida and other southeastern states.
Read more.Wolf-Killing Rancher Loses Bid to Keep Public-Land Grazing Permit in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Craig Thiessen, the rancher responsible for the brutal death of young Mexican wolf Mia Tuk, lost his case Monday against the Gila National Forest. Thiessen had argued that the U.S. Forest Service couldn’t revoke his grazing permit because he has property rights to the Canyon del Buey grazing allotment. The Forest Service revoked Thiessen’s permit in 2019 after he pleaded guilty to violating the Endangered Species Act when he bludgeoned the trapped and collared wolf in 2015.
Read more.EPA Withdraws Trump-Era Permit for Virgin Islands Oil Refinery
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today withdrew a federal permit for the controversial Limetree Bay refinery on the Caribbean island of St. Croix.
Read more.Federal Officials Urged to Deny Another Subsidy for West Elk Coal Mine in Colorado National Forest
DENVER— Conservation groups urged the Bureau of Land Management today to deny another request from Mountain Coal to lower its royalty rates for the West Elk coal mine in Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect North Oregon Coast Red Tree Voles
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging a decision by the Trump administration to deny the north Oregon coast population of red tree voles protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Demanda impugna la aprobación de la EPA sobre el uso de antibióticos de importancia médica como plaguicida en cultivos de cítricos
WASHINGTON— Una coalición de grupos de interés público, incluidos trabajadores agrícolas, organizaciones de conservación y justicia de la salud, demandó hoy a la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA por sus siglas en inglés) por aprobar la fumigación generalizada de estreptomicina, un antibiótico de importancia médica, en árboles de cítricos para prevenir o tratar la enfermedad del enverdecimiento de los cítricos o cancro de los cítricos.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA Approval of Use of Medically Important Antibiotic as Pesticide on Citrus Crops
WASHINGTON— A coalition of public-interest groups, including farmworker, health-justice and conservation organizations, sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for approving widespread spraying of streptomycin, a medically important antibiotic, on citrus trees to prevent or treat citrus greening disease or citrus canker.
Read more.Elephants in Africa Face Grave Extinction Threat, New Expert Assessment Finds
GENEVA— In a long-awaited move, the International Union for Conservation of Nature announced today that elephants in Africa face a serious risk of extinction. At the same time, it is officially identifying African elephants as two distinct species: savanna elephants and forest elephants.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Restore Endangered Species Protection to American Burying Beetles
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s downlisting of the American burying beetle from endangered to threatened. The lawsuit asks for the reinstatement of the beetle’s status as endangered because the species continues to face threats from climate change and habitat destruction that are pushing it to the brink of extinction.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Federal Project Threatening Desert Tortoises, Other Imperiled Species in California Deserts
SAN FRANCISCO— Environmental groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Interior Department, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for authorizing activities in the California Desert Conservation Area that are driving desert tortoises and other threatened and endangered species toward extinction.
Read more.Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act Receives National Support
SAN FRANCISCO— Organizations and activists across the country are welcoming this week’s introduction of the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act in Congress by projecting anti-plastic messages on landmarks in seven major U.S. cities.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Denial of Crucial Habitat Protection to Endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee
WASHINGTON—Conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for refusing to designate critical habitat for the highly endangered rusty patched bumblebee.
Read more.Report: Montana’s Governor Illegally Trapped, Killed Gray Wolf Outside Yellowstone
BOZEMAN, Mont.— In violation of state regulations, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte trapped and killed a gray wolf on a ranch 10 miles north of Yellowstone National Park in February without first completing a state-required wolf-trapping certification class, according to the Mountain West News Bureau.
Read more.California’s Newest Wolf Reaches Fresno County
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— State wildlife agency officials announced late Monday that OR-93, a radio-collared wolf from Oregon who first entered California on Jan. 30, has now made it all the way south into Fresno County.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Reinstate Protections on 3.4 Million Acres of Critical Northern Spotted Owl Habitat
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups in the Pacific Northwest filed a legal challenge today to reinstate federal protections on more than 3.4 million acres of federal old-growth forests, which are essential for the survival of the threatened northern spotted owl. The lawsuit asks the court to reject a rule issued in the last days of the Trump administration that eliminated one-third of the critical habitat protections for the species.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Trump Administration’s Last-minute Pipeline Approval for California Desert Water Grab
LOS ANGELES— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management today for granting a right-of-way to Cadiz, Inc. to push billions of gallons of water through a mothballed oil-and-gas pipeline that crosses Mojave Trails National Monument and other protected public land in southeastern California.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Oil, Gas Leases in Central California
FRESNO, Calif.— Conservation groups sued the Bureau of Land Management today over the Trump administration’s rushed sale of seven oil and gas leases on public lands in Kern County, California.
Read more.New Mexico House of Representatives Approves Bill to Outlaw Traps, Wildlife Poisons on Public Land
SANTA FE, N.M.— With a close 35-34 vote, the New Mexico House of Representatives yesterday approved the Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act, also known as “Roxy’s Law,” which would prohibit traps, snares and poisons on public lands.
Read more.California Coastal Commission Orders End to Off-Roading at Oceano Dunes
OCEANO, Calif.— The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously (10-0) last night to completely phase out off-road vehicle use at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area over the next three years. The California Department of Parks and Recreation will be required to implement these coastal permit conditions, with a few minor amendments.
Read more.Study Finds Glyphosate in More Than Half of All Sampled Florida Manatees
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— A scientific study published this week concludes that Florida manatees are chronically exposed to glyphosate because of application of the pesticide to sugarcane and aquatic weeds.
Read more.Congress Urged to Overturn Trump Administration Rule That Prioritizes Oil, Gas Over Protecting Gulf of Mexico Corals
WASHINGTON— The Turtle Island Restoration Network, Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife called on Congress today to overturn a Trump administration rule from January that rolled back the planned expansion of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary is the only known nursery in the world for giant manta rays, and it offers important feeding grounds for sea turtles, sharks and many species of fish.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Statement on Georgia Killings, Rise of Violence Against Asians and Pacific Islanders Throughout United States
Statement from Kierán Suckling, executive director, Center for Biological Diversity:
Read more.Agreement Reached to Protect Endangered Mouse, Riparian Areas in Arizona’s White Mountains
TUCSON― Conservation groups and the U.S. Forest Service reached an agreement today to protect meadows and streams in eastern Arizona’s White Mountains from cows and horses. The riparian areas are home to the critically endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.
Read more.$37,000 Reward Offered for Info on Slain Mexican Wolf in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a combined reward of up to $37,000 for information leading to a conviction in connection with the suspicious death of a Mexican gray wolf found in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, near Eagar, Arizona.
Read more.Killing of Native Wildlife by Federal ‘Wildlife Services’ Declined Sharply in 2020
WASHINGTON— The arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture known as Wildlife Services reported killing 433,192 native animals in 2020, according to new data released by the program this week.
Read more.Congress Introduces Bill to Save Western Monarch Butterflies
WASHINGTON— A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation today that would provide $125 million in emergency funds over five years to save the western population of monarch butterflies from extinction.
Read more.Scientists Identify 20 Million Acre Habitat Area for Jaguars in Arizona, New Mexico
TUCSON, Ariz.— A team of scientists has identified a wide swath of habitat in Arizona and New Mexico — 20 million acres, or about 32,000 square miles — that could eventually support more than 150 jaguars.
Read more.Legal Petition Aims to Stop Utilities From Forcing Customers to Bankroll Anti-Environment Trade Groups
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today to prevent electric utilities from forcing customers to finance anti-environment trade groups.
Read more.Northwest Senators Urged to Reject Rep. Simpson’s Disastrous Plan for Endangered Salmon
PORTLAND, Ore.— A coalition of conservation, water policy, and agricultural sustainability groups representing millions of Americans is voicing the first environmental opposition to a proposed dam breaching deal that has, until now, garnered praise.
Read more.Legal Petition Asks Biden Administration to Extend Offshore Oil Leasing Halt
WASHINGTON— Conservation and Native American groups petitioned the Department of the Interior today to put a five-year block on the leasing of all federal waters for offshore oil and gas development. The petition cites climate change impacts, loss of biodiversity, and threats to coastal communities as urgent reasons for action.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Colorado’s Rubber-stamping of Air Pollution Permits for Oil, Fracked Gas Wells
DENVER— Conservation groups sued the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division today for issuing an air-pollution permit that will potentially allow thousands of new oil and fracked gas wells throughout the state.
Read more.Data From 10 States Shows Alarming Number of Utility Shutoffs During Pandemic
WASHINGTON— Utilities in just 10 states have reported at least 765,262 household power shutoffs since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis released today by the Center for Biological Diversity. Georgia Power, for example, reported more than 131,000 shutoffs — equivalent to 6% of its customers.
Read more.Inspiring New Leadership at Interior Department: Senate Confirms Deb Haaland
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Senate confirmed Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) today as the next Interior Department secretary. She becomes the first Native American to hold a cabinet position and the second highest-ranking enrolled Native American in history to serve in the federal government.
Read more.House Bill Introduced to Save Sacred Oak Flat, in Arizona, From Massive Copper Mine
TUCSON, Ariz.— U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced the Save Oak Flat Act today to protect the Indigenous sacred site in central Arizona from being destroyed by a massive copper mine.
Read more.On COVID Anniversary, Justice Groups Gather in D.C. to Demand Utility-shutoffs Moratorium
WASHINGTON— The national #NoShutOffs Coalition and We Power DC mobilized today outside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services building to call on President Biden and local D.C. officials to impose a moratorium on power, water and broadband shutoffs.
Read more.Forest Service Denies Heliskiing Permit Application in Centennial Mountains
BOZEMAN, Mont.— The U.S. Forest Service denied a permit application today for heliskiing in the Centennial Mountains, an important wildlife corridor for grizzly bears, wolves and other wildlife in southwest Montana and Idaho.
Read more.Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers Rose to 186 in 2020
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. population of endangered Mexican gray wolves grew by 23 animals, from 163 in in 2019 to 186 in 2020, according to a legal filing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The March 10 filing is part of the agency’s request for an extension of time to rewrite its 2015 Mexican wolf management rule, which the U.S. District Court in Arizona struck down in 2018.
Read more.Kern County Sued Over Fast-tracking of Tens of Thousands of New Oil Wells
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— Community and environmental groups filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging Kern County’s adoption of an ordinance that would fast-track permitting for oil and gas projects and eliminate future environmental reviews and public participation.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Rare Montana Plant
BILLINGS, Mont.— Conservation groups filed a petition today with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the thick-leaf bladderpod under the Endangered Species Act. The rare plant is found in a small area of southern Montana’s Pryor Desert, where it is supposed to be protected, but instead is under imminent threat by gypsum mining.
Read more.Environmental Justice Activists to Rally in D.C. for Moratorium on Utility Shutoffs
WASHINGTON— One year after COVID-19 was declared a national emergency, the national #NoShutOffs coalition and the D.C.-based We Power DC will mobilize Saturday outside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to call on President Joe Biden and HHS Acting Secretary Nathan Cochran to issue a nationwide utility-shutoff moratorium. The socially distanced action will also urge local officials to extend the soon-expiring D.C. moratorium on Pepco disconnections.
Read more.Court: Interior Department Failed to Provide Records on Trump Administration Collusion With Coal Industry
WASHINGTON— The chief judge of the federal district court in D.C. ruled yesterday that Trump officials unlawfully failed to provide public records to the Center for Biological Diversity about their decision to reverse the Obama administration’s “pause” on coal extraction on federal public lands.
Read more.Hawai‘i Senate Bill Bans Harmful Sunscreen Chemicals
HONOLULU— Sunscreens containing two harmful petrochemicals, avobenzone and octocrylene, would be banned from sale in Hawai‘i under a bill passed today by the Hawai‘i Senate.
Read more.Court Blocks Oil, Gas Extraction on Ohio’s Only National Forest
COLUMBUS, Ohio― A federal judge blocked new oil and gas leasing and fracking in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest late Monday, following a ruling last year rebuking the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service for failing to consider threats to public health, endangered species and watersheds before opening more than 40,000 acres of the forest to fracking.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Nevada’s Fish Lake Valley Tui Chub
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today seeking Endangered Species Act protections for the critically imperiled Fish Lake Valley tui chub.
Read more.Congress Urged to Provide $100 Million Per Year to Save Monarch Butterflies
WASHINGTON— More than 80 groups today called on Congress to provide $100 million per year for the conservation of monarch butterflies to help stem their rapid population decline and prevent them from slipping further towards extinction.
Read more.Missouri Population of Eastern Hellbenders Granted Endangered Species Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated the Missouri distinct population of the eastern hellbender salamander as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Read more.New York Court Upholds State Ban on Ivory, Rhino Horn Sales
NEW YORK— A federal court in New York on Friday upheld the state’s ban on sales and in-store displays of elephant and mammoth ivory and rhino horn — rejecting claims that the ban was unconstitutional. The Art and Antique Dealers League of America and the National Antique and Art Dealers Association of America challenged the law in 2018.
Read more.EPA Reopens Consideration of National Climate Pollution Cap
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency has reopened consideration of a nationwide greenhouse gas pollution cap under the Clean Air Act, moving Thursday to withdraw the Trump administration’s last-day denial of a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity and 350.org.
Read more.California Court Stops Big Bear Development From Relying on Expired, Decades-old Permits
FAWNSKIN, Calif.— A California Superior Court judge has ruled in favor of conservation groups and found that the Marina Point Development on the shores of Big Bear Lake lacks valid permits. The project threatened habitat for bald eagles and other wildlife.
Read more.Willamette Valley Prairie Flower Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Bradshaw’s desert parsley, a wet-prairie wildflower found in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and adjacent southwestern Washington, has fully recovered and can be removed from the endangered species list.
Read more.Facebook Live Workshop on Radioactive Phosphogypsum Pollution March 8
TAMPA, Fla.— Conservation, public-health and faith-based community groups will host an online workshop at 8 p.m. EST on Monday, March 8 to share information about how radioactive phosphogypsum waste threatens their communities and how people can collectively fight back.
Read more.Study: Climate Change Contributing to Widespread Butterfly Decline Across Western United States
WASHINGTON— A study published today in Science found that climate change is contributing to widespread butterfly decline across the western United States. Using three different long-term datasets from the western U.S., the authors found downward trends in a majority of butterflies, including historically common species like the west coast lady.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Seattle Harbor Expansion’s Impacts on Endangered Orcas
SEATTLE— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to consider the harm shipping traffic will do to critically endangered orcas when it approved plans to expand Seattle Harbor, the Center for Biological Diversity said in a federal lawsuit filed today.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Overturn Denial of Endangered Species Protection for Eastern Hellbenders
NEW YORK— Conservation groups filed a formal notice of intent today to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its decision in April 2019 to deny Endangered Species Act protection to eastern hellbenders. These river-dwelling salamanders can grow longer than 2 feet and live in clear, fast-flowing mountain streams in 15 southeastern, midwestern and northeastern states. They have now been eliminated from much of their historic range.
Read more.Buscan la protección de flores silvestres de Arizona y México y bajo la Ley de Especies Amenazadas en EEUU
TUCSON, Ariz.— En respuesta a una petición del Centro para la Diversidad Biológica y la Sociedad Audubon de Maricopa, el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de los Estados Unidos propuso hoy la protección bajo la Ley de Especies Amenazadas del eryngo de Arizona, una planta en peligro crítico que habita en humedales en sólo cuatro poblaciones sobrevivientes en Arizona y México (Sonora y Chihuahua). El eryngo anteriormente también vivía en un lugar en Nuevo México, pero ahora se ha ido del estado.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Proposed for Rare Arizona, Mexico Wildflower
TUCSON, Ariz.— In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed Endangered Species Act protection for Arizona eryngo, a critically imperiled wetland plant with only four surviving populations in Arizona and Mexico. The eryngo formerly also lived in one place in New Mexico but is now gone from the state.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Threatened Iconic Hawaiian Forest Bird
HONOLULU— The Center for Biological Diversity today sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate critical habitat and develop a recovery plan for the threatened ‘i‘iwi, the best known of Hawai‘i’s imperiled honeycreepers.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Obtain Protected Critical Habitat for Secretive Eastern Black Rail
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a Trump administration decision that protecting critical habitat for a threatened bird called the eastern black rail was “not prudent.” Under Trump the agency absurdly claimed that such a designation would expose the species to threats from “overzealous birders.”
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Eleventh-hour Approval of Dangerous Pesticide Banned in More Than 100 Countries
WASHINGTON— Public-interest groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today over its rushed decision in the final days of the Trump administration to reapprove previously cancelled uses of the dangerous pesticide aldicarb on Florida oranges and grapefruits.
Read more.House Democrats’ Climate Bill Fails to Meet Urgent Crisis
WASHINGTON— House Energy and Commerce Democrats introduced revamped legislation today that aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but it fails to set adequate measures to meet those goals.
Read more.Court Orders U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Determine Whether Northern Long-eared Bat Warrants Listing as Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether the northern long-eared bat warrants listing as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act by December 2022 after remanding the Service’s flawed threatened listing last year.
Read more.Legal Challenge: Duke Energy Plan Would Supersize Climate Pollution, Waste Billions on Unused Power Plants
DURHAM, N.C.— NC WARN and the Center for Biological Diversity have filed a legal challenge to Duke Energy’s plan to build scores of gas-fired power plants in the Carolinas even though huge amounts of excess generation already sit unused during the worst winter weather.
Read more.Congress Urged to Boost Funding for Endangered Species Conservation by $300 Million
WASHINGTON— More than 170 groups today urged Congress to significantly increase the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s budget for endangered species conservation from $291.7 million to $592.1 million — an increase of about $300 million over last year’s budget.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Sacramento Mountains Checkerspot Butterfly
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition today seeking Endangered Species Act protection for imperiled Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterflies. The orange-and-black checkered butterflies are found only in high-elevation meadows around the village of Cloudcroft, in the Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico.
Read more.Bureau of Land Management Rescinds Illegal Grazing Decision Day After Conservationists Sued to Overturn It
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Bureau of Land Management today rescinded the grazing decision that was the subject of a federal lawsuit filed yesterday by conservation groups to overturn a Trump administration decision allowing an unqualified ranching company to graze cattle on Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon.
Read more.New Drilling Project in Bay Area Wetlands Meets Resistance
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity joined with a dozen environmental and health advocacy groups today in a letter urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reject a new methane gas well that would be drilled on the shores of Suisun Bay in Northern California.
Read more.California’s Newest Wolf Travels Far South to Mono County
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— State wildlife agency officials announced late on Thursday that wolf OR-93, a radio-collared wolf from Oregon who first entered California on Jan. 30, has traveled far south, reaching Mono County, east of Yosemite National Park in the central Sierra Nevada, on Feb. 25. This is the farthest south a wolf has traveled in California in modern times.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Last-Minute Trump Administration Grazing Decision in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups sued federal officials today to overturn an eleventh-hour Trump administration decision to allow an unqualified ranching company to graze cattle on four federal allotments, known as the Bridge Creek allotments, on Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon.
Read more.Eastern Monarch Butterfly Population Falls Again
WASHINGTON— The yearly count of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico, released today, continues to show a dramatic decline in this imperiled species. Today’s count of 2.10 hectares (5.2 acres) of occupied winter habitat is down 26% from last year’s count. The minimum population threshold needed to be out of the danger zone of extinction is six hectares.
Read more.Utah Bill Would Allow Public Funding to Expand Fossil Fuel Extraction, Worsen Climate Crisis
SALT LAKE CITY— The Utah House of Representatives will consider a bill to expand the use of public funds intended to help communities deal with harms from mineral development on federal public lands, allowing the money to fund projects benefitting the fossil fuel industry.
Read more.Report: Sprawl in Fire-prone Areas Endangers Californians, Increases Damages, Fire-suppression Costs
LOS ANGELES— As California lawmakers consider a bill that would limit sprawl development in blaze-prone areas, a new report highlights how rampant construction in high fire-risk wildlands is putting more people in harm’s way and contributing to a dramatic increase in costs associated with fire suppression and damages.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Imperiled California Fish
CLEAR LAKE, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent today to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the Clear Lake hitch, a large minnow found only in Northern California’s Clear Lake and its tributaries. The Trump administration denied the fish protection in a December 2020 determination.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Endangered Wildlife, Plants From Dangerous Smog
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s failure to assess harms to endangered plants and animals when determining the national air pollution standard for smog.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Endorses Oregon Bill to End Mink Farming, Compensate State's Few Remaining Producers
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity has endorsed a bill by Oregon state Sen. Floyd Prozanski to phase out mink farming in the state by the end of the year. The legislation, Senate Bill 832, follows similar actions taken by Ireland and the Netherlands to permanently close all mink farms and discontinue mink-breeding programs in order to protect public health against the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases. A report published in Science in January determined that the virus is transmissible between mink and humans. If lawmakers adopted this bill, Oregon would lead the nation by being the first state to adopt a prohibition on mink farming, joining other nations that have banned the practice.
Read more.FERC Urged to Open Tennessee Valley Authority to Clean Energy Sources
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a brief before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, in a proceeding that could help push the Tennessee Valley Authority region toward clean, climate-friendly sources of energy. The TVA is a federally owned corporation and the nation’s largest public power provider.
Read more.Newsom Administration Sued Over Thousands of Unlawful Oil, Gas Projects
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the state of California today for approving thousands of oil and gas drilling and fracking projects without the required environmental review.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Urged to Rescind Agreement With NRA
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to rescind a Trump-era agreement that established a 10-year partnership with the National Rifle Association.
Read more.Online Rally for Snake River Restoration, Dam Removal to Be Held Feb. 25
SEATTLE— A coalition of conservation groups will hold a large virtual rally Feb. 25 to encourage national leaders to support restoration of the Snake and Columbia River ecosystems, which includes removal of the four lower Snake River dams.
Read more.Court Upholds Protection for California’s Western Joshua Trees
FRESNO, Calif.— A Fresno County Superior Court judge has rejected an effort by construction and real estate interests, along with the city of Hesperia, to strip away legal protections that currently apply to the imperiled western Joshua tree.
Read more.Injunction Sought to Block Oak Flat Land Trade for Massive Arizona Copper Mine
PHOENIX— Tribal and conservation groups asked a federal judge today to block a land trade that would hand over thousands of acres in the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona to multinational mining company Rio Tinto for the massive Resolution Copper mine. The Oak Flat area, considered sacred by Apache and other Native people, would be destroyed by the mine.
Read more.Dozens of Groups Urge Congress to Support Energy Justice Spending in Next Infrastructure Package
WASHINGTON— Twenty-six conservation and energy justice organizations today called for the next infrastructure bill to include support for creating energy microgrids, expanding solar projects in low-wealth communities and increasing funding for rural clean energy programs. This week’s widespread power outages in Texas and Oregon show the nation’s power system is ill-equipped to handle extreme weather due to climate change, which disproportionately harms low-wealth families.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Failure to Update Marine Mammal Assessments
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network sued the federal government today for failing to update population analyses for polar bears, walruses, sea otters and manatees, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Read more.Thousands Urge Biden to Commit U.S. to Doing Fair Share on Climate
WASHINGTON— Just days before the reentry of the United States into the Paris Agreement becomes official, environmental groups delivered a petition to the Biden administration signed by more than 50,000 Americans demanding that the U.S. commit to cutting its fair share of emissions.
Read more.California Senate Bill Aims to End Fracking, Neighborhood Drilling
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— State Sens. Scott Wiener and Monique Limón introduced a bill in the California legislature today that would end hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in California by 2023. The legislation is supported by a broad coalition of environmental, public health and community groups.
Read more.Colorado Governor, Wildlife Officials Urged to Adopt Clearer, Quicker Wolf Restoration Plan
DENVER— Dozens of organizations and scientists sent a letter to Gov. Jared Polis and the leaders of Colorado Parks and Wildlife today warning of a “perilously cumbersome process” already underway in developing a wolf restoration and management plan.
Read more.Opening Brief Filed in Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s Expansion of Bee-killing Insecticide Sulfoxaflor
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Food Safety and the Center for Biological Diversity filed the opening brief yesterday in their lawsuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the pollinator-killing insecticide sulfoxaflor.
Read more.Video Seems to Show Border Wall Construction Ripping Through Jaguar Critical Habitat in Arizona
NOGALES, Ariz.— Video footage shared with the Center for Biological Diversity seems to show construction equipment leveling Arizona mountains in critical habitat for endangered jaguars, in an apparent violation of President Biden’s proclamation halting border wall construction. The footage was reportedly shot on Wednesday, Feb. 10, by members of the Tucson Samaritans, who shared it with the Center.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Fight EPA Approval of Pennsylvania’s Flawed, Outdated Plan for Reducing Dangerous Air Pollution From Oil, Methane Gas Industries
PHILADELPHIA— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of Pennsylvania’s inadequate, outdated plan to clean up smog from the methane gas industry.
Read more.Biden Administration Cancels Offshore Oil Lease Sale in Gulf of Mexico
WASHINGTON— The Biden administration has cancelled a March 17 oil and gas lease sale that would have auctioned off over 78 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management also recently cancelled the public meetings and comment period for an upcoming fossil fuel lease sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet.
Read more.Federal Judge Overturns Trump Administration’s Gutting of Sage-Grouse Protections from Mining
BOISE, Idaho— A federal judge today overturned a Trump administration decision to strip protections from 10 million acres, mostly in Nevada and Idaho, to allow mining in vital habitat for greater sage grouse. The ruling is the latest in a series of court victories for sage grouse conservation.
Read more.Biden Urged to Pull Unlawful Trump, G.W. Bush Endangered Species Act Rules
WASHINGTON— More than two dozen leading scientists and law professors led by Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Program and the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned President Joe Biden today to immediately rescind key policies that restrict the government’s consideration of harms from greenhouse gas emissions on animals such as the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Fight EPA’s Delay in Reducing Air Pollution From Oil, Methane Gas Industries in Six States
WASHINGTON— Two conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that adequate plans are in place to control air pollution from the oil and methane gas industry in six states.
Read more.10,000 Endangered Species Condoms to Be Distributed This Valentine’s Day
TUCSON, Ariz.— Ten thousand free Endangered Species Condoms will be given away across the country by the Center for Biological Diversity on Valentine’s Day to help couples consider population growth’s threat to wildlife and the planet. Distributions will occur at socially distanced events like the Valentine’s Dinner at the Oklahoma City Zoo and the adult-only Frolics of Florida at the Tallahassee Museum.
Read more.Army Corps Receives More Than 5,500 Letters Demanding It Revoke Formosa Plastics’ Permit
NEW ORLEANS— A campaign by groups opposing Formosa Plastics’ proposed petrochemical complex in St. James Parish, Louisiana, has generated more than 5,500 letters to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers demanding the project’s federal permit be revoked due to environmental justice, wetlands destruction and pollution concerns. The coalition held demonstrations Tuesday outside the Army Corps office in New Orleans, at the project site in St. James and in San Francisco, with another protest planned for Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Fight EPA’s Delay in Ensuring Smog Reduction in California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Hampshire
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health filed a legal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that numerous major metropolitan regions have effective plans to reduce dangerous smog pollution.
Read more.Treaty Commission to Scrutinize Mexico’s Loggerhead Sea Turtle Deaths
MONTREAL— An environmental body established under the NAFTA replacement, the newly negotiated United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, concluded that the deaths of hundreds of loggerhead sea turtles in Mexico due to fishing gear entanglement warrant a formal response from Mexico and further review under the treaty.
Read more.Hundreds of Groups Urge Biden to Protect Oak Flat, Reject Environmental Analysis
TUCSON, Ariz.— More than 200 conservation, Indigenous, religious and business groups urged President Biden today to withdraw the approval of a land exchange that would trade away Oak Flat, an Apache sacred site on the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona, to a mining company.
Read more.Tennessee Valley Authority Must Commit to 100% Clean Energy, Align With Biden Climate Goal
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— The federally owned Tennessee Valley Authority must align its energy planning with President Biden’s recent executive order requiring that the federal electricity sector completely decarbonize by 2035, energy justice groups said today in a letter to the public utility’s board of directors.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Endangered Wildlife, Plants From Dangerous Soot
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s failure to assess harm to endangered plants and animals when determining the national air pollution standard for soot.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Housing Development on Restorable San Francisco Bay Wetlands
NEWARK, Calif.— The Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a legal appeal today challenging the approval of the “Sanctuary West” housing development that would fill restorable San Francisco Bay wetlands and construct 469 luxury housing units in a Federal Emergency Management Agency flood zone.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Army Corps’ Failure to Protect Endangered Wildlife From Nationwide Permit Program
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Waterkeeper Alliance and allies issued a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for failing to ensure that Nationwide Permits reissued during the final days of the Trump administration will not jeopardize endangered species and critical habitat across the country. These Nationwide Permits allow for streamlined industrial development such as oil pipelines, coal mines, and marine aquaculture facilities through waterways across the country, resulting in the destruction of tens of thousands of acres of streams, rivers and wetlands.
Read more.EPA Petitioned to Protect Communities, Environment From Radioactive Phosphogypsum Stacks, Wastewater
WASHINGTON— Conservation and public-health groups petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency today to improve federal oversight of the radioactive waste produced by phosphogypsum facilities, including wastewater from phosphoric acid production.
Read more.Work on ConocoPhillips Oil Project in Western Arctic Challenged in Court
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Conservation groups filed an appeal and plan to request an emergency order today in the 9th Circuit Court Appeals to block ConocoPhillips’ work on its Willow oil and gas drilling project in the Western Arctic. They had sued the Trump administration in December for failing to study climate change and other impacts before approving the project’s final development plan. [UPDATE, Feb 7: The federal district judge granted a temporary injunction blocking work until Feb. 20.]
Read more.Congressional Bill Urges Biden to Declare Climate Emergency
WASHINGTON— Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill today that would require President Joe Biden to use the power he already has to declare a climate emergency under the National Emergencies Act.
Read more.Burnett Oil Seeks Permit to Drill in Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve
MIAMI– Conservation groups sent a letter to state and federal agencies today opposing Burnett Oil Company’s request to the state of Florida for permits to develop oil infrastructure to facilitate new oil drilling in the Everglades, inside Big Cypress National Preserve.
Read more.Coalition Submits Amicus Brief in Nangaritza Case Calling for Bold Application of Rights of Nature in Ecuador
QUITO, Ecuador— A coalition of forest experts, river protectors and law professors submitted an amicus brief this week to Ecuador's Constitutional Court calling for a robust application of the “Rights of Nature” to protect the Upper Nangaritza River Basin Protected Forest ("Bosque Protector de la Cuenca Alta del Rio Nangaritza”) from dangerous and harmful mining. This is the latest case in a series that the Constitutional Court will draw from to determine what the Rights of Nature means in practice.
Read more.Legal Action Contests Reopening of Controversial Refinery in U.S. Virgin Islands
ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands— Community and conservation groups filed a legal appeal today challenging the federal permit for the controversial Limetree Bay refinery on the Caribbean island of St. Croix that started operating this week. The long-shuttered, pollution-plagued Limetree refinery has been one of the world’s biggest oil-processing facilities.
Read more.Biden Administration Urged to Reverse Trump Failures on Foreign Wildlife Protections
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today urging the Biden administration to protect 19 imperiled species found outside U.S. borders. The animals include a beautiful Brazilian butterfly and a woodpecker threatened by U.S. jungle warfare training activities in Okinawa.
Read more.Appeal Targets U.S. Wildlife Agency’s Refusal to Consider California Condor’s Significance to Tribal Groups in Approving Luxury Resort
LOS ANGELES— Conservation and tribal groups today appealed a recent court ruling that the California condor doesn’t qualify as a traditional Native American cultural property under federal law.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ignores Biden Executive Order to Review Trump Wolf Delisting
WASHINGTON— Just one week after President Biden ordered a broad review of the Trump administration’s anti-wildlife policies, including the decision to strip Endangered Species Act protections from gray wolves, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service summarily asserted today that the previous administration’s decision to delist the gray wolf was valid in a cursory, three-paragraph letter to conservation groups.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for American Bumblebee
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to grant Endangered Species Act protection to the American bumblebee.
Read more.Washington OKs Controversial Training Program for Hound Hunting
SEATTLE— The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 4-3 today to finalize new rules allowing hunters to use hounds to chase cougars and other wildlife. The controversial new rules specify which hunters can participate in the program and which requirements they must follow.
Read more.Biden Executive Order Pushes for Protection of 30% of America’s Land, Oceans
WASHINGTON— President Joe Biden will issue an executive order today directing federal officials to protect 30% of the country’s lands and ocean waters by 2030, part of an effort to slow the wildlife extinction crisis and curb global warming.
Read more.Biden Administration Halts Oil and Gas Leasing of Federal Lands, Oceans
WASHINGTON— President Joe Biden will issue an executive order today suspending new oil and gas leasing of federal lands and waters. The order is a first step toward fulfilling a Biden campaign pledge and a request made last month by the Center for Biological Diversity and almost 600 other organizations for an end to leasing and permitting for oil and gas extraction on public lands and oceans.
Read more.32 Colorado Groups Support Biden’s Expected Pledge to Halt New Fossil Fuel Leasing, Permitting on Public Lands
DENVER— As President Biden prepares to announce a ban on new oil and gas leasing and permitting on public lands and oceans, 32 climate, conservation, religious and business groups in Colorado today announced support for the move in a letter to the president.
Read more.Federal Bill Proposes Fracking, Drilling Halt on California’s Central Coast, Bay Area
WASHINGTON— U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) reintroduced legislation today to create a moratorium on fracking and drilling along California’s Central Coast and in the Bay Area.
Read more.Millions of Americans, Hundreds of Groups Support Halting Fossil Fuel Leasing, Permitting on Public Lands, Oceans
WASHINGTON— Environmental justice, Indigenous, climate and conservation groups from across the country announced today that in recent years they’ve delivered millions of petitions and public comments, and letters from hundreds of organizations, supporting a halt on new fossil fuel leasing and permitting on public lands and oceans.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Review of Massive Arizona Copper Mine That Would Destroy Sacred Oak Flat
PHOENIX— Tribal and conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service Friday to stop a land trade that would hand over thousands of acres in the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona to a London-based mining company. The Oak Flat area, considered sacred by Apache and other Native people, would be destroyed by multinational mining company Rio Tinto for a massive copper mine.
Read more.Flawed Federal Analysis of Endangered Right Whales Prompts Records Request
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a public records request with the National Marine Fisheries Service today to find out why Trump administration officials failed to urgently protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from entanglement in commercial fishing lines. The request seeks communications related to the agency’s draft biological opinion on 10 Atlantic fisheries issued in the final days of the Trump administration.
Read more.Buscan la protección del tiburón mako y pepino de mar en México
LA PAZ, México— El Centro para la Diversidad Biológica presentó una petición hoy con la que se busca la protección del tiburón mako de aleta corta y el pepino de mar verrugoso bajo la Norma de México NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, que enlista las especies en riesgo. La industria pesquera mexicana captura miles de ambas especies cada año.
Read more.Shortfin Mako Shark, Warty Sea Cucumber Protection Sought in Mexico
LA PAZ, Mexico— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition today seeking protection for the shortfin mako shark and warty sea cucumber under Mexico’s Standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, the nation’s list of species at risk. The Mexican fishing industry catches thousands of both species every year.
Read more.Biden Administration Announces Major Steps to Protect Climate, Wildlife
WASHINGTON— As President Joe Biden takes office today, his administration announced a series of steps aimed at combating the climate crisis and protecting wildlife from extinction. These include reentering the Paris Agreement, cancelling the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, and imposing a moratorium on oil leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Read more.Washington Rejects Massive Methanol Refinery
TACOMA, Wash.— The Washington Department of Ecology denied permits today for the massive fracked gas-to-methanol Kalama Methanol Refinery. The department nixed the fossil fuel processing and export proposal after deciding it would have a significant negative impact on the climate, Washington’s shorelines and the public interest.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Secure Critical Habitat for Rare Southeast Minnow
NEW ORLEANS— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agency’s failure to designate critical habitat for the Pearl darter.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Gutting of Federal Protection for Migratory Birds
NEW YORK— National environmental groups filed a lawsuit today in the Southern District of New York challenging the Trump administration’s reinterpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which eliminated longstanding, vital protections for more than 1,000 species of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Failure to Protect Rare L.A. Fish Known for Elaborate Mating Rituals
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect Southern California’s unarmored threespine stickleback, a tiny scaleless fish known for its elaborate mating rituals.
Read more.Oregon Officials Petitioned to Add Farmed Mink to State Prohibited Species List
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a rulemaking petition today asking the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to add mink to the state’s prohibited species list.
Read more.Legal Filing Responds to Tejon Ranchcorp’s Effort to Stifle Public Dissent
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a response today to Tejon Ranchcorp’s legal effort to seek $347,000 in fees from Center attorneys after the nonprofit organization and tribal groups challenged a plan to build a luxury resort on thousands of acres of critical habitat for the California condor.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Finalize Endangered Species Act Protection for Sierra Nevada Red Fox, Hermes Copper Butterfly, Two Southwestern Plants
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to protect four imperiled species under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Failure to Cut Airplane Climate Pollution
WASHINGTON— Environmental groups sued the Trump administration today over its finalization of the nation’s first-ever airplane climate emissions standards, which don’t actually reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Fight Trump EPA’s Delay in Reducing Air Pollution From Oil, Methane Gas Industries in California, Chicago
WASHINGTON— Two conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to require adequate pollution controls for the oil and methane gas industry in Chicago and six areas of California — together home to more than 26 million people. Many of these areas already have some of the worst air quality in the country.
Read more.Trump Administration Flouts Law to Push Utah Highway Through Protected Conservation Lands
ST. GEORGE, Utah— The Trump administration issued a decision today to allow construction of the Northern Corridor Highway, a controversial four-lane highway through the protected Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in southwest Utah.
Read more.Lawsuits Challenge Trump Administration’s Latest Assaults on Endangered Species Act
HONOLULU— Earthjustice filed two lawsuits today in the District of Hawai‘i in response to the outgoing administration’s most recent attacks on the Endangered Species Act, the law that serves as the last safety net for animals and plants facing extinction.
Read more.Earthjustice Sues on Behalf of Conservation Groups to Stop EPA Rubber-stamping Florida Wetlands Destruction
WASHINGTON— Earthjustice filed suit today to stop an attempt by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow Florida to fast-track wetlands permits for construction projects that will degrade and ruin Florida’s natural landscape, all in violation of federal environmental laws.
Read more.Letter to Forest Service: Stop Cutting Down Centuries-old Trees on Grand Canyon’s North Rim
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity called on the U.S. Forest Service today to stop cutting down old-growth trees on northern Arizona’s Kaibab Plateau, an antiquated practice that worsens climate change, increases wildfire risk and damages forest ecosystems. In recent months commercial logging companies have felled hundreds of ancient, yellow-barked ponderosa pines on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Over Gray Wolf Delisting
SAN FRANCISCO— Six environmental groups filed a lawsuit today against the Trump administration’s rule that removed Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the lower-48 states (except for a small population of Mexican gray wolves in Arizona and New Mexico). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made its decision despite the science that concludes wolves are still functionally extinct in the vast majority of their former range across the continental United States.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Endangered Whales in California Shipping Lanes
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect endangered whales from being struck by ships using ports in California. Ship strikes are a leading cause of death for blue, fin and humpback whales off California’s coast.
Read more.New Congress Called on to Fix Public Records Delays, Political Manipulation
WASHINGTON— More than a dozen conservation and transparency groups called on the new Congress today to fix systemic issues and close loopholes that allow federal agencies to delay releases of public records under the Freedom of Information Act.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Joins IUCN as Member
GENEVA, Switzerland— The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) admitted the Center for Biological Diversity as an official member this week. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. There are currently more than 1,400 government and nongovernmental IUCN members from more than 170 nations.
Read more.Judge Blocks Los Angeles Development That Threatens Local Mountain Lions
LOS ANGELES— In a victory against a destructive project threatening local mountain lions, a judge issued a ruling Monday blocking the 1,300-acre Northlake development. Proposed on fire-prone wildlands in northern Los Angeles County, the development would have imperiled rare wildlife and paved over a pristine stream that flows into the Santa Clara River.
Read more.Feds Dramatically Cut Northern Spotted Owl Protected Habitat
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today published a final revised critical habitat designation for the northern spotted owl that excludes nearly 3.5 million acres, mostly in Oregon, from federal protections. This is a massive increase from the 204,653 acres in Oregon the Service proposed to exclude in August.
Read more.Trump EPA Approves Treating Citrus With Dangerous Pesticide Banned in More Than 100 Nations, Medically Important Antibiotic
WASHINGTON—The Environmental Protection Agency has approved use of the dangerous, previously-cancelled pesticide aldicarb and the medically important antibiotic streptomycin on citrus.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered Fish From Drilling, Fracking in Nevada
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity issued a formal notice today of its intent to sue the Bureau of Land Management for failing to protect the endangered Railroad Valley springfish from oil drilling and fracking in central Nevada.
Read more.Feds Sued to Force Them to Protect Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales From Vessel Strikes
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the National Marine Fisheries Service today for failing to respond to two rulemaking petitions to protect critically endangered right whales from being run over and killed by ships and boats in U.S. waters. The groups are calling for more speed limits to reduce the number of vessel strikes.
Read more.600 Groups Urge Biden to Halt Water, Electricity, Broadband Shutoffs With Emergency Executive Order on First Day
WASHINGTON— More than 600 utility-justice, environmental, racial justice, labor and faith groups delivered a letter today to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris urging their administration to halt utility shutoffs nationwide to protect public health.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Failure to Develop Recovery Plans for Two Critically Imperiled Salamanders
PANAMA CITY, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf sued the Trump administration today for failing to issue recovery plans for the critically endangered reticulated and frosted flatwoods salamanders.
Read more.Federal Court Rejects Bid by EPA, Pesticide Industry to Keep Bee-killing Pesticide Sulfoxaflor on Market Despite Risks to Endangered Species
SAN FRANCISCO— The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today rejected the Environmental Protection Agency’s request to allow farmers to continue using the bee-killing pesticide sulfoxaflor while the agency assessed the pesticide’s harm to endangered species.
Read more.Trump Administration Refuses to Address Significant Flaws in Greater Sage-grouse Plans
BOISE, Idaho— The Bureau of Land Management announced Monday that it is standing by its 2019 greater sage grouse land-use plans for seven western states, making no changes to the plans after reanalyzing them in supplemental environmental impact statements.
Read more.Groups Challenge Trump Administration’s Sale of 58,000 Acres for Drilling in Montana, North Dakota
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— A coalition of groups today challenged five Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease sales encompassing 112 parcels and 58,297 acres of federal public lands in Montana and North Dakota. The lawsuit claims the agency failed to fully assess the potential harm oil and gas extraction would have on the area’s groundwater and ignored cumulative climate impacts.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Trump Plan to Accelerate Clearcutting, Herbicide Spraying, Fuel Breaks Across Six Western States
RENO, Nev.— Conservation groups filed formal notice today of their intent to sue the Trump administration for violations of the Endangered Species Act stemming from two last-minute decisions authorizing widespread clearcutting, herbicide spraying, grazing, plowing and prescribed fire across 223 million acres of Bureau of Land Management public lands in the Great Basin.
Read more.Instan a México a oponerse al muro de Trump y ayudar a restaurar los recursos naturales y culturales
CIUDAD DE MÉXICO— Grupos conservacionistas mexicanos, científicos y los líderes tradicionales O'odham de México instaron hoy al gobierno mexicano a oponerse a que se siga construyendo el muro fronterizo, condenar la destrucción ambiental y trabajar con la administración Biden para reabrir los corredores de vida silvestre cortados por el muro de Trump.
Read more.Letter Urges Mexico to Oppose Trump’s Wall, Help Restore Natural, Cultural Resources
MEXICO CITY— Mexican conservation groups, scientists and the Traditional O’odham Leaders of Mexico today urged the Mexican government to oppose further border-wall construction, condemn the wall’s environmental destruction, and work with the Biden administration to reopen wildlife corridors severed by Trump’s wall.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect American Burying Beetle From Extinction
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the Trump administration’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for downlisting the American burying beetle from endangered to threatened. The Service reduced the species’ level of federal protection despite its own admission that climate change and habitat destruction have put it on the brink of extinction.
Read more.Interior Least Tern Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the interior least tern, a small bird that nests along major rivers in the midwestern and southern United States, has fully recovered and can be removed from the endangered species list.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Secure Critical Habitat for Florida Freshwater Mussel
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agency’s failure to designate critical habitat for the Suwannee moccasinshell, found in north Florida.
Read more.$5,000 Reward Offered for Info on ‘TRUMP’ Writing on Florida Manatee’s Back
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity today announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in an incident involving a threatened Florida manatee in north Florida’s Homosassa River. A statement issued late today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates that someone apparently scratched the word TRUMP into algae on the animal's back.
Read more.Feds to Be Sued for Weakening Sea Turtle Protections
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups issued a formal notice today of their intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service for drastically weakening rules that prevent sea turtles from dying in shrimp trawl nets.
Read more.Scientists, Conservation Groups, Politicians Urge Biden Administration to Immediately Protect Tiehm’s Buckwheat
LAS VEGAS— More than 100 scientists, 15 conservation and botany groups, and three prominent Nevada politicians urged the incoming Biden administration today to immediately protect the rare wildflower Tiehm’s buckwheat under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Feds Launch New Assault on Endangered Species, Public Lands
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration proposed a rule today that would cripple protections for endangered species on public lands across the country.
Read more.Trump Administration Rushes to Trade Sacred Oak Flat to Rio Tinto for Massive Arizona Copper Mine
TUCSON, Ariz.— The U.S. Forest Service has announced it will release a final version of its environmental analysis of the proposed Resolution Copper Project and Land Exchange on Jan. 15, a year ahead of schedule. The proposed mine site is on Apache sacred ground in the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Colorado’s Rubber-stamping of Air Pollution Permits for Oil, Fracked Gas Wells
DENVER— Conservation and social-justice groups sued the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division today for issuing an air-pollution permit that will potentially allow thousands of oil and fracked gas wells throughout the state.
Read more.Habitat Protections Proposed for Ringed, Bearded Seals Dependent on Arctic Ice
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service announced two proposed rules today to designate critical habitat protections for Arctic ice seals in Alaska. The new rules for ringed seals and bearded seals were prompted by a legal agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, which sued to force the long-overdue protections.
Read more.Florida Legislature Proposes to Strip First Amendment Rights of Protestors
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Identical bills proposed by the Florida Senate and House would dramatically curtail free speech and the right to assembly and slash legal protections for protestors while increasing penalties for damaging a “memorial.”
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Firefly, Bees, Poppy Under Endangered Species Act
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to protect four imperiled insects and one plant under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Arctic Refuge Oil Lease Sale Compromises Vital Alaska Wilderness
WASHINGTON— The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority emerged as the apparent high bidder in the Trump administration's illegal oil and gas lease sale as part of its Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Read more.Legal Agreement Blocks Fracking on 53 Oil Leases, Requires Climate Review for Management of 2 Million Acres in Colorado
DENVER— Conservation groups finalized an agreement with the Bureau of Land Management today that blocks drilling on more than 45,000 acres of oil and gas leases until officials revise land-management plans governing approximately 2 million acres of public lands in western Colorado.
Read more.EPA Report: Gas Mileage Down, Pollution Up
WASHINGTON— Major automakers are failing to meet fuel-efficiency standards critical to reducing climate pollution from cars and trucks, according to the Automotive Trends Report released today by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Read more.Report: Cattle Destroying Threatened Frog Habitat in Four Arizona Forests
TUCSON, Ariz.— Cattle have caused immense damage to critical habitat designated to help threatened Chiricahua leopard frogs recover throughout four national forests in Arizona, based on field surveys by the Center for Biological Diversity that show few sites still support frogs.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Eight Florida Plants Threatened by Sea-level Rise, Development
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agency’s failure to designate critical habitat for eight Florida plants, including one called the Everglades bully and a flowering shrub found only in the lower Florida Keys.
Read more.Court Orders Trump’s EPA to Redo Approval of Colorado’s Flawed Plan to Reduce Smog, Acid Rain
DENVER— A federal appeals court today ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to redo its approval of Colorado’s flawed plan to protect people and the state’s treasured natural areas from smog and acid rain.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect 11 Species Kept on Waiting List by Trump Administration
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue outgoing Interior Secretary David Bernhardt for delaying protection for 11 species that have been identified as warranting endangered status but placed on a candidate list instead.
Read more.593 Florida Manatees Died in 2020, Including At Least 90 From Boat Strikes
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Florida wildlife officials have proposed new boating safety education requirements after another year of accidents and collisions took a deadly toll on people and the state’s imperiled manatees. At least 593 Florida manatees died in 2020, including 90 from boat strikes, according to records obtained from state officials.
Read more.Feds Propose Rule to Reduce North Atlantic Right Whale Entanglements in Fishing Gear
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service today released a proposed rule to reduce the number of North Atlantic right whales killed in lobster and other fishing gear off New England.
Read more.New California Law Protecting Animals From Super-toxic Rat Poisons Takes Effect in 2021
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Increased safeguards to protect California’s native wildlife and domestic animals from super-toxic rat poisons will begin on January 1, 2021. The California Ecosystems Protection Act (A.B. 1788) places important restrictions on the use of super-toxic rodenticides, known as second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, to protect the state’s animals.
Read more.Groups Step Up Efforts to Protect San Francisco Bay Wetlands After Court Setback
NEWARK, Calif.— In response to the Alameda County Superior Court’s disappointing denial late last week of a lawsuit challenging the city of Newark’s approval of the Sanctuary West luxury housing development, environmental groups are escalating their campaign to protect more than 500 acres of restorable wetlands in South San Francisco Bay. The groups are calling on state regulators to step in and stop developers from paving over Newark “Area 4.”
Read more.Trump Administration Finalizes Do-nothing ‘Standards’ for Airplane Climate Emissions
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration announced today that it finalized new regulations of airplane climate emissions that fail to force greenhouse gas reductions through either technology or operations changes.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Decision to Gut Tongass National Forest Protections
JUNEAU, Alaska— A wide-ranging coalition of Indigenous communities from Southeast Alaska, businesses and conservation organizations filed a lawsuit today targeting the Trump administration’s rollback of the federal Roadless Rule that protected the 17 million-acre Tongass National Forest, sometimes called America’s Amazon.
Read more.Feds Agree to Protect Nassau Grouper Habitat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— As a result of a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians and Miami Waterkeeper, the National Marine Fisheries Service agreed today to protect critical habitat for the Nassau grouper.
Read more.Court Blocks Drilling Set to Begin in Newly Designated Utah Wilderness
WASHINGTON— A federal judge today enjoined the Trump administration’s approval of a plan to punch a helium well into the heart of the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness in Utah just two days before Christmas. Road construction was set to begin Wednesday.
Read more.Colorado Officials Admit State’s Smog-reduction Plan Already Failed to Protect Colorado From Deadly Pollution, Then Approve It Anyway
DENVER— The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission has approved a plan that was supposed to reduce smog in the North Front Range by this past summer, even though state officials knew the plan had already failed to deliver the required pollution reductions.
Read more.Study: Unbridled Farmland Expansion on Pace to Destroy at Least 25% of Habitat for 1,300 Species Within Next 30 Years
SAN FRANCISCO— Nearly 90% of the world’s birds, amphibians and mammals will lose habitat to farm expansions by 2050, according to a new study published this week in the journal Nature Sustainability.
Read more.Mountain Lion Photographed in Wildlife Corridor Threatened by Los Angeles Development
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity and allies sent a letter to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today urging it to reconsider the controversial Northlake development after a mountain lion was photographed using a wildlife corridor that will be blocked by the development site.
Read more.Farmers, Conservation Groups Challenge EPA’s Unlawful Re-approval of Dangerous, Drift-Prone Dicamba Pesticide
SAN FRANCISCO-- Four public interest groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s rushed re-approval of products containing the dangerous, drift-prone dicamba pesticide.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Large Fossil Fuel Project Proposed in Alaska’s Arctic
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging a massive oil and gas project known as the Willow Master Development Plan in Alaska’s Western Arctic. Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law firm, sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace.
Read more.Inspector General Urged to Reopen Investigation Into Secretary Bernhardt’s Role in Delaying Protections for Endangered Species From Pesticides
WASHINGTON— Citing newly obtained documents revealing that the White House worked with Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to stall protections for 1,400 endangered species from pesticides, the Center for Biological Diversity today requested that the Inspector General reopen a 2019 investigation into whether the delays were appropriate.
Read more.Biden Urged to Sign Executive Order to End Extinction Crisis
WASHINGTON— More than 135 groups today called on president-elect Joe Biden to take immediate action to confront the extinction crisis by signing an executive order that would declare the extinction crisis to be a national emergency, among other steps.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Permitting for Helium Drilling in Newly Designated Utah Wilderness
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups have sued the Bureau of Land Management to challenge its illegal leasing of 1,400 acres for helium extraction within the newly designated Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness in southeastern Utah. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Biological Diversity and Living Rivers filed suit Monday in federal district court.
Read more.New Documents: New Mexico Rancher Who Pleaded Guilty to Bludgeoning Endangered Wolf Admitted Trapping, Beating One More
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— New documents obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity show that a New Mexico rancher confessed to trapping and beating at least one other endangered Mexican gray wolf in 2015. In 2018 rancher Craig Thiessen pleaded guilty to brutalizing a wolf he had trapped in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Washington Finalizes Rules to Better Protect Orcas From Vessel Noise
SEATTLE— Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to finalize new rules that will apply to the state’s commercial whale-watching vessels. While the rules seek to protect endangered Southern Resident killer whales from vessel noise and disturbance from whale-watching boats, they still allow for watching during the summer months when the whales are foraging in the Salish Sea.
Read more.Diamondback Terrapin Among 10 Species Threatened by Wildlife Trade
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Wildlife trafficking and unsustainable trade are driving species’ decline and, in some cases, posing a threat to human health, according to a report released today by the Endangered Species Coalition.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump EPA’s Approval of Radioactive Roads
WASHINGTON— Environmental, public health and union groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for approving the use of radioactive phosphogypsum in roads. The groups also petitioned the agency to reconsider its Oct. 20 approval.
Read more.Leading Progressive Groups Launch Public Pressure Campaign for Biden to Address Fossil Fuel Pollution, Climate Crisis
WASHINGTON— Organizations representing millions of environmental, racial and economic justice advocates across the country launched a new campaign today to hold President-elect Joe Biden accountable on his promises for bold climate action. The Build Back Fossil Free campaign includes 25 crucial executive actions Biden must take the moment he enters office to prevent climate chaos, end fossil fuel racism and improve well-being for millions of people.
Read more.In Gift to Frackers, Gov. Polis Refuses to Push for Speedier Smog Protections
DENVER— Gov. Jared Polis has announced he will not urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to act swiftly to protect the Denver Metro/North Front Range area by raising the smog protection level from serious to severe.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges More Sprawl Development in San Diego County
SAN DIEGO— Conservation organizations sued San Diego County today for approving Otay Ranch Resort Village 13, a massive sprawl development in the ecologically rich Jamul mountain region. The project would locate thousands of new residents in a wildfire-prone area that is currently home to endangered and threatened wildlife species.
Read more.Trump Administration Further Limits Habitat Protections for Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— Just two days after the Trump administration finalized a rule limiting the government’s ability to protect habitat that endangered species need to survive and recover, the administration today finalized yet another rule that will deprive even more imperiled species of protections for the places they live.
Read more.California Must Set Clean Car Mandate to 2030 to Meet Climate Goals: Report
LOS ANGELES— California Gov. Gavin Newsom must move up his target for 100% zero-emission vehicle sales to meet crucial state climate goals, according to a new report by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Petition Seeks USMCA Review of Mexico’s Loggerhead Sea Turtle Deaths
MONTREAL— The Center for Biological Diversity and the Mexican Center for Environmental Law (Cemda) filed a petition today under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement over the government of Mexico’s failure to protect endangered north Pacific loggerhead sea turtles from fishing gear entanglements.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Minnesota’s Rare Lynx From Trapping
MINNEAPOLIS— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources today for permitting trapping that harms Canada lynx.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Habitat for Critically Endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee
WASHINGTON— NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas today issued a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for refusing to designate critical habitat for the highly endangered rusty patched bumblebee.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed Against Trump Administration for Terminating Plan to Recover North Cascades Grizzly Bears
SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s recent termination of a program aimed at restoring grizzly bears to the North Cascades in Washington. In the past decade, biologists have documented only four grizzly bears in the region.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Stalled Habitat Protection for Endangered West Coast Orcas
SEATTLE— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent to sue the federal government today for its failure to finalize expanded habitat protections for critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales, whose population has dipped to just 74 orcas.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against EPA to Protect Endangered Aquatic Species From Cadmium Pollution
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to assess harms to endangered species before nearly tripling the levels of dangerous cadmium pollution that are allowed in U.S. waters.
Read more.Clemson Ornithologist Named 2020 E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Award Recipient
CLEMSON, S.C.— Dr. J. Drew Lanham, a Clemson ornithologist who has worked tirelessly to make conservation science more compelling, relevant and inclusive, is the 2020 recipient of the Center for Biological Diversity’s annual E.O. Wilson Award for Outstanding Science in Biodiversity Conservation.
Read more.Biden Urged to Sign Climate Emergency Executive Order
WASHINGTON— More than 380 groups today called on President-elect Joe Biden to sign an executive order to confront the climate emergency with the full power of the executive branch as soon as he takes office.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Stop New Oil Well, Pipeline in California’s Carrizo Plain National Monument
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.― Conservation groups today sued the Trump administration to reverse its approval of what would be the first new oil well and pipeline in Carrizo Plain National Monument since it was established in 2001.
Read more.Monarch Butterflies Put on Waiting List for Endangered Species Act Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that protection for monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act is warranted but precluded. This puts the imperiled butterfly on a waiting list for listing but confers no protection in the meantime.
Read more.500 Groups Urge Biden to Order Fossil Fuel Leasing Ban
WASHINGTON— Hundreds of conservation, Native American, religious and business groups today sent President-elect Joe Biden text for a proposed executive order to ban new fossil fuel leasing and permitting on federal public lands and waters.
Read more.Trump Administration Finalizes Rule Limiting Habitat Protections for Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration finalized a rule today that severely limits the government’s ability to protect habitat that imperiled animals and plants like grizzly bears and whooping cranes will need to survive and recover.
Read more.Conservation Groups Sue Feds Over Failure to Protect Wolverines
MISSOULA, Mont.— A coalition of conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to withhold Endangered Species Act protection from wolverines in the lower 48 states, where no more than 300 wolverines remain. Without the new conservation efforts that would be triggered by the Endangered Species Act listing, wolverines face localized extinction as a result of climate change, habitat fragmentation and low genetic diversity.
Read more.Federal Judge Rejects Approval of Federal Oil, Gas Leases in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY— A federal judge overturned the Trump administration’s plan to lease more than 60,000 acres of public land for fracking in northern Utah’s Uintah Basin, including areas near Dinosaur National Monument, ruling that the Bureau of Land Management violated the law by refusing to consider alternatives to leasing all 59 parcels.
Read more.Updated ‘Redlist:’ 20 Frogs and Fish Declared Extinct
WASHINGTON— An updated assessment released today by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature found that 28% of evaluated species of plants and animals around the globe are now at risk of extinction.
Read more.Trump Administration Auctions Off California Public Lands for Oil, Gas
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— The Trump administration opened bidding today in the first auction of California federal public lands to oil companies in eight years. Despite community opposition and ongoing legal disputes, the Bureau of Land Management put over 4,000 acres in Kern County up for sale for oil drilling and fracking.
Read more.EPA to Consider Reapproving Previously Banned Use of Extremely Toxic Pesticide Aldicarb on Citrus Trees in Florida, Texas
WASHINGTON— In what will likely be the first major pesticide decision under the Biden Environmental Protection Agency, the agency will consider allowing use of the dangerous, previously cancelled pesticide aldicarb on citrus trees in Florida and Texas.
Read more.Trump Administration Allows Oil Companies to Harm, Harass Whales Nearly 9 Million Times with Seismic Blasts in Gulf of Mexico
WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service has broadly authorized seismic airgun oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico. The long-awaited final rule comes in response to a court-ordered settlement of a lawsuit brought by environmental groups.
Read more.Trump Revives Climate-hostile Tar Sands Push in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY— The Trump administration pushed forward today with leasing tar sands across 2,100 acres of public lands in northeastern Utah near the Green River, updating a plan from 2013 just weeks before leaving office. Producing fuel from tar sands generates up to twice the climate pollution and requires vastly more water than doing so from conventional oil.
Read more.550 grupos piden a Biden que resuelva la crisis de la contaminación del plástico con ocho acciones ejecutivas
WASHINGTON- Una coalición de más de 550 organizaciones comunitarias y de conservación publicó hoy su Plan de Acción Presidencial sobre Plásticos, instando al presidente electo Joe Biden a tomar ocho medidas ejecutivas clave para resolver la crisis de la contaminación por plásticos.
Read more.550 Groups Ask Biden to Solve Plastic Pollution Crisis With Eight Executive Actions
WASHINGTON— A coalition of more than 550 community and conservation organizations today released its Presidential Plastics Action Plan, urging President-elect Joe Biden to take eight key executive actions to solve the plastic pollution crisis.
Read more.Legal Appeal Filed to Block Massive Expansion of Colorado’s Colowyo Coal Mine
DENVER— Conservation groups filed an appeal today of a district court ruling allowing an approximately 2,000-acre expansion of the Colowyo coal mine in northwestern Colorado.
Read more.Oregon Department of Forestry Drops Two Timber Sales, Inches Toward Habitat Conservation Plan
PORTLAND, Ore.— As part of ongoing litigation brought by the Center for Biological Diversity and partners, the Oregon Department of Forestry has dropped two timber sales in exchange for the case being stayed through July 15, 2021.
Read more.Legal Filing Challenges EPA, Pesticide Industry Push to Keep Bee-killing Pesticide on Market
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Food Safety and the Center for Biological Diversity filed an opposition brief late Monday in their ongoing litigation challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the bee-killing pesticide sulfoxaflor.
Read more.Federal Court Rejects Trump’s Approval of Offshore Oil-drilling Project in Arctic
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit today rejected the Trump administration’s approval of the first offshore oil-drilling development in federal Arctic waters.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Colorado’s Critically Imperiled Gunnison Sage Grouse
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity and Western Watersheds Project today sued the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect the Gunnison sage grouse from harmful livestock grazing in the Gunnison Basin, where the largest surviving population has been in steep decline.
Read more.Conferencia de prensa en línea para lanzar el Plan de Acción Presidencial sobre el Plástico el 8 de diciembre
WASHINGTON- Una coalición de más de 500 organizaciones comunitarias y de conservación planea lanzar públicamente su Plan de Acción Presidencial de Plástico el 8 de diciembre. El plan insta al Presidente electo Biden a abordar la crisis de la contaminación de los plásticos con una serie de órdenes ejecutivas poco después de asumir el cargo. En una conferencia de prensa virtual en la que se discutirá el plan se incluirán prominentes expertos y defensores de la justicia ambiental, políticos, legales y académicos.
Read more.Online Press Conference to Launch Presidential Plastics Action Plan on Dec. 8
WASHINGTON — A coalition of more than 550 community and conservation organizations plans to publicly release its Presidential Plastic Action Plan on Dec. 8. The plan urges President-elect Biden to address the plastic pollution crisis with a series of executive orders shortly after taking office. A virtual press conference discussing the plan will include prominent environmental justice, political, science, legal and academic experts and advocates.
Read more.Trump Administration Dodges Environmental Review on Liquefied Methane
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration today finalized a rule making it easier to export superpolluting methane gas without environmental review. The Department of Energy rule moves to “categorically exclude” its authorizations of liquefied methane export and any associated ship transportation from review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Read more.Light Projections, Press Conference Launch Presidential Plastics Action Plan
SAN FRANCISCO— Local advocates for federal action to address the plastic pollution crisis will be projecting anti-plastic messages onto the Embarcadero Pier 39 Public Parking Garage on Monday night, Dec. 8, starting at 6 p.m., to help promote the Presidential Plastic Action Plan that’s being released the next day. They’ll be joined by similar displays in New Orleans, Houston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
Read more.Final Defense Bill Denies Military Request to Expand Nevada Bombing Ranges
LAS VEGAS— Congress today moved to deny the Defense Department’s request to seize more than 1.7 million acres of public land in Nevada for bombing ranges, following a five-year grassroots campaign by public lands advocates to stop the land grab.
Read more.Endangered Species Protection Sought for Rare Oregon Wildflower
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Native Plant Society of Oregon submitted a petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect the tall western penstemon (Penstemon hesperius) under the Endangered Species Act. The species is one of the rarest vascular plants in the Pacific Northwest and is threatened by development, habitat degradation, climate change and competition from non-native species.
Read more.Report: 50 Critical Environmental Reforms President Biden Can Enact Without Congress
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity released transition recommendations today detailing key actions the incoming Biden administration can take to address the extinction crisis and climate change without waiting on a divided Congress.
Read more.Thursday Webinar: Major U.S. Climate Coalition Calculates America’s ‘Fair Share’ of Climate Action
WASHINGTON— A new analysis finds that the United States would need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to 195% of its 2005 emissions levels by 2030 in order for the U.S. to contribute its “fair share” to global action on climate change.
Read more.Congress Urged to Provide $100 Million for Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale
WASHINGTON— More than 55 organizations urged leaders of Congress today to provide $100 million in emergency funding for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Right whales are one of the most endangered species on the planet, with about 360 individuals remaining, of which only about 70 are breeding females.
Read more.Nevada Releases Flawed Climate Strategy
LAS VEGAS— Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and the Nevada Climate Initiative released the state’s climate strategy late Tuesday. This is an important milestone in the state’s march toward decarbonization, as mandated by 2019’s Senate Bill 254.
Read more.Trump Administration Denies Protection to Imperiled Northern California Fish
CLEAR LAKE, Calif.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Endangered Species Act protections for the Clear Lake hitch, a large minnow found only in Northern California’s Clear Lake and its tributaries, are not warranted.
Read more.Oregon Officials Urged to Stop Withholding Information Critical to Protecting Public Health After COVID-19 Outbreak at Oregon Mink Operation
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity has sent a letter to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Health Authority urging the release of information on a November outbreak of COVID-19 at a 12,000-animal mink-fur farming operation in Oregon.
Read more.Emergency Petition Seeks to Protect Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales From Fishing Gear
WASHINGTON— Conservation and wildlife-protection groups today filed an emergency rulemaking petition to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from becoming entangled in commercial fishing gear.
Read more.Whitebark Pine Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed threatened species protection today for the whitebark pine. The pine occurs at high elevations across seven western states, including Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Nevada, making it the most widely distributed tree to gain protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Threatened Over Federal Failure to Update Marine Mammal Assessments
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sent a notice of its intent to sue the Trump administration today for failing to update population analyses for polar bears, walruses, sea otters and manatees, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Read more.Second Lawsuit Aims to Finalize Endangered Species Protection for North Carolina Catfish, Salamander
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity today sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the second time for failing to protect two imperiled aquatic species in eastern North Carolina under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Disappearing Great Plains Fish Proposed for Federal Protection
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect the peppered chub, a once-widespread fish in the Arkansas River and its tributaries, as an endangered species. The Service plans to designate 1,068 river miles in four stretches that flow through grasslands in New Mexico, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma as critical habitat for the fish.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Feds’ Failure to Protect Endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrel Habitat
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect habitat essential to the survival and recovery of southeast Arizona’s highly endangered Mount Graham red squirrels.
Read more.San Francisco Bay Oil Tanker Dredging Project Shelved
OAKLAND, Calif.— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced it will withdraw plans to dredge a 13-mile stretch of San Francisco Bay and adjacent waters in a project that would have allowed larger oil tankers to access local oil refineries.
Read more.Hawai‘i Court Rules Commercial Aquarium Collection Without Environmental Review Illegal
HONOLULU— Hawaiʻi’s Department of Land and Natural Resources violated the law by allowing the aquarium trade to continue extracting hundreds of thousands of marine animals from Hawaiʻi’s reefs without first reviewing the environmental and cultural impacts, the state’s environmental court ruled Friday. The ruling shuts a loophole the agency created after a landmark 2017 decision by the Hawai‘i Supreme Court mandated public disclosure and analysis of the aquarium pet trade’s effects in Hawai‘i.
Read more.Audit Finds California Oil Regulator’s Rampant Legal Violations
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— On the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the California Department of Finance released a damning audit detailing repeated violations of oil and gas regulations. Today’s report shows that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s oil and gas regulators repeatedly skipped required reviews when approving hundreds of oil and gas wells last year.
Read more.Feds Propose More Than 6,000 Square Miles of Coral Habitat Protections in Florida, Caribbean, Pacific
WASHINGTON— The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced two proposed rules today to designate more than 6,000 square miles of critical habitat protections for 12 threatened coral species off Florida, in the Caribbean and in the Pacific Ocean. The rules were prompted by a legal settlement with the Center for Biological Diversity, which sued to force the urgent, long-overdue protections.
Read more.EPA Finds Glyphosate Is Likely to Injure or Kill 93% of Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency released a draft biological evaluation today finding that glyphosate is likely to injure or kill 93% of the plants and animals protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.California Court Strikes Down Limits on Fighting Dirty Power Plants
SAN FRANCISCO— A California appeals court has struck down unconstitutional limits on the rights of citizens to challenge the location of power plants in their communities.
Read more.Formosa Plastics Opponents Ask Feds to Expand Environmental Justice Analysis of Suspended Permit, Hold Hearing
NEW ORLEANS— Following the Army Corps of Engineers’ recent suspension of its permit for Formosa Plastics’ proposed Louisiana plant, plaintiff groups in the federal lawsuit that sparked that decision asked today for a public hearing and expanded analysis of the plant’s environmental justice, wetlands and pollution impacts.
Read more.Federal Court Rejects Permits for Kalama Methanol Refinery
TACOMA, Wash.— A federal district court today vacated the federal permits required for the Kalama Methanol Refinery, sending the proposed fracked gas-to-methanol project back to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a full and transparent environmental review.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Approval of Puget Sound Fish Farm
SEATTLE— Conservation and environmental groups today appealed a ruling by the King County Superior Court to uphold a state permit allowing Cooke Aquaculture to raise domesticated steelhead in its Puget Sound net pens.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Destructive Dam Project in California’s Stanislaus County
PATTERSON, Calif.— A broad coalition of conservation groups sued the Del Puerto Water District today for approving construction of a new dam on Del Puerto Creek in the Central Valley.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Save Endangered Nevada Butterfly From Ski Resort Expansion
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to save a rare Nevada butterfly from extinction. The Mount Charleston blue butterfly is threatened by the agencies’ approval of a major ski area expansion.
Read more.New Website Provides Tips to Simplify the Holidays
TUCSON, Ariz.– This holiday season, the Center for Biological Diversity is encouraging Americans to simplify the holidays with the launch of a new website that focuses on building traditions that have more meaning and require less stuff.
Read more.Trump Administration Recycles Slashing of Sage-grouse Protections, Opening Habitat to Drilling, Fracking Across Seven Western States
WASHINGTONꟷ The Trump administration unveiled its final analysis today to justify its 2019 land-management plans that slashed protections for the imperiled greater sage grouse across 51 million acres of the western United States.
Read more.Trump Administration Proposes Rolling Back Arctic Offshore Drilling Safety Rules
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration today announced a rule to weaken offshore drilling safety rules specially designed for the Arctic’s hazardous, remote waters. It’s the administration’s third major rollback of offshore safety regulations created by the Obama administration after the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
Read more.EPA Petitioned to Rescind Industry-friendly Guidance Document That OKs Ignoring Pesticides’ Harms to Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency today to withdraw a 2004 guidance document that allows the agency to ignore pesticides’ harms to the nation’s most endangered animals and plants.
Read more.Legal Protest Blasts Trump Administration Plan for 47,000 Acres of Fracking Leases in Colorado
DENVER— Conservation groups filed a protest today challenging the Trump administration’s plan to auction fracking leases across more than 47,000 acres of public lands in Colorado. Fracking those leases would destroy habitat for a tenuous population of greater sage grouse, worsen deadly air pollution in the Denver metro area and cause up to 1.2 million tons of climate pollution.
Read more.Outgoing San Diego County Board Members Approve More Sprawl Development
SAN DIEGO— In a 4-to-1 vote on Wednesday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a massive new sprawl development in the county’s ecologically rich Proctor Valley. The Otay Ranch Village 13 project will bring thousands of new residents to a wildfire-prone area that is home to endangered and threatened wildlife species.
Read more.Utah Rejects Massive Water Grab Threatening Utah's Green River, Endangered Fish
SALT LAKE CITY— Following legal protests from the Center for Biological Diversity and dozens of other non-governmental and governmental organizations, Utah’s state engineer last night rejected a water-rights application from Water Horse Resources to pump nearly 18 billion gallons of water each year from Utah’s Green River over the Rocky Mountains to Colorado’s Front Range.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Fight EPA’s Delay in Ensuring Smog-reduction in California, Colorado
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that parts of California and Colorado have effective plans to reduce dangerous smog pollution.
Read more.Frecklebelly Madtom Fish Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protections in Georgia, Tennessee
ATLANTA— In response to a 2010 petition and 2015 agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect a population of the frecklebelly madtom in the upper Coosa River of Georgia and Tennessee as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also proposed to designate 134 miles of the Etowah and Conasauga Rivers as protected critical habitat.
Read more.Legal Protest Challenges Trump Administration Plan to Clearcut Old-growth Forest, Grizzly Habitat in Northwest Montana
YAAK, Mont.ꟷ Conservation groups filed a legal protest late Friday challenging a massive logging project that would clearcut thousands of acres, including old growth trees, and threaten an imperiled population of grizzly bears and protected Canada lynx habitat on the Montana-Canada border under the guise of restoration.
Read more.Video Interview Series Draws Attention to Men’s Crucial Role in Family Planning
TUCSON, Ariz.— Nov. 20 is World Vasectomy Day, a global movement to support male engagement in sexual and reproductive health. As human population grows exponentially, crowding out the plants and animals with which we share the planet, the Center for Biological Diversity is throwing support behind this underutilized piece of the family planning puzzle by launching a video interview series called Contraception Conversations.
Read more.Legal Protest Blasts Plan for 430 Square Miles of Fracking Leases in Wyoming
DENVER— Citing harm to wildlife, clean air and the climate, conservation groups filed a legal protest over the weekend challenging a Trump administration plan approving the sale of fracking leases on 275,000 acres of public lands in Wyoming. Fracking those leases would destroy habitat for greater sage-grouse, worsen air quality and cause up to 43 million tons of climate pollution — as much as a coal-fired power plant emits in 11 years.
Read more.Trump Administration Invites Oil Industry to Desecrate Sacred Arctic Refuge
WASHINGTON — Amid a global public health crisis and with oil prices at extreme lows, the lame-duck Trump administration is issuing a “request for nominations,” asking oil companies to identify their preferences on areas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain to lease for oil drilling.
Read more.Oregon Rejects Proposal to Ban Beaver Trapping, Hunting on Federal Lands
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission today rejected a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, scientists, and other conservation groups to permanently close commercial and recreational beaver trapping and hunting on the state’s federally managed public lands. Beavers are Oregon’s official state animal, but they can be legally hunted and trapped with few limits.
Read more.$10,000 Reward Offered for Information on Illegal Killing of Mother Grizzly Bear, Cub in Montana
BOZEMAN, Mont.— The Center for Biological Diversity is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for illegally killing a sow grizzly bear and her cub and dumping their bodies on Bear Creek Road near Bigfork, Montana. This marks the third confirmed grizzly bear poaching incident in Montana this year, with several other deaths under investigation.
Read more.State Funding to Assist Families With Rent, Utilities During Covid Runs Out Today
RALEIGH. N.C.— As of 6 p.m. today, the roughly $175 million allocated for Gov. Roy Cooper’s HOPE program — which has provided financial relief for renters unable to pay their rent or utility bills — will have run out after less than a month since being announced. To date the program has received nearly 40,000 applications to help households maintain electric, gas and water service and make rent payments.
Read more.Navy’s Pacific Northwest Training Plan to Harass Endangered Whales
SEATTLE— The Trump administration published a final rule today allowing the U.S. Navy to harm and harass endangered whales and other marine mammals 1.7 million times during military training exercises in the Pacific Northwest over the next seven years.
Read more.Survey: Most Americans Believe Human Population Is Driving Wildlife Extinctions
TUCSON, Ariz.— A newly released survey of the American public conducted by the Center for Biological Diversity has found that 73% of respondents think the world’s population is growing too fast and nearly three-fourths agree human population growth is driving other animals to extinction.
Read more.Sickle Darter Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection in Tennessee, Virginia
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— In response to a 2010 petition and 2015 agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect the sickle darter under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Senate Republicans Ignore Extinction Crisis, Pandemic in Funding Legislation
WASHINGTON— Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee today released a partisan funding bill for the U.S. Department of the Interior that continues to underfund endangered species conservation and ignores the wildlife extinction crisis happening around the world.
Read more.Federal Court Suspends Mountain Valley Pipeline Construction
RICHMOND, Va.— The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals today sided with conservation groups and issued an immediate stay of Mountain Valley Pipeline’s stream and wetland crossing permits in southern West Virginia and Virginia.
Read more.Legal Protest Fights First Federal Oil-lease Sale in California in 8 Years
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— On behalf of 10 conservation, environmental justice, health and community groups today, the Center for Biological Diversity filed protest comments against the Bureau of Land Management’s plans to lease California federal public land to oil and gas companies for the first time in eight years.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Energy Department’s Failure to Update 25 Overdue Efficiency Standards
WASHINGTON— Six environmental and consumer groups are suing the U.S. Department of Energy for failing to review and update energy efficiency standards for more than two dozen categories of consumer and commercial appliances and equipment, including large energy users like refrigerators and water heaters. The 25 overdue standards — the most under any administration — could cost U.S. consumers and businesses billions of dollars and significantly increase climate pollution.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Oregon Coast Tiger Beetle
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation filed a petition today seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the imperiled Siuslaw hairy-necked tiger beetle.
Read more.Oregon Officials Urged to Investigate Risks of COVID-19 Outbreaks, Potential Mutations at Mink Farms
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity sent a letter today urging the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Health Authority to investigate the threat of COVID-19 outbreaks and viral mutations at the state’s mink-fur farming operations.
Read more.EPA: Widely Used Pesticide Atrazine Likely Harms More Than 1,000 Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency released an assessment today finding that the endocrine-disrupting pesticide atrazine is likely to harm more than 1,000 of the nation’s most endangered plants and animals.
Read more.Colorado Voters Approve Reintroduction of Gray Wolves
DENVER— An unprecedented state ballot initiative requiring wildlife officials to reintroduce endangered gray wolves in Colorado passed Tuesday’s election with a 20,000-vote majority and hundreds of pro-wolf precincts left to be counted. Opponents conceded today that the measure has passed.
Read more.Legal Step Challenges Trump Administration’s Removal of Gray Wolf Protection
WASHINGTON— A coalition of wildlife conservation groups today notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of its intent to file a lawsuit challenging the recent decision to strip gray wolves of Endangered Species Act protection across nearly all the lower 48 states.
Read more.Deschutes River Conservation Plan Fails to Restore River, Fish, Frogs
BEND, Ore.— A final habitat conservation plan and environmental impact statement announced today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Upper Deschutes River, Whychus Creek and Crooked River largely preserves existing management of the river in the near term and fails to adequately help threatened bull trout, steelhead and Oregon spotted frogs.
Read more.$7,600 Reward Offered for Info on Wolf Poaching in Eastern Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups are boosting by $7,300 the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the poaching of a 1.5-year-old female wolf in Baker County around Oct. 29. This is the second known wolf poaching in Baker County and the Wallowa Whitman National Forest in the past five weeks.
Read more.Army Corps Suspends Permit for Formosa Plastics’ Controversial Louisiana Plant
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced plans today to suspend its permit for Formosa Plastics’ proposed plant in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The move comes just before a Nov. 5 filing deadline for the Corps to defend its issuance of permits in a federal lawsuit filed by project opponents. The agency has asked the federal court to stay proceedings in the case.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA Rollback of Limits on Toxic Water Pollution From Power Plants
WASHINGTON— Nine conservation groups representing millions of people sued the Environmental Protection Agency today over its decision to drastically weaken national standards limiting toxic water pollution, including arsenic and selenium, from coal-fired power plants.
Read more.Alabama Mussel Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection, Protected Critical Habitat
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— In response to a petition and 2016 lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect the Canoe Creek clubshell under the Endangered Species Act, with 36 river miles of proposed critical habitat in St. Clair and Etowah counties.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA Reapproval of Endocrine-disrupting Pesticide Atrazine
WASHINGTON— Public-interest groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today over its decision to reapprove atrazine, an endocrine-disrupting herbicide banned across much of the world.
Read more.California Approves Regulations to Reduce Whale Entanglements in Crab Gear
SACRAMENTO, Calif — California state officials have released a final rule to reduce the risk that endangered whales and sea turtles will get entangled in commercial Dungeness crab gear. The new regulations, which go into effect Nov. 1, were prompted by steep annual increases in reported whale entanglements and a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protections Stripped From Gray Wolves
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized a rule today that removes protection from all gray wolves in the lower 48 states except for a small population of Mexican gray wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. The Service made its decision despite the fact that wolves are still functionally extinct in the vast majority of their former range across the continental United States.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges California’s $16 Billion Move to Fund Delta Tunnel Project
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Five environmental groups sued the California Department of Water Resources today for adopting a resolution approving the issuance of the Delta Program Revenue Bonds.
Read more.International Report Calls Out United States for Driving Wildlife Trade
WASHINGTON— A panel of international experts today linked zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 to “unsustainable exploitation of the environment,” including the wildlife trade and land-use change. The new findings echo a recent Center for Biological Diversity report.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Snowy Plovers From Off-road Vehicles at Oceano Dunes
OCEANO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the California Department of Parks and Recreation today for continuing to allow motorized vehicle use that kills protected snowy plovers at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
Read more.Feds Plan Drilling Project in Utah’s Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness
MOAB, Utah— The Bureau of Land Management released a plan last week allowing helium exploration and development in the recently designated Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness. The public has until Nov. 4 to comment on the impacts of this industrial development on lands set aside for permanent protection.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed Against EPA to Protect People in Seven States From Asthma-causing Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution
WASHINGTON— Three conservation groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to meet congressionally mandated deadlines for enforcing reductions in dangerous sulfur dioxide air pollution, which is largely caused by burning fossil fuels.
Read more.Federal Appeals Court Blocks Coal-mining Construction in Protected Roadless Forest in Colorado
DENVER— A federal appeals court today blocked construction for a coal-mine expansion in the Sunset roadless area of Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest. The injunction from the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals prevents Mountain Coal, a subsidiary of Arch Resources, from further destruction of the roadless forest at the base of Mount Gunnison in the West Elk Mountains until a challenge from conservation groups is resolved.
Read more.California-born Wolf Disperses to Oregon for First Time
SAN FRANCISCO— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has reported that a subadult male member of the state’s only known wolf family, the Lassen pack, has dispersed into Oregon. This is the first confirmed instance of a wolf born in California dispersing to Oregon.
Read more.Massive California Warehouse Project Dealt Another Legal Setback
MORENO VALLEY, Calif.— Environmental justice and conservation groups declared victory today and chose to let stand an appeals court tentative ruling dismissing an appeal to a 2015 legal challenge to the World Logistics Center. The court said the case is moot because the developer already abandoned its efforts to evade responsibility for the project’s greenhouse gas pollution.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Force Feds to Update Recovery Plan for Endangered California Fish
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to force it to update an inadequate, 35-year-old recovery plan for a tiny, scaleless fish called the unarmored threespine stickleback. These critically endangered fish are only found in a few Southern California streams in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Save Leopards From Import to U.S. as Hunting Trophies
WASHINGTON— Conservation and animal-protection groups filed a lawsuit today challenging decisions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that authorize leopard trophy imports from Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia into the United States.
Read more.EPA Reapproves Dangerous, Drift-prone Dicamba Pesticides Recently Banned by Federal Court for Causing Widespread Economic Harm to Farmers
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency announced today the reapproval of three products containing the drift-prone, herbicide dicamba for use on Monsanto’s genetically engineered, dicamba-resistant soybeans and cotton.
Read more.Court Invalidates Use of Bait, Hounds by Private Hunters to Kill Washington’s Bears on Timberlands
OLYMPIA, Wash.— In response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, an appellate court ruled today that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife can no longer issue permits to private hunters to use bait and hounds to kill black bears on timberlands.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Pendley Over 1.7 Million-Acre Fossil Fuel Plan in Colorado
DENVER— Climate groups filed new legal claims today challenging the federal government’s 1.7 million-acre resource-management plan to expand fossil fuel development in southwestern Colorado, saying it should be overturned because it was approved during William Perry Pendley’s unlawful tenure directing the Bureau of Land Management.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Stop Damaging Hunting Practices From Killing Endangered Wildlife on Refuges
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agency’s new rule expanding hunting and fishing on 2.3 million acres, in 147 wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries across the United States. The rule authorizes damaging practices like the use of lead ammunition and killing of ecologically important top predators such as mountain lions.
Read more.Legal Agreement Protects California Wildlife Corridor for Santa Ana Mountain Lions
TEMECULA, Calif.— Conservation groups approved a legal agreement today that will protect a critical wildlife corridor for local mountain lions and other wildlife, fund restoration efforts and ensure implementation of a regional conservation plan. The agreement comes after a judge issued a ruling this spring against the proposed 270-acre Altair development in Western Riverside County in California.
Read more.$6,150 Reward Offered for Info on Wolf Poaching in Eastern Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are offering a $6,150 reward for information concerning the poaching of a male radio-collared wolf in Baker County on or around Sept. 24.
Read more.Proposal Filed With Federal Court to Ensure U.S. Army Corps Addresses Harm to Endangered Species From Toxic Lake Okeechobee Discharges
FORT PIERCE, Fla.— Conservation groups filed a proposal in federal court today to ensure that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ discharges from Lake Okeechobee don’t harm protected wildlife.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Endangered Wildlife From Dangerous New Fungicide
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Food Safety filed a lawsuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of a toxic new fungicide without fully addressing its lethal effects on endangered wildlife.
Read more.Reward Increased to $25,000 for Info on Killings of Six Endangered Florida Sawfish
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity today increased to $25,000 the reward for information leading to a conviction for the illegal killing of six critically endangered smalltooth sawfish in Everglades City, Florida.
Read more.EPA Reapproves Dozens of Ultra-toxic Pesticides
WASHINGTON—The Environmental Protection Agency reapproved dozens of toxic pesticides today that are known to cause serious harm to people, wildlife and the environment.
Read more.Court Denies UNC’s Request to Dismiss Claims That University’s Power Plant Burned More Coal Than Permitted
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— A federal district court judge has denied a motion by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to dismiss claims that its power plant burned more coal than permitted.
Read more.Youth Leader Nalleli Cobo Honored With Rose Braz Award for Bold Activism
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity has awarded the 2020 “Rose Braz Award for Bold Activism” to Nalleli Cobo.
Read more.EPA Agrees to Crack Down on Smog From Oil, Fracked Gas in Eight States
SAN FRANCISCO— A federal court has approved an agreement between conservation groups and the Environmental Protection Agency requiring the agency to ensure reductions in asthma-causing smog from oil and fracked gas extraction across portions of eight states.
Read more.South Carolina Governor Signs Bill to Protect Wild Turtles From Poaching, Trade
COLUMBIA, S.C.— Gov. Henry McMaster has signed a bill that bans the commercial trade of native turtles in South Carolina. Following advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Survival Alliance, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the IUCN SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group and South Carolina residents, this bipartisan measure will end years of extensive poaching, which was a particular threat to freshwater turtles due to the state’s weak conservation laws.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Southern California Sprawl Development
SAN DIEGO— Conservation groups sued the city of Santee today for approving Fanita Ranch, a 2,600-acre housing development that would put about 3,000 homes in highly fire-prone wildlands where numerous threatened and endangered species thrive.
Read more.Report: Funds to Clean Up California Oil Wells Dangerously Low, Records Show
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— A new report by the Center for Biological Diversity reveals that California’s largest oil producers have set aside only a miniscule fraction of the money that would be required to properly plug their oil and gas wells.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Inadequate Federal Review of Gulf of Mexico Endangered Species
GREENBELT, Md.— Four conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the federal government’s failure to comply with the Endangered Species Act in its assessment of the harm the offshore oil industry inflicts on endangered and threatened marine wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico. This long-overdue assessment was triggered by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon tragedy and took a decade to complete.
Read more.Ocean-based Climate Solutions Act Would End Offshore Oil Leasing, Protect Marine Habitat
WASHINGTON— Legislation to end the federal offshore oil-leasing program and pursue other oceans-related solutions to the climate change crisis was introduced today by House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl Grijalva.
Read more.Endangered Species Protection Sought for Snake-like Central California Lizard
McKITTRICK, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a petition today to protect the Temblor legless lizard under the Endangered Species Act. The lizard is a rare sand-swimming reptile that occupies a very small area of habitat near the Temblor Range in Kern County, California, and is jeopardized by oil and gas development.
Read more.Efficient, Electric: Report Offers Path to U.S. Aviation Climate Pollution Cuts
LOS ANGELES— Planet-warming pollution from U.S. aviation could be cut by three-quarters or more in the next 20 years, according to a new report released today by the Center for Biological Diversity. The report challenges airplane emissions standards recently proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency as weak and ineffective.
Read more.Judge Denies Motion, Opening Door to Lawsuits Challenging Pendley Decisions Spanning 30 Million Acres of Public Land
HELENA, Mont.— A federal judge denied a motion from conservation groups today to support a lawsuit involving William Perry Pendley’s unlawful tenure as acting director of the Bureau of Land Monument, opening the door to new lawsuits challenging Pendley’s decisions on land management plans and other policies. The plans allow fossil fuel extraction, mining and other industrialization across millions of acres of public lands in 11 states, including within the former boundaries of Utah’s Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
Read more.‘March for Black Lives’ to Say No to Louisiana’s Amendment 5, Formosa Plastics
GRAMERCY, La.— Opponents of the massive proposed petrochemical complex that Formosa Plastics seeks to build in Louisiana are planning a “March for Black Lives: No on Amendment 5” for this Saturday.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Department of Energy Documents on Industry Influence Over Grid Resilience Model
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Department of Energy today for failing to release records about the agency’s collaboration with utility companies and the fossil fuel industry on an important, publicly funded study about the reliability and resiliency of North America’s power grid.
Read more.Legal Action Initiated to Speed Endangered Species Act Protections for Giraffes
WASHINGTON— Conservation and animal-protection groups today filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to consider Endangered Species Act protections for Africa’s rapidly dwindling giraffe population.
Read more.Legal Action Supports North Carolina’s Denial of Water Permit for Destructive Southgate Gas Pipeline
RICHMOND, Va.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Appalachian Voices and Sierra Club filed a motion Tuesday with the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals to defend the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s denial of a key water permit for a major fracked gas pipeline.
Read more.Judge Rejects Challenge to Critical Habitat for New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mice
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— A federal judge today dismissed a lawsuit filed by two cattlemen’s associations that sought to overturn the designation of critical habitat for the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Force Critical Habitat for Threatened Hawaiian Forest Bird
HONOLULU— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate critical habitat and develop a recovery plan for the threatened ‘i‘iwi, the best known of Hawai‘i’s imperiled honeycreepers.
Read more.Public Records Sought Over Delays in National Climate Report
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a Freedom of Information Act request today seeking records relating to delays in preparing the Fifth National Climate Assessment. The request for records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration comes amid government delays in recruiting the dozens of scientists needed to produce the report. The next version is due in 2022, but the agency’s website indicates it is already behind schedule.
Read more.Court Denies UNC’s Request to Dismiss Claims of Clean Air Act Violations at University’s Coal-fired Power Plant
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— A federal district court judge has denied a motion by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to dismiss nine of 10 allegations of Clean Air Act violations at the university’s coal-fired power plant.
Read more.Forest Service Review Would Greenlight Extreme Sports in Rare Nevada Butterfly Habitat
LAS VEGAS— A final environmental impact statement released by the U.S. Forest Service claims that a proposed Lee Canyon Ski Area expansion is “likely to be beneficial” for the endangered Mount Charleston blue butterfly despite crisscrossing its most important habitat with a network of high-speed downhill mountain biking trails and a mountain coaster.
Read more.Governors Band Together for Salmon, Orcas After Federal Plan Falls Flat
SEATTLE— The governors of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana have announced a regional collaboration on salmon recovery in the Columbia River Basin that includes strategies for the states to engage with tribal nations and federal agencies and address the concerns of communities who depend on the river.
Read more.Puerto Rican Harlequin Butterfly Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today a proposal to list the Puerto Rican harlequin butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and to designate 41,266 acres of critical habitat.
Read more.Lawsuit Forces EPA to Jump-start Work to Clean Up Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution in Indiana, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Guam
WASHINGTON— In response to a lawsuit filed by three conservation groups, the Environmental Protection Agency announced today it will ensure that parts of Indiana, Louisiana, Puerto Rico and Guam have plans for cleaning up asthma-causing sulfur dioxide air pollution.
Read more.Nevada Sen. Cortez Masto Proposes Massive Public Lands Seizure for Bombing Range, Development
RENO, Nev.— Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) has proposed legislation to transfer approximately half a million acres of public land to the U.S. Navy to expand the Fallon Naval Air Station bombing range in central Nevada. The bill, to be wrapped into the National Defense Authorization Act, would also sell or give away hundreds of thousands of acres of public land for development.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Federal Refusal to Protect Wolverines
MISSOULA, Mont.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied protection today to the rare and elusive wolverine under the Endangered Species Act, prompting a coalition of conservation groups to announce their intention to file a notice of intent to sue as soon as the final rule is published in the Federal Register.
Read more.Regulators Warned of Champlain Hudson Power Express Project’s Environmental Impact
NEW YORK— Conservation and social justice groups and First Nations today filed a formal notice letter with the U.S. Department of Energy over its failure to fully address the environmental impacts of the proposed Champlain Hudson Power Express Canadian hydropower transmission corridor.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Feds’ Failure to Protect Frontline Workers From COVID-19
WASHINGTON— Labor unions representing healthcare workers, teachers, transit operators and millions of other frontline workers joined with environmental groups today to sue the federal government over its failure to provide adequate reusable respirators, N95 masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment to these essential workers.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Documents Tied to Cover-up of Groundwater Pumping at Arizona Army Base
TUCSON― The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Army, Fort Huachuca and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to release public records relating to the base’s coverup of a 2010 report showing groundwater pumping was harming the San Pedro River. The lawsuit also seeks documents related to the base’s new attempt to thwart river and endangered species protections.
Read more.Agriculture Department’s ‘Wildlife Services’ Killed Approximately 1.2 Million Native Animals in 2019
WASHINGTON— The arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture known as Wildlife Services killed approximately 1.2 million native animals in 2019, according to new data released by the program this week.
Read more.Rare, Elusive Marsh Bird Receives Endangered Species Protections
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the eastern black rail will receive protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Rare Nevada Fish One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protection
RENO, Nev.— As a result of legal action by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to decide by Nov. 30, 2020 whether an isolated population of relict dace — a small, minnow-like fish that lives only in springs in eastern Nevada — warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Legal Victory Secures New Recovery Plan for Endangered Red Wolves
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must update its plan for saving critically endangered red wolves in the next two and a half years, according to a legal agreement reached as a result of a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity. Red wolves, which are native to the southeastern United States, have dwindled to just nine known individuals in the wild, living in the eastern part of North Carolina.
Read more.Opponents of Formosa Plastics’ Louisiana Plant Move to Overturn Federal Approval
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.— Opponents of Formosa Plastics’ plan to build one of the world’s largest plastic plants in St. James Parish, Louisiana have filed a motion seeking a judgment in their lawsuit challenging the project’s federal approval.
Read more.EPA OKs First Finfish Farm in Federal Waters
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Environmental Protection Agency has authorized a permit to discharge 80,000 pounds of fish farm waste directly into the Gulf of Mexico from the first finfish farm ever authorized in federal waters. The Velella Epsilon experimental fish farm off Florida’s west coast received the permit late yesterday, the EPA announced today.
Read more.Seismic Blasting Efforts Halted in Atlantic Ocean
CHARLESTON, S.C.— A status conference on seismic litigation revealed today the industry will not pursue efforts to employ seismic blasting to search the Atlantic Ocean for offshore petroleum deposits this year, and possibly for several years.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Failure to Protect Panama City Crayfish
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to finalize Endangered Species Act protections for the Panama City crayfish. Today’s lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Compel Fish and Wildlife Service to Protect Bi-state Sage Grouse
SAN FRANCISCO― Conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect the imperiled bi-state sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act despite ongoing population declines.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Emergency Protections for Rare Nevada Wildflower
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management today seeking protection for the rare Nevada wildflower Tiehm’s buckwheat.
Read more.Sens. Cornyn, Booker Introduce Landmark Bill to End U.S. Live Wildlife Markets, Curb Trade
WASHINGTON— As COVID-19 continues to kill thousands of Americans a week, Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced legislation today that would prohibit the import and export of live wildlife for human consumption or medicine.
Read more.Coastal California Sunflower Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success
EUREKA, Calif.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to change the Endangered Species Act status of beach layia, a small sunflower that grows only in California’s coastal dunes, from endangered to threatened.
Read more.Gov. Newsom Signs Bill Protecting Wild Animals from Super-toxic Rat Poisons
SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the California Ecosystems Protection Act (AB 1788) into law today, placing greater restrictions — with limited exceptions — on the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides to protect the state’s native wildlife.
Read more.Trispot Darter Fish Gains Protected Critical Habitat in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated just over 175 river miles, including 9,924 acres, as protected critical habitat for the threatened trispot darter in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.
Read more.Rare Flower in New Mexico’s High Desert Proposed for Federal Protection
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect Wright’s marsh thistle, an imperiled wetland plant in New Mexico, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act and to designate 159 acres as protected critical habitat.
Read more.Two Eastern Freshwater Mussels Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
LEXINGTON, Ky.— In response to a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the round hickorynut and longsolid freshwater mussels under the Endangered Species Act, with more than 2,000 river miles of proposed critical habitat from Pennsylvania to Mississippi.
Read more.Report: America’s Massive Wildlife Imports Fuel Global Pandemic Risks
WASHINGTON— The United States imported almost 23 million whole animals, parts, samples and products made from bats, primates and rodents over a recent five-year period, according to a report released today by the Center for Biological Diversity. Rodents, bats and primates harbor 75% of known zoonotic viruses — pathogens that spread from animals to people.
Read more.Red-cockaded Woodpecker Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the red-cockaded woodpecker has recovered enough to be downlisted from endangered to threatened. The bird once occurred across much of the southeastern United States in long-leaf pine forests but was federally protected as endangered in 1970.
Read more.Thousands Oppose First Federal Oil Lease Sale in California in Eight Years
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— More than 85 conservation, environmental justice, public health and community groups submitted a letter to the Bureau of Land Management today opposing the Bureau’s first oil and gas lease sale of federal public lands in California in eight years.
Read more.U.S. Forest Service Plan Guts Protections, Allows Clearcut Logging of Old-growth Trees in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Forest Service announced a final plan today to eliminate roadless-rule protections in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, opening vast swaths of irreplaceable old-growth temperate rainforest to clearcut logging.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks to Close California Forest Carbon Loophole
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation and environmental justice groups filed a legal petition today that demands the California Public Utilities Commission stop letting carbon-polluting biomass projects take advantage of programs meant to benefit clean energy.
Read more.Documents: Powerful Pro-pesticide Groups Shaped U.S. Push to Weaken International Oversight of Medically Important Antibiotics
WASHINGTON— U.S. efforts to weaken international guidelines on the use of medically important antibiotics in food production were heavily influenced by powerful agribusiness trade groups like CropLife America that advocate for use of antibiotics as pesticides, according to public records obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Petition Aims to Protect Tucson Shovel-nosed Snake Under Endangered Species Act
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity today again petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the Tucson shovel-nosed snake as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Gov. Newsom’s Climate Initiative Omits Key Actions on Oil Drilling, Fracking
SACRAMENTO, Calif— Gov. Gavin Newsom announced steps today that California will take to accelerate climate action, but he failed to include ambitious actions to curb oil drilling and ban fracking. Today’s measures include an executive order directing the California Air Resources Board to require 100% zero-emissions vehicle sales for passenger cars, pickups and SUVs by 2035.
Read more.Advocates Demand Regulation of Toxic Neonic-treated Seeds
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— A group of health and environmental organizations filed a legal petition today calling upon the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to regulate the planting of crop seeds coated with neurotoxic neonicotinoid insecticides (neonics) and close a loophole that allows the unchecked use of neonic-treated seeds in California’s farms. The petition follows a scientific report released today finding these seeds may result in the use of over half a million pounds of unregulated pesticides per year in the state.
Read more.Endocrine-disrupting Pesticide Atrazine to Be Banned in Hawaii, Five U.S. Territories, Prohibited on Conifers, Roadsides
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that the endocrine-disrupting pesticide atrazine will be banned in Hawaii and in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the North Mariana Islands.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Colorado’s Critically Imperiled Gunnison Sage Grouse
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity and Western Watersheds Project notified the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, National Parks Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of their intent to sue over the agencies’ failure to adequately protect the Gunnison sage grouse in the Gunnison Basin, where the majority of remaining birds survive.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Failure to Protect Caribbean Lizards as Endangered
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect eight rare species of skink, a type of lizard, under the Endangered Species Act. The skinks are found only on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and face extinction because of introduced predators, habitat destruction and climate change.
Read more.California Commission OKs Petition Protecting Joshua Trees Under State’s Endangered Species Act
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Fish and Game Commission agreed today to accept a petition protecting western Joshua trees under the state’s Endangered Species Act, granting legal protection to the iconic trees for at least a year.
Read more.Fate of Puget Sound Commercial Fish Farms to Be Decided at Thursday’s Virtual Hearing
SEATTLE— A challenge to permits allowing continued commercial fish farming in Puget Sound will be heard via Zoom on Thursday in King County Superior Court. The complaint, filed in February by four conservation groups, demands the repeal of the permits and robust environmental review of this harmful practice. The decision could potentially affect seven commercial fish farms.
Read more.Agreement Reached to Protect Endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee at Minnetonka’s Lone Lake Park
MINNEAPOLIS— The Center for Biological Diversity and the city of Minnetonka have reached an agreement to protect the endangered rusty patched bumblebee at Lone Lake Park, the site of a planned multi-use mountain-bike trail. Under the agreement, the city will implement numerous conservation measures, including creation of habitat for the bees and other pollinators.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Approval of Alaska LNG Project
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the federal government today for approving the Alaska LNG project, which would export U.S. liquefied natural gas to Asia. The lawsuit challenges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s May 21 approval of the project and refusal to grant a June 23 request for rehearing.
Read more.Gov. Newsom Faces Lawsuit Over California’s Illegal Oil-well Permits
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity notified Gov. Gavin Newsom today of its intent to file a lawsuit to halt illegal permitting of oil and gas wells in California. In a letter to the governor, the group says giving out such permits causes unacceptable climate and health harms and that the permits are being issued illegally, without the review required under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Read more.EPA Scraps Protections for Children From Pesticide Linked to Birth Defects, Cancer
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency reapproved the pesticide atrazine today, an endocrine-disrupting herbicide banned across much of the world that castrates frogs and is linked to birth defects and cancer in people.
Read more.Park Service Finalizes Disastrous Point Reyes Plan to Kill Native Wildlife, Prioritize Commercial Livestock Grazing
POINT REYES, Calif.— The National Park Service released a management plan amendment today for Point Reyes National Seashore that would enshrine commercial cattle ranching in the California park at the expense of native wildlife and natural habitat. It also calls for the killing of native tule elk and would authorize new agricultural uses that will put other wildlife at risk.
Read more.Colorado Agency Caves to U.S. Forest Service, OKs More Bulldozing of Roadless Forest
DENVER— Conservation groups urged a federal court today to halt further construction in a protected roadless area of the Gunnison National Forest. Today’s motion for expedited consideration came after Colorado officials modified an order late yesterday to no longer prevent Mountain Coal Company from using an illegally bulldozed road and carving more drill pads into the roadless area.
Read more.Students, Orange County Commissioner Marcoplos to Host Tuesday Rally at UNC to Protest University’s Ongoing Use of Coal-fired Power Plant
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Students, Orange County commissioner Mark Marcoplos and conservation advocates will host a rally on Tuesday to protest the University of North Carolina’s ongoing use of a dirty, coal-fired power plant at its Chapel Hill campus.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Arizona’s Verde River From Ravages of Illegal Grazing
PHOENIX― The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon sued the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to stop widespread damage from cattle grazing along the Verde River, its tributaries and streambanks.
Read more.EPA Airplane Pollution Rule Blasted for Failing to Help Climate
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity today offered live testimony opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed greenhouse gas emissions standards for aircraft. The Center argued at a public hearing that the rules, which mirror those adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO, are too weak to address the severity of the climate crisis.
Read more.Administration Sued for Records Detailing U.S. Role on Behalf of Glyphosate-maker Bayer in Pressuring Thailand to Reverse Plan to Ban Pesticide
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the administration for public records detailing the U.S. government’s efforts on behalf of Bayer, the maker of the herbicide glyphosate, to convince Thailand last year to reverse its planned ban of the cancer-linked chemical.
Read more.El Festival de Cine Virtual destaca el vínculo entre la justicia alimentaria y la justicia ambiental
TUCSON, Arizona—El Centro para la Diversidad Biológica será el anfitrión de un Festival de Cine de Justicia Alimentaria virtual y gratuita del 24 al 27 de septiembre, que presentará las premiadas películas Gather, The Invisible Vegan, Dolores y Urban Roots. Cada película explora los vínculos entre la justicia ambiental, el cambio climático, la inseguridad alimentaria y la supremacía blanca.
Read more.Federal Protection Proposed for Two Missouri Crayfishes, Colorado Flower
DENVER— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect a rare plant in southwestern Colorado and two crayfishes in a single watershed in Missouri as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Seek New Critical Habitat for Endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrels
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon today filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand critical habitat for Arizona’s highly endangered Mount Graham red squirrels.
Read more.Virtual Film Festival Highlights Link Between Food Justice, Environmental Justice
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will host a free virtual Food Justice Film Festival Sept. 24-27 featuring the award-winning films Gather, The Invisible Vegan, Dolores and Urban Roots. Each film explores the links between environmental justice, climate change, food insecurity and white supremacy.
Read more.Legal Victory Puts Keys Lizard Back on Track for Endangered Species Protection
MIAMI— In response to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, a federal judge found today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2017 denial of Endangered Species Act protection to the Florida Keys mole skink was arbitrary and unlawful.
Read more.More Than 17,000 Rare Nevada Wildflowers Destroyed
LAS VEGAS— Conservationists discovered over the weekend that someone had dug up and destroyed more than 17,000 Tiehm’s buckwheat plants, a rare Nevada wildflower the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said this summer may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Logging Threat to Endangered Wildlife in Northern California Redwoods
GUALALA, Calif.— Conservation groups filed an Endangered Species Act lawsuit today against the Gualala Redwood Timber Company to protect threatened and endangered fish, birds and frogs from a logging project in a redwood forest near Northern California’s Gualala River.
Read more.More Than 1,500 Acres of Critical Habitat Proposed for Two Central Texas Salamanders
AUSTIN, Texas— Following a legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed 1,519 acres in the Austin area as protected critical habitat for the Georgetown and Salado Springs salamanders.
Read more.Millions Demand Congressional Action on COVID Relief Measure
WASHINGTON— Dozens of organizations, representing millions of people across the United States, called on Congress today to urgently pass a COVID relief package to prevent unnecessary suffering across the country and to ensure voting rights.
Read more.Idaho Documents Reveal Weeks-old Wolf Pups Among 570 Maimed, Slaughtered Wolves
BOISE, Idaho— As the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced last week that the removal of wolves from Endangered Species Act protection nationwide is “very imminent,” new data from Idaho show the ugly face of state wolf-management there.
Read more.Washington Bans Cruel Wildlife-killing Contests
SEATTLE— The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to ban wildlife-killing contests, making it the seventh state to enact such a measure.
Read more.Oregon Urged to End Beaver Trapping, Hunting on Federal Lands
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups filed a petition today asking the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to permanently close commercial and recreational beaver trapping and hunting on the state’s federally managed public lands and the waters that flow through them. Beavers are Oregon’s official state animal, but they can be legally hunted and trapped with few limits.
Read more.Thousands of Californians Call on Governor to Sign Bill That Protects Wildlife From Toxic Rat Poisons
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Conservation groups delivered more than 10,000 California signatures to Gov. Gavin Newsom today asking him to sign a bill that would ban highly toxic rodenticides until state agencies develop common-sense safeguards to protect wildlife from the dangerous, long-lasting poisons.
Read more.Killing of Three Wolves Dims Hopes for New Colorado Population
DENVER— At least half of the six wolves spotted moving into northwestern Colorado earlier this year were recently shot and killed just over the border in Wyoming. The remaining wolves’ status and whereabouts are uncertain.
Read more.Survey Finds Subsidies Don’t Decrease Ranchers’ Hostility to Mexican Gray Wolves
TUCSON, Ariz.— A new survey of Arizona ranchers finds that government subsidies to compensate for livestock losses caused by Mexican gray wolves do little to change the broad dislike for the predators within the industry. Further, the survey showed that the strongest antipathy is held by those ranchers who have never lost stock to wolves.
Read more.Congress Urged to Provide Immediate Pandemic Relief to U.S Food, Farm, Fish Systems
WASHINGTON— While the U.S. Senate was out on recess, a broad coalition of over 160 organizations warned in a letter addressed to congressional leaders of dire consequences for the American food, farm, and fish systems — and the historically underserved communities that make them work — unless Congress acts now to provide immediate pandemic relief.
Read more.Airplane Pollution Standards Lag 10 Years Behind Technology: Report
WASHINGTON— International airplane standards for planet-warming pollution lag behind industry advances by about a decade, according to a report released today by the International Council on Clean Transportation.
Read more.Gov. Inslee Orders Rework of Washington’s Wolf-killing Policies
SEATTLE— In a win for wolf advocates, Gov. Jay Inslee directed the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission today to draft new rules governing the killing of wolves involved in conflicts with livestock. This action reverses the commission’s denial of a petition filed by advocates in May that called for reforms of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s lethal wolf-management policies.
Read more.Trump Administration Launches New Assault on Alaska’s Tongass Old-growth Forest
JUNEAU, Alaska— The Trump administration announced plans today for a massive timber sale that would destroy more than 5,100 acres of critical old-growth habitat in the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska.
Read more.Piden ambientalistas al Tribunal Supremo de Ecuador que proteja Los Cedros y haga cumplir los 'Derechos de la Naturaleza'
QUITO, Ecuador— Grupos ambientalistas presentaron hoy un testimonio legal instando a la Corte Constitucional de Ecuador a detener todas las concesiones mineras en el bosque protector Los Cedros, un “Área Clave para la Biodiversidad” global. El documento cita preocupaciones de la famosa primatóloga Jane Goodall y más de 1,200 científicos destacados.
Read more.Environmental Groups Ask Ecuador´s Highest Court to Protect Los Cedros, Enforce Constitutional ‘Rights of Nature’
QUITO, Ecuador— Environmental groups filed a legal brief today urging the Constitutional Court of Ecuador to halt all mining concessions in the Los Cedros protected forest, a global “Key Biodiversity Area.” The brief cites concerns from famed primatologist Jane Goodall and more than 1,200 other prominent scientists.
Read more.American Burying Beetle Loses Endangered Status Despite Major Threats From Oil Development, Climate Change
TULSA, Okla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the downlisting of the American burying beetle from endangered to threatened despite the absence of the beetle from most of its range, ongoing habitat destruction from the oil and gas industry, and new information that climate change is decimating the species in the southern Plains.
Read more.Trump Administration Further Weakens Habitat Protection for Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration proposed new regulations today that radically alter the existing process for deciding when to exclude a particular area from a critical habitat designation for wildlife or plants protected by the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Judge Allows Conservation Groups to Defend Ventura County Wildlife Connectivity From Industry Legal Challenge
VENTURA, Calif.—In a ruling this week, a judge formally granted permission to four conservation organizations to help defend Ventura County’s innovative wildlife connectivity ordinances — the first of their kind in California.
Read more.Analysis: Proposed Washington Methanol Refinery Would Produce Massive Pollution
LACEY, Wash.— A new environmental analysis by the Washington Department of Ecology of the proposed fracked gas-to-methanol refinery in Kalama, Washington found the plant would rank as one of the state’s largest sources of climate pollution if constructed.
Read more.Trump Administration Hastening Review to Expedite Sprawl in Florida
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In response to a presidential executive order, the Department of the Interior is considering sidestepping key conservation laws to fast-track a Collier County development that threatens to destroy 45,000 acres of essential Florida panther habitat, according to documents obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Documents: Trump Administration Waiving Rules for Oil Drilling, Mining
WASHINGTON— Documents obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity show that a presidential executive order has prompted the Department of the Interior to consider exemptions to key provisions of the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act for more than 50 major projects.
Read more.Humboldt Martens Receive Long-awaited Endangered Species Act Protection
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Humboldt marten will receive protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The decision comes after two conservation groups sued the Trump administration for its long delay in finalizing protections for this rare species.
Read more.Officials Urged to Strengthen ‘Connect SoCal’ Plan to Protect Mountain Lions, Discourage Development in Fire-prone Areas
LOS ANGELES— Conservation and housing groups today urged the Southern California Association of Governments to amend a land-use plan covering six Southern California counties to better safeguard connectivity for imperiled mountain lions, meet the state’s climate goals, and discourage development in fire-prone areas.
Read more.California Legislature Passes Bill to Protect Wildlife From Super-toxic Rat Poisons
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California legislature has passed a bill that would place a moratorium on super-toxic rodenticides until state agencies can develop better safeguards to protect wildlife from the dangerous, long-lasting poisons.
Read more.SEC Complaint Charges Misleading Claims by Australian Company Over Nevada Mine
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today asserting that the Australian mining company Ioneer provided materially misleading statements to investors.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Challenge Seattle Harbor Expansion’s Threats to Orcas
SEATTLE— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to consider how ship traffic harms critically endangered orcas when it approved plans to expand Seattle Harbor, the Center for Biological Diversity said today in a notice of its intent to sue the agency. This declining population of orcas is down to just 72 individuals.
Read more.Trump Administration Sued for Failing to Protect Nassau Grouper Habitat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups sued the federal government today for failing to protect the nearshore habitat of the Nassau grouper, which faces threats from pollution and climate change impacts such as sea-level rise and ocean acidification.
Read more.Forest Service Plan Would Fast-track Fracking on National Forests, Grasslands
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Forest Service released a proposal today that would fast-track fracking and drilling across the country’s 192 million acres of national forests and grasslands.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Challenging EPA Decision to Dismiss Pesticides’ Harms to Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice of intent to sue today over the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Revised Methods” for assessing pesticide risks to endangered species.
Read more.National Park Service Pressed to Tear Down Elk Barrier, Ensure Water Supply for Point Reyes Elk
POINT REYES, Calif.— In response to reports of tule elk dying amid an ongoing drought, the Center for Biological Diversity and Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic today demanded that the National Park Service remove a fence from Tomales Point in northern Point Reyes National Seashore that confines elk on a peninsula with inadequate water.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Luxury Development in Big Bear Valley
FAWNSKIN, Calif.— Conservation groups sued the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors today for approving the controversial Moon Camp development on the north shore of Big Bear Lake. The planned development would bring 50 high-end custom homes to the lakefront property, which has rare and world-renowned pebble plains as well as habitat for wildlife, including a pair of bald eagles with a worldwide following that lives year-round in Big Bear Valley.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Forest Service Failure to Protect Endangered Mouse, Streamside Meadow Areas in New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Forest Service today to challenge its failure to protect streamside meadows in New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains from cattle. The areas are critical habitat for the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.
Read more.Lawsuit: Trump Administration’s Massive Powder River Basin Coal Plan Violates Court Order
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today to challenge a massive Powder River Basin coal-mining plan the groups say ignores alternatives to coal, oil and gas leasing and fails to publicly acknowledge the harms from coal combustion, violating federal law and a 2018 court order.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Delay in Ensuring That Rules to Reduce Smog Are in Place for California, Colorado
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to ensure that parts of California and Colorado have effective plans to reduce dangerous smog pollution.
Read more.Trump Administration Proposes First Oil Lease Sale in California in Eight Years
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it intends to hold the first federal oil and gas lease sale in California since 2012.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Fort Lauderdale Hilton for Harming Sea Turtles
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.— Conservation groups filed a notice today of their intent to sue the Bahia Mar Resort and Yachting Center and Hilton Hotels for lighting practices that harm nesting and hatchling sea turtles.
Read more.Emergency Legal Petition Filed With USDA to End Cruel Farm ‘Depopulation’ Methods
WASHINGTON— A coalition led by the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed an emergency petition today with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent COVID-19 relief funds, resources and any other forms of support from facilitating or compensating for the costs of ventilation shutdown or water-based foam “depopulation” — the mass killing of animals on factory farms. It also asks the agency to withhold COVID-19 relief funds, resources, and any other forms of support from integrators, processors, and meatpackers that order or permit ventilation shutdown or water-based foam depopulation.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Restore Protection for Wolves, Grizzly Bears on Alaska’s National Preserves
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Thirteen groups filed a federal lawsuit today to restore Obama-era protections for Alaska’s wildlife on national preserves managed by the National Park Service.
Read more.Analysis: National Wildlife Refuges Hit With 34% Increase in Acreage Sprayed With Agricultural Pesticides Over Two-year Period
WASHINGTON— More than 350,000 pounds of dangerous agricultural pesticides were sprayed on more than 363,000 acres of crops on America’s national wildlife refuges in 2018, a 34% increase over the acreage sprayed in 2016, according to a new Center for Biological Diversity analysis released today.
Read more.TC Energy Warned That Construction of Keystone XL Poses Unlawful Harm to Endangered Species
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups filed a supplemental notice letter today warning TC Energy that construction of the Keystone XL pipeline must not continue while analysis of the harm to imperiled wildlife remains incomplete.
Read more.Lawsuit Fights Trump Administration Plan to Open 18 Million Acres of Western Arctic to Oil and Gas Drilling
ANCHORAGE — Conservation groups today sued the Trump administration over its plan to allow oil and gas drilling on 18.7 million acres of the Western Arctic, known as the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
Read more.Rare Virgin Islands Flower Proposed for Endangered Species Protection
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed listing the marrón bacora, a plant native to the Virgin Islands, as endangered and identified 2,549 acres of potential critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Legal Petition Demands Tennessee Valley Authority Halt Electricity Shutoffs, Fund Debt Relief
WASHINGTON— Dozens of climate-justice organizations petitioned the Tennessee Valley Authority today to immediately impose a moratorium on electricity shutoffs in the region and fund debt relief for its customers.
Read more.California Senate Bill May Shield Oil Companies From Cleanup Costs
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Last-minute amendments to Senate Bill 1012 in the California legislature threaten to shift massive oil-industry well-cleanup costs to taxpayers. S.B. 1012, introduced by Sen. Melissa Hurtado, would make changes to the California Public Resources Code that could make it harder for the state to recoup well-remediation costs from oil companies.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Block Drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Environmental groups filed a lawsuit in federal court today challenging the Trump administration’s decision to allow oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Bureau of Land Management’s plan for drilling in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge would cause irreparable damage to one of the world’s most important wild places and takes the United States in exactly the wrong direction on combating climate change, the suit says.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Failure to Clean Up Ventura County Smog
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.— Conservation groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to require reductions of asthma-causing smog pollution in California’s Ventura County, which is home to more than 850,000 people.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Mega-Resort in Northern California’s Fire-prone Guenoc Valley
LAKEPORT, Calif.— As wildfires rage across Northern California, the Center for Biological Diversity sued Lake County today for approving a sprawling new luxury resort and residential development in fire-prone Guenoc Valley, just north of Napa County.
Read more.Judge OKs Millions in Executive Payouts for Bankrupt California Oil Giant
HOUSTON— A federal judge in Houston late yesterday approved an incentive package worth up to $57 million for top executives as part of bankruptcy proceedings for oil giant California Resources Corporation.
Read more.Nation’s First Public Database Launched Featuring Research on Links Between Human Population Growth, Extinction Crisis
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity today launched the nation’s first public database featuring research documenting the links between human population growth and the escalating wildlife extinction crisis.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Save Rare Southern Nevada Butterfly
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity launched a lawsuit today to block a proposed ski-resort expansion in southern Nevada that could drive the endangered Mount Charleston blue butterfly to extinction.
Read more.Federal Government Agrees to Protect Green Sea Turtle Habitat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service must designate protected critical habitat for green sea turtles under a new legal agreement with conservation groups. Sea-level rise, plastic pollution and global warming threaten green sea turtle habitat.
Read more.Legal Action Seeks Endangered Species Protection for Giant California Fly
FRESNO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent today to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for improperly denying Endangered Species Act protection to the critically imperiled San Joaquin Valley giant flower-loving fly.
Read more.Judge Orders Deadline for New North Atlantic Right Whale Protections
WASHINGTON— As a result of a successful lawsuit by several environmental and animal organizations, a federal judge today ordered federal fishery managers to issue a new rule for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales no later than May 31, 2021.
Read more.California Moves to Protect Declining Leatherback Sea Turtles
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Fish and Game Commission voted 5-0 today to advance leatherback sea turtles to candidacy under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The vote follows a June 2020 recommendation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that increased protections may be warranted. The action came in response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Trump Administration Fossil Fuel Plan in Colorado ‘Climate Hot Spot’
DENVER— Climate groups sued the Trump administration today over its plan to expand drilling, fracking and mining across 1.7 million acres of public lands in southwestern Colorado, one of the fastest-warming regions in the nation.
Read more.Federal Agency Revokes Protections for Wildlife on Scores of National Wildlife Refuges Across Country
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today approved the single-largest expansion ever of hunting and fishing in national wildlife refuges, including allowing bears, mountain lions and other top predators to be killed in more places.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Suspension of Pollution Monitoring
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today over the Environmental Protection Agency’s suspension of pollution monitoring and reporting requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more.U.S. Agrees to Decide Pangolin Protections
WASHINGTON— Under a new legal agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will decide whether pangolins, the world’s most trafficked mammals, should be protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Refusal to Protect California Spotted Owl
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservationists sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for refusing to protect California spotted owls under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Animal, Environmental Organizations Call on White House to Support G20 Ban on Wildlife Trade
NEW YORK— Advocacy organizations today urged Thomas Storch, White House senior trade advisor and G20 Sherpa, to support and champion a permanent ban on wild-animal markets that could become sources for future pandemics.
Read more.Washington State Kills Last Two Members of Wedge Wolf Pack
SEATTLE— Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today that it killed the remaining two members of the Wedge wolf pack Aug. 13. The killing comes after another summer fraught with livestock-wolf conflict and public outcry over the need for changes in how the agency manages this state endangered species.
Read more.Ban on Collecting Hawaii Reef Fish for Aquarium Trade Upheld
HONOLULU— The state of Hawaii’s Environmental Council has upheld the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ decision to maintain the ban on collecting fish for the aquarium pet trade off the west coast of Hawaii Island and to reject an environmental impact statement aimed at restarting the destructive practice.
Read more.ExxonMobil Oil Trucking Plan Jeopardized by Refinery Shutdown, County Staff Opposition to Using Dangerous Route 166
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – ExxonMobil’s plans to restart its offshore drilling platforms in Santa Barbara County and truck that oil through California have been undermined by two unrelated announcements. Opponents responded today by calling on the company to abandon the project and decommission its offshore operations.
Read more.Trump Administration Rolls Back Methane Pollution Rules for Oil, Gas Industry
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration finalized two rules today that will roll back regulation of the oil and gas industry, allowing the release of hundreds of thousands of tons of methane and other harmful air pollutants over the coming years.
Read more.Gov. Inslee Urged to Act After Washington Wolf Advisor’s Removal
SEATTLE— Environmental groups called on Gov. Jay Inslee today to reform wolf management in Washington after the sudden removal of conservationist Tim Coleman from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wolf Advisory Group.
Read more.Court Overturns Trump Administration Policy That Sharply Curtailed Protections for Migratory Birds
NEW YORK— A federal court today overturned a Trump administration reinterpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that had upended decades of enforcement and let industry polluters entirely off the hook for killing birds.
Read more.Alachua County Says No to Florida Plan for Huge Toll Roads
GAINESVILLE, Fla.— The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously today to oppose a plan to build new toll roads through some of Florida’s last wild places.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against EPA to Combat Asthma-causing Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution in Eight States
WASHINGTON— Three conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to meet congressionally mandated deadlines for enforcing reductions in dangerous sulfur dioxide air pollution.
Read more.Labor, Environmental Groups Urge Emergency Action to Protect Frontline Workers From COVID-19
WASHINGTON— Labor unions representing health care workers, teachers, transit operators and millions of other frontline workers joined with environmental groups today to demand that the Trump administration take emergency action to provide adequate masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment to these essential workers.
Read more.Department of Energy Inaction Will Cost Consumers at Least $22 Billion, Spew at Least 80 Million Tons of Carbon Into Air
WASHINGTON— Six environmental and consumer groups warned the U.S. Department of Energy today that they will sue the agency if it does not meet its legal responsibility to review and update overdue energy-efficiency standards for an unprecedented 26 consumer and commercial products within 60 days. These products include some of the largest energy users, such as air conditioners, water heaters, refrigerators and clothes dryers.
Read more.Feds: High Extinction Risk for All Seven Leatherback Sea Turtle Populations
WASHINGTON— A new review of leatherback sea turtle science concludes that seven distinct populations of leatherback sea turtles face a high extinction risk. The National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today a finding that all seven leatherback sea turtle populations remain endangered, denying a petition by the commercial fishing industry to relax some protections.
Read more.Black Teatfish Sea Cucumbers Move Toward Endangered Species Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service found today that the imperiled black teatfish sea cucumber may warrant Endangered Species Act protection and potentially a trade ban. Overfishing and the wildlife trade have caused rapid population declines for these plump, spotted, shallow-water sea cucumbers.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Reduce Dangerous Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to clean up asthma-causing sulfur dioxide air pollution in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana; Huntington, Indiana; Piti-Cabras, Guam; and San Juan and Guayama-Salinas, Puerto Rico.
Read more.Legal Petition Urges U.S. to Certify That China’s Pangolin Trade Violates Wildlife Treaty
WASHINGTON— Conservation organizations filed a legal petition today urging the U.S. secretary of the Interior to formally certify China for illegally trading in critically imperiled pangolins. If certification under the Pelly Amendment is granted, the U.S. government can sanction China, including banning all wildlife imports from the country.
Read more.Vessel Speed Limits Sought to Protect Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed a rulemaking petition today seeking additional ship-speed limits along the Atlantic coast to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. In June a baby right whale was found dead off the coast of New Jersey, with propeller wounds across its head, chest and tail.
Read more.Company Puts Massive Nevada Gold Mine Expansion on Hold
RENO, Nev.— Nevada Gold Mines has temporarily suspended plans to expand the Long Canyon Mine in northeast Nevada and says it will conduct hydrologic studies to address concerns that the expansion would dry up nearby springs.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Mining Permits Near Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today over its decision to renew 13 prospecting permits that could allow Twin Metals to significantly expand its proposed sulfide-ore copper mine at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Minnesota’s Endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee
MINNEAPOLIS— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the city of Minnetonka for failing to protect endangered rusty patched bumblebees from a planned mountain-bike course in Lone Lake Park, home to one of the largest populations of the bee in Minnesota.
Read more.Feinstein-Daines Wildfire Bill Would Evade Environmental Laws, Compromise Community Protection
WASHINGTON― Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced legislation yesterday that would fast-track unsustainable logging, increase wildfire risk and jeopardize community safety. The measure stands in stark contrast to sensible, science-based legislation sponsored by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), which would help communities in fire-prone areas without backcountry logging.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Nearly $28 Million in Public Funding for Utah Oil Railway
SALT LAKE CITY― Conservation groups sued the Utah Permanent Community Impact Fund Board today for granting $27.9 million in public money to a proposed railway that would move oil from the Uinta Basin to refineries in other states.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Approval of Mining Road Through Alaska National Park
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Nine groups sued the Trump administration today to challenge its approval of a commercial gravel road that would destroy, degrade and pollute Arctic land and water and threaten the health of wildlife and people across a broad region of Alaska’s southern Brooks Range.
Read more.Sen. Udall, Rep. Neguse Introduce Landmark Legislation Banning Chlorpyrifos, Paraquat, Transforming Pesticide Safety Reviews
WASHINGTON— U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) introduced historic legislation today increasing protections for farmworkers and children by banning dangerous pesticides like paraquat, chlorpyrifos and neonicotinoids.
Read more.Trump Administration Proposes New Limits on Protecting Endangered Species Habitat
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration issued a new proposal today that will severely limit the government’s ability to protect habitat that imperiled animals and plants will need to survive and recover.
Read more.Federal Review of Columbia River Dams Fails to Protect Salmon, Orcas
SEATTLE— A federal analysis of dams in the Columbia River basin released today fails to move toward the only viable alternative for saving salmon and the Southern Resident killer whales that rely on them for food: the removal of the four lower Snake River dams.
Read more.Sen. Udall, Rep. Neguse to Hold Tele-Press Conference Tuesday on Landmark Pesticide Legislation to Protect Children, Workers by Banning Toxic Paraquat, Chlorpyrifos
WASHINGTON— U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) will hold a press conference at 12:15 p.m. EDT on Tuesday to discuss details of the groundbreaking pesticide reform legislation they will introduce that day, the Protect America’s Children from Toxic Pesticides Act of 2020.
Read more.Feds Urged to Deny Third Arizona Pumped-storage Project Threatening Humpback Chub, Little Colorado River
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today to deny a preliminary permit application for a massive water-pumping project on the Little Colorado River, which provides water for one of the West’s most endangered fish.
Read more.Santa Barbara County to Vote on ExxonMobil Plan to Restart Offshore Platforms, Truck Oil in California
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— Santa Barbara County has released the final environmental impact report on ExxonMobil’s proposal to transport oil by tanker trucks so it can restart three drilling platforms off California, setting up a vote on the project.
Read more.Legal Action Challenges Duke Energy’s Buildout of Unapproved Gas-fired Power Units
DURHAM, N.C.— Climate-justice groups filed a legal petition with the North Carolina Utilities Commission today asserting that Duke Energy — one of the top polluting U.S. utilities — is violating state law by quietly building large amounts of inefficient gas-burning capacity without commission approval.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Attack on Landmark Environmental Law
WASHINGTON— A nationwide coalition of organizations from the environmental-justice, outdoor and conservation communities filed a lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s attack on the National Environmental Policy Act.
Read more.Legal Petition Urges U.S. Forest Service to Protect Native Bees, Stop Rubber-stamping Commercial Beehives on Federal Lands
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed a formal legal petition today urging the U.S. Forest Service to stop allowing the placement of hundreds of commercial honeybee hives on national forest lands without proper environmental review.
Read more.Trump Administration OKs Liquid Natural Gas by Rail Despite Explosion Risks
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration released a final rule today allowing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be shipped by rail, overruling critics who warn that it risks deadly explosions. The Federal Railroad Administration and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration amended federal hazardous-materials rules that have prohibited LNG from being shipped by train.
Read more.Formosa Plastics Agrees to Delay Work on Louisiana Plant After Opponents File for Injunction
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.— A federal judge has approved Formosa Plastics’ agreement not to start construction work on its massive petrochemical complex in St. James Parish, Louisiana after opponents filed a preliminary injunction on July 14 to block work on the site.
Read more.Critical Habitat Designated for Threatened Idaho Plant
BOISE, Idaho—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated critical habitat today for slickspot peppergrass, a rare and threatened plant found only in southwestern Idaho. The decision proposes approximately 42,129 acres of protected habitat in Ada, Elmore, Gem, Payette and Owyhee counties in Idaho. The designation is roughly 20,000 acres less than the acreage proposed in 2014.
Read more.New Study Calls for Funding to Prevent Deforestation, Curtail Wildlife Trade
DURHAM, N.C.— A study being published tomorrow in the journal Science concludes that spending $22-$31 billion to curb habitat loss, deforestation and wildlife trade and monitor and control disease emergence would dramatically reduce the risk of another pandemic. That represents just 2% of the total cost — $10-$20 trillion — inflicted on the global economy by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more.Washington Wildlife Agency Issues Kill Order on Another Endangered Wolf Pack
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a new order today authorizing the killing of one member of the Wedge wolf pack in Stevens County — the latest in a long series of kill orders in this area.
Read more.Central California Coast Snail Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success
MORRO BAY, Calif.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed changing the Endangered Species Act status of the Morro shoulderband snail from endangered to threatened.
Read more.Washington Governor Urged to Order New Rules to Reduce Wolf-killing
SEATTLE— Conservation groups petitioned Gov. Jay Inslee today to order the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to draft enforceable rules that limit when the state can kill endangered wolves for conflicts with livestock.
Read more.New Data Underscores Urgent Need for Federal Moratorium on Utility Shutoffs
WASHINGTON— Senator Tom Carper, Democratic ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released a report today that revealed only 10 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., have statewide moratoriums on water, power and gas utility shut-offs that protect all or the vast majority of residential ratepayers in effect right now. The report provides a comprehensive state-by-state analysis of state protections against water, power and gas utility disconnections.
Read more.California Data Show Regular Truck Crashes, Deaths Along Proposed ExxonMobil Oil-trucking Route
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— There’s been a large truck collision every week, and almost two fatalities per year, on average over the past five years along the California highways where ExxonMobil wants to send up to 70 oil tanker trucks a day, according to California Highway Patrol data analyzed by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Trump Administration Denies Montana Grayling Endangered Species Protection
BUTTE, Mont.— The Trump administration denied protection today to the Montana arctic grayling, a member of the salmon family now found in just 4% of its historic range.
Read more.Trump Administration’s Weak New Aircraft Pollution Rules Fail to Protect Climate
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration proposed long-overdue rules today to regulate greenhouse gas pollution from aircraft. The rules, which mirror those adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO, are too weak to address the severity of the climate crisis. The EPA itself says it doesn't expect the rule to result in emissions reductions.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Finalize Endangered Species Protection for North Carolina Catfish, Salamander
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to finalize protection for two imperiled aquatic species in eastern North Carolina under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Luxury Resort Approved in Northern California’s Wildfire-prone Guenoc Valley
LAKEPORT, Calif.— Despite warnings from fire experts and the California attorney general, the Lake County Board of Supervisors approved a sprawling development today in the fire-prone Guenoc Valley, just north of Napa County in Northern California. The project is a massive luxury resort and residential development spread over 16,000 acres that includes oak woodland habitat and critical wildlife corridors.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Failure to Release Records on End of North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to release public records on the termination of a program to restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades in Washington.
Read more.Two Rare Nevada Wildflowers Move Toward Endangered Species Protection
LAS VEGAS— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that two imperiled Nevada wildflowers may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. The agency initiated a one-year review for Tiehm’s buckwheat and the Las Vegas bearpoppy. Today’s finding comes in response to petitions submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity in 2019.
Read more.California’s Lassen Wolf Pack Has Pups for Fourth Straight Year
SAN FRANCISCO— California’s only known wolf family, the Lassen pack, has produced its fourth litter of pups. The pups’ father joined the pack recently, after the pack’s first breeding male disappeared last summer.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Order Opening Public Lands to Coal Leasing
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— A coalition of states, conservation organizations and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe launched a new challenge today to the Trump administration’s decision to open millions of acres of public land to new coal leasing and mining.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Sprawling Southern California Mega-warehouse
MORENO VALLEY, Calif.— Environmental-justice and conservation groups have sued the Southern California city of Moreno Valley for approving the massive World Logistics Center, a 40-million-square-foot warehouse project that would worsen already poor air quality and harm wildlife in the nearby San Jacinto Wildlife Area.
Read more.EPA: Waters Around Two Hawaii Beaches Impaired by Plastic Pollution
HONOLULU— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found the waters around Hawaii’s Kamilo Beach and Tern Island to be impaired by plastic pollution and ordered state officials to take corrective actions under the Clean Water Act. The decision overrules repeated attempts by Hawaii officials to deny evidence of plastic pollution harming bodies of water around the islands.
Read more.As Oil Giant Goes Bankrupt, California Governor Urged to Hold Industry Responsible for Well Cleanups
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— As one of California’s largest oil producers enters bankruptcy, the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club today urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to prevent California Resources Corporation and other troubled oil companies from shirking legal obligations to clean up their wells and prevent pollution. CRC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Wednesday.
Read more.Federal Court Rejects Trump Administration Cancellation of Methane Pollution Rule
SAN FRANCISCO― A federal judge late yesterday reinstated the Bureau of Land Management’s 2016 methane waste rule, aimed at protecting people and the climate from methane waste and pollution from oil and gas extraction on public lands. The ruling is the third defeat for the Trump administration’s efforts to suspend, delay or repeal the rule.
Read more.Analysis: Dietary Guidelines of U.S., Other G20 Countries, Are Pushing Planet Closer to Climate Catastrophe
WASHINGTON — A groundbreaking international analysis published today found that the national dietary guidelines of the G20 countries, including the United States, are helping to drive the planet closer to climate catastrophe.
Read more.Endangered Species Protections Sought for Rare Wolf in Southeast Alaska
SITKA, Alaska— The Center for Biological Diversity, Alaska Rainforest Defenders and Defenders of Wildlife petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to give Endangered Species Act protections to the Alexander Archipelago wolf in Southeast Alaska.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Force Trump Administration to Restore North Cascades Grizzly Bears
SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash.— The Center for Biological Diversity initiated a lawsuit today to challenge the Trump administration’s recent termination of a program aimed at restoring grizzly bears to the North Cascades in Washington. In the past decade, biologists have documented only four grizzly bears in the region.
Read more.Trump Administration Dismantles Bedrock Environmental Law
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration finalized a sweeping rollback today of the National Environmental Policy Act’s rules for conducting environmental reviews of federal activities. The final rule drastically curtails environmental reviews for thousands of federal agency projects nationwide, a move that will weaken safeguards for air, water, wildlife and public lands.
Read more.Dunes Sagebrush Lizard One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protections
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the dunes sagebrush lizard may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act and initiated a year-long status review.
Read more.Keystone XL Faces New Legal Challenge Over Faulty Federal Review
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Conservation and landowner groups filed a new lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s approval of the Keystone XL tar-sands pipeline to be constructed on federal lands.
Read more.Opponents of Formosa Plastics’ Louisiana Plant File for Preliminary Injunction
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.— Opponents of Formosa Plastics’ massive proposed petrochemical complex in St. James Parish, Louisiana filed for a preliminary injunction today to block construction of the project. The proposed facility would be one of the largest plastics plants in North America.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Ensure Water for Rare Nevada Fish
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Nevada state engineer today for allowing groundwater pumping that reduces spring flows and endangers the rare Moapa dace.
Read more.60 Groups Denounce Trump Administration’s Proposal to Revive Super-polluting Supersonic Planes
WASHINGTON— More than 60 climate, environmental, community and public-health groups nationwide called on the Trump administration to withdraw a proposed rule that would pave the way for the return of commercial supersonic airplane travel.
Read more.Federal Court Strikes Down EPA’s ‘Free Pass’ for Colorado Oil, Gas Pollution in Smog-reduction Effort
DENVER— A federal appeals court today rejected the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to let some Colorado oil and gas operations off the hook for their contribution to asthma-causing smog in the Metro-Denver and Front Range region.
Read more.Updated ‘Redlist:’ More Than 1 in 4 Evaluated Species Facing Extinction
PORTLAND, Ore.— An updated assessment released today by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature found that 27% of evaluated species of plants and animals around the globe are threatened with extinction.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Documents on President Trump’s Order ‘Expediting’ Fossil Fuel Project Approvals
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today to get public records showing how federal agencies are implementing President Trump’s order to waive environmental laws to fast-track oil and gas drilling, fossil fuel pipelines and other projects across the country.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered Wildlife in California Redwood Forest
GUALALA, Calif.— Conservation groups today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and a timber company for failing to protect threatened and endangered fish, birds and frogs from a redwood logging project near northern California’s Gualala River.
Read more.Right Whales Decline as Deadly Entanglements Continue, IUCN Finds
GLAND, Switzerland— North Atlantic right whales are moving closer to extinction, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared today in an update to its “Red List of Threatened Species.” The large whales found off the East Coast of the United States and Canada are declining because of entanglements in commercial fishing gear and ship strikes.
Read more.Understanding Protects Endangered Owls From Arizona, New Mexico Forest Projects
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— A new understanding will ensure that a pending lawsuit is dropped and that forest thinning projects in six national forests in Arizona and New Mexico will better protect endangered Mexican spotted owls.
Read more.Appeals Court Victory Maintains Protections for Yellowstone Grizzlies
SAN FRANCISCO— The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals today affirmed a federal court’s 2018 ruling that the Trump administration illegally stripped Endangered Species Act protections from Yellowstone’s grizzly bears. The decision spares the grizzlies from previous plans for trophy hunts in Wyoming and Idaho.
Read more.California Coastal Commission Orders Oceano Dunes to Remain Closed to Vehicles to Protect Nesting Shorebirds
OCEANO, Calif.— The California Coastal Commission has ordered State Parks officials to keep significant portions of Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area closed to vehicles and camping through the end of September to protect western snowy plovers.
Read more.9th Circuit Court Urged to Reject Arizona Utility’s Discrimination Against Rooftop Solar
PHOENIX— Five climate and energy-conservation groups took legal action this week in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge an Arizona public power utility’s discrimination against rooftop-solar customers.
Read more.Nevada Court Protects Bi-state Sage Grouse From Off-road Vehicles
RENO, Nev.ꟷ In a decisive win for bi-state sage grouse, the Nevada District Court today denied off-roaders’ attempts to gut protections for the imperiled bird in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Read more.Gunnison Sage-Grouse in Dire Straits as Population Numbers Continue to Decline
DENVER, Colo. – A new survey of the Gunnison sage-grouse by Colorado Parks and Wildlife shows the imperiled bird’s three-year running average count has hit a historic low, with fewer than 1,600 birds remaining in 2020.
Read more.In Yet Another Blow to Keystone XL, Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Revive Key Water-crossing Permit
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Supreme Court today declined a request from TC Energy and the Trump administration to allow the Keystone XL pipeline to proceed under Nationwide Permit 12, a key water-crossing permit for pipelines that a district court found unlawful. The court also issued a partial stay of the district court’s decision as it applies to other pipelines while a full appeal of the decision moves forward.
Read more.New Air Pollution Violation Revealed at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Coal Plant
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club today filed an amended complaint highlighting a previously undisclosed violation of the Clean Air Act by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s coal-fired power plant.
Read more.With New Permits, Newsom Ramps Up Fracking in California
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Gov. Gavin Newsom’s oil and gas regulatory agency has approved 12 new permits for Chevron to conduct hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Lost Hills Oil Field in Kern County.
Read more.Two Map Turtles Species Move One Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection in Mississippi, Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS—As the result of a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to decide on Endangered Species Act protection for Pascagoula and Pearl River map turtles by Oct. 29, 2021.
Read more.Prescott National Forest Withdraws Approval of Hassayampa River Gold Mine
PRESCOTT, Ariz.— The Prescott National Forest today withdrew its decision to proceed with a controversial mine, the River Bend Placer Mine project, on the Hassayampa River. The withdrawal comes after the Center for Biological Diversity delivered a forceful objection to the project’s impacts on the globally imperiled Phillip’s agave (Agave phillipsiana), a rare plant domesticated by Native Americans centuries ago and farmed by them on the site of the mine between 500 and 1,000 years ago.
Read more.Feds Agree to Decide on Endangered Species Protection for Wolverines by Aug. 31
MISSOULA, Mont.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be required to decide whether wolverines in the lower 48 states should be protected under the Endangered Species Act by Aug. 31, 2020, in accordance with a legal agreement filed in court today with conservation groups.
Read more.House Democrats Set to Give 850,000 Acres of Nevada Wildlife Refuge to Military
LAS VEGAS — In a stunning development in the ongoing controversy over proposed military bombing range expansion in Nevada, the Democrat-led House Armed Services Committee today approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would give the U.S. Air Force jurisdiction over 850,000 acres currently managed as a wildlife refuge.
Read more.Miles de tortugas siguen muriendo en Costas de BCS, insuficientes los esfuerzos para su conservación
LA PAZ, Mexico— A dos años de la creación del área de refugio para la tortuga caguama por parte de la Semarnat y a cuatro años de que la Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca (Conapesca) estableció un refugio pesquero, miles de tortugas en peligro de extinción siguen muriendo en el Golfo de Ulloa, Baja California Sur, de acuerdo con información del gobierno analizada por las organizaciones Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental A.C. y el Centro para la Diversidad Biológica.
Read more.Petition Seeks California Endangered Species Protection for Quino Checkerspot Butterfly
SAN DIEGO— The Center for Biological Diversity and Endangered Habitats League filed a petition today to protect Quino checkerspot butterflies under the California Endangered Species Act.
Read more.27,488 Acres of Critical Habitat Designated for Elfin-woods Warbler
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following litigation brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated critical habitat for the elfin-woods warbler. This small, black-and-white bird, found only in Puerto Rico, has lost a significant amount of habitat to urban and agricultural development. Today’s measure designates 27,488 acres of forested land on the island.
Read more.California Holds Hearing on Rule to Prevent Whale Entanglements in Crab Gear
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California wildlife officials are accepting public comments and holding an online hearing today on a proposed rule to reduce the number of endangered whales and sea turtles that get entangled in commercial Dungeness crab gear.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Force Recovery Plans for Two Southeastern Salamanders
PANAMA CITY, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to develop recovery plans for the endangered reticulated and frosted flatwoods salamanders.
Read more.U.S. Department of Agriculture Petitioned to Ban Mass Burial, On-Site Incineration of Factory-Farmed Animals During Pandemic
WASHINGTON— Conservation, environmental-justice and public-health groups filed a legal petition today calling for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban dangerous on-site incineration and unlined burial of millions of industrially raised farm animals killed during the COVID-19 emergency.
Read more.Feds Kill Another Endangered Mexican Gray Wolf
SILVER CITY, N.M.— A federal gunman killed the alpha male of the Saffel pack of Mexican gray wolves in Arizona last week for preying on livestock, according to a memo released yesterday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Read more.Washington Commission Rejects Petition for New Rules to Prevent Wolf Killing, Conflicts
SEATTLE— The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission rejected a petition today that called for new rules to limit when the state can kill endangered wolves for conflicts with livestock.
Read more.Newly Discovered Wetland Flower in North Carolina Already Extinct
NORTH CAROLINA— Scientists in North Carolina have determined that a species of riverbank wildflower conservationists have fought to protect since 2010 is actually two separate species — and the “new” flower has been extinct for a century. This marks the 53rd plant known to be lost to extinction in the United States and Canada.
Read more.Trump Administration Plan Expands Oil Drilling in Alaska’s Arctic Reserve
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Trump administration announced release of a final plan for Alaska’s Western Arctic region today that would expand oil and gas leasing into protected wildlife habitat. The plan would turn over about 18.7 million acres of public lands in the largest roadless area in the United States to the oil industry.
Read more.Filing Challenges Trump Administration Approval of Alaska LNG Project
WASHINGTON— Environmental groups and an Alaskan Native village council filed a formal request Monday for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reconsider its approval of the Alaska LNG project, which would export U.S. fossil fuel to Asia.
Read more.Critical Habitat Finalized for Endangered Arizona Mud Turtle
TUCSON, Ariz.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced final critical habitat protection today for the endangered Sonoyta mud turtle. These highly aquatic turtles are found only in Pima County, Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Colorado Air Pollution Agency Approval of Smog Pollution From Oil, Gas Well
DENVER— Conservation groups sued the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division today for issuing an air-pollution permit allowing an oil and gas well in Adams County to emit more smog-forming pollution in the Metro Denver / North Front Range area.
Read more.Washington Agency Issues Kill Order on Another Endangered Wolf Pack
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a new order today authorizing the killing of up to two members of the Togo wolf pack in Ferry County. This may leave the pack with just one or two surviving members, according to the department’s annual wolf report released in April.
Read more.Trump Administration OKs Beaver Killing in Oregon, Despite Harm to Endangered Salmon, Steelhead
PORTLAND, Ore.— Despite recognizing that restoring beaver populations is key to the recovery of imperiled salmon and steelhead species, a federal agency just gave the go-ahead to keep killing beavers in Oregon.
Read more.Trump Administration Abandons Hammond Ranches Appeal in Reprieve for Oregon Wildlife, Public Lands
PORTLAND, Ore.— Livestock grazing won’t be allowed this year on four eastern Oregon allotments formerly grazed by Hammond Ranches. The Trump administration recently abandoned its appeal of a 2019 court ruling overturning then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s decision to renew the father and son’s grazing permit.
Read more.California Agency: Protection for Leatherback Sea Turtles May Be Needed
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended today that Pacific leatherback sea turtles move toward protection under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The action came in response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Tiny Florida Crayfish
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a formal notice of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agency’s failure to finalize protections for the Panama City crayfish. The rare crayfish is threatened by habitat loss.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Compel Trump Administration to Protect Bi-state Sage Grouse
SAN FRANCISCO― Conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to protect an imperiled bird, the bi-state sage grouse, under the Endangered Species Act despite ongoing population declines.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump OK of Commercial Fishing in Atlantic Marine Monument
WASHINGTON— A federal lawsuit filed today says President Trump’s June 5 executive order allowing commercial fishing in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument was illegal. The lawsuit notes that the Antiquities Act allows presidents to create national monuments to protect objects of historic or scientific interest, but not to revoke protections.
Read more.Rural Residents, Hunters Join Nationwide Effort to Save Mexican Wolves
SILVER CITY, N.M.— Hunters, rural residents and thousands of others in New Mexico and Arizona today joined a call to dramatically restrict trapping and shooting of endangered Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest. Instead, they said, the focus should be on recovering the species — among the most endangered mammals in North America — and releasing more captive-born wolves into the wild.
Read more.Conservation Groups File Motions to Defend Ventura County Wildlife Connectivity
VENTURA, Calif.— Conservation organizations filed two legal motions today to defend Ventura County’s innovative wildlife connectivity ordinances — the first of their kind in California.
Read more.Report: Nearly 90% of Minnesotans Recognize Importance of Maintaining State’s Wolf Population
MINNEAPOLIS— The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources released a report today analyzing Minnesotans’ attitudes toward wolves. A key finding is that 87% of residents agree that maintaining the state’s wolf population is important.
Read more.Solar Co-op Launches for Tucson Residents to Go Solar Together
TUCSON, Ariz.— The nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors announced the launch of the Tucson Solar Co-op today, in partnership with the Center for Biological Diversity and Physicians for Social Responsibility Arizona.
Read more.Oregon Wildlife Commission Keeps Cruel Trapping Practices in Place
PORTLAND, Ore.— After a contentious 12-hour meeting, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission rejected conservation proposals to adopt a uniform 24-hour trap check time for all wildlife and to ban beaver trapping on federally managed public lands.
Read more.Nevada Takes Important Step to Protect Endangered Fish
LAS VEGAS, Nev.— The Nevada state engineer today restricted groundwater pumping from a remote desert groundwater basin, throwing a lifeline to an endangered fish and crippling plans for a sprawling planned community 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
Read more.Trump Administration Seeks to Thwart Resident Reporting of Coal-mining Violations
WASHINGTON— More than 36 organizations have joined a chorus of lawmakers and regulatory officials calling for an extended public comment period on a major overhaul to coal-mining oversight that would hinder citizen and federal monitoring of state programs.
Read more.450 Environmental, Energy Justice Groups Urge Federal Commission to Reject Threat to Solar Net Metering
WASHINGTON— More than 450 environmental and energy-justice, faith and labor groups urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today to reject the New England Ratepayers Association’s petition seeking federal jurisdiction over state solar policies.
Read more.Emergency Motion Seeks Contempt for EPA Administrator Wheeler for Defying Ruling Barring Farmers from Spraying Dicamba
SAN FRANCISCO– Farming and conservation groups today asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to find Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler in contempt for refusing to abide by a federal court order suspending use of the pesticide dicamba.
Read more.Trump Administration Plan to Graze 24 Million Acres in Nevada Could Worsen Wildfire Risk
RENO, Nev.― The Trump administration wants to allow intensive livestock grazing on 24 million acres of public land in Nevada ― roughly 10% of Bureau of Land Management land ― in an effort to reduce wildfire risk, despite studies that show grazing increases fuel for fires.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Force Trump Administration to Protect Arizona’s Mount Graham Red Squirrel From Extinction
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration Wednesday to force two federal agencies to comply with the Endangered Species Act and protect the imperiled Mount Graham red squirrel in southeastern Arizona from extinction.
Read more.Legal Intervention Fights Shadowy Organization’s Effort to Gut Solar Net Metering
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a brief today urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject a pending petition aimed at gutting net metering for distributed-solar power by putting it under federal control.
Read more.Demanda busca sanciones comerciales contra México mientras la vaquita marina afronta la extinción
Washington— Organizaciones conservacionistas demandaron hoy a la administración de Trump para forzar una decisión atrasada de sancionar a México por su pesca y comercio ilegal que está causando la extinción de la vaquita marina. El gobierno de EE.UU. ha ignorado la petición legal de las organizaciones desde 2014 donde se solicitan sanciones como la prohibición de todas las importaciones de productos pesqueros de México, en virtud de una ley estadounidense llamada la Enmienda Pelly.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Trade Sanctions Against Mexico as Vaquita Porpoise Faces Extinction
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today to force a long-overdue decision to sanction Mexico over its illegal fishing and trade that is causing the vaquita porpoise’s extinction. The U.S. government has ignored conservationists’ 2014 legal petition seeking sanctions, including a ban on all fish and wildlife imports from Mexico, submitted under a U.S. law called the Pelly Amendment.
Read more.Lawsuit Halts Border Road Construction in Key Grizzly Bear Habitat
SANDPOINT, Idaho— In response to a lawsuit filed by five conservation groups, federal agencies today agreed to forego planned summer construction on the Bog Creek Road project in northern Idaho.
Read more.Tiny Oregon Lake Fish Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Borax Lake chub, a 2-inch fish found only in Borax Lake in southeast Oregon, has made a full recovery and no longer needs the protections of the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Trump Administration Revokes Protections for Brown Bears, Other Wildlife in Alaska’s Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Trump administration today continued efforts to repeal protections for brown bears and other wildlife on public lands in Alaska. In this latest step, the administration proposed to repeal an Obama administration rule that prohibited numerous ecologically harmful hunting methods on Alaska’s Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, such as gunning down brown bears at bait stations.
Read more.California Officials Interfering With Protected Shorebirds’ Nesting at Oceano Dunes
OCEANO, Calif.— California parks officials may have violated the Endangered Species Act by interfering with western snowy plovers’ nesting activities at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, according to a warning letter sent today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Targeting Trump Administration’s Suspension of Pollution Monitoring
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups today filed a notice of intent to sue the Trump administration over the Environmental Protection Agency’s suspension of monitoring and reporting requirements for major pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic. This follows confirmation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service that the EPA failed to contact the wildlife agencies to discuss how the policy will comply with the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lifesaving Critical Habitat Proposed for Florida Bonneted Bat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In response to a legal agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect 1.5 million acres as critical habitat for the Florida bonneted bat. The bat is only found in South Florida and has seen its forest and wetland habitats plowed over and sprayed with pesticides for decades.
Read more.Unprecedented Lawsuit Launched Against President Trump for Order ‘Expediting’ Fossil Fuel Project Approvals
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue President Donald Trump for his recent executive order directing all federal agencies to exploit the Endangered Species Act’s emergency provisions to rubber-stamp the approval of fossil fuel pipelines, oil and gas drilling and other routine infrastructure projects.
Read more.Trump Administration Urged to Consider Sustainability, Climate, Accessibility in New U.S. Dietary Guidelines
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today urged the federal committee that will soon finalize its recommendations on the 2020 national dietary guidelines to include assessments of food sustainability, climate and accessibility in its report to the Trump administration.
Read more.Endangered Status Sought for Death Valley Region Fish
BISHOP, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect three populations of speckled dace in the Death Valley region under the Endangered Species Act. These small, minnow-like fish live in freshwater streams and springs in the desert and dry environments of Amargosa Canyon, Long Valley and Owens Valley, California.
Read more.Documents Sought on Industry Giveaways in Trump Order ‘Expediting’ Fossil Fuel Project Approvals
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity requested public records today from dozens of agencies about how they’re implementing President Trump’s recent executive order waiving environmental laws to fast-track oil and gas drilling, fossil fuel pipelines like Keystone XL and other projects across the country.
Read more.Legal Action Halts Federal Use of Strangulation Snares in Washington
SEATTLE— A lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity has forced a federal agency to curb its killing of beavers, bears and other wildlife across Washington state.
Read more.Trump Removes Atlantic Ocean Protections to Expand Commercial Fishing
BANGOR, Maine— President Trump issued an executive order today allowing commercial fishing in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The announcement, made amid the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing national protests against police violence, follows a federal court ruling in December that rejected a challenge by commercial fishing group to the monument’s designation.
Read more.Trump Administration Releases Draft Plan to Allow Widespread Bird-killing at Industrial Sites
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration released a draft environmental impact statement today for a rule to allow indiscriminate killing of birds at industrial sites across the country, including oil and gas operations.
Read more.Emergency Petition Filed With FDA to Suspend Ractopamine Approval
WASHINGTON— The Animal Legal Defense Fund, Food Animal Concerns Trust and the Center for Biological Diversity have filed an emergency petition with the Food and Drug Administration to suspend the agency’s approval of ractopamine as processing plants face shutdowns and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more.Court Rejects Meatpacker’s Efforts to Kill Lawsuit Over Slaughterhouse Pollution in South Platte River
DENVER— A federal district court in Colorado has blocked efforts by the JBS-Swift Beef Company to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and Food & Water Watch to stop illegal discharges of slaughterhouse pollution into Colorado’s South Platte River.
Read more.Federal Court Holds Dicamba Pesticide Unlawful, Citing Unprecedented Drift Damage to Millions of Acres
SAN FRANCISCO– The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit today ruled that the Trump administration wrongly approved Monsanto’s pesticide dicamba for use on genetically engineered soy and cotton – a decision that makes the sale and use of the pesticide illegal.
Read more.Rare Gray Wolf Found in Utah Targeted by State Trappers
SALT LAKE CITY— For the first time in nearly five years, a gray wolf is thought to be present in Utah, according to state authorities. But the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food says it is setting traps to kill the wolf on behalf of the state’s livestock industry.
Read more.Judge: EPA Must Update 26-year-old Plan for Offshore Oil Spills
SAN FRANCISCO— A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that the Trump administration must update its outdated plans for responding to offshore oil spills. Current plans by the Environmental Protection Agency don’t take into account studies raising health and environmental concerns about the frequent use of toxic chemical oil dispersants.
Read more.Court Rejects Trump Administration’s Illegal Land Swap to Bulldoze Alaska’s Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
ANCHORAGE, Alaska― A federal court late Monday shut down the Interior Department’s second attempt at an illegal land exchange with the King Cove Corporation to put a road through vital protected wetlands in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
Read more.New Study Warns of Dire Human Impacts if Wildlife Extinction Crisis Continues
WASHINGTON— A scientific study published today concludes that natural life-support systems crucial to the survival of humanity could collapse if action isn’t taken to save wildlife populations.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Delay in Protecting Rare Nevada Fish
RENO, Nev.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for unlawfully delaying action on a petition to protect a population of small, minnow-like fish under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Tucson Solar Co-op to Help Area Residents Go Solar
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Solar United Neighbors (SUN) are partnering to bring a solar cooperative to Tucson. The co-op opens today, and the groups will kick off the project with a June 8 webinar.
Read more.Court Rejects Koch Brothers-funded Group’s Attack on Rare Texas Arachnid
AUSTIN, Texas— The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals today rejected an attack on the Endangered Species Act’s constitutionality brought by a special interest group financed by the Koch brothers.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Statement on Murder of George Floyd, Institutional Racism, Presidential Threat of Violence
Statement from Kierán Suckling, executive director, Center for Biological Diversity:
Read more.Southern California Flower Recovered, No Longer Needs Endangered Species Protection
VENTURA, Calif.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed removing the San Benito evening primrose from the federal list of threatened species based on recovery of the plant, which occurs in the central coast range of San Benito, Monterey and Fresno counties.
Read more.Appeals Court Upholds Order Blocking Keystone XL’s Water-crossing Permit
SAN FRANCISCO— The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit today left in place a district court decision blocking a key water crossing permit for Keystone XL and other oil and gas pipelines while a full appeal of the decision moves forward.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Approval of Jordan Cove Natural Gas Project
WASHINGTON— Conservation organizations filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Fight Trump EPA’s Delay in Reducing Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution
WASHINGTON— Three conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that parts of Missouri, Indiana, Louisiana, Puerto Rico and Guam have valid plans for cleaning up dangerous sulfur dioxide air pollution.
Read more.Appeal Targets Mining Permits Near Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota
DULUTH, Minn.— Conservation groups today challenged the Trump administration’s decision to renew 13 prospecting permits that could allow Twin Metals to expand its proposed sulfide-ore copper mine at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, in northeastern Minnesota.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Trump Administration Push to Gut Car Pollution Standards
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today to block a major rollback of fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles. The revised standards will worsen dangerous levels of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and cost consumers more at the gas pump without making the nation’s roads safer.
Read more.EPA Asked to OK Bee-killing Dinotefuran on Apples, Peaches, Nectarines
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency is considering granting “emergency” approval of a bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticide for use on more than 57,000 acres of fruit trees, including apples, peaches and nectarines, in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Read more.Trump Administration Again OKs Oil Drilling in California’s Carrizo Plain National Monument
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.― On the eve of a holiday weekend and during a global pandemic, the Trump administration last week approved a new oil well and pipeline in Carrizo Plain National Monument. It would be the first well drilled in the monument since it was established in 2001.
Read more.Decades-long Campaign Forces Nevada Board to Kill Huge Las Vegas Groundwater Pipeline
LAS VEGAS— A 31-year struggle to stop a massive groundwater pipeline development came to a stunning conclusion today when the Southern Nevada Water Authority board voted to terminate permitting and end its pursuit of the project.
Read more.Public Outcry Prompts Minneapolis Park Board to Prioritize Nonlethal Responses to Wildlife Conflicts
MINNEAPOLIS— The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board last night unanimously passed a resolution directing staff to prioritize nonlethal methods to mitigate conflicts with wildlife. The vote addresses concerns voiced by dozens of Minneapolis residents who objected to the city’s decision last month to contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program to kill beavers, coyotes and other wildlife within the city’s parklands.
Read more.Reward Increased to $3,500 for Info on Illegal Poisonings of Wolves, Family Dogs
MADISON, Wis.— The Center for Biological Diversity today added $2,500 to the reward for information leading to an arrest for the poisonings of wildlife and dogs on public lands in northern Wisconsin, bringing the total reward to $3,500.
Read more.California Lawsuit Challenges Federal Water Contracts That Imperil Delta, Fish, Wildlife
SACRAMENTO— Three environmental groups sued the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation today to dispute the award of permanent federal water contracts to water users supplied by the Central Valley Project.
Read more.New Mexico Wolf Pack Destroyed After Alpha Female Killed, Yearling Flees
SILVER CITY, N.M.— A pack of endangered Mexican gray wolves has been eliminated in the Gila National Forest through a combination of private trapping and federal shooting on behalf of the livestock industry.
Read more.Nevada Urged to Protect Rare Wildflower As Mine Permitting Ramps Up
LAS VEGAS— Ten conservation groups and a renowned botanist urged the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources today to immediately review whether the imperiled Tiehm’s buckwheat wildflower should be protected under state law. The department agreed to protect it more than six months ago.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Records on Trump Administration’s Fossil Fuel Bailout
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Treasury Department today for failing to release applications from the oil, gas, coal and plastics industries for federal COVID-19 relief funding under the CARES Act.
Read more.To Revive Economy, Congress Should Invest $25 Billion in Protecting Wildlife, Restoring Public Lands
WASHINGTON— As Congress works to restart the American economy, 200 wildlife, conservation and environmental justice groups today requested $25 billion in funding for a broad array of new and existing wildlife and public-lands conservation programs that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and benefit people, communities and the environment.
Read more.Plan: Preventing Future Pandemics Requires Sweeping U.S. Action on Wildlife Trade
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups released a sweeping action plan today for the United States to dramatically crack down on wildlife trade, which is the most probable cause of the global coronavirus pandemic. Among other proposals, the action plan recommends that the United States end live wildlife imports, curtail all other wildlife trade until stricter regulations are adopted, and take a global leadership role in controlling wildlife trade to stop future pandemics.
Read more.Trump Administration Forced to Review Coal-mining Threats to Endangered Species Nationwide
WASHINGTON— In response to a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement agreed today to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by October 16 to review the impacts of coal mining across the country on endangered species and ensure their survival is not being jeopardized.
Read more.California Proposes Regulations to Prevent Whale Entanglements in Crab Gear
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California state officials released a proposed rule today to reduce the number of endangered whales and sea turtles that get entangled in commercial Dungeness crab gear. The Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP) was prompted by steep annual increases in reported whale entanglements and a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Pipeline Shutdown Prevented 34 Million Tons of Carbon Pollution in California
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The failure of Plains All American Pipeline’s coastal California oil pipeline five years ago prevented massive emissions of climate pollution. If the seven offshore drilling platforms served by the pipeline had not gone idle, they would have added 33.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution to the atmosphere.
Read more.New Study Finds Broad Public Support For Wolf Reintroduction In Colorado
FORT COLLINS, Colo.— A peer-reviewed study authored by 11 researchers in public opinion, biology and economics at Colorado State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows 84% support among Colorado’s public for Proposition 107 to reintroduce gray wolves. The proposition will appear on November’s ballot.
Read more.Trump’s Border Wall Would End Jaguar Recovery, Bulldoze Sky Island Mountains
TUCSON, Ariz,— The Trump administration’s latest border wall plan, which would wall off the last jaguar migration paths and bulldoze Arizona’s Sky Island mountains, has drawn opposition from thousands of people across the country.
Read more.Trump Administration Denies Endangered Species Protection for Pacific Fisher Across Most of Species’ Range
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Trump administration today denied Endangered Species Act protections to Pacific fishers from Northern California to the Canadian border, but granted them endangered status in the southern Sierra Nevada. The decision reversed a 2019 proposal to list fishers as threatened throughout their West Coast range.
Read more.‘Oil 101’ Webinar to Discuss Industry Impacts on Santa Barbara County
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— Environmental groups will hold an online education session called “Oil 101: Moving Beyond Platforms, Pipelines and Pollution in Santa Barbara” on Monday, May 18. The webinar, open to the public and media, will discuss the legacy of the Plains Pipeline oil spill that blackened Santa Barbara area beaches five years ago. It will also include a discussion of ExxonMobil’s pending proposal to restart its offshore platforms and truck that oil on California highways, Cat Canyon and other local onshore drilling projects, and the need to address climate change.
Read more.Petition Seeks Federal Protections for Black Teatfish Sea Cucumbers
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the federal government today to protect black teatfish under the Endangered Species Act. Overfishing and wildlife trade have caused rapid population declines for this spotted, plump sea cucumber, found in shallow waters outside the United States.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Arch Coal’s Illegal Air Pollution at Colorado Coal Mine
DENVER— Conservation groups sued Arch Coal today over illegal pollution at the company’s West Elk coal mine in western Colorado. The mine is the single-largest industrial source of methane pollution in the state.
Read more.Objections Filed Over Massive National Forest Logging, Road-building Project in Wyoming
LARAMIE, Wyo.— Conservation groups filed official objections Monday that challenge one of the largest logging and road-building projects in Wyoming’s history, the Landscape Analysis Vegetation, or LaVA, project on the Medicine Bow National Forest in southern Wyoming.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s $7.2 Billion Transfer for Border Wall Construction
WASHINGTON — Conservation groups today sued the Trump administration for taking $7.2 billion from the Department of Defense for border wall construction without congressional approval. The planned barriers will wall off all remaining jaguar corridors along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Read more.Virtual Town Hall to Explore Why Congress Must Fight for Power, Water, Broadband for All
WASHINGTON— A virtual town hall featuring teachers, advocates, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) will lay out why Congress should include a national moratorium on utility shutoffs in the next round of COVID-19 relief legislation.
Read more.Federal Court Upholds Ruling Blocking Permit Critical to Keystone XL, Other Oil and Gas Pipelines
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— A federal judge today largely upheld an April 15 ruling vacating Nationwide Permit 12, a key water-crossing permit used by TC Energy’s Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and many other pipelines nationwide.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Massive Sprawl Project in Rural Riverside County
RIVERSIDE, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society filed a legal appeal today challenging the approval of the Villages of Lakeview, a massive 8,725-unit sprawl development that will threaten the nearby San Jacinto Wildlife Area and worsen air quality for county residents.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks New Rules to Reduce Washington Wolf-killing
SEATTLE— Conservation groups petitioned the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission today for rules limiting when the state can kill endangered wolves over conflicts with livestock. The state has killed 31 wolves since 2012, relying on a protocol that skews heavily toward lethal and ineffective outcomes.
Read more.Protection Sought for Southern California Freshwater Minnow
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned today to protect the Santa Ana speckled dace, a small minnow native to Southern California streams, under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Forest Service Trims Colorado Logging Project After Conservation Groups Object
GUNNISON, Colo.— The U.S. Forest Service trimmed more than 9,000 acres from a timber management project in the Gunnison National Forest after conservation groups objected to the proposal and the agency admitted that its analysis of the additional acres failed to comply with the law.
Read more.Louisiana Groups Urge Delay in Power Project for Industrial Polluters, Citing COVID-19 Concerns
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.— The coalition opposing Formosa Plastics’ massive proposed petrochemical complex in St. James Parish, Louisiana, has requested a delay in upgrading electric transmission lines to serve that project and future industrial polluters. The coalition’s letter cites current public health warnings about COVID-19 and damage to wetlands.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Toxic Copper Mine Threatening Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Wilderness
WASHINGTON― Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today over its May 2019 renewal of two mineral leases that pave the way for a massive copper mine at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota.
Read more.Humboldt County Agrees to Prioritize Nonlethal Solutions to Wildlife Conflict
EUREKA, Calif.—Humboldt County approved a new contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program today that will reduce its killing of wildlife involved in conflicts with residents by prioritizing non-lethal measures. The contract also prohibits the killing of beavers.
Read more.National Institutes of Health Study Links Dicamba, Increased Cancer Risks
WASHINGTON— Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found that use of the pesticide dicamba can increase the risk of developing numerous cancers, including liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancers, acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and mantle cell lymphoma.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Endangered Species Act Protections for Humboldt Marten
PORTLAND, Ore.— Two conservation groups sued the Trump administration today for its failure to finalize Endangered Species Act protection for the Humboldt marten.
Read more.Colorado Bans Cruel Wildlife-killing Contests
DENVER— The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted yesterday to ban wildlife-killing contests for various furbearing and small game species in the state. Colorado is the sixth state to prohibit these cruel events.
Read more.Utah Oil Industry Asks Governor for Bailout in Midst of Pandemic
SALT LAKE CITY― The Utah Petroleum Association is asking Utah Gov. Gary Herbert to lift public health protections and financial requirements for the oil and gas industry because of the pandemic, according to a letter released today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Public Records Sought After Federal Agents Kill Four Wolves in New Mexico
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed Freedom of Information Act requests to determine what led federal agencies in March to kill four endangered Mexican gray wolves in New Mexico, including whether the kill orders were influenced by the state’s powerful livestock industry.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Consider Endangered Listing for Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to decide by June 30 whether to consider a proposal to list the dunes sagebrush lizard under the Endangered Species Act. If the petition to list is accepted, the agency will launch a one-year review to determine whether to actually protect the rare lizards, which live in Texas and New Mexico.
Read more.Court Allows Slaughterhouse Pollution Lawsuit to Move Forward
RICHMOND, Va. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit has ruled that a lawsuit can proceed challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s failure to update national standards to control water pollution from slaughterhouses.
Read more.Federal Court to Hold Video Hearing on Future of Yellowstone Grizzly Bears
LAS VEGAS— The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments May 5 to determine whether to uphold a Montana federal district court 2018 decision vacating the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s rule removing Yellowstone grizzly bears from the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Legal Action Prompts New Review of Ski Resort Expansion’s Impact on Southern Nevada Butterfly
LAS VEGAS— In response to legal action initiated by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will re-examine the effects of the proposed expansion of the Lee Canyon Ski Area on critically endangered Mount Charleston blue butterflies.
Read more.Seven State Bans on Electricity Shutoffs Expiring Soon
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity released an issue brief today analyzing state orders suspending electricity disconnections due to the COVID-19 state of emergency. The brief found that 42% of states currently have no legally binding protections against electric utility shutoffs. Moreover, seven existing state bans on electricity shutoffs just expired or are set to expire in the coming weeks, raising the percentage of states with no legal shutoff moratoria to 56%.
Read more.Study: Cutting U.S. Meat Intake in Half Could Prevent 1.6 Billion Tons of Climate Pollution
ANN ARBOR, Mich.— New research released by the University of Michigan and Tulane University today found that replacing 50% of animal products with plant-based foods in the United States would prevent more than 1.6 billion tons of greenhouse gas pollution by 2030.
Read more.Trump Administration to Consult on Protecting Endangered Whales in California Shipping Lanes
LONG BEACH, Calif.— The Trump administration has agreed to examine ways to better protect endangered whales and sea turtles from being struck by ships using California ports.
Read more.Trump Administration Cuts Requirement to Monitor Atrazine in Midwest Rivers, Streams
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration has lifted a long-standing requirement that pesticide maker Syngenta must monitor rivers, streams and lakes in the Midwest for dangerous levels of atrazine.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges California’s Failure to Address State Water Project’s Threat to Bay Delta, Salmon Runs
SAN FRANCISCO— Four environmental groups sued the California Department of Water Resources today over its approval of the long-term operation of the State Water Project, the massive system of dams, pumps and aqueducts responsible for siphoning water from Northern California to Southern California. The project approval also failed to analyze the environmental harms of building a new diversion tunnel to send water south.
Read more.Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Bungles Lesser Prairie Chicken Conservation Effort
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has failed to properly manage the conservation program for the highly imperiled lesser prairie chicken, wasting funds on an unneeded building in Idaho and wrongfully paying staff salaries out of the program’s endowment, according to a third-party audit of WAFWA’s efforts.
Read more.New Drone Footage Shows Damage From Trump’s Wall in Remote Arizona Wildlands
TUCSON, Ariz.— New drone footage shows border-wall construction blasting through a wildlife refuge and mountain range in one of the most remote regions of the United States, along a Mexican UNESCO biosphere reserve. The footage was taken by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Public Records Sought on Anti-Solar Group’s Efforts to Gut Net Metering
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a Freedom of Information Act request today seeking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s communications with a secretive front group that’s demanding a nationwide ban on state retail net-metering programs for distributed solar energy.
Read more.Critical Habitat Proposed for Threatened Snakes in Arizona, New Mexico
TUCSON, Ariz.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect 18,701 acres of critical habitat for narrow-headed garter snakes and 27,784 acres of critical habitat for the northern Mexican garter snakes in Arizona and New Mexico.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump EPA’s Attempt to Blame Mexico for Smog in California’s Imperial County
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif.— Conservation groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to require reductions of dangerous smog pollution in California’s Imperial County, which is home to almost 200,000 people.
Read more.Southeastern Flower Recovers in Latest Endangered Species Act Success Story
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the recovery of the Cumberland sandwort, a small, white flowering plant primarily found in the Big South Fork National Recreation Area in Kentucky and Tennessee. As a result of this recovery, the Service is proposing to remove Endangered Species Act protections for the plant.
Read more.Trump Working Group Calls for Uranium Industry Handout, Slashing Laws, Public-lands Protections
WASHINGTON— President Trump’s Nuclear Fuel Working Group today recommended that the government purchase domestically mined uranium, slash environmental laws and regulations, and lift public-lands protections to bolster sagging uranium mining industry. Those public lands protections include bans on uranium mining near Grand Canyon National Park and other public lands.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumblebee
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned for Endangered Species Act protection today for the critically imperiled Suckley’s cuckoo bumblebee, which has declined by more than 90%.
Read more.Briefing to Announce Launch of National Peoples’ Mobilization to Save Lives, Prevent Second Wave of COVID-19 Deaths
WASHINGTON— The COVID-19 Emergency Response Group is mobilizing as the fourth branch of government, the Peoples’ Branch, to save as many American lives as possible and keep families and communities safe from COVID-19. The group is driving for the passage of legislation: a COVID-19 Peoples’ New Deal.
Read more.Earth Day Webinar to Highlight Plan to Protect 50% of America’s Wildlands
PORTLAND, Ore.— An Earth Day webinar led by one of the founders of the Center for Biological Diversity will explore a plan for protecting 30% of America’s wildlands and waters by 2030 and half of them by 2050.
Read more.Endangered Species Lawsuit Launched Over Trump Administration’s Suspension of Pollution Monitoring
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the Trump administration over the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision last month to suspend monitoring and reporting requirements for major pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular today’s notice urges the agency to ensure that endangered and threatened species, such as salmon, are not harmed by the suspension.
Read more.Washington Wolf Population Increased Only 11% After Another Season of Killing
OLYMPIA, Wash.— Washington’s wolf population increased by just 11% in 2019, according to figures released today by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife — dramatically less than what is needed to sustain the healthy growth of a wolf population into additional good wolf habitat across the state.
Read more.New Mexico Delegation Must Support People, Oppose Big Oil Bailout
SANTA FE, N.M.— Indigenous, community and conservation groups called on New Mexico’s congressional delegation today to oppose bailing out fossil fuel companies with emergency aid during the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more.Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Trump EPA Approves Use of Important TB Antibiotic as Pesticide
WASHINGTON— As the nation struggles to slow the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration has approved an antibiotic considered critical in the ongoing fight against the global tuberculosis pandemic for use as a pesticide on California citrus groves.
Read more.300 Groups Call on Congress to Bail Out People, Not Polluters
WASHINGTON— More than 300 groups called on Congress today to demand that federal relief money be directed to people affected by the COVID-19 crisis and not to fossil fuel polluters.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Challenging Feds’ Failure to Fully Assess Harms of Lake Okeechobee Toxic Releases to Protected Sea Turtles, Sawfish
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups filed a notice today of their intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to acknowledge the harms that toxic releases from Lake Okeechobee pose to protected wildlife like sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish.
Read more.California Moves to Protect Imperiled Mountain Lion Populations
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and the Mountain Lion Foundation, the California Fish and Game Commission voted 5-0 today to advance Southern California and Central Coast mountain lions to candidacy under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The vote follows a February 2020 finding by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that increased protections may be warranted.
Read more.Nevada Water Officials to Abandon Appeal of Massive Las Vegas Pipeline Project
LAS VEGAS— The Southern Nevada Water Authority announced today it won’t appeal a recent court loss denying water rights for its massive groundwater pipeline development project.
Read more.Legal Victory Secures Habitat Protection for 14 Imperiled Hawaii Island Species
HONOLULU— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must designate protected critical habitat for 14 endangered Hawaii Island species because of a legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.USDA Inspector Describes Filth, Mistreatment at ‘Model’ High-speed Slaughterhouse
ROCHESTER, N.Y.— A new Trump administration rule that largely deregulates pig slaughter operations will increase fecal contamination, diseased pigs being allowed for human consumption, toenails, hair and abscesses allowed into meat, and animal mistreatment, according to a new sworn statement by a federal slaughterhouse inspector.
Read more.Oregon’s Wolf Population Grows to 22 Packs, 158 Animals
PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon’s wolf population increased by 21 confirmed animals from 137 to 158 wolves in 2019, according to a report released today by the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. The state also added six new packs, for a total of 22. The overall population increase marks an annual growth rate of 15% above last year’s numbers.
Read more.Federal Court Invalidates Key Permit for Keystone XL
GREAT FALLS, Mont.—A federal judge today ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers violated the law when it approved Nationwide Permit 12, a water-crossing permit critical for TC Energy’s Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and many other pipelines nationwide.
Read more.Trump Administration Moves to Weaken Oil Pipeline Spill Rules
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration proposed weaker new rules today governing how companies operating oil pipelines prepare for and respond to oil spills. The changes would eliminate or modify several key protections and relieve companies of the responsibility for reporting many oil spills.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Overturn Trump Administration’s Denial of Protection to California Spotted Owls
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Trump administration over its failure to protect California spotted owls under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Alexander Archipelago Wolves Need Urgent Help Following Record Killings in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest
JUNEAU, Alaska― Conservation groups today called on the U.S. Forest Service to take immediate steps to protect Alexander Archipelago wolves on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest following word that 97 percent of the most recent estimated population was killed this past trapping season.
Read more.54 Groups Urge Congress: Don’t Use COVID-19 Funds to Prop Up Factory Farms
WASHINGTON— More than 50 organizations called on Congress today to prevent factory farms from receiving COVID-19 relief and stimulus funds.
Read more.California to Vote on Protections for Imperiled Mountain Lion Populations
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— In response to a petition authored by the Center for Biological Diversity, the California Fish and Game Commission will vote April 16 on advancing Southern California and Central Coast mountain lions to candidates for protection under the state’s Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect North Oregon Coast Red Tree Voles
PORTLAND, Ore.— Conservation groups filed a notice today of their intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to protect the imperiled North Oregon Coast population of red tree voles under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Feds Begin Court-ordered Rewrite of Mexican Wolf Rule for New Mexico, Arizona
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a 60-day public comment period to help determine the scope of its analysis for rewriting the rule for Mexican gray wolf management.
Read more.Army Corps Abruptly Rescinds Its Position on Seismic Exploration in Florida’s Big Cypress
NAPLES, Fla.— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reversed its own recent determination finding that the Texas-based Burnett Oil Company damaged “high quality wet prairie and dwarf cypress” wetlands in the Big Cypress National Preserve, degrading a water of the United States. This damage resulted from the oil company’s first phase of seismic testing for oil in this national park unit.
Read more.Trump Opens Door to Return of Super-polluting Supersonic Planes
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration proposed new rules today that would pave the way for the return of commercial supersonic airplane travel. The new rules would allow commercial supersonic aircraft, which have been banned for almost 50 years, to be noisier at takeoff and landing than new conventional jets.
Read more.State Agency Recommends Advancing Protection for California’s Joshua Trees
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife today recommended that western Joshua trees move toward protection under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The action came in response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.In Next Coronavirus Rescue Bill, 830 Groups Urge Congress to Halt Electricity, Water, Broadband Shutoffs
WASHINGTON— More than 830 utility-justice, environmental, faith, civil-rights and labor groups sent a letter to Congress today calling for the next stimulus package responding to the coronavirus to include a moratorium on electricity, water and broadband utility shutoffs.
Read more.Oregon Coast Spring Chinook Salmon One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protections
PORTLAND, Ore.— The National Marine Fisheries Service today announced it will consider Endangered Species Act protections for spring-run chinook salmon on the Oregon coast. Today’s positive finding responds to a 2019 petition by the Native Fish Society, Center for Biological Diversity and Umpqua Watersheds seeking safeguards for spring-run chinook salmon returning to rivers south of the Columbia River and north of Cape Blanco.
Read more.Court: Feds Failing to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Lobster Gear Entanglements
WASHINGTON— A federal judge ruled Thursday that the National Marine Fisheries Service’s management of the American lobster fishery violates the federal Endangered Species Act. The court held that the agency failed to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales and that its biological opinion on the fishery violated “straightforward” requirements of the Act, putting the whales at greater risk of entanglement.
Read more.Trump Administration Plan Expands Fossil Fuel Extraction Across Southwestern Colorado
DENVER― The Trump administration today announced the release of its final plan to expand drilling and fracking and other fossil fuel extraction across southwestern Colorado for the next two decades, threatening organic agriculture, recreation and endangered species while undermining the state’s climate law. It will be published in the Federal Register on Friday.
Read more.Congress to WHO: End Live Wildlife Trade, ‘Wet Markets’
WASHINGTON— A bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives have sent a letter urging the World Health Organization to take “aggressive action toward a global shutdown of live wildlife markets and a ban on the international trade in live wildlife.”
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Grazing Damage to Arizona’s San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration Tuesday for failing to protect the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area from livestock grazing’s damage.
Read more.Memos Show Feds Killed Four Endangered Mexican Gray Wolves in Late March
SILVER CITY, N.M.— In three memos written between March 3 and March 24, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service surreptitiously authorized the killing of four endangered Mexican gray wolves in New Mexico on behalf of the livestock industry. In response the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program killed one wolf on March 23 and three more on March 28.
Read more.Judge Blocks California Development That Threatens Santa Ana Mountain Lions
TEMECULA, Calif.— In a victory over a development that could doom local mountain lions, a judge issued a scathing ruling against the proposed 270-acre Altair development in Western Riverside County in California.
Read more.California Court Approves Ban on Federal Wildlife Poisoning, Trapping
SAN FRANCISCO— In response to a lawsuit filed by wildlife advocacy groups, a federal animal-killing program must restrict its use of bird-killing poisons in Northern California and stop setting strangulation snares and other traps in places like the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Read more.Public Records Sought on Fossil Fuel Companies’ Bailout Requests
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the Department of the Treasury today seeking applications by oil, gas, coal and plastics companies to receive federal assistance as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Trump Administration for Failing to Protect Nassau Grouper Habitat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration today for failing to protect Nassau grouper habitat, which faces threats from nearshore pollution and climate change impacts like sea-level rise and ocean acidification.
Read more.Information Sought on Trump EPA’s Suspension of Environmental Rules
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a Freedom of Information Act request today for documents related to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to suspend enforcement of environmental laws in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more.Judge Allows Lawsuit Challenging Trump’s Emergency Border Wall Declaration to Proceed
WASHINGTON— A federal judge today blocked the Trump administration’s effort to dismiss a lawsuit filed by conservation groups over the president’s emergency declaration to pay for his border walls.
Read more.Lawsuit Prompts Review of Plastic Pollution Impacts on Hawaiian Waters
HONOLULU— Responding to a lawsuit from environmental groups, the Trump administration has ordered Hawaii to examine the impact of plastic pollution on its waters, beaches and wildlife.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Challenging Trump EPA’s Delay in Cleaning Up Smog in Denver, Front Range
DENVER— Conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for delays in reducing dangerous smog pollution in the greater Denver region.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Save Endangered Southern Nevada Butterfly
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the Trump administration’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect the endangered Mount Charleston blue butterfly from a proposed expansion of the Lee Canyon Ski Area, located in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area of southern Nevada.
Read more.Trump Administration Cripples Effort to Curb Car Pollution
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration finalized a major rollback of fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles today. The revised standards will maintain dangerous levels of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and cost consumers more at the gas pump without making the nation’s roads safer.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Authorization to Kill 72 Grizzlies Near Yellowstone
PINEDALE, Wyo.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club filed a lawsuit today challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to allow 72 grizzly bears to be killed to accommodate livestock grazing in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest, near Yellowstone National Park.
Read more.100+ Groups Urge Congress to Invest $100 Million to Save Monarch Butterfly
WASHINGTON—More than 100 organizations today urged Congress to significantly increase funding to $100 million per year to help conserve monarch butterflies and their habitat.
Read more.Trump Administration Denies Endangered Species Protection to Bi-state Sage Grouse
RENO, Nev.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied protection today to the highly imperiled bi-state sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act despite ongoing declines in the bird’s population.
Read more.Environmentalists Object to Broad EPA Waivers for Polluters During Coronavirus Crisis
WASHINGTON— A coalition of environmentalists sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency objecting to a new Trump administration policy, released this week, that relaxes environmental compliance rules for petrochemical plants and other big polluters during the coronavirus crisis.
Read more.Crews Break Ground on Formosa Plastics Project in Louisiana Despite Coronavirus Crisis, Flood Risk
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.— Utility crews unexpectedly broke ground on Formosa Plastics’ massive proposed petrochemical complex in St. James Parish, Louisiana, this week, surprising community members and other opponents, who are demanding work on the site stop until after the COVID-19 public health crisis passes.
Read more.Senate Republicans Bail Out Major Fossil Fuel Polluters
WASHINGTON— The Senate voted tonight to pass a $2 trillion stimulus package that aims to combat the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The package includes over $400 billion in funding for “distressed sectors” of the economy including oil, gas and coal companies and commercial airlines despite pleas to hold those industries accountable for their reckless behavior.
Read more.Congress Urged to Reject $400+ Billion Fossil Fuel Bailout
WASHINGTON— More than 100 climate, environmental, social-justice and workers’ rights groups urged Congress today to reject Republican efforts to assist the fossil fuel industry and instead focus relief legislation on the American people.
Read more.Washington Enacts Law to Protect Rivers, Endangered Salmon From Suction Dredge Mining
OLYMPIA, Wash.— Gov. Jay Inslee has signed into law a bill prohibiting suction dredge mining in rivers and streams that provide important habitat for endangered salmon, steelhead and bull trout.
Read more.100 Groups Urge Congress to Address COVID-19 Causes: Wildlife Trade, Habitat Destruction
WASHINGTON— More than 100 organizations urged Congress today to address the wildlife trade and habitat destruction, the root causes of emerging zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 that have erupted over the past several decades in the United States and around the world.
Read more.Trump Administration Proposes Allowing GE Crops on Thousands of Acres of National Wildlife Refuges
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration has proposed to approve genetically engineered crops on national wildlife refuges throughout the southeastern United States, a step likely to increase use of glyphosate and other pesticides known to harm wildlife.
Read more.Congress Urged to Hold Airlines Accountable on Climate, Workers
WASHINGTON— More than 200 climate, environmental, social-justice and workers' rights groups urged Congress today to make any federal relief for the U.S. aviation industry contingent on airlines cutting carbon pollution and supporting airline workers during the coronavirus crisis.
Read more.More than 180,000 Americans Oppose Trump’s Plan to Cripple Migratory Bird Protections
WASHINGTON — Conservation groups today submitted more than 180,000 public comments opposing the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Finalize Endangered Species Protection for Eastern Black Rail
NEW ORLEANS— The Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf sued the Trump administration and U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt today for failing to finalize a decision to protect eastern black rails under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.In Coronavirus Crisis, 575 Groups Urge Halt to Electricity, Water Shutoffs
WASHINGTON— More than 575 utility justice, labor, faith, consumer and environmental groups urged state governors, mayors and utility regulators today to put a moratorium on electricity and water-utility shutoffs in response to the coronavirus crisis and resulting job losses.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Federal Protection for Wolverines in Lower 48 States
MISSOULA, Mont.— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect wolverines as required by the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Expansion of Gulf of Mexico Drilling
WASHINGTON—Environmental groups filed a legal challenge today to the Trump administration’s latest oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. The supplemental complaint over today’s offshore auction follows similar lawsuits in 2018 and 2019 that say federal officials illegally expanded Gulf drilling without fully analyzing the risks to people, wildlife or the environment.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Refusal to Release Public Records on Hog Slaughterhouse Rules
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to release public documents detailing the potential harms resulting from reducing federal oversight and eliminating line-speed limits at pig slaughterhouses.
Read more.Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers Jumped to 163 in 2019
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The U.S. population of endangered Mexican gray wolves grew by 32 animals, from 131 in 2018 to 163 in 2019, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service census announced today. The numbers represent a 24% increase — the largest increase since 2014. Nineteen packs had pups alive at the end of the year.
Read more.New Border Wall Segments Would End U.S. Jaguar Recovery
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Trump administration’s latest border-wall plan will wall off all remaining jaguar corridors across the U.S.-Mexico border. The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that it will waive dozens of environmental and public health laws to fast-track border wall construction in Arizona, California and Texas.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Arizona’s Verde River From Ravages of Grazing
TUCSON― The Center for Biological Diversity filed notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service for allowing livestock to inflict severe, widespread damage on Arizona’s Verde River and its tributaries and streambanks. The livestock grazing violates the Endangered Species Act, Forest Service guidelines, forest-management plans and grazing contracts.
Read more.Población de Mariposa Monarca del Este se Desploma Más de la Mitad
WASHINGTON— El recuento anual de las mariposas monarca que pasan el invierno en México, publicado hoy, muestra una disminución del 53% respecto al año pasado y está muy por debajo del umbral en el que científicos del gobierno predijeron que la migración podría colapsar.
Read more.Court Stalls Fracking Leases in Ohio’s Only National Forest
COLUMBUS, Ohio― A federal judge today stalled oil and gas leasing in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest, ruling that the Trump administration failed to consider threats to public health, endangered species and watersheds before opening more than 40,000 acres of the forest for fracking.
Read more.Eastern Monarch Butterfly Population Plunges by More Than Half
WASHINGTON— The yearly count of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico, released today, shows a decrease of 53% from last year’s count and is well below the threshold at which government scientists predict the migration could collapse.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Save San Pedro River, Slow Groundwater Pumping Tied to Arizona Military Base
TUCSON, Ariz.― Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today to prevent further damage to Arizona’s San Pedro River and its endangered species from excessive groundwater pumping in the Fort Huachuca area, including nearby Sierra Vista.
Read more.Trump EPA’s New Rules for Assessing Pesticide Risks Ignore Many Harms to Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency today issued revised methods for assessing pesticide risks that will allow widespread harm to most of the nation’s most endangered plants and animals, including American burying beetles, Rio Grande silvery minnows and Hawaiian hoary bats.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Arkansas’ Unconstitutional ‘Ag-Gag’ Law
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— Conservation and animal-welfare groups filed an appeal today challenging Arkansas' far-reaching “Ag-Gag” law.
Read more.Federal Court Rules Against Massive Old-Growth Rainforest Logging Plan in Alaska
JUNEAU, Alaska― A federal judge today rejected the Trump administration’s enormous commercial timber harvest and road-building plan for Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest of southeast Alaska.
Read more.Idaho Agreement Restricts Wolf-killing, Bans Use of M-44 Cyanide Bombs
BOISE, Idaho— In a key victory for wildlife, conservation groups finalized an agreement today that sets strict limits on how and where a federal agency can kill wolves in Idaho, bans the use of M-44 “cyanide bombs” statewide, and prohibits the use of snares to kill wolves on public lands.
Read more.Presentan Demanda Para Enlistar a Tiburones Martillo Como Especies Amenazadas
LA PAZ, MEXICO— El Centro para la Diversidad Biológica presentó una demanda innovadora que busca la protección de tres especies de tiburón martillo bajo la Norma NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, que enlista a las especies en riesgo. La industria pesquera captura en aguas nacionales y exporta miles de toneladas de tiburones martillo al año.
Read more.Groundbreaking Lawsuit Pushes Mexico to Protect Hammerhead Sharks
LA PAZ, Mexico— The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a groundbreaking lawsuit seeking protection for three species of hammerhead shark under Mexico’s Standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, the nation’s list of species at risk. The Mexican fishing industry catches thousands of tons of hammerheads a year.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Construction of Northern Border Road
SANDPOINT, Idaho— Five conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection today over their decision to reconstruct a northern Idaho road on the Canadian border that would harm imperiled grizzly bears, mountain caribou and other wildlife in the Selkirk Mountains.
Read more.Trump Move to Gut NEPA, Bedrock U.S. Environmental Law, Would Slash Protection for Air, Water, Wildlife
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity joined hundreds of conservation groups to file formal comments today with the Trump administration opposing its plans to gut the rules that govern the landmark National Environmental Policy Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Rare Caribbean Lizards as Endangered
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice of intent today to sue the Trump administration for failing to protect eight rare species of skink, from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, under the Endangered Species Act. The lizards face extinction due to introduced predators, habitat destruction and climate change.
Read more.Seismic Oil Activities in Big Cypress Had Adverse, Degrading Effect, Army Corps Finds
NAPLES, Fla.— The Burnett Oil Company has done extensive damage to “high quality wet prairie and dwarf cypress” forests in the Big Cypress National Preserve during its seismic testing for oil and gas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said today, in a letter in which it notified the company that future activities would be regulated under the Clean Water Act:
Read more.Conservation Groups Argue in Federal Court That Trump’s Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Was Illegal
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Conservation, environmental and landowner groups argued in federal court in Montana today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wrongly permitted the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline to be constructed through hundreds of rivers, streams and wetlands and failed to evaluate the project’s impacts, a violation of bedrock U.S. environmental laws.
Read more.EEUU Amplía Embargo de Pescados y Mariscos Mexicanos para Salvar a la Vaquita
WASHINGTON— El Servicio Nacional de Pesca Marina anunció ayer la prohibición de las importaciones de camarones y otros productos marinos mexicanos que se capturan en el hábitat de la vaquita marina que está en peligro crítico. Esta acción se realiza conforme a la Ley de Protección de Mamíferos Marinos (MMPA por sus siglas en inglés), que faculta al gobierno de Estados Unidos a prohibir la importación de productos del mar capturados con artes de pesca, que maten mamíferos marinos y que excedan las provisiones de sus normas.
Read more.U.S. Government Expands Mexican Seafood Ban to Save Vaquita Porpoise
WASHINGTON— The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service announced today that it will ban imports of Mexican shrimp and other seafood caught in the habitat of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. The action is being taken under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which requires the U.S. government to prohibit the import of seafood caught using fishing gear that kills marine mammals in excess of United States standards.
Read more.Lawsuit Advances Protections for Hawaii’s Cauliflower Coral
HONOLULU— The Trump administration has finally agreed to make a decision about protecting cauliflower coral around Hawaii under the Endangered Species Act. In an agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity filed in federal district court in Honolulu today, the National Marine Fisheries Service says it will determine whether the coral warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act by June 30.
Read more.Opponents of Formosa Plastics Project to Demand Louisiana’s St. James Parish Council Rescind Approval
CONVENT, La.— Opponents of Formosa Plastics’ massive proposed petrochemical complex in Louisiana will urge the St. James Parish Council today to rescind its land-use permit for the project, following up similar earlier requests with new information. The demand follows the discovery of burial sites of enslaved people on the property, the filing of two lawsuits against the project, and the record-setting $50 million settlement of a lawsuit against Formosa for polluting Texas waterways with billions of plastic pellets.
Read more.Appeals Court: Trump Administration Wrongly Opened 5,000 Acres of Colorado Forest to Coal Mining
DENVER— A federal appeals court today ruled that the U.S. Forest Service broke the law by failing to consider an alternative that would protect the Gunnison National Forest’s Pilot Knob area from coal mining. The decision by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals directs the lower court to vacate an exception that allowed the Forest Service to approve coal mining in roadless forests in the Gunnison River’s North Fork.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered Whales in California Shipping Lanes
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity notified the Trump administration today that it is failing to protect endangered whales and sea turtles from being struck by ships using ports in California.
Read more.Trump Administration Review of Columbia-Snake River Dams Fails to Protect Salmon, Orcas, Rivers
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration and Bureau of Reclamation today released the first step of a court-ordered National Environmental Policy Act review of the federal system of dams and reservoirs in the Columbia-Snake River Basin.
Read more.Judge Voids Trump Oil and Gas Lease Sales on Nearly 1 Million Acres of Sage Grouse Habitat
BOISE, Idaho― A federal judge today rejected a Trump administration policy to sharply curtail public participation in oil and gas leasing decisions on public lands and voided nearly 1 million acres leased under the policy. The ruling applies to lease sales in greater sage-grouse habitat across 67 million acres in 11 Western states.
Read more.Lawsuit Forces Trump Administration to Protect Habitat for 12 Coral Species
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration agreed today to issue critical habitat protection for 12 threatened coral species: five species found in Florida and the Caribbean and seven around islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Read more.Lawsuit Attacks Trump Failure to Protect 241 Species From Extinction
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to decide whether 241 plants and animals across the country — from the Midwest’s golden-winged warbler to Venus flytraps in the Carolinas — should be protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Appeals Court Victory Secures Steelhead Protection on California’s Santa Clara River
SAN FRANCISCO— The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today affirmed a federal court’s 2018 ruling that the United Water Conservation District violated the Endangered Species Act by jeopardizing steelhead survival and recovery in the Santa Clara River as a result of its inadequate fish ladder and diversion of river flows at the Vern Freeman Dam near Santa Paula.
Read more.Legal Victory Secures Habitat Protection for Two Central Texas Salamanders
AUSTIN, Texas— The Center for Biological Diversity today won a legal victory requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate protected critical habitat in central Texas for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders by Aug. 12, 2021.
Read more.Nearly 500,000 Acres Proposed as Protected Habitat for Western Cuckoo
SILVER CITY, N.M.— In response to litigation and decades of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed 493,665 acres, including more than 1,200 linear miles in seven states, as protected critical habitat for western yellow-billed cuckoos.
Read more.Tucson’s Pueblo High to Host Climate Science, Advocacy Forum
TUCSON, Ariz.― Tucson conservation and human-rights groups are joining Pueblo High School students to host a half-day environmental forum Saturday on climate science and advocacy training.
Read more.California Court: Kern County Violating Law by Rubberstamping Oil Drilling
FRESNO, Calif.— In a monumental victory for both public advocacy groups and local farmers, a California court today ruled that a Kern County oil and gas ordinance paid for and drafted by the oil industry violated the state’s foundational environmental law.
Read more.More Than 95 Conservation Groups Oppose Trillion Trees Act
WASHINGTON— More than 95 conservation and climate change groups sent a letter today to the House Natural Resources Committee opposing the Trillion Trees Act, saying the bill would ramp up logging, increase carbon emissions and worsen wildfire risk.
Read more.Wednesday Border Wall Action Planned at Arizona’s Organ Pipe National Monument
LUKEVILLE, Ariz.— Activists will gather Wednesday morning near Monument Hill to protest the Trump administration’s blasting of a sacred mountain to build the border wall through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Read more.Black Pinesnake Wins 324,000 Acres of Protected Critical Habitat in Mississippi, Alabama
JACKSON, Miss.— Following a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that 324,679 acres of critical habitat in Mississippi and Alabama will be protected for the rare and imperiled black pinesnake.
Read more.Analysis: Prescott’s Water Plan Promotes Sprawl, Threatens Arizona’s Upper Verde River
PRESCOTT, Ariz.— A new Center for Biological Diversity analysis shows the city of Prescott’s proposed water policy would accelerate sprawl development and dramatically reduce the upper Verde River’s annual water flow.
Read more.Court Orders Trump EPA to Rein in Dangerous Particulate Pollution in Arizona
PHOENIX – A federal district court today ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to stop delaying plans to clean up soot and other asthma-causing particulate matter pollution throughout Arizona.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Failure to Update Plan to Save Houston Toads
HOUSTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to update a deficient, 35-year-old recovery plan for Houston toads. This critically endangered species is now found only in the central coastal region of Texas, and fewer than 1,000 adults may remain in the wild.
Read more.Groups Urge Arizona Sen. McSally to Protect Grand Canyon From Uranium Mining
PHOENIX— The National Congress of American Indians and conservation groups today urged Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) to cosponsor the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act, which permanently bans new uranium mining across 1 million acres of public land around Grand Canyon National Park.
Read more.Feds Urged to Deny Permit for 200-foot Dam on San Francisco River on Arizona-New Mexico Border
PHOENIX— Conservation groups and business leaders urged a federal commission today to deny a preliminary permit for a 200-foot-tall dam planned for the San Francisco River at the Arizona-New Mexico border. The San Francisco River Pumped Storage Project, proposed within protected areas of two national forests, would damage or destroy dozens of miles of critical habitat for five endangered species.
Read more.More Than 4,000 Acres of Protected Habitat Proposed for Endangered Florida Fern
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect 4,014 acres of critical habitat for the Florida bristle fern. The fern, found in small patches in Miami-Dade and Sumter counties, is acutely threatened by historic and ongoing habitat loss from development and sea-level rise.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Forest Service Failure to Protect Endangered Mouse, Riparian Areas in Arizona’s White Mountains
TUCSON― Conservation groups filed suit today to protect meadows and streams in eastern Arizona’s White Mountains from cows, horses and elk. The riparian areas are home to the critically endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.
Read more.California Terminates Plan for Southern California Gas-fired Power Plant
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Energy Commission terminated the license today for the Palmdale Energy Project, a proposed fracked-gas-fired power plant in the Southern California city of Palmdale.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Trump Administration Delays in Protecting Ancient Lake Sturgeon
CHICAGO— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today for delaying a determination of whether imperiled populations of lake sturgeon will be protected under the Endangered Species Act. Millions of lake sturgeon once lived in the Great Lakes and Mississippi Basin but today the population is less than 1 % of historic levels.
Read more.Congress Introduces Bill to Save Monarch Butterflies in West
WASHINGTON— A new bill in Congress would provide $25 million a year to save the rapidly declining western population of monarch butterflies from extinction. This monarch population is found primarily in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
Read more.Legal Petition: TVA Violating Customers’ Rights by Giving Millions to Dirty Energy Lobbyists
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and other organizations petitioned the Tennessee Valley Authority today to stop giving millions of dollars in ratepayer money to anti-environmental advocacy groups like the Edison Electric Institute and Energy and Wildlife Action Coalition.
Read more.Utah Coalition to Protest Misuse of Public Money on Fossil Fuel Projects
SALT LAKE CITY― Community advocates will demonstrate Friday outside the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition board meeting to protest the misuse of public funds on fossil fuel projects. Members of the Utah Clean Infrastructure Coalition will also speak at the board meeting.
Read more.Legal Petition Urges EPA to End Abuse of ‘Emergency’ Pesticide Exemptions
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a legal petition today calling for the Environmental Protection Agency to limit to two years the use of so-called “emergency” exemptions for pesticides otherwise unapproved as safe.
Read more.Trade Ban, Stronger Protections Sought for 20 Imperiled Coral Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the federal government today to provide critical new protections for 20 threatened coral species, including a ban on trade and new rules against killing and harming them. Although the corals have been listed under the Endangered Species Act since 2014, they currently receive few safeguards, despite existential threats from climate change and the aquarium trade.
Read more.Report: Refusal to Ban Trapping Threatens Turtles in Nine States, Enables Illegal Trade
CHARLESTON, S.C.— Nine states still allow unlimited commercial harvesting of some or all native turtle species, contributing to export practices that threaten the survival of wild populations, according to a new report by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Court Orders EPA to Finalize Steps to Protect Arizona, California From Deadly Soot, Smog
SAN FRANCISCO— A federal district court today ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to either approve or force improvements to California’s plans to reduce soot in Plumas County, north of Lake Tahoe and smog in Ventura County.
Read more.Lawsuit Forces Trump Administration Action on Emperor Penguins
WASHINGTON— In an agreement filed in federal court today, the U.S. government promised to determine whether to propose Endangered Species Act protections for beloved but imperiled emperor penguins by July 2021.
Read more.Trump Administration Announces New Plans to Slash Sage Grouse Protections in Seven Western States
BOISE, Idaho― The Trump administration announced today that it will release new plans to slash protections for the dwindling greater sage grouse, attempting to satisfy a federal court ruling that blocked its earlier attempt.
Read more.Legal Petition Aims to Protect Wyoming’s Path of the Pronghorn From Massive Drilling Project
CASPER, Wyo.— Conservation groups today filed a legal petition challenging the Trump administration’s plan to allow 3,500 new gas wells in southwestern Wyoming. The massive frack-field expansion could block the ancient Path of the Pronghorn and prevent access to winter ranges that the animals need to survive.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump EPA’s Delay in Protecting Denver Area From Harmful Smog From Oil, Fracked Gas
DENVER— Environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to ensure the reduction of dangerous smog pollution from oil and gas drilling in Metro-Denver and the Front Range. The polluted areas are home to around 3.5 million people and include Boulder, Greeley, Fort Collins, Denver and Loveland.
Read more.Study: Tropical Snake Diversity Collapses After Widespread Amphibian Loss
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— A study published this week documented the shocking collapse of a snake community in Panama following a sweeping loss of amphibians to an invasive, deadly fungal disease. The findings illustrate how the loss of just a few species can trigger rapid and invisible shockwaves through an entire ecosystem, wiping out many other animals in the process.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Trump’s Massive Rollback of Pollution Protections for Rivers, Wetlands
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Trump administration today for eliminating longstanding protections for the nation’s waters, including approximately half of all wetlands and potentially millions of miles of streams. The Trump rule allows polluters to pave over wetlands and dump pesticides, mining waste and other pollutants directly into these now-unprotected waterways.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Louisiana’s Air Permits for Formosa Plastics’ Massive Petrochemical Complex in Cancer Alley
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.—Local and national organizations filed an appeal today challenging the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s decision to approve air permits for Formosa Plastics’ massive proposed petrochemical complex in St. James Parish. The complex would contain 14 plants spanning 2,500 acres, just one mile from an elementary school in a predominantly African American community already inundated with industrial pollution.
Read more.Legal Action Threatened to Stop Construction of Keystone XL, Prevent Imminent Harm to Endangered Species
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation and environmental groups filed notices today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and the companies behind the Keystone XL pipeline for failing to consider the effects of the pipeline—including likely oil spills--on endangered species, including whooping cranes and pallid sturgeon.
Read more.40,000 Endangered Species Condoms Sent to Top 10 ‘Sexually Satisfied’ Cities
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will give away more than 40,000 free Endangered Species Condoms on Valentine’s Day in the most sexually satisfied cities in the country to help couples consider population growth's threat to wildlife and the planet.
Read more.State Recommends Advancing Protection of Mountain Lions in Southern California, Central Coast
SACRAMENTO— In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and the Mountain Lion Foundation, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife today recommended that six struggling mountain lion populations move toward protection under the state’s Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Beloved Florida Bat to Gain Protected Habitat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— As the result of a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to protect critical habitat for Florida bonneted bats.
Read more.Puerto Rican Butterfly, Rare Virgin Islands Flower One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protection
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In a legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today agreed to decide this summer whether to protect the Puerto Rico harlequin butterfly and Marrón Bacora plant under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Salmon Advocates Challenge Approval of Washington Net Pen Aquaculture
SEATTLE— Conservation and environmental groups filed a lawsuit today challenging a recent decision by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife permitting Cooke Aquaculture to rear domesticated steelhead in Puget Sound net pens.
Read more.Bill Would Slow Expansion of U.S. Plastic Production, Study Impacts to Communities, Oceans, Climate
WASHINGTON― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) introduced legislation today that would slow the fossil fuel industry’s aggressive push to increase production of plastic and also require studies about its effects on communities, marine life and climate change.
Read more.EPA Extends ‘Emergency’ Antibiotic Use on California, Florida Citrus Crops
WASHINGTON— The Trump Environmental Protection Agency has quietly approved “emergency” use of the medically important antibiotic streptomycin on citrus crops like oranges, tangerines and grapefruits in Florida and California.
Read more.Judge Overturns Wildlife Agency’s Approval of Rosemont Copper Mine in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal judge today overturned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s approval of a controversial open-pit copper mine in southern Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains because of threats to jaguars and other endangered species.
Read more.Trump Administration’s Nevada Lease Sale for Oil and Gas on Public Lands Violates Court Order
RENO, Nev.― The Trump administration is violating a judge’s order requiring a 30-day protest period before public lands in sage-grouse habitat are leased out for oil and gas extraction.
Read more.Trump Budget Ignores Extinction Crisis, Slashes Endangered Species Funding
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration released a Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal today with massive proposed funding cuts for the Department of the Interior, even as the extinction crisis worsens in the United States and around the world.
Read more.After Legal Loss, Trump Administration Disbands Illegal Trophy Hunting Council
NEW YORK— After a key legal defeat, the Department of the Interior has told a federal district court in New York that no future meetings of the International Wildlife Conservation Council will take place, bringing an end to the controversial council.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Southern California City’s Sprawl-promoting Climate Plan
SANTEE, Calif.— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the city of Santee’s “climate action plan” that gives a free pass to a proposed massive development on the edge of the city. Fanita Ranch, the proposed project that would add nearly 3,000 new homes, would be a car-centric, sprawling development likely resulting in thousands of tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year.
Read more.Today: 400 Endangered Species Condoms to Be Given Away in Boise
BOISE, Idaho— Four hundred free Endangered Species Condoms will be given away by the Center for Biological Diversity on Friday, Feb. 7 as part of the Discovery Center of Idaho’s “A Drink With Tink” adult night event.
Read more.Interior Secretary Bernhardt Wins 2019 Rubber Dodo Award as Top Eco-Villain
TUCSON, Ariz.— Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is the winner of the Center for Biological Diversity’s 2019 Rubber Dodo award. The statue is awarded each year to the person or group who has most aggressively sought to destroy America's natural heritage or drive endangered species extinct.
Read more.Endangered Wolf Found Dead in California, Officials Investigating
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— State wildlife agency officials announced today that wolf OR-54 was found dead yesterday in Shasta County. The radio-collared wolf from Oregon made California her home nearly two years ago.
Read more.Federal Protection Sought for Rare Freshwater Alaska Seals
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the federal government today to provide Endangered Species Act protection to a rare population of approximately 400 freshwater seals found only in Alaska’s Iliamna Lake.
Read more.Lawsuit Prompts Suspension of Trump Administration Fracking Leases Threatening Water, Wildlife in Arizona
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— The Trump administration has suspended 4,200 acres of oil and gas leases on public land in Arizona’s Little Colorado River Valley as part of a joint motion filed in federal court today.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Trump Administration’s Failure to Protect Hawaiian Waters From Plastic Pollution
HONOLULU— Environmental groups sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect 17 coastal water bodies around Hawaii from widescale plastic pollution that covers beaches, degrades coral reefs and threatens birds, fish, sea turtles and other wildlife.
Read more.International Turtle Experts Urge Florida to Protect Diamondback Terrapins From Drowning in Crab Pots
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— A group of leading international turtle experts urged the state of Florida today to require the use of excluder devices on crab traps, endorsing a rule sought by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies in a petition last week.
Read more.Threatened Mussel to Receive 319 River Miles of Lifesaving Habitat in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland
RALEIGH, N.C.— Following 10 years of advocacy and litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect 319 river miles of critical habitat for the threatened yellow lance freshwater mussel in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland.
Read more.Sens. Sanders, Merkley Introduce Bill to Ban Fracking Nationwide
WASHINGTON— Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced legislation today to immediately ban fracking for oil and gas on all federal public lands onshore and offshore. The bill also would forbid any new federal permits for fossil fuel infrastructure such as pipelines, natural gas export terminals and ethane cracker plants.
Read more.Dugong Defenders to Rally Today at S.F. Hearing on U.S. Airbase’s Threat to Endangered Animals
SAN FRANCISCO— Activists will stand with Turtle Island Restoration Network and The Center for Biological Diversity on Monday to protest the construction of a new U.S. military base in Okinawa, Japan.
Read more.Petition Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Overturn Border-wall Waiver Decisions
WASHINGTON— Four conservation groups asked the U.S. Supreme Court today to review federal court rulings that have allowed the Trump administration to waive dozens of environmental, health and safety laws to speed construction of border walls from the Pacific Ocean to the Rio Grande Valley.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Save Alaska’s Cook Inlet Beluga Whales From Harmful Oil Exploration
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Conservation groups today threatened to sue the Trump administration for approving oil exploration in Alaska’s Cook Inlet after new federal data found a dramatic decline in the area’s population of endangered beluga whales.
Read more.Trump Administration Proposes Rule to Solidify Its Policy of Allowing Widespread Bird-killing at Industrial Sites
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Trump administration proposed a rule today to allow indiscriminate killing of birds at industrial sites across the country, including oil and gas operations.
Read more.EPA Proposes to Reapprove Bee-killing Pesticides With Token Restrictions
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency proposed today to reapprove neonicotinoid pesticides that are a leading cause of worldwide declines in bees and other pollinators.
Read more.EPA Reapproves Glyphosate, Claims Pesticide Poses No Human Health Threat
WASHINGTON— Relying on confidential industry research, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a final interim decision today to reapprove glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto/Bayer’s Roundup and the world’s most heavily used pesticide.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Dangerously Outdated Plan for Offshore Oil Spills
WASHINGTON— The University of California-Berkeley Environmental Law Clinic and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today in federal court in San Francisco to compel the Environmental Protection Agency to issue rules restricting use of chemical agents such as Corexit to clean up oil spills.
Read more.Lawsuit Threatened Over Trump Administration’s Failure to Cut Airplane Climate Pollution
WASHINGTON— Environmental groups threatened today to sue the Trump administration for failing to fulfill its obligation under the Clean Air Act to curb planet-warming pollution from airplanes.
Read more.‘Frostpaw the Polar Bear’ Arrives In Iowa to Kick Off Extinction Crisis Campaign
DES MOINES, Iowa— The Center for Biological Diversity’s Frostpaw the Polar Bear touched down in Des Moines today, ready to join wildlife advocates and volunteers in kickstarting a new campaign to urge all the presidential candidates from each political party to address the wildlife extinction crisis unfolding in Iowa and around the globe.
Read more.House Democrats Advance Legislation to Undo Trump’s Attack on Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON— The House Natural Resources Committee today voted to approve legislation that would reverse the Trump administration’s regulatory rollbacks of the Endangered Species Act, one of the most successful and popular environmental laws in the country.
Read more.Court: Northern Long-eared Bat Was Unlawfully Denied Endangered Species Protection
WASHINGTON— A federal judge on Tuesday overturned a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect northern long-eared bats as threatened rather than endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Florida Petition Seeks to Protect Diamondback Terrapin Turtles From Drowning in Crab Traps
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Conservation groups filed a petition today asking the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to adopt regulations that would protect diamondback terrapins from drowning in blue crab pots. These imperiled turtles are suffering population declines.
Read more.Environmental Group Launches Energy Justice Program
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity launched a new Energy Justice Program today focused on driving the urgent transition to a clean energy future to protect wildlife and people.
Read more.Two Appalachian Coalfields Crayfish to Receive 445 Miles of Lifesaving Habitat
CHARLESTON, W. Va.— Following a petition and lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect 445 stream miles of critical habitat for the Guyandotte River crayfish and Big Sandy crayfish in the coalfields of West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia.
Read more.Report: $550 Million Needed to Plug Abandoned California Oil, Gas Wells
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California taxpayers could be on the hook for more than $500 million to plug thousands of so-called “orphan” wells drilled and abandoned by oil and gas companies, according to a report by experts with the California Council on Science and Technology.
Read more.New York Urged to Protect Gray Wolves, Hellbenders, Eels
ALBANY, N.Y.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Hudson Riverkeeper, New York City Audubon and species experts submitted comments today supporting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s proposal to revise its list of endangered, threatened and special-concern species. The proposed list will provide new or strengthened protections for 46 species.
Read more.Trump Administration Slashes Protections for Millions of Acres of Streams, Wetlands
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration finalized a plan today to slash Clean Water Act protections for streams, rivers and millions of acres of wetlands, allowing those water bodies to be destroyed or polluted without any meaningful restrictions.
Read more.Groups Ask Gov. DeSantis to Prevent Oil Prospecting in Big Cypress
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups urged Gov. Ron DeSantis today to protect Big Cypress National Preserve from new fossil fuel exploration and development. This comes in the wake of news that Florida will purchase 20,0000 acres of wetlands previously slated for oil exploration in Everglades Water Conservation Areas.
Read more.Tusayan, Developers Begin New Push for Massive Grand Canyon Project
TUSAYAN, Ariz.— An Italian company has tinkered with its years-old plan to build a sprawling development on the doorstep of Grand Canyon National Park. But the mega-project would be just as dangerous to water resources, wildlife and visitors. It would also flood the night skies of one of the nation’s most iconic national parks.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump EPA’s Delay in Cleaning up Harmful Smog From Oil, Fracked Gas in 11 States
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health sued the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency today for delays in ensuring reductions in dangerous smog pollution from oil and gas drilling in 11 states.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Force Trump Administration to Halt U.S. Pangolin Trade
WASHINGTON— Wildlife conservation groups sued the Trump administration today to force officials to propose Endangered Species Act protections for critically imperiled pangolins.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Prevent Forest Service From Killing 72 Grizzlies Near Yellowstone
PINEDALE, Wyo.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club notified the Trump administration today of their intent to sue over plans allowing 72 grizzly bears to be killed to accommodate livestock grazing in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest. The forest encompasses the headwaters of the Green River, an area important for Yellowstone ecosystem grizzly bear recovery as well as elk, deer and pronghorn migrations.
Read more.Trump Administration Proposes Cutting Humpback Chub Protections Despite Lack of Recovery
DENVER— The Trump administration proposed today to downlist the humpback chub from endangered to threatened, despite the fact the species has not met the criteria in its recovery plan. The fish, which is found only in Colorado, Utah and Arizona, faces severe threats from drought related to climate change and overuse of water, as well as from invasive species like smallmouth bass.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Failure to Protect Turtles in Louisiana, Mississippi
NEW ORLEANS— The Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect two species of map turtles under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.New Mexico OKs Widespread Trapping Despite Broad Public Opposition
LAS CRUCES, N.M.— The New Mexico Game Commission today approved trapping of bobcats, foxes and other wildlife throughout nearly all of the state, disappointing wildlife and public-safety advocates who sought to ban a practice long criticized as inhumane and indiscriminate.
Read more.Conservationists Seek Wolverine Protection
BOZEMAN, Mont.— Conservation groups sent a notice today of their intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to protect wolverines as required by the Endangered Species Act. There are fewer than 300 wolverines left in the lower 48 and they remain threatened by habitat loss and climate change.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Suppression of Grid Study Bolstering Clean Energy Transition
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to release documents about a $1.5 million study that examined how grid improvements can bolster renewable energy access.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Fast-tracking of Louisiana Plastics Project
WASHINGTON― Conservation and community organizations sued the Trump administration today for permitting one of the world’s largest plastic plants: Formosa Plastics’ proposed petrochemical complex in St. James Parish, Louisiana.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Plan to Frack, Drill 1 Million Acres of California Public Lands, Minerals
LOS ANGELES— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today challenging the last step in the administration’s plan to allow oil drilling and fracking on more than 1 million acres of public lands and minerals in Central California.
Read more.Minnesota Appeals Court Strikes Down PolyMet Copper-sulfide Mine Permit, Orders New Hearing
ST. PAUL, Minn.― The Minnesota Court of Appeals overturned state permits today that would allow PolyMet to construct Minnesota’s first copper-sulfide mine, ordering a new hearing before an administrative law judge.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Failure to Protect Endangered Species From Livestock on Arizona, New Mexico Waterways
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to prevent livestock from damaging southwestern rivers and streams.
Read more.Plan: Ending Extinction Crisis Requires $100 Billion, 500 New National Parks, Refuges, Ocean Sanctuaries
TUCSON, Ariz.— Ending the global wildlife extinction crisis will require bold leadership from the United States, including a $100 billion investment to save species and the creation of 500 new national parks, wildlife refuges and marine sanctuaries, according to a new plan from the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Reapproval of Controversial Grapevine Development in Southern California
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging Kern County's reapproval of the 8,000-acre Grapevine project. The environmentally damaging development will straddle Interstate 5 and create a new city of 12,000 dwelling units and up to 5.1 million square feet of commercial real estate.
Read more.Placer Lawsuit Challenges Sprawl Development in California Vernal Pool Habitat
AUBURN, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued Placer County today for approving the Sunset Area Plan. The sprawling development in Northern California will destroy thousands of acres of rare vernal pool habitat — temporary wetlands crucial to wildlife — and overwhelm regional roadways by forcing commuters and residents to drive millions of additional miles.
Read more.Reward Increased to $7,500 for Info on Killing of Endangered California Wolf
SACRAMENTO— The Center for Biological Diversity today increased to $7,500 the reward for information leading to a conviction for the illegal killing of a radio-collared wolf in California, OR-59, who had traveled there from Oregon in December 2018.
Read more.Petition Seeks California Endangered Species Protections for Leatherback Sea Turtles
OAKLAND,Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network filed a petition today to protect leatherback sea turtles under the California Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Scientists Welcome Reports of Wolf Pack in Northern Colorado, Call for Reintroduction to Ensure Recovery
DENVER – A pack of gray wolves may have been spotted in northwest Colorado just one day after a measure to reintroduce the species throughout the state won approval to appear on the 2020 ballot.
Read more.Trump Administration Sued for Failing to Protect Green Sea Turtle Habitat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Conservation groups sued the federal government today for failing to protect green sea turtle habitat, which faces threats from sea-level rise, plastic pollution and global warming.
Read more.South Carolina Senate Bill Would Protect Wild Turtles, Other Reptiles, Amphibians From Commercial Exploitation
COLUMBIA, S.C.— A new bill in the South Carolina Senate Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry would ban the commercial trade of native reptiles and amphibians in the state. The bipartisan measure seeks to end years of extensive poaching, which, enabled by the state’s weak conservation laws, threaten wild populations.
Read more.Louisiana Issues Air-pollution Permits for Formosa Plastics Plant
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.— The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality today issued air-pollution permits for a massive petrochemical complex that Formosa Plastics wants to build in St. James Parish, Louisiana.
Read more.Rare Southern California Butterfly Proposed for Protection as Threatened Species Under Endangered Species Act
SAN DIEGO, Calif.— After 28 years of petitions and lawsuits by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finally proposed protecting one of Southern California’s rarest butterflies, the Hermes copper butterfly, as a threatened species.
Read more.Analysis: Trump EPA Approved 100-plus Products With Pesticides Banned Elsewhere or Slated for U.S. Phaseout
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency approved more than 100 pesticide products in 2017 and 2018 that contained ingredients widely considered to be the most dangerous still in use, including some that have been banned in multiple countries or targeted for phaseout in the United States, according to a new analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Sierra Nevada Red Fox Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
SACRAMENTO— In response to a petition and lawsuits from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed protecting one of North America’s rarest mammals, the Sierra Nevada red fox, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Cost of Destructive U.S. Airbase Project in Japan Nearly Triples
WASHINGTON— Building a U.S. military base in Okinawan waters will cost 2.7 times as much as previously estimated, according a new announcement from Japan’s Defense Ministry. Now slated to take years longer to complete than expected, the proposed U.S. airbase could also wipe out the Okinawa dugong, one of the Earth’s most endangered marine mammals.
Read more.Study: International Action Needed to Save Declining Insects
PORTLAND, Ore.— Seventy-three scientists from around the world published a roadmap today for saving the world’s insects from what is increasingly understood as an insect apocalypse caused by habitat loss, pesticides, climate change and other threats.
Read more.Trump Administration Attacks National Environmental Policy Act on Bedrock Law’s 50th Anniversary
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration will propose this week to gut National Environmental Policy Act rules for conducting environmental reviews of federal activities — changes that will threaten critical safeguards for air, water and wildlife. The proposal will also squelch public participation in federal agency decisions and impose arbitrary time limits on completion of environmental reviews.
Read more.Agreement Protects Rare Nevada Wildflower From Mine Exploration
RENO, Nev.— A Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit against the Trump administration has led to an agreement with an Australian mining company that will temporarily protect the habitat of a rare Nevada wildflower.
Read more.Trump EPA Used ‘Emergency’ Loophole to Approve Pesticides Toxic to Bees on 16 Million Acres in 2019
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency reported today that in 2019 it issued so-called “emergency” approvals to spray neonicotinoids — pesticides the agency itself recognizes as “very highly toxic” to bees — onto more than 16 million acres of crops known to attract bees.
Read more.Census Estimates More Than 330 Million Americans Will Ring in New Year
WASHINGTON— According to population estimates recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 330 million people will ring in the new year in the United States. This is an increase of more than 2 million people from the previous year, nearly the same number added in 2018.
Read more.Senate Bill Would Provide $20 Million for Butterflies, Desert Fish, Mussels and Hawaiian Plants
WASHINGTON— A new bill in the Senate will provide $20 million per year to some of the most endangered species in the United States, including butterflies, Hawaiian plants, freshwater mussels and desert fish in the Southwest.
Read more.Court: Trump Administration Unlawfully OK’d Longline Fishing Off California
OAKLAND, Calif.— A federal district court has ruled that the National Marine Fisheries Service failed to adequately analyze threats to critically endangered leatherback sea turtles when it allowed longline fishing off California. The Trump administration violated the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act in failing to consider the best available science on impacts to leatherbacks.
Read more.Forest Service Withdraws Logging Project in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest to Spare Endangered Fish
ASHEVILLE, N.C.― The U.S. Forest Service this week announced it will withdraw a 2,400-acre logging project in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest following objections raised by conservation groups about harm to an endangered fish.
Read more.Court Rejects Trump Administration Renewal of Oregon Ranchers' Grazing Permit
PORTLAND, Ore.— A federal judge today overturned the Trump administration’s renewal of the Hammond Ranches’ livestock-grazing permit. The ruling throws out the ranchers’ permit on four allotments in eastern Oregon until the Bureau of Land Management does a proper environmental analysis.
Read more.Conservation Groups Applaud Senate Launch of Grand Canyon Protection Bill
WASHINGTON― Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) yesterday introduced the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act. The bill will make permanent a ban on new uranium mining on about 1 million acres of public land adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park.
Read more.Senate Bill Rebuffs Military Request for Nevada Wildlife Refuge Takeover
LAS VEGAS— Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced legislation today to expand the U.S. Air Force’s Nevada Test and Training Range into the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, but the bill offers a fraction of what the military has requested.
Read more.Trump Administration Permits Oil Company to Harm Alaska’s Endangered Whales, Ice Seals
ANCHORAGE—The Trump administration today announced the issuance of federal take permits that would allow Hilcorp Alaska to kill or seriously injure 14 whales and nine ice seals as it constructs the Liberty offshore drilling island. The controversial project would be the first offshore drilling development in federal Arctic waters.
Read more.Legal Petition Urges Trump FDA to Label Fruit Sprayed With Antibiotics
WASHINGTON— Conservation and farmworker groups filed a formal legal petition today urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to require labels alerting consumers that oranges and other fruits have been sprayed with antibiotics before harvest.
Read more.Trump EPA Proposes To Scrap Protections for Children From Pesticide Linked to Birth Defects, Cancer
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration proposed today to reapprove the pesticide atrazine, an endocrine-disrupting herbicide that castrates frogs and is linked to birth defects and cancer in people. It has been banned or is being phased out in more than 35 countries.
Read more.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Urged to Reject Import of Trump Jr.’s Argali Sheep Trophy
WASHINGTON— Conservation and animal-protection organizations today sent a letter urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to deny an import permit for the horns, skin or other parts of a trophy-hunted argali sheep killed by Donald Trump Jr. in Mongolia.
Read more.Delaware Firefly, Gulf Coast Bee Move Toward Endangered Species Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it will move forward with considering Endangered Species Act protection for the Bethany Beach firefly and Gulf Coast solitary bee.
Read more.Animal-protection, Conservation Groups Sue U.S. Department of Agriculture for Gutting Pig Slaughterhouse Oversight
ROCHESTER, N.Y.— Seven organizations dedicated to protecting the animals, people and environments that suffer due to industrial animal agriculture filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Agriculture challenging its decision to reduce oversight at pig slaughterhouses and eliminate limits on the slaughter speeds, exposing pigs to greater suffering and flouting federal humane slaughter, meat inspection and environmental-protection laws.
Read more.Public Interest Groups Sue EPA to Curb Slaughterhouse Pollution
WASHINGTON— Twelve conservation and community groups representing millions of people sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today for its decision not to update national standards restricting water pollution from slaughterhouses.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Illegal Air Pollution at Colorado Coal Mine
DENVER— Conservation groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue Arch Coal for failing to reduce dangerous pollution at its West Elk mine in western Colorado in violation of the Clean Air Act.
Read more.Grijalva Bill Would Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Public Lands
WASHINGTON— House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced legislation today that attempts to set an overall cap on greenhouse gas emissions from public lands and seeks to achieve “net zero” emissions from public lands by 2040.
Read more.'Pikas Vs. Trump' Video Game: Out Now
TUCSON, Ariz. — A new video game called “Pikas Vs.Trump” released today by the Center for Biological Diversity gives players a chance to take on Trump as he wages war on wildlife, public lands, the Arctic and the climate.
Read more.400,000-plus Blast Trump Administration Plan for Old-growth Clearcutting in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest
JUNEAU, Alaska― More than 400,000 people and dozens of local tribal, government, business and national recreation groups have flooded the U.S. Forest Service with comments opposing its plan to undo safeguards that prevent clearcutting and road building in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. The comment period ends Tuesday.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Destructive Luxury Development in Historic Wetland Area on South San Francisco Bay
NEWARK, Calif.— The Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge and Center for Biological Diversity today sued the city of Newark for approving a destructive plan to pave over a historic wetland to build hundreds of luxury housing units along South San Francisco Bay. The Sanctuary West Residential Project is planned for Newark “Area 4,” which has long been prioritized by the environmental community for conservation.
Read more.Land Purchase Near Alabama Toyota Plant Will Preserve Habitat for Endangered Fish
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.— A 500-acre land purchase announced today by an Alabama land trust is the latest in a series of steps taken in response to legal pressure to protect the habitat of the critically endangered spring pygmy sunfish.
Read more.U.S. Law Enforcement Urged to Investigate Trump Jr.’s Reported Killing of Mongolian Argali Sheep Without Permit
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity urged U.S. law enforcement officials today to investigate whether Don Trump Jr. can legally import a threatened argali sheep he killed in Mongolia last summer. According to news reports, the hunt took place, and the argali was shot, without the permit required under Mongolian law.
Read more.Trump Administration Gives Final OK to Drilling, Fracking in Central California
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— The Trump administration took the final step today to break a five-year moratorium on leasing public land in California for oil drilling and fracking, issuing a decision that will allow more than 1 million acres to be put on the auction block.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered California Foxes, Other Wildlife From Super-Toxic Rat Poisons
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a formal notice of intent today to sue California pesticide regulators for failing to protect endangered San Joaquin kit foxes, California condors and 11 other endangered species from “super-toxic” rat poisons.
Read more.D.C. Judge to Hear Legal Challenge to Trump’s Border-wall Emergency
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity will defend its lawsuit Monday challenging President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration to pay for his border wall. The Trump administration is asking a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit, filed in February with Defenders of Wildlife and Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Read more.Senate Confirms Unqualified Industry Shill to Run Fish and Wildlife Service
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Senate voted largely along party lines today to confirm former Monsanto employee Aurelia Skipwith as director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency charged with protecting and recovering endangered animals and plants.
Read more.Imperiled Yellow-legged Frogs Protected Under California’s Endangered Species Act
SACRAMENTO— The California Fish and Game Commission today approved California Endangered Species Act protections for five of six populations of the foothill yellow-legged frog, a species that has disappeared from more than 50% of its historic habitat in the state. The decision responds to a 2016 petition by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Seven Oaks Dam’s Harming of Rare California Fish
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Endangered Habitats League today announced their intent to sue the federal government and three Southern California counties for harming imperiled Santa Ana sucker fish with a poorly timed water release from the Seven Oaks Dam during spawning season.
Read more.Supervisors in California's Placer County Approve Sprawl Project
AUBURN, Calif.— The Placer County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday to approve the controversial Sunset Area Plan development. The plan, encompassing more than 8,500 acres in western Placer County near the cities of Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln, includes a 5,636-dwelling unit residential community in addition to industrial and commercial land uses.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Trump EPA’s Failure to Curb Smog From Oil, Fracked Gas in Denver Area
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for delays in reducing smog pollution for more than half of Colorado’s population, including Denver and the Front Range.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Force Trump Administration to Protect Lake Sturgeon
CHICAGO— Conservation groups sent a notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for delaying a determination of whether lake sturgeon will be protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.500 Groups Urge Next U.S. President to Declare National Emergency, Rejoin Paris Accord With Bold Climate Commitments
MADRID— U.S. environmental and climate-justice groups at the United Nations climate change conference in Madrid called on the next U.S. president today to declare a national climate emergency. The plan, supported by hundreds of U.S. groups, urges the next administration to take 10 executive actions in its first 10 days in office to confront the climate crisis.
Read more.Organizaciones de EEUU Urgen al Próximo Presidente Declarar Emergencia Nacional y la Reincorporación al Acuerdo de París con Fuertes Compromisos Climáticos
MADRID, España- Organizaciones ambientalistas y de justicia climática de EEUU en la conferencia sobre cambio climático de las Naciones Unidas en Madrid, hacen un llamado al próximo Presidente de Estados Unidos para declarar una emergencia nacional climática. Un plan, apoyado por cientos de grupos de Estados Unidos, insta a la próxima administración a tomar 10 acciones ejecutivas en sus primeros 10 días de gobierno para hacer frente a la crisis climática.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Endorses Impossible, Beyond Burgers
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity today released a statement of support for plant-based meats, including the Impossible and Beyond burgers.
Read more.Species ‘Redlist:’ 1 in 4 Species Threatened With Extinction
PORTLAND, Ore.— More than 1 in 4 species assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature are facing extinction, according to a report released today. The group also noted some successes, including reintroduction of the Guam rail to Cocos Island, moving the species status from “extinct in the wild” to “critically endangered.”
Read more.Colorado Wolf Initiative Gets 200,000 Signatures for 2020 Ballot Placement
DENVER— Volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund today submitted more than 200,000 signatures to the Colorado secretary of state to place restoration of wolves on Colorado’s 2020 statewide ballot (read the full text of the initiative here).
Read more.Pangolins Decline as Deadly Poaching Continues, Red List Experts Find
GLAND, Switzerland— Three pangolin species have moved closer to extinction, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared today in an update to its respected “Red List of Threatened Species.” The scaly mammals continue to be hard-hit by poaching that serves an international market for their scales and meat.
Read more.U.S. Groups to Unveil Plan at UN Conference for Next President to Declare National Climate Emergency
MADRID— Environmental and climate-justice groups from the United States will host a press conference Wednesday at the United Nations climate conference to unveil a plan urging the next U.S. president to take 10 executive actions in her or his first 10 days in office to confront the climate crisis.
Read more.Coloradans to Deliver 200,000 Signatures Backing Wolf Reintroduction Initiative for 2020 Ballot
DENVER— Colorado citizens will submit more than 200,000 signatures on Tuesday morning to the Secretary of State in support of a 2020 ballot measure to reintroduce wolves. This initiative represents the first time that U.S. voters would be empowered to vote directly on the reintroduction of an endangered species.
Read more.Lawsuit Forces Feds to Take New Look at Status of Grizzly Bears
MISSOULA, Mont.— A federal judge in Montana signed an order today requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to review the status of grizzly bears by March 2021 — a step that could prompt the agency to look at a broader plan for recovering bears in the lower 48 states.
Read more.500 Groups Call for Next President to Declare National Climate Emergency
WASHINGTON— More than 500 conservation, environmental justice, youth, health, faith and labor groups today called on the next U.S. president to declare a national climate emergency. The plan urges the next administration to take 10 executive actions in its first 10 days in office to confront the climate crisis.
Read more.Back From the Brink, Hawaii’s Nene Goose a Recovery Success Story
HONOLULU — Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced today the nene, reduced to fewer than 30 birds in the wild 50 years ago, will be downlisted from endangered to threatened based on successful recovery efforts.
Read more.Two Southern Arizona Plants Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
TUCSON, Ariz.— In response to a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, two southern Arizona plants were proposed for Endangered Species Act protection today.
Read more.Hundreds Expected Saturday at Tucson Border Wall Protest With Rep. Grijalva
TUCSON, Ariz.— Arizona leaders and activists will join U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D.-Ariz.) in Tucson on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s border wall. The 30-foot-tall steel bollard wall under construction in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge will block wildlife migration, destroy archeological sites and imperil endangered species and protected wilderness.
Read more.Trump Administration OKs ‘Cyanide Bombs’ Despite Indiscriminate Killing of Thousands of Animals a Year
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration today announced it will reauthorize use of sodium cyanide in wildlife-killing devices called M-44s. These “cyanide bombs” received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency despite inhumanely and indiscriminately killing thousands of animals every year. They have also injured people.
Read more.Flawed Wildlife Bill OK’d by House Natural Resources Committee
WASHINGTON— The House Natural Resources Committee today voted to approve Rep. Debbie Dingell’s (D-Mich.) Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which would provide $1.4 billion annually to state fish and game agencies with the goal of conserving “species of greatest conservation need.”
Read more.No Roads to Ruin Coalition to Launch Campaign Against Florida Toll Roads at Capitol Thursday
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— The No Roads to Ruin Coalition, an alliance of more than 50 Florida-based organizations and businesses, will unveil its strategy to stop Florida’s destructive toll road plan, known as M-CORES. On December 5 at 11:30 a.m., leaders from across the state will call upon Gov. Ron DeSantis to halt M-CORES.
Read more.Leaders at Climate Summit Urged to Reduce Greenhouse Pollution From Food, Agriculture
MADRID, Spain— The Center for Biological Diversity, Brighter Green and 13 other organizations today released a policy brief calling on organizers and attendees of the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change conference COP25 to take immediate action to reduce planet-warming emissions from food and agriculture.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Minnesota’s Rare Lynx From Trapping
MINNEAPOLIS— The Center for Biological Diversity today notified the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources of plans to sue the agency for permitting trapping that harms Canada lynx, in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Analysis: Earth-friendly Event Menus Can Save Up to 10 Tons of Climate Pollution
OAKLAND, Calif.— Replacing meat-heavy menu choices with Earth-friendly, plant-based options can reduce the carbon footprint of a 500-person event like a conference or large wedding by 10 tons of greenhouse gas equivalents, according to an analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Legal Filing Challenges Trump Administration Failure to Halt Fossil Fuel Expansion in 20-year Plan for Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma
HOUSTON— The Center for Biological Diversity is challenging the Trump administration’s plan to expand federal fossil-fuel extraction in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. The new resource management plan would allow leasing and extraction of oil and gas on 4.4 million acres of publicly owned lands and minerals and coal extraction on nearly 1.7 million acres.
Read more.Mike Mann, Other Experts to Expose Fossil Fuel Industry’s Shifting Tactics to Block Climate Action at San Francisco Event
SAN FRANCISCO— Climate scientist Mike Mann, community organizer Andres Soto and investigative journalist Antonia Juhasz will expose the fossil fuel industry’s latest efforts to block a just and equitable transition away from dirty fossil fuel production at a public event on Dec. 10 in San Francisco.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks New Air Pollution Standards for Petrochemical Plants
WASHINGTON― More than 350 community and conservation organizations filed a legal petition today that demands the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopt strict air pollution standards for industrial plants that create plastic.
Read more.Army Report Reveals Military Base’s Harm to San Pedro River Stretches Back to 2003
TUCSON, Ariz.― A previously undisclosed 2010 report commissioned by the U.S. Army showed that groundwater pumping at Fort Huachuca was already causing harm to the San Pedro River and its endangered wildlife in 2003. The report was never given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which decided in 2014 to approve the base’s groundwater pumping for another decade.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Students, Chapel Hill-Carrboro From UNC’s Coal Pollution
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club today sued the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for violations of the Clean Air Act.
Read more.National Coalition to Announce Legal Challenge to Plastic Plant Pollution at San Francisco EPA Office
SAN FRANCISCO― More than 350 community and conservation organizations from around the country will announce a major new legal challenge to pollution from industrial plants that create plastic tomorrow in San Francisco.
Read more.Panel de Cumbre Climática de la ONU Advierte Sobre la Importancia de Eliminar el Uso de Petróleo Mediante la Electrificación del Transporte
MADRID, España— Grupos ecologistas y académicos serán los anfitriones de un panel sobre la eliminación gradual de la producción de petróleo y la electrificación del transporte con energía limpia y renovable, en la conferencia climática de las Naciones Unidas en Madrid este lunes 2 de diciembre.
Read more.UN Climate Summit Panel to Focus on Importance of Phasing Out Oil, Electrifying Transportation
MADRID, Spain— Environmental groups and academics will host a panel on phasing out oil production and electrifying transportation with clean and renewable energy at the United Nations climate conference in Madrid on Monday, Dec. 2.
Read more.Oregon Supreme Court Affirms Sale of Elliott State Forest Tract Is Illegal
SALEM, Ore.— The Oregon Supreme Court today ruled that the sale of 788 acres of old-growth forest from the Elliott State Forest was illegal. The ruling affirms an Oregon Court of Appeals’ ruling from 2018, which found that selling the area known as East Hakki Ridge to a private timber company in 2014 violated state law.
Read more.Court Orders Trump’s EPA to Curb Asthma-causing Pollutant in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Six Other States
OAKLAND, Calif.— A federal district court in California today ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to stop illegally delaying plans for cleaning up asthma-causing sulfur dioxide pollution in portions of eight states where millions of people live.
Read more.Florida Freshwater Mussel May Receive Nearly 190 Miles of Lifesaving Critical Habitat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— In response to a settlement agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed designating critical habitat for the Suwannee moccasinshell, a freshwater Florida mussel. Its habitat has been harmed by pollution and reduced flows throughout its range, and by channel instability and excessive sedimentation.
Read more.Legal Pressure Forces Trump Administration to Protect Imperiled Ice Seals’ Arctic Habitat
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration agreed today to finally make a decision on designating critical habitat in Alaska for two ice-seal species. Both bearded and ringed seals are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act because climate change is melting their Arctic sea-ice habitat.
Read more.Utah’s June Sucker Another Endangered Species Act Success, Downlisted From Endangered to Threatened
SALT LAKE CITY— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to downlist the June sucker fish from endangered to threatened based on successful recovery efforts. The June sucker is found only in Utah Lake, which was once clear and supported a commercial fishery for the sucker and Utah’s state fish, the Bonneville cutthroat trout.
Read more.Willamette Valley Prairie Flower Becomes Endangered Species Act Success Story
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed removing Bradshaw’s desert parsley, a wet prairie wildflower, from the list of endangered species today due to the plant’s successful recovery.
Read more.Groundswell of National Public Opinion Opposes Las Vegas Lands Bill
LAS VEGAS— More than 6,000 people from 47 states have sent letters urging the Clark County Commission and Nevada’s congressional delegation to oppose proposed county legislation that sidesteps bedrock environmental laws and endangers the iconic Mojave desert tortoise.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Force Trump Administration to Update Houston Toad Recovery Plan
HOUSTON, Texas— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to update a deficient, 35-year-old recovery plan for the Houston toad. These critically endangered toads are found only in the central coastal region of Texas.
Read more.Conservation, Landowners Groups File Opening Brief in Legal Challenge to Keystone XL Pipeline
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Conservation and landowners groups filed the opening brief today in their federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s illegal approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. The groups are suing the Army Corps of Engineers over its failure to adequately analyze the project’s effects on local waterways, lands, wildlife and communities along its 1,200-mile route.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump’s Move to Block California’s Clean Car Standards
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity joined eight other groups today in suing the Trump administration for trying to prevent California and other states from setting more protective vehicle pollution standards.
Read more.Legal Action Challenges North Carolina Utilities’ Unlawful Use of Ratepayer Funds
RALEIGH, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity today submitted a brief to the North Carolina Utilities Commission arguing that utilities cannot use ratepayer funds for trade association dues as it violates customers’ First Amendment rights. Money from ratepayers is frequently channeled into campaigns against rooftop solar.
Read more.Trump Administration Proposes Oil Drilling Expansion in Alaska’s Arctic Reserve
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Trump administration released a new draft plan today that could dramatically increase the federal land available for oil and gas drilling in Alaska’s Arctic Reserve. The Bureau of Land Management’s proposal includes an alternative that would turn over about 18.3 million acres to the oil industry.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration OK of Oil Waste Dumping in California Aquifer
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to consider threats to the environment and endangered wildlife before approving an aquifer exemption for the Arroyo Grande oilfield south of San Luis Obispo.
Read more.Trump Administration Denial of Protection to Pacific Walruses Appealed
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Center for Biological Diversity filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit today challenging the Trump administration’s denial of Endangered Species Act protection to Pacific walruses. The Center’s lawsuit says officials have ignored the threat that climate change and the loss of Arctic sea ice poses to the walrus’ survival.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Against Trump’s EPA for Failing to Enforce Smog Rules in California
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to ensure that parts of California have effective plans to reduce dangerous smog pollution.
Read more.California Crab Season Opening Delayed by Whale Entanglement Risk
SACRAMENTO— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife today announced a preliminary decision to delay this week’s opening of commercial Dungeness crab season after aerial surveys showed the presence of humpback whales. Whale entanglements in crab lines have been a major problem in recent years, which the Department pledged to address in a legal agreement earlier this year with the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Two Glacier-dependent Stoneflies Protected Under Endangered Species Act
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, Mont.— Following a petition and two lawsuits brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the western glacier and meltwater lednian stoneflies as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Both stoneflies depend on streams formed by glacial meltwater in and around Glacier National Park, as well as a few locations in Grand Teton National Park, and are thus immediately threatened with extinction by the climate crisis.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Save 274 Species From Extinction Crisis
WASHINGTON— In one of the largest lawsuits ever launched under the Endangered Species Act, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to decide whether 274 imperiled animals and plants across the country should be federally protected. Decisions for these species are years overdue.
Read more.Newsom Administration Announces Crackdown on Dangerous California Oil Extraction
SACRAMENTO, Calif.― Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today that the state would take major steps to protect Californians from oil industry pollution, as part of an overall strategy to phase out oil production in California. The actions include a moratorium on new high-pressure steam injection wells and the initiation of a process to protect the health of people living near oil and gas wells.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed Over Trump Administration Failure to Update Plan to Save Red Wolves
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to prepare an updated recovery plan for the red wolf, a critically endangered native species that has declined to just 14 known individuals in the wild. Without help the once-common species — now isolated in North Carolina — could be extinct in the wild within five years.
Read more.Legal Filing Shows Proposed Dams Near Grand Canyon Would Decimate Endangered Fish Habitat
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed motions with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today urging denial of preliminary permits for two proposed dams on the Little Colorado River near Grand Canyon National Park. The motions include a new analysis showing the projects would destroy or harm all of the river’s critical habitat for the endangered humpback chub.
Read more.Florida Officials Urged to Set Standards to Protect People, Wildlife From Harmful Algae Blooms
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.― Conservation groups sent a letter today urging Florida officials to set water-quality standards for the harmful toxins in algal blooms.
Read more.Trump’s EPA to Weaken Safeguards for Pesticide Linked to Birth Defects, Cancer
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration has announced it plans to weaken environmental safeguards for atrazine, a weed-killing pesticide linked to birth defects and cancer in humans.
Read more.Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl May Get Protected Again
TUCSON, Ariz.— Following multiple petitions and lawsuits, the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl has a new chance for protection under the Endangered Species Act. As part of a lawsuit, the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife today obtained a court-enforceable deadline — Aug. 5, 2021 — for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decide whether the pygmy owl should again be protected as an endangered species.
Read more.Poll: Most Santa Barbara County Voters Oppose Plans to Restart Offshore Drilling
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— A majority of Santa Barbara County voters say they oppose proposals to restart ExxonMobil’s offshore drilling platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel, according to a new poll.
Read more.Legal Action Initiated to Force Trump Administration to Halt U.S. Pangolin Trade
WASHINGTON— A coalition of wildlife groups today filed a notice of intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to propose pangolin protections under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Kalama Methanol Refinery in Washington Faces New Federal Court Challenge
TACOMA, Wash.— Public health and environmental groups challenged federal approvals today for Northwest Innovation Works’ massive fracked gas-to-methanol refinery proposed for Kalama, Washington.
Read more.Trump EPA Proposes Weaker Protections From Toxic Pyrethroid Pesticides
WASHINGTON— Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency proposed today to weaken protections for 23 pyrethroids, a class of insecticides linked to autism, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and known to be highly toxic to bees and fish.
Read more.Lawsuit Spurs Trump Administration to Suspend 130 Oil, Gas Leases in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY― The Trump administration has pulled 130 oil and gas leases in Utah because the Bureau of Land Management failed to fully analyze greenhouse gas emissions and the potential harm to climate from fossil fuel extraction. It’s the fourth time this year that the agency has suspended leases for drilling and fracking in Utah ― after the leases were sold ― because they violated federal law.
Read more.Federal Hearing on Tuesday to Focus on Protecting Washington’s Endangered Orcas From Boats
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash.— The National Marine Fisheries Service is holding a scoping meeting Tuesday in Friday Harbor, Washington, on how to protect critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales from boat noise and disturbance in Washington’s inland waters. That population has dropped to just 73 orcas.
Read more.Ruling Stops Colorado Coal Mine Expansion Threatening Climate, National Forest
DENVER— A federal judge blocked the 2,000-acre expansion of a coal mine in the wildlands of Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest today, ordering the Trump administration to consider limiting methane emissions and address potential harm to water and fish.
Read more.Nevada to Launch Review of Rare Wildflower for Possible Enhanced Protections
CARSON CITY, Nev.— The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will soon begin reviewing whether to give enhanced protections to the imperiled Tiehm’s buckwheat (Eriogonum tiehmii), a rare Nevada wildflower.
Read more.Court Order Forces Trump Administration to Pull Sage-Grouse Habitat From Nevada Oil Auction
ELY, Nevada― The Bureau of Land Management has pulled 332,247 acres from a Nov. 12 oil and gas lease auction in western Nevada in response to a court order blocking Trump administration plans that gutted protections for greater sage grouse.
Read more.Saturday Protest Planned to Stop Trump’s Wall at Arizona National Monument
LUKEVILLE, Ariz.— Activists will gather Saturday to protest construction of President Donald Trump’s border wall at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The new 30-foot-tall barrier will block the migration of wildlife, destroy archeological sites, and imperil endangered species and wilderness lands.
Read more.Pacific Fishers Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection in California, Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— In response to a petition and lawsuit from conservation groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to protect Pacific fishers under the Endangered Species Act. Conservation groups are decrying loopholes in the proposal under a special “4(d)” rule that will allow ongoing logging of the forest-dependent carnivore’s habitat.
Read more.Riverside County Unanimously Rejects Sprawl Development Near Joshua Tree National Park
RIVERSIDE, Calif.― Community groups and environmental organizations applauded the Riverside County Board of Supervisors’ unanimous vote Tuesday to quash plans for a new city of 20,000 residents near Joshua Tree National Park.
Read more.Trump Administration Proposes to Allow Increased Coal Plant Arsenic, Mercury Pollution, Delay Coal Ash Cleanup
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency today announced its plan to severely roll back protections that govern the storage and disposal of toxic coal ash and wastewater from coal-fired power plants.
Read more.Ninth Circuit to Hear Arguments Against Arctic Offshore Drilling Project Approval
PORTLAND, Ore.— A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will hear oral arguments tomorrow in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s approval of the Liberty project, the first offshore drilling development in federal Arctic waters.
Read more.Trump to Quit Paris Accord, End U.S. Obstruction of Global Climate Progress
WASHINGTON— President Trump today will submit the official withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change. Trump’s withdrawal comes days after the Chilean government cancelled its plan to host the 2019 United Nations climate change talks.
Read more.Prairie Flower Becomes Endangered Species Act Success Story
DENVER, Colo.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the Colorado butterfly plant from the list of threatened species today. The delisting is the result of protection of the species’ habitat through the Endangered Species Act, and represents a victory for a prairie flower that, just 20 years ago, was headed toward extinction.
Read more.California Crab Season Delayed to Nov. 23 to Protect Whales From Entanglement
SACRAMENTO— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife today announced a delay of the Nov. 15 opening of commercial Dungeness crab season to reduce the risk of whale entanglements. This preliminary decision to delay the opening to Nov. 23 was based on data indicating the prevalence of whales off California presents an elevated entanglement risk.
Read more.Federal Plan Endangers Recovery for Dwindling Gunnison Sage Grouse in Colorado, Utah
DENVER― Following a major decline in the population of Gunnison sage grouse, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a brief, vague draft recovery plan that conservation groups say fails to ensure recovery of the threatened species in Colorado and Utah.
Read more.Washington Court to Hear Arguments Friday on State Agency’s Wolf-Killing
OLYMPIA, Wash.— Thurston County Superior Court will hear arguments tomorrow in a case challenging the killing of endangered wolves by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The case is being brought by the Center for Biological Diversity and Cascadia Wildlands.
Read more.Trump Bulldozes New Wall Through Wildlife Refuge, Jaguar Country
DOUGLAS, Ariz.— New border-wall construction in southeastern Arizona is imperiling the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, and encroaching into an active jaguar movement corridor where the jaguar known as “Sombra” most likely crossed the border into the United States.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched After Trump Administration Fails to Protect Humboldt Martens in Oregon, California
ARCATA, Calif.— Conservation groups notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of their intent to sue the agency for failing to finalize Endangered Species Act protection for Humboldt martens.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Trump Administration’s Failure to Recognize Plastic Pollution in Hawaiian Waters
HONOLULU—The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency for failing to protect Hawaiian waters contaminated by plastic pollution.
Read more.Trump Plans to Open 1 Million More Acres of California Public Land to Drilling, Fracking
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— The Trump administration today announced a proposal to open more than 1 million acres of public lands and minerals in central California to oil drilling and fracking. The plan, first floated in draft form in April, would end a more than five-year moratorium on leasing federal public land in the state to oil companies.
Read more.House Committee Green-lights Climate-killing Export-Import Bank
WASHINGTON—The House Financial Services Committee this morning approved a bill reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, a taxpayer-funded operation that has financed oil pipelines, mines, power plants and other environmentally destructive projects around the world.
Read more.Arizonans Celebrate House Passage of Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act
PHOENIX― The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act by an overwhelming margin. The bill is sponsored by House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva (D.-Ariz.) and cosponsored and supported by Arizona U.S. Reps. Tom O’Halleran, Ruben Gallego, Ann Kirkpatrick and Greg Stanton.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Protect Rare Nevada Wildflower From Exploratory Mining
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today to protect the world’s only population of Tiehm’s buckwheat (Eriogonum tiehmii) from harm related to mineral exploration and a proposed open-pit mine.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s California Fracking Plan
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups today sued the Trump administration to challenge its Oct. 4 decision to allow fracking and drilling on 725,500 acres of public lands and mineral estate across California’s Central Coast and the Bay Area.
Read more.New Report Highlights 10 Protected Species Endangered by Pesticides
WASHINGTON— Chemical pesticides pose an escalating threat to some of the nation’s most imperiled wildlife, according to a new Endangered Species Coalition report released today.
Read more.Theme for 2019 All Souls Procession: Wildlife Endangered by Border Wall
TUCSON, Ariz.— Jaguars, owls, fish, bats and other endangered species threatened by the border wall in Arizona will be the official theme of the ushers and ambassadors of this year’s 30th annual All Souls Procession on Sunday, Nov. 3.
Read more.Report: 20,000 Square Miles of Red Wolf Habitat Is Open for Urgently Needed Reintroductions
WASHINGTON— A new report reveals that approximately 20,000 square miles of public land across five sites in the southeastern United States would be well-suited to reintroducing red wolves. This critically endangered native species has dwindled to just 14 known individuals in the wild.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Habitat for 14 Imperiled Hawaii Island Species
HONOLULU— The Center for Biological Diversity today sued the Trump administration for failing to protect critical habitat for 14 endangered Hawaiian species.
Read more.Gov. Newsom Urged to Phase Out Fossil Fuel Cars by 2030
SACRAMENTO— The Center for Biological Diversity called on Gov. Gavin Newsom today to phase out the sale of fossil fuel cars in California on an ambitious timeline that matches the scale and urgency of the climate crisis.
Read more.Feds Launch Process to Protect Endangered West Coast Orcas From Vessel Disturbance
SEATTLE— The National Marine Fisheries Service today announced a public scoping process to determine how to protect critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales from boat noise and disturbance in Washington’s inland waters.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Trump EPA’s Delay in Cleaning Up Smog From Oil, Fracked Gas in 15 States
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency for delays in reducing dangerous smog pollution from oil and gas drilling in 15 states.
Read more.Interior Least Tern an Endangered Species Act Recovery Success
JACKSON, Miss.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to remove Endangered Species Act protection from the interior least tern, a small bird that nests along major rivers in the Midwest and southern United States.
Read more.Community Mural Celebration to Be Held Saturday November 9 in Berea
BEREA, Ky.— Local groups have teamed up with a national nonprofit conservation organization to create a new mural of an endangered Kentucky wildflower that will be unveiled at a celebration Nov. 9 with a work party and free community meal.
Read more.Colorado’s Gunnison Sage-grouse Populations Plummet to Perilous Lows
GUNNISON, Colo.— Colorado’s Gunnison sage-grouse populations plummeted this spring to the lowest points since reliable records began to be kept in the 1990s, according to recently released state estimates. The startling decline raises major questions about the adequacy of federal and state officials’ efforts to protect the imperiled birds.
Read more.Agreement Forces EPA to Assess Harms to Protected Species From Eight Pesticides
SAN FRANCISCO— A federal district court entered an order today that commits the Environmental Protection Agency to assess the risks that eight of the nation’s most harmful pesticides pose to protected plants and animals. More than 75 million pounds of these weed killers, insecticides and rat poisons are used every year across the country.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Federal Killing of Washington’s Bears, Beavers, Bobcats
SEATTLE— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program today over its killing of thousands of native animals a year in Washington state.
Read more.Trump Administration Sued for Failing to Release Gulf of Mexico Fracking Records
NEW ORLEANS— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to release public documents revealing the extent and risks of fracking of offshore oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico.
Read more.Agreement Protects Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor From Spraying of Dangerous Pesticide
OLYMPIA, Wash.— Washington state officials have approved an agreement that will prohibit oyster growers from spraying a dangerous neonicotinoid pesticide to kill native burrowing shrimp in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor. Neonicotinoids, also known as neonics, are a leading cause of pollinator declines and are also linked to large-scale declines of birds, fish and bats because of their harmful impacts on aquatic invertebrates.
Read more.Trump Administration Delays Lifesaving Protections for Wolverine, Hermes Copper Butterfly, Candy Darter, 43 Other Species
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration has failed to make protection decisions for dozens of imperiled species as promised in a workplan developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in late 2016. The plan aims to address a backlog of more than 500 species awaiting protection, including the wolverine and the Sierra Nevada Red Fox.
Read more.Santa Barbara Students to Rally Saturday Against Offshore Oil Drilling
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— College students will celebrate the decommissioning of Platform Holly and oppose ExxonMobil’s proposal to restart its offshore drilling platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel this Saturday at a park in Isla Vista.
Read more.Colorful Tennessee Fish Protected as Endangered
NASHVILLE, Tenn.— In response to a petition and lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protected the Barrens topminnow today under the Endangered Species Act. The small, colorful fish is found only in central Tennessee in clear, spring-fed streams on the Barrens Plateau in Cannon, Coffee and Warren counties.
Read more.Legal Challenge Opposes Duke Energy’s North Carolina Rate Hike
RALEIGH, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Appalachian Voices filed a petition today to intervene in Duke Energy Carolinas’ application to substantially increase electricity rates in North Carolina without also promoting renewable energy. The groups argued that simply raising rates, without concrete policies to advance the clean energy transition, is wrong for North Carolina, its people and the climate.
Read more.Court Blocks Trump Administration Plans to Strip Sage-grouse Protections
BOISE, Idaho— A federal judge today blocked Trump administration plans allowing expanded drilling, mining, livestock grazing and other destructive activities across 51 million acres of greater sage-grouse habitat in seven western states: Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, California and Oregon.
Read more.Scientists Urge New Approach to Southwestern Wolf Conservation Through Court-ordered Rewrite of Management Rules
SILVER CITY, N.M.— Leading scientists and wolf conservationists today urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to adopt an entirely new approach to Mexican gray wolf management in a letter to the agency.
Read more.Federal Agency Orders Halt to Mountain Valley Pipeline Construction
WASHINGTON—The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission late yesterday ordered the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline to halt construction activities along the entire 303-mile route of the project.
Read more.More Than 270 Groups Urge Senate to Increase Endangered Species Funding
WASHINGTON— In the face of growing concerns over the global wildlife extinction crisis, more than 270 conservation groups today urged the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations to increase funding for endangered species conservation and recovery.
Read more.Court Rejects Trump Administration Efforts to Avoid Curbing Risks From Dangerous Pesticide Malathion
OAKLAND, Calif.— A federal district court in Oakland today rejected the Trump administration’s efforts to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the failure of the Environmental Protection Agency to protect endangered wildlife and the environment from the dangerous pesticide malathion.
Read more.Forest Service Plan for Wyoming’s Upper Green River Pushes Overgrazing, More Grizzly Killings
PINEDALE, Wyo.— Conservation groups today blasted a U.S. Forest Service decision to authorize continued livestock grazing in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The forest encompasses the headwaters of the Green River, an area important for grizzly bear recovery and elk, deer and pronghorn migrations.
Read more.Trump EPA’s Paraquat Review Ignores Strong Links to Parkinson’s Disease
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency today released two scientific analyses of paraquat that detail the weed killer’s lethal risks to humans and wildlife but discount its strong links to Parkinson’s disease.
Read more.Trump Administration Paves Way for Old-growth Clearcutting in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest
JUNEAU, Alaska― The Trump administration announced plans today to gut longstanding protections against logging and road building in the Tongass National Forest, a cherished old-growth temperate rainforest in Southeast Alaska and homelands of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. A coalition that includes Alaska Native people and Alaska-based and national organizations opposes the U.S. Forest Service plan, which comes weeks after revelations that President Trump exerted pressure to allow new clearcutting in the Tongass.
Read more.Formosa Plastics Settles Texas Pollution Case for $50 Million, No More Plastic Releases
VICTORIA, Texas— Formosa Plastics today settled a Clean Water Act lawsuit brought by a former shrimper and San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper challenging its extensive plastic pollution of waterways around its Point Comfort, Texas plant. Under the $50 million settlement, Formosa is paying for pollution cleanup and promises no future discharges of plastic pellets or other plastic materials from the plant.
Read more.State Endangered Species Protection Sought for California’s Joshua Trees
JOSHUA TREE, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission today to protect western Joshua trees under the California Endangered Species Act. The trees are threatened by climate change and habitat destruction from urban sprawl and other development in their Mojave Desert home.
Read more.Court Rejects Trump Administration Attempt to Dismiss Challenges to Rock Creek Mine’s Threat to Montana Grizzly Bears
MISSOULA, Mont.— A federal district court in Montana on Friday rejected the Trump administration’s efforts to dismiss key claims in a lawsuit challenging federal approval of the first phase of the Rock Creek Mine. The project would harm grizzly bears and other endangered animals.
Read more.Legal Victory Puts 15 Species on Path to Protection Nationwide
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today agreed to decide if the elfin-woods warbler and 14 other imperiled species should get habitat protections or other safeguards under the Endangered Species Act. The agency’s agreement is in response to litigation brought by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Activists Deliver Endangered Species Act Petitions With 500,000 Signatures to Speaker Pelosi’s Congressional Office
SAN FRANCISCO— Activists in endangered species masks and accompanied by a marching band paraded from Union Square to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office on Thursday to deliver 500,000 petition signatures supporting the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Trump Administration Sued for Failing to Protect Hawaii’s Cauliflower Coral
HONOLULU— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect cauliflower coral around the Hawaiian Islands. The bushy, shallow-water coral species has been devastated by ocean warming triggered by human-caused climate change.
Read more.Activists Deliver Endangered Species Act Petitions With 500,000 Signatures to 70 Local Congressional Offices
WASHINGTON— Activists in endangered species masks today delivered more than 500,000 petition signatures supporting the Endangered Species Act to more than 70 in-district congressional offices in 25 different states.
Read more.Tests Find Plastic in 20 Percent of Mexican Fish
MEXICO CITY— Microplastics from product packaging and other sources are present in the stomachs of 20 percent of commercially important fish from three regions in Mexico, according to new tests by conservation groups and scientists from prominent Mexican universities.
Read more.Trump Administration Delays Safeguards for 41 Critically Imperiled Species
WASHINGTON— A review released today shows the Trump administration has protected just 18 species as threatened or endangered — the fewest of any administration since the Endangered Species Act passed in 1973. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service review is supposed to be annual, but one hasn’t been released since December of 2016.
Read more.Activists to Deliver Endangered Species Act Petitions With 500,000 Signatures to Speaker Pelosi’s Congressional Office
SAN FRANCISCO— Activists in endangered species masks and accompanied by a marching band will parade from Union Square to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office on Thursday to deliver 500,000 petition signatures supporting the Endangered Species Act. The wildlife advocates will be carrying colorful signs and giant puppets.
Read more.Activists to Deliver Endangered Species Act Petitions With 500,000 Signatures to 70 Local Congressional Offices
WASHINGTON— Activists in endangered species masks will deliver more than 500,000 petition signatures supporting the Endangered Species Act on Thursday, October 10, to more than 70 in-district congressional offices in 25 different states.
Read more.Study: Emperor Penguins Threatened by Climate Crisis, Need Urgent Protection
GLAND, Switzerland— A study published this week finds that emperor penguins are being pushed towards extinction by the climate crisis melting the sea ice they need for survival. Yet the Trump administration has refused to give Endangered Species Act protections to the iconic birds.
Read more.California Agency Recommends Protecting Yellow-legged Frog Under State’s Endangered Species Act
SACRAMENTO— The California Department of Fish and Wildlife today recommended California Endangered Species Act protections for five populations of the foothill yellow-legged frog. The frog has disappeared from more than half of its former California range.
Read more.Report: Climate-fueled Superstorms Pushing 10 U.S. Species Closer to Extinction
MIAMI— The Puerto Rican parrot and the Florida manatee are among 10 U.S. species especially at risk from climate change-fueled superstorms, says a report released today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Endangered Species Protections Sought for Rare Nevada Wildflower Imperiled by Mining
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity submitted an emergency petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday to protect Tiehm’s buckwheat (Eriogonum tiehmii) under the Endangered Species Act. The plant is threatened by mineral exploration and a proposed open-pit mine.
Read more.Kirtland’s Warbler Recovery Signals Midwest Endangered Species Act Success
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the Endangered Species Act recovery of the Kirtland’s warbler, a songbird that nests in young jack pine forests. It is found primarily in Michigan, but also Wisconsin and Ontario.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Feds’ Failure to Consider Colorado Fracking’s Climate Harm
DENVER— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today to require an analysis of the climate risk from an oil and gas extraction plan covering nearly a million acres of public lands and minerals in western Colorado. The area surrounds the Bureau of Land Management’s new headquarters.
Read more.Federal Rule Proposed to Protect Pacific Humpback Whale Habitat
SAN FRANCISCO— The federal government proposed a new rule today to designate 302,961 square nautical miles in the Pacific Ocean as critical habitat for three populations of endangered humpback whales. The move could help protect migrating whales from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and oil spills.
Read more.Opponents of Proposed Resolution Copper Mine, Land Exchange Hold News Conference Before Public Hearing
QUEEN VALLEY, Ariz.— The Apache Stronghold and allies will deliver public comments Tuesday opposing the Resolution Copper mine, which would destroy a sacred site for the Apache people. The group will hold a news conference before Tuesday’s public hearing, hosted by the U.S. Forest Service to gather public comments on an environmental analysis of the project.
Read more.Trump Administration Denies Protection to 12 Highly Imperiled Species From Alaska to Florida
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today denied Endangered Species Act protection to a dozen species of plants and animals facing extinction. The denied species include the Florida clam shell orchid, Alaska yellow cedar, Berry Cave salamander in eastern Tennessee, and Panamint alligator lizard in California.
Read more.Wolf Pups Born to Indigo Pack in Western Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— At least four pups were born this year to Oregon’s Indigo wolf pack, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today. The agency also announced that it recently radio-collared one of the pups, which is nearly six months old.
Read more.Trump Administration OKs Nighttime Airgun Blasts That Threaten Endangered Cook Inlet Beluga Whales
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Trump administration published a new permit today that aims to allow Hilcorp Alaska to conduct seismic airgun blasting in Cook Inlet at night. But that nighttime blasting violates a federal rule requiring “good visibility” to the “naked eye” to help ensure marine mammals aren’t in the blast zone.
Read more.Trump Denies Protection to Ancient Alaskan Cedar Trees Threatened by Climate Crisis, Logging
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied endangered species protection today to the Alaska yellow cedar, which is threatened by the climate crisis and expanded logging in the Tongass National Forest.
Read more.Trump Bucks Protests, Opens 725,500 Acres of California’s Central Coast to Oil Drilling
MARINA, Calif.— The Trump administration today dismissed protests and made a formal decision to open 725,500 acres of public lands and mineral estate across California’s Central Coast and the Bay Area to new oil and gas drilling and fracking.
Read more.Federal Studies: Oil Waste Fluid Contaminated California Groundwater
MCKITTRICK, Calif.— Oil industry waste fluids containing benzene and other toxic chemicals have migrated into California’s groundwater through multiple pathways at sites in Kern County, west of Bakersfield, federal experts have discovered.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Include Climate Change in Glen Canyon Operations Plan
PRESCOTT, Ariz.— Three environmental groups launched a legal battle this week to force the required examination of climate change science in the federal management of Glen Canyon Dam and the Colorado River.
Read more.Trump’s Forest Service Blasted for Plans to Weaken Protections for Imperiled Greater Sage Grouse
HAILEY, Idaho― Conservation groups submitted formal objections Tuesday to U.S. Forest Service plans that would further weaken greater sage-grouse protections despite plummeting grouse populations in the West.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Saves Tiny Puerto Rican Gecko
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Puerto Rico’s Monito gecko has recovered and is being removed from the list of endangered species.
Read more.Washington Governor Directs Wildlife Agency to Rein in Wolf Killing
SEATTLE— Washington Gov. Jay Inslee directed the state’s fish and wildlife agency on Monday to dramatically rein in its wolf killing.
Read more.Colorado Slaughterhouse Warned of Lawsuit After Clean Air Act Violations
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity and Food & Water Watch today sent a formal notice of their intent to sue JBS USA and the JBS-Swift Beef Company for Clean Air Act violations at its Greeley Beef Plant.
Read more.Southern Mountain Caribou Protected as Endangered Species in Major Wildlife Victory
SANDPOINT, Idaho— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finalized protection of a population of woodland caribou that, until 2019, straddled the border between British Columbia and Idaho, Washington and Montana. After the last caribou in the lower 48 states were removed in January, these caribou remain only in British Columbia.
Read more.California Court Upholds Challenge to Controversial Walt Ranch Vineyard
NAPA, Calif.— A California appeals court ruled yesterday that Napa County violated state law in approving the large Walt Ranch vineyard development in the mountains east of the city of Napa. The decision sends the project, which would destroy more than 300 acres of riparian, oak and native grassland habitat and convert it into vineyards, back to the trial court.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Dunes Sagebrush Lizard in New Mexico, Texas
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit in federal district court today challenging the Trump administration’s continued failure to protect severely imperiled dunes sagebrush lizards under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed Over Trump’s Move to Block California’s Clean Car Standards
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity joined eight other groups today in suing the Trump administration over its attempt to prevent California and other states from setting more protective vehicle pollution standards.
Read more.Legal Victory Puts Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Back on Track for Endangered Species Protection
DENVER, Colo.— A federal judge has found that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s denial of Endangered Species Act protection for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout was arbitrary and unlawful. The finding, filed late Thursday, came in response to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Marin County’s Inadequate Protections for Endangered Coho Salmon
SAN RAFAEL, Calif.— Two conservation organizations have sued Northern California’s Marin County for failing to adequately protect coho salmon and their habitat in the San Geronimo Valley.
Read more.New Dam Proposal Would Flood Little Colorado River Gorge Near Grand Canyon
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.—The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has accepted a preliminary permit application for a 24-story dam spanning the Little Colorado River gorge on the Navajo Nation. The proposed project is located about 6 river miles upstream from the confluence with the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park.
Read more.Climate Strike Highlights Opposition to Restarting ExxonMobil Offshore Oil Platforms Off Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— California Central Coast residents will march and call for climate action Friday as part of the global Climate Strike Week of Action. The Center for Biological Diversity, one of more than 30 participating organizations, will use the occasion to highlight opposition to ExxonMobil’s proposal to restart its dormant offshore drilling platforms off Santa Barbara County.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Approval of Bee-killing Pesticide, GE Crop Uses on National Wildlife Refuges
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Food Safety sued the Trump administration today for approving the use of bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides and pesticide-intensive genetically engineered crops on national wildlife refuges.
Read more.Federal Appeals Court to Hear Argument on Colorado Coal Mine Expansion
DENVER— The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments Thursday from conservation groups seeking to protect approximately 4,900 acres of the Gunnison National Forest in Colorado from coal mine development.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Trump Administration Failure to Protect Colorado Greenback Cutthroat Trout
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a formal notice of its intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service for failing to protect Colorado’s state fish, the rare and threatened greenback cutthroat trout. The agency’s failure to protect the fish could hasten its extinction, a violation of the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Senate Confirms Former Koch Crony as Interior Department’s Top Lawyer
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate today confirmed Daniel Jorjani as solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior, despite his deep-rooted conflicts of interest and strong ties to the oil and gas industry and the Koch brothers. The final Senate vote, largely along party lines, was 51-43.
Read more.House Republicans Revive Plan to Cripple Endangered Species Act Amid Extinction Crisis
WASHINGTON— House Republicans from the so-called “Western Caucus” today revived a package of bills from the previous Congress that would do more damage to the Endangered Species Act and condemn hundreds of animals and plants to extinction.
Read more.Senate Republicans OK More Funding for Trump’s Destructive Border Wall
WASHINGTON— Senate Republicans want to spend $5 billion next year for more border-wall construction. Their 2020 spending bill would fund more than 100 additional miles of border wall without any meaningful review of potential harm to wildlife, the environment or borderland communities.
Read more.Endangered Species Protections Sought for Oregon Coast Spring Chinook
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Native Fish Society, Center for Biological Diversity and Umpqua Watersheds today filed a petition to protect Oregon coast spring-run chinook salmon under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Federal Court to Decide If Endangered Jaguars Get 59,114 Acres of Protected New Mexico Habitat
DENVER— The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments Wednesday, Sept. 25 in a livestock industry challenge to the protection of 59,114 acres of critical habitat for endangered jaguars in New Mexico.
Read more.Court Rejects Trump Administration Efforts to Shield Unlawful Trophy-hunting Council
NEW YORK— A federal district court in New York this morning rejected the Trump administration’s efforts to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the Department of the Interior’s International Wildlife Conservation Council, an advisory body composed primarily of trophy-hunting profiteers and firearm manufacturers.
Read more.House Hearing to Focus on Bill to Save Rare Butterflies, Fish, Plants, Mollusks
WASHINGTON— The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife will hold a legislative hearing Tuesday to review the Extinction Prevention Act of 2019, introduced by Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.). Lawmakers will also examine a separate bill that would overturn new Trump administration rules that cripple the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Refusal to Protect Florida Lizard
MIAMI— The Center for Biological Diversity sued Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for denying protection to the Florida Keys mole skink under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.NYC Youth, Global Frontline Leaders Disrupt Oil, Gas Climate Initiative Greenwash Soirée
NEW YORK CITY— Two days after hundreds of thousands marched through New York demanding action to confront the climate crisis, youth activists disrupted a greenwashing event attended by several oil major CEOs. They then joined global frontline movement leaders to denounce these polluting corporations’ abuses and demand real, people-first solutions to address the climate crisis and ensure polluters pay for the damage they have knowingly caused.
Read more.Analysis: Seven of America's 10 Biggest Supermarkets Haven’t Committed to Zero Food Waste
OAKLAND, Calif.— Seven of the 10 largest grocery chains in the United States still have not taken the first step toward eliminating food waste by 2025, according to analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Strikes for Climate Action
TUCSON, Ariz.— More than 600 Climate Strike events are taking place today across the country. The event is the latest manifestation of the global youth climate strike movement, inspired by Greta Thunberg’s #FridaysforFuture, and is led by youth organizers. The Center for Biological Diversity is supporting and participating in strikes across the country, from Honolulu and Portland, Ore. to New York City, Tucson, Ariz. and beyond.
Read more.Legal Pressure Prompts Trump’s EPA to Ensure Plans Are Made to Reduce Coal-driven Pollution in Baltimore, Eastern Michigan
BALTIMORE— In response to legal action by conservation and public-health groups, the Environmental Protection Agency announced today it will ensure plans are in place to clean up harmful sulfur dioxide pollution in Baltimore, Maryland, and St. Clair, Michigan.
Read more.House Democrats Advance Bill Protecting Lions, Elephants From Trophy Hunting
WASHINGTON— The House Natural Resources Committee advanced several bills today that would increase protection for imperiled wildlife, including legislation that would restrict imports of hunting trophies from dead African lions and elephants.
Read more.Federal Rule Protects Endangered Orcas’ West Coast Habitat
SEATTLE— The federal government proposed a new rule today expanding critical habitat protection along the West Coast for critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales, whose population has dipped to just 73 orcas.
Read more.Congressional Democrats Introduce Bill to Overturn Trump’s Disastrous Endangered Species Act Rollback
WASHINGTON— Congressional Democrats today introduced legislation to repeal regulations finalized by the Trump administration in August that would cripple implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Students, Chapel Hill-Carrboro from UNC’s Coal Plant Pollution
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for violations of the Clean Air Act.
Read more.Agreement Reached to Protect Community, Wildlife From Southern California Warehouse Project
FONTANA, Calif.— Conservation groups and UST-CB Partners, a development company, reached an agreement today over a controversial warehouse project in the Southern California city of Fontana that threatened local communities and wildlife habitat.
Read more.Oregon Bans Trapping of Humboldt Martens
PORTLAND, Ore.— In response to a petition from conservation groups, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 4-3 late Friday to protect Humboldt martens from trapping. Fewer than 200 of the martens survive in the state’s coastal forests.
Read more.Lesser Prairie Chickens One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protection
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups scored a victory today with a legal agreement ensuring the lesser prairie chicken will get a decision about protection under the Endangered Species Act by May 26, 2021.
Read more.Oregon Fish Is Saved by Endangered Species Act
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Oregon’s Foskett speckled dace has recovered and is being removed from endangered status.
Read more.Climate Lawsuit Targets 130 Oil Leases on Public Lands in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today for failing to consider the climate pollution from 130 oil and gas leases spanning 175,500 acres of public lands in Utah.
Read more.Report: U.S. Airlines’ Carbon Emissions Grew Twice as Fast as Fuel Efficiency Gains
WASHINGTON— Domestic aviation fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions increased by 7 percent from 2016 to 2018, according to a report released today by the International Council on Clean Transportation. Fuel efficiency increased by only 3 percent during the same period.
Read more.Trump Administration Rolls Back Protections for Millions of Acres of Wetlands, Waterways
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule today rolling back protections for millions of acres of wetlands, vernal pools and other waterways. The rule opens the door for more pollution and toxic waste dumping in rivers, streams and wetlands across the country without any study of the effects on endangered wildlife.
Read more.Trump Administration Grants First Trophy Import Permit for Tanzanian Lion
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration has authorized a U.S. hunter to import a lion trophy from Tanzania — the first allowed from that country since lions were given protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in January 2016. A Florida man received permission to import the lion’s skin, skull, claws and teeth, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service records belatedly released under the Freedom of Information Act.
Read more.Western, Central Gulf of Mexico Excluded From House Bills Banning Offshore Leasing
WASHINGTON— The U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills today to limit offshore leasing in federal waters. But both bills ignore the western and central Gulf of Mexico, where most federal offshore oil and gas production currently occurs, and Alaska. Both bills now move on to the U.S. Senate.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Minnesota’s PolyMet Copper-Sulfide Mine Permit
ST. PAUL, Minn.―Conservation groups sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today to challenge a key water permit authorizing the PolyMet open-pit copper-sulfide mine to move forward. The mine would destroy 1,000 acres of wetlands and more than 1,700 acres of critical wildlife habitat in northern Minnesota's Superior National Forest.
Read more.Legal Challenge to Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Expanded
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Conservation groups today expanded their federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s illegal approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.
Read more.Formosa Plastics’ Proposed Louisiana Plant Gets Permit to Destroy Wetlands
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a Clean Water Act permit for Formosa Plastics’ massive proposed plastic plant in St. James Parish, La. This federal permit authorizes the company to dredge and fill sensitive wetlands along the Mississippi River.
Read more.Thursday Rally in Raleigh to Urge Public Hearing on UNC’s Push to Renew Permit for Dirty Coal Plant
RALEIGH, N.C.— Conservation and climate justice groups will rally on Thursday in Raleigh to demand greater public input into the University of North Carolina’s request to continue operating its coal-burning power plant indefinitely.
Read more.Trump’s EPA Proposes to Keep Ignoring Harmful, Increased Toxicities of Pesticide Combinations
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued proposed guidelines today to allow the agency to continue ignoring the heightened toxic effects on plants, bees and other wildlife when pesticides are mixed.
Read more.North Carolina Governor Urged to End Duke Monopoly, Transform Energy System
RALEIGH, N.C.— In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, the Energy Justice NC Coalition today called on North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to end Duke Energy’s monopoly and transform the state’s electricity system to 100 percent renewable energy as soon as possible.
Read more.Amah Mutsun Tribal Band Will Lead ‘Walk for Juristac’ Sunday to Protect Sacred Lands in Santa Clara County
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, Calif.— The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band will be stepping forward in a public journey of healing and restoration on Sunday. One of the greatest challenges before the tribe is the protection of their sacred grounds at Juristac (Sargent Ranch). The site is currently threatened by Sargent Quarry, a proposed 320-acre sand-and-gravel mining operation.
Read more.Nevada’s Highly Imperiled Mojave Poppy Bee Takes Step Toward Endangered Species Act Protection
LAS VEGAS— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it will consider Endangered Species Act protection for the Mojave poppy bee.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration's Refusal to Release Public Documents on Expanded Use of Antibiotics As Pesticides
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for refusing to release public documents related to its approval of expanded use of antibiotics as agricultural pesticides.
Read more.Arizona’s Mount Graham Red Squirrel Moves Toward Expanded Habitat Protection
TUCSON, Ariz.— In response to a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today agreed that designating additional critical habitat for the Mount Graham red squirrel may be warranted.
Read more.ORVs Drive Spike in Protected Shorebird Deaths at California’s Oceano Dunes
OCEANO, Calif.— Western snowy plover deaths have risen dramatically at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, according to reports from environmental monitors working for California State Parks.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Hilcorp’s Plan to Blast Cook Inlet Beluga Whales
ANCHORAGE— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s approval of rules allowing Hilcorp Alaska LLC to harm Cook Inlet beluga whales and other marine mammals as it expands its offshore oil and gas operations in Cook Inlet.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Failure to Protect Endangered Appalachian Species From Coal Mining
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and allies sued the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect endangered species from coal mining in Appalachia in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.West Coast Whale Entanglements Drop After Legal Settlement with California, Crab Fishery
SANTA ROSA, Calif.— The number of whales entangled in fishing gear along the West Coast dropped this year following a legal settlement that ended California’s commercial Dungeness crab season early.
Read more.Trump Proposes Killing Methane Pollution Rule
WASHINGTON— Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency proposed today to eliminate direct limits on methane pollution from new and modified oil and gas infrastructure.
Read more.Feds Told to Start Over on Crucial Mountain Valley Pipeline Permit
WASHINGTON— The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today requested that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reinitiate consultation and reconsider its Endangered Species Act permit for the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Read more.Trump Urged to Block Return of Super-polluting Supersonic Planes
WASHINGTON— Twenty-eight public-interest groups called on Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration Tuesday to stop the comeback of highly polluting luxury supersonic planes, which are projected to burn five to seven times more fuel per passenger than typical airliners.
Read more.In Rare Good News for World’s Wildlife, Treaty Meeting Is Huge Success
GENEVA— As the 18th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) wraps up in Geneva today, nations confirmed new protections for dozens of endangered wildlife species. The CITES treaty regulates the trade in imperiled animals and plants — the second biggest threat to species’ survival after habitat loss.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Trump Wildlife-killing Program in 10 California Counties
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity, Animal Legal Defense Fund and Project Coyote today sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program over its outdated wildlife-killing plan for 10 counties in Northern California.
Read more.Conservation Groups Blast Draft Forest Service Rule to Gut Bedrock Environmental Law
WASHINGTON― Conservation and public-interest groups today submitted formal opposition to a proposed Trump administration rule that would fundamentally change long-held environmental practices and allow for the sweeping destruction of national forests across the country.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Habitat for 23 Imperiled Micronesian Species
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to protect critical habitat for 23 endangered species in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Territory of Guam, the Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Read more.Beautiful Ornamental Tarantulas Win Global Protections From Pet Trade
Geneva, Switzerland— More than a dozen kinds of tarantulas native to Sri Lanka and India will get stronger trade protections under an international treaty, with member countries voting to address over-collection in the wild and skyrocketing demand in the pet industry. The United States imports thousands of these tarantulas every year.
Read more.Teatfish Sea Cucumbers Get Much-needed Global Trade Protections
GENEVA— Nations around the world have voted to adopt critical trade protections for three types of sea cucumbers to curb overfishing and the animals’ steep population declines. The decision was reached during this week’s meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a multilateral treaty that protects imperiled plants and wildlife affected by trade.
Read more.Trump’s Fish and Wildlife Service Has Issued Mexican Wolf ‘Kill Order’
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups condemned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for the agency’s blanket authorization — which it is not making public, but which conservationists have uncovered — to trap or kill an imperiled Mexican wolf in Arizona for the sake of protecting livestock.
Read more.World Governments Agree to Trade Protections for Giraffes
GENEVA, Switzerland— Parties to an international wildlife treaty today agreed to regulate trade in giraffes, throwing the imperiled animals a lifeline as their populations plummet. A coalition of African nations proposed the protections, which require permits and tracking of exports in live and dead giraffes and their parts.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Habitat for 12 Endangered Coral Species
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect 12 coral species around Florida and islands in the Pacific Ocean. The corals all received Endangered Species Act protection in 2014, but they did not receive the critical habitat protection the law requires.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Attack on Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON— Environmental and animal protection groups today sued the Trump administration over its new regulations that dramatically weaken the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Flooding, Pollution Threat Prompts Call for Uranium Mine Closure Near Grand Canyon
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— Conservation groups called on Arizona officials today to close a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim, citing severe and ongoing flooding that threatens to pollute deep aquifers that feed the canyon’s springs. Original mine approvals dismissed flooding as a “remote” possibility.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump EPA’s 200 Million-acre Expansion of Bee-killing Pesticide
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Food Safety sued the Trump administration today over its July decision to approve use of the bee-killing pesticide sulfoxaflor across more than 200 million acres of crops.
Read more.Trump Administration Sued for Failing to Protect Endangered West Coast Orcas
SEATTLE— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today for ignoring a legal petition to protect critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales in the heart of their Salish Sea habitat.
Read more.Seward Endangered Species Mural to Be Celebrated Aug. 21
SEWARD, Alaska— A new endangered species mural outside Seward’s Temple Studios will be celebrated on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The Center for Biological Diversity, Blackwater Railroad Company, Puffin Foundation and Mermaid Festival are hosting the event.
Read more.Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Las Vegas Bearpoppy
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition today asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to give Endangered Species Act protection to the Las Vegas bearpoppy, a desert flower that has disappeared across much of the Mojave Desert.
Read more.Farmers, Conservationists Challenge Approval of Monsanto’s Crop-damaging Dicamba Pesticide
WASHINGTON— Four public-interest organizations representing farmers and conservationists have made their legal case in a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Monsanto. The opening brief, filed late Tuesday, challenges the approval of a pesticide that was designed to be sprayed on soybeans and cotton crops genetically engineered by Monsanto to tolerate being sprayed with dicamba.
Read more.Trump Administration Denies Protection to Six More Imperiled Species
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied endangered species protection today to six species from around the country, including an imperiled bee and the Siskiyou Mountains salamander. The agency was responding to petitions from the Center for Biological Diversity and other groups.
Read more.Trump Administration to Strip Florida Key Deer of Federal Protection
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— President Donald Trump’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to strip Endangered Species Act protection from Florida Key deer despite severe and increasing threats from sea-level rise, disease, hurricanes and urban sprawl. A letter from the agency revealed that it intends to delist the Key deer.
Read more.Iconic Sturgeon of Great Lakes, Mississippi River Take Step Toward Endangered Species Protection
CHICAGO— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it will consider Endangered Species Act protection for lake sturgeon. Today’s positive finding responds to a 2018 Center for Biological Diversity petition seeking safeguards for the big fish.
Read more.CITES’ Last Chance to Save Vaquita Porpoise
LONDON― As governments from around the world prepare to meet in Geneva for the 18th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a new report urges the imposition of trade suspensions against Mexico for its failure to protect the critically endangered vaquita from illegal fishing and trade in the totoaba, a large fish found in Mexico’s Gulf of California.
Read more.Lawsuit Takes on Trump’s Dirty Power Plan
WASHINGTON— Ten environmental groups sued Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency today to overturn the administration’s Dirty Power Plan and reinstate the Obama-era Clean Power Plan.
Read more.Trump Visit to Plastic Plant Ignores Pollution Crisis, Outdated Federal Rules
MONACA, Pa.― President Donald Trump’s visit today to a massive plastics plant being built in Pennsylvania by Royal Dutch Shell ignores the plastic pollution and toxic chemicals such plants are allowed to release under decades-old federal regulations. Local groups protested today’s visit and the petrochemical industry’s plan to increase U.S. plastic production using the oversupply of fracked natural gas.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump EPA’s Failure to Protect California’s Ventura County From Deadly Smog
VENTURA, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health filed a lawsuit today against the Trump administration for failing to finalize plans to curtail dangerous smog in Ventura County, Calif.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Green Sea Turtle Habitat Threatened by Sea-level Rise, Plastic Pollution, Warming
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Sea Turtle Oversight Protection and Turtle Island Restoration Network filed a notice today of their intent to sue the federal government for failing to protect green sea turtle habitat, which faces threats from sea-level rise, plastic pollution and warming.
Read more.New Lawsuit Launched Against Mountain Valley Pipeline in Virginia
RICHMOND, Va.— Conservation groups launched a lawsuit today challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s approval of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The petition for review of the project was filed with the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond.
Read more.Trump Finalizes Disastrous Weakening of Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON— In a massive attack on imperiled wildlife, the Trump administration today finalized rollbacks to regulations implementing key provisions of the Endangered Species Act. The changes, which could lead to extinction for hundreds of animals and plants, are illegal and will be challenged in court.
Read more.Court OKs Ban on Wildlife Cyanide Poisoning Across 10 Million Acres of Wyoming
CHEYENNE, Wyo.— A federal wildlife-killing program will be banned from using deadly M-44s — spring-loaded capsules armed with cyanide spray — across more than 10 million acres of public land in Wyoming. The ban is as part of an agreement resulting from a lawsuit brought by wildlife advocacy groups.
Read more.Park Service Floats Plan to Shoot Native Elk at Point Reyes National Seashore
POINT REYES, Calif.— The National Park Service released a draft plan today that calls for shooting native elk to allow for expanded cattle ranching and commercial agriculture at Point Reyes National Seashore. The plan would allow the killing of tule elk, damage to wildlife habitat, harm of endangered species, degradation of water quality and create new conflicts with other native wildlife species.
Read more.Legal Action Opposes Federal Approval of Southern California Dam
LAKE ELSINORE, Calif.— Conservation groups today filed a motion with federal energy regulators to intervene in opposition to a controversial plan to build a new dam in Southern California’s Santa Ana Mountains. The project, located on the border of Orange and Riverside counties, would include a reservoir and hydropower project that will cut through roadless areas, inundate forests and threaten endangered species.
Read more.California’s Tulare County Agrees to Curb Air Pollution From Industrial Dairies
VISALIA, Calif.— Conservation groups announced today they have reached an agreement with Tulare County that will reduce greenhouse gas pollution from industrial dairies. The county is the nation’s biggest milk producer.
Read more.Trump Administration Reauthorizes Wildlife-killing M-44 ‘Cyanide Bombs’ Despite Strong Opposition
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration has reauthorized use of sodium cyanide in wildlife-killing devices called M-44s. These “cyanide bombs” received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency despite inhumanely and indiscriminately killing thousands of animals every year. They have also injured people.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges New Trump Administration Land Swap to Bulldoze Alaska’s Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today to challenge a land-swap deal with King Cove Corporation aimed at putting a road through the heart of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Huge Offshore Drilling Sale in Gulf of Mexico
WASHINGTON― Environmental groups sued the Trump administration today to challenge its fourth oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. The sale offers more than 78 million acres to offshore drilling without fully analyzing the risks to people, wildlife or the environment.
Read more.Court: Oregon Illegally Denied Marbled Murrelet Endangered Species Protections
EUGENE, Ore.— An Oregon judge has issued a decision concluding the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission violated state law in denying a petition filed by five conservation groups demanding the commission uplist the murrelet from threatened to endangered under the Oregon Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Injunction Sought to Halt Trump’s Wall in Arizona
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups today asked a federal court to block construction of President Donald Trump’s border wall through protected wilderness in Arizona until a judge rules on a pending lawsuit.
Read more.Washington Timberlands Bear Hunting Program’s Fate to Be Decided at Friday Hearing
OLYMPIA, Wash.— The cruel use of hounds and bait to hunt black bears on Washington timberlands could halt Friday at a hearing on the Center for Biological Diversity’s legal challenge to those hunting methods. The hearing will be held at Thurston County Superior Court.
Read more.Trump Administration Ends Long-standing Safeguards Protecting Kids from Dangerous Class of Pesticides
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it will end long-running safeguards meant to protect children from harmful pesticide ingredients used in bug sprays, pet shampoos and on fruits and vegetables.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Failure to Protect Atlantic Sharks, Giant Manta Rays From Lethal Fishing Gear
WASHINGTON— On behalf of Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect oceanic whitetip sharks and giant manta rays from being captured and killed in U.S. fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
Read more.Federal Judge Halts Construction of Rosemont Mine in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal judge today overturned the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of a controversial open-pit copper mine in southern Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains, citing the agency’s “inherently flawed analysis from the inception of the proposed Rosemont Mine.” The ruling blocks Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals from beginning construction on the proposed $1.9 billion mine in the Coronado National Forest, 30 miles southeast of Tucson.
Read more.Lawsuit: Trump Is Failing to Protect Emperor Penguins From Climate Crisis
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to act on a petition to protect emperor penguins under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Appeal Challenges Trump Administration’s Approval of Nevada Oil Well
RENO, Nev.— Conservation groups today challenged a recently approved oil well in central Nevada, saying the Trump administration’s Bureau of Land Management skirted federal law by failing to conduct a thorough environmental analysis. This is the agency’s first approval of a new oil well in Nevada in almost two years.
Read more.Trump Administration Permits Hilcorp Alaska to Harm Marine Mammals in Cook Inlet
ANCHORAGE— The Trump administration issued final rules today allowing Hilcorp Alaska to harm beluga whales, sea otters and other marine mammals as the company expands its offshore drilling activities in Alaska’s Cook Inlet.
Read more.Legal Action Forces Trump Administration to Curb Killing of California Beavers
SACRAMENTO— The federal wildlife-killing program known as Wildlife Services has agreed to stop shooting and trapping California beavers on more than 11,000 miles of river and 4 million acres of land where the killing could hurt endangered wildlife.
Read more.Protest Challenges Trump’s Fossil-fuel Expansion Plan Threatening Southwestern Colorado
DENVER― Conservation groups protested a Trump administration plan today that would expand federal fossil-fuel development in southwestern Colorado, threatening climate, wildlife and recreation. The Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan would allow increased fracking, which will threaten organic agriculture and endangered species and undermine the state’s new climate law.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Trump Administration’s Approval of Oil-waste Dumping in California’s Arroyo Grande Aquifer
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for ignoring threats to endangered wildlife in its recent approval of an aquifer exemption in the area around the Arroyo Grande oilfield.
Read more.San Diego Lawsuits Challenge Sprawl Development in High-risk Fire Zone
SAN DIEGO— Conservation organizations sued San Diego County today for approving Otay Ranch Village 14, a sprawl development that will pave over hundreds of acres of habitat for golden eagles and other imperiled wildlife and build new homes in one of California’s most dangerously fire-prone areas.
Read more.Threatened Snakes to Get Protected Habitat in Arizona, New Mexico
TUCSON, Ariz.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today agreed to designate protected critical habitat for the narrow-headed and northern Mexican garter snakes, marking a legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Political Meddling in EPA Public Records Changes
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and the Environmental Integrity Project sued the Trump administration today over sweeping changes to how the Environmental Protection Agency handles public-records requests under the Freedom of Information Act. The EPA’s new rule will take effect Friday.
Read more.Senate Advances Bill That Would Gut Environmental Review of Oil Pipelines, Other Large Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON― A Senate committee today approved a bill that would side-step environmental review to fast-track large infrastructure projects, including oil pipelines and natural gas export terminals.
Read more.Legal Petition Seeks Ban on Plastic Pollution From Petrochemical Plants
WASHINGTON― More than 270 community and conservation organizations filed a legal petition today that demands the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopt strict new water-pollution limits for industrial plants that create plastic.
Read more.Trump Administration Agrees to Revisit Ocean Salmon Fishing Impact on Endangered West Coast Orcas
SEATTLE― A lawsuit challenging West Coast salmon fishing’s impact on critically endangered orcas was put on hold today after the Trump administration agreed to update its analysis. A federal judge approved the settlement and stayed the case until May 1, 2020, or sooner if the National Marine Fisheries Service completes the new biological opinion that will include mitigation measures.
Read more.Lawsuit Forces Trump Administration to Consider Oil Drilling’s Harm to Endangered Wildlife in Gulf of Mexico
TAMPA, Fla.— Prompted by a lawsuit filed by three conservation groups, the Trump administration has finally agreed to complete a legally required consultation about the harm offshore oil drilling does to whales and other threatened and endangered wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Imperiled Dunes Sagebrush Lizard in Texas, New Mexico
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups filed a notice today of their intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to protect the severely imperiled dunes sagebrush lizard under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Congresswoman Velázquez Introduces Bill to Ban Pesticide Linked to Parkinson’s
WASHINGTON— U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) has introduced legislation to ban paraquat, an extremely toxic herbicide that has been shown to more than double the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in farmworkers and others suffering occupational exposure.
Read more.Wyoming Game Commission Urged to Adopt Bear Spray Requirement
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo.— The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will meet on July 18 and 19 to decide whether to require hunters to carry bear spray in grizzly bear habitat, in response to a petition from conservation groups. The commission will also consider how to control the spread of chronic wasting disease and whether to adopt regulations for wolf hunting.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Force Forest Service to Protect Endangered Species, Remove Livestock From Arizona, New Mexico Waterways
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service for allowing livestock to trample southwestern rivers and streams, which destroys wildlife habitat and threatens rare species. The grazing violates the Endangered Species Act and an earlier legal settlement.
Read more.Court Partially Blocks Summer Grazing on Sensitive Oregon Public Lands
PORTLAND, Ore.― Conservation groups today won a partial preliminary injunction blocking summer grazing by Hammond Ranches on one of two public lands allotments with sensitive ecological values. A federal judge ordered reduced grazing with monthly monitoring on the other allotment.
Read more.Appeal Upheld in Challenge to Oil Drilling in California's Carrizo Plain National Monument
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.― The California Bureau of Land Management has agreed with conservation groups that plans for a new oil well and pipeline in Carrizo Plain National Monument failed to comply with federal environmental laws. The July 12 decision, announced today, said the local BLM office must consider potential harm to California condors, other imperiled wildlife and the climate.
Read more.Petition Seeks to Remove Snail Darter From Endangered Species List, Marking Conservation Success
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity, former federal biologist Jim Williams and law professor Zygmunt Plater petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to lift Endangered Species Act protection from snail darters.
Read more.Endangered Species Mural to Be Celebrated July 19 in New Mexico
SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Mimbres Regional Arts Council’s Youth Mural Program and Western New Mexico University will unveil a new endangered species mural on Friday, July 19.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Fracking Leases Threatening Northern Arizona Groundwater
PHOENIX— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today for leasing 4,200 acres of public lands for oil and gas extraction in Arizona’s Little Colorado River basin without any new environmental review.
Read more.1.8 Million People Oppose Trump Effort to End Gray Wolf Protection
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has received a record-breaking 1.8 million digital comments opposing the Trump administration’s proposal to remove Endangered Species Act protection from gray wolves across most of the lower 48 states. The proposal’s official comment period ends today.
Read more.Study: Politics Harming Recovery of Endangered Mexican Wolves
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— A new study released today finds that politics played a large role in the goals set in the 2017 Mexican wolf recovery plan, threatening to severely undermine Mexican wolf recovery.
Read more.Demonstrators Rally for Imperiled Porpoises at Mexican Embassy in Washington D.C.
WASHINGTON— Conservation and animal-protection organizations rallied today outside the Mexican embassy to call on the Mexican government to take drastic action to save the few remaining vaquita porpoises left on the planet. According to scientific experts, between six and 22 of these marine mammals remain, with 10 being the most credible estimate of the population.
Read more.Six Pups Born to White River Wolves This Year in Western Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore.— Six pups were born this year to Oregon’s White River wolf pack, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday. A video of the two-to-three-month-old wolf pups howling back and forth with their parents was captured on a trail camera by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, whose reservation is within the pack’s home territory.
Read more.Scientists: Giraffes in Kenya, Tanzania ‘Endangered’
WASHINGTON— Highlighting the need for global action to fight giraffes’ silent extinction, a body of scientific experts today declared giraffes in Kenya and Tanzania — called Masai giraffes — endangered.
Read more.One Millionth Endangered Species Condom to Be Given Away on World Population Day
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will distribute its one millionth free Endangered Species Condom today for World Population Day. The giveaway of 10,000 condoms in total also marks the 10-year anniversary of the launch of the campaign, which seeks to make the connection between unsustainable human population growth and the wildlife extinction crisis by highlighting the need for universal access to reproductive healthcare and education.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Protect Dwindling Numbers of Mountain Caribou
SANDPOINT, Idaho— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s failure to finalize endangered species protection and designate critical habitat for Southern Mountain caribou.
Read more.Washington Wildlife Agency Issues Another Kill Order for Endangered Wolves
SEATTLE— The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife today issued a kill order for endangered wolves from the Old Profanity Territory pack in northeast Washington.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s OK of California Logging That Will Destroy Big Trees, Condor Roosting Sites
LOS ANGELES― Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today to halt a logging project in a roadless area of Los Padres National Forest that would destroy prime habitat for endangered California condors. Because of the project’s remote location, it also would fail to protect communities from wildfires as federal officials have claimed.
Read more.Congressional Resolution Declares Climate Emergency
WASHINGTON— Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) unveiled a concurrent resolution today to declare the climate crisis an emergency warranting a “massive-scale mobilization to halt, reverse and address” its consequences.
Read more.Trump EPA Warned That New Rule Curbing Public Access to Environmental Records Is Dangerous, Unlawful
WASHINGTON— A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule gives Trump administration appointees dangerous and unlawful new power to curb the public release of crucial environmental records, nonprofit conservation and transparency organizations warned today.
Read more.Study Identifies 20 Overlooked Benefits of Distributed Solar Energy
DAVIS, Calif.— A study released today provides the most complete list yet of the advantages of solar energy — from carbon sequestration to improvements for pollinator habitat — and offers an important new framework for analyzing solar projects to better understand the full suite of benefits.
Read more.Louisiana to Hold Hearing on Massive Formosa Plastics Toxic Chemical Complex
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.— Louisiana will hold a public hearing on issuing 15 air permits for Taiwanese company Formosa Plastics. The massive proposed complex would be one of the largest and most toxic plastic production facilities in the world.
Read more.Sen. Stern, Assemblymember Bloom to Hold 9 a.m. Tuesday Press Conference on Key Legislation to Protect California Wildlife From Highly Toxic Rat Poisons
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California Sen. Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park) and Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. Tuesday to discuss AB 1788, their co-authored legislation to protect wildlife from rat poisons.
Read more.Legal Action Taken to Save Critical Habitat of Endangered New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mice
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Two conservation groups filed a motion on Wednesday to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s designation of critical habitat for the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. The species is severely threatened by habitat destruction, and only a few isolated populations remain.
Read more.Court Upholds Protections for Rare California Gnatcatcher
LOS ANGELES– A federal court today dismissed a lawsuit seeking to remove the imperiled coastal California gnatcatcher from the Endangered Species Act list, ensuring the bird is protected.
Read more.Comité del Patrimonio Mundial de UNESCO Designa Hábitat de la Vaquita Como “En Peligro”
BAKÚ, Azerbaiyán— El Comité del Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO aprobó hoy una designación de “en peligro” para una región de México que es el último hábitat de la vaquita marina en peligro de extinción y de un pez llamado totoaba. Un equipo internacional de expertos científicos recientemente concluyó que únicamente quedaban alrededor de 10 vaquitas vivas en 2018.
Read more.World Heritage Committee Designates Vaquita Porpoise Habitat as ‘In Danger’
BAKU, Azerbaijan— The UNESCO World Heritage Committee today approved an “in danger” designation for an area of Mexico that is the last remaining home of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise and an endangered fish called the totoaba. An international team of scientific experts recently concluded that only about 10 vaquitas remained alive in 2018.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Court Order to Stop Colorado Coal Mine Expansion Threatening Climate, National Forest
DENVER— Five conservation groups sued the Trump administration late Tuesday and called on a federal judge to block approval of Arch Coal’s West Elk mine expansion, which would invade the wildlands of western Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest.
Read more.Public-interest Groups Launch Legal Action to Protect Waterways From Slaughterhouse Pollution
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to update slaughterhouse wastewater guidelines as required by the Clean Water Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Decision to Exempt Factory Farms From Reporting Hazardous Air Pollution
WASHINGTON— Community and conservation groups sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today for overstepping its authority in exempting factory farms from pollution-reporting requirements essential to public safety, environmental health and animal welfare.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Overdue Protection for Rare Salamander in California, Oregon
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to respond to a 2018 petition requesting Endangered Species Act protection for the imperiled Siskiyou Mountains salamander.
Read more.New Legal Challenges Launched to Keystone XL Pipeline Approval
GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Conservation groups filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ illegal approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline to be constructed through hundreds of rivers, streams and wetlands without evaluating the project’s impacts as required by the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act.
Read more.Federal Court Orders Environmental Impact Study for California’s Richardson Grove Highway Project
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— A federal court judge ruled Thursday that Caltrans must do a detailed environmental impact statement on the controversial Richardson Grove highway-widening project. The ruling, in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, follows a May decision that halted the Caltrans project.
Read more.Trump Administration Releases Alaska LNG Project Environmental Study
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration today released a draft environmental impact statement for the Alaska LNG project, which would export American fossil fuel to Asia. The proposal calls for an 807-mile pipeline, a facility to liquefy natural gas, and the shipping of about 20 million tons of the condensed fuel abroad every year.
Read more.Trump Plan for Southwestern Colorado Pushes Fossil Fuel Expansion, Undermines State’s Climate Law
DENVER― The Trump administration released a resource management plan today that would expand federal fossil fuel development across a huge swath of southwestern Colorado, threatening a growing organic agriculture hub and undermining the state’s new climate law. The federal administration’s plans directly contradict Colorado’s new law calling for steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, a 50 percent cut by 2030 and a 90 percent reduction by 2050.
Read more.Federal Court Rules Formosa Plastics Is Liable for Plastic Pollution in Texas
VICTORIA, Texas— A federal judge in Texas on Thursday found Formosa Plastics liable for polluting Texas waterways with billions of plastic pellets from its plant in Point Comfort. The Taiwanese company is currently seeking permits to build an even larger plastic-making plant along the Mississippi River in St. James Parish, La., a project strongly opposed by local residents and national conservation groups.
Read more.California to Evaluate Curbing Oil, Gas Extraction
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday signed into law this year’s California budget, which includes the allocation of $1.5 million toward a study to “identify strategies to decrease demand and supply of fossil fuels.” The provision marks the first step the state has taken toward decreasing the state’s fossil fuel production.
Read more.Ban on Hunting With Lead Ammo to Go Into Effect in California
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— On Monday California will become the first state to ban all lead ammunition for hunting — the culmination of years of efforts to phase out toxic lead ammunition in the environment.
Read more.Lawsuit Filed to Force Trump Administration to Expand, Update Plan for Grizzly Bear Recovery
MISSOULA, Mont.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s failure to update the federal recovery plan for grizzly bears. An updated plan should reflect current science and consider additional areas where grizzlies once lived and can now be reintroduced.
Read more.Petition Seeks Enforcement of Clean Air Act in North Carolina
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency today to enforce Clean Air Act requirements for oversight of the University of North Carolina’s coal-fired power plant.
Read more.Rare California Salamanders Move Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection
REDDING, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Environmental Protection Information Center secured a victory for three species of Shasta salamanders today: A new settlement will speed up the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision on whether the animals warrant Endangered Species Act protection. The agency is now required to make that decision by April 30, 2021.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Critically Endangered Okinawa Woodpecker
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of its intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to protect the Okinawa woodpecker under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Only between 50-249 mature individual Okinawa woodpeckers remain, and many inhabit a U.S. military facility in Japan.
Read more.Dozens Rally in Minnesota Against Trump’s Plan to Strip Protection From Wolves as Scores Expected to Testify at Hearing
MINNEAPOLIS— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today will hold its only public hearing on the Trump administration proposal to end federal protection for nearly all gray wolves in the lower 48 states in Brainerd, Minn.
Read more.EPA Politicizes Public Records Rules, Hands Decisions to Trump Appointees
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a sweeping revision today to the rules governing how it responds to requests for public records under the Freedom of Information Act.
Read more.Trump Administration to Dredge San Francisco Bay to Make Room for More Oil
OAKLAND, Calif.— Public-interest groups filed a joint letter Monday with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers strongly warning against efforts to dredge a deeper channel through San Francisco Bay.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of Arkansas Ag-Gag Law
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— The Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Equality, Center for Biological Diversity and Food Chain Workers Alliance filed a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas challenging the constitutionality of the state’s “ag-gag” law. The law prohibits undercover investigations that expose abuses at factory farms and other businesses throughout the state.
Read more.State Endangered Species Protection Sought for Mountain Lions in Southern California, Central Coast
LOS ANGELES— The Center for Biological Diversity and Mountain Lion Foundation formally petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission today to protect mountain lions under the California Endangered Species Act.
Read more.75 Groups Call for Reforms to Climate-killing Export-Import Bank
WASHINGTON— More than 75 conservation groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, today called on Congress to curb the Export-Import Bank’s funding of dangerous fossil fuel projects. The request follows legislation introduced last week by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) to reauthorize the bank.
Read more.Grizzly Committee to Consider Measures to Protect Bears, Reduce Conflict in Northern Rockies
MISSOULA, Mont.— The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee will consider on Tuesday whether to implement additional measures to reduce conflicts between grizzly bears and people in the northern Rockies, as requested by conservation groups and others.
Read more.Half a Million People Urge Gov. Inslee to Oppose Wolf Slaughter in Washington State
SEATTLE— The Center for Biological Diversity sent a letter to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee today asking that his administration manage wolves according to science and consistent with the wishes of most Washingtonians — instead of making political compromises to satisfy the livestock industry.
Read more.Federal Court Rejects Trump Administration’s Approval of California’s Cadiz Water Pipeline
LOS ANGELES— A federal court today ruled that the Trump administration violated the law when it greenlighted plans to construct a 43-mile-long pipeline through Mojave Trails National Monument and other public land in southern California.
Read more.Trump Administration Guts Climate Change Reviews for Federal Actions
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration issued proposed guidance today restricting when and how federal agencies can consider climate change impacts when they complete environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Read more.Trump Administration’s Eastern Colorado Plan Undermines State’s Climate Law, Triples Oil, Gas Pollution
DENVER― The Trump administration today released plans that could sharply increase federal oil and gas production in eastern Colorado, including the Front Range, undermining the state’s new climate law that calls for steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more.House Democrats Support Climate-killing Export-Import Bank
WASHINGTON— Legislation introduced today by Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) would reauthorize the Export-Import Bank for seven years while leaving unchanged the bank’s structure and environmentally damaging purposes.
Read more.Trump Administration Urged to Protect Giraffes on World Giraffe Day
WASHINGTON— On World Giraffe Day, a coalition of conservation and animal-protection organizations will pressure the Trump administration to move forward with Endangered Species Act protection for giraffes.
Read more.Minnesota Rally, Public Hearing to Focus on Trump Plan to End Wolf Protection
MINNEAPOLIS— Wolf advocates will rally on Tuesday in Brainerd, Minn., just before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s only public hearing on the Trump administration proposal to end federal protection for nearly all gray wolves in the lower 48 states.
Read more.Trump's EPA Finalizes Dirty Power Plan
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency today released its final rule that scraps the Clean Power Plan and lets states decide whether, and how, to limit power-plant pollution.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched Over Trump Administration Failure to Update Outdated Red Wolf Recovery Plan
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife today filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to prepare an updated recovery plan for the United States’ rapidly dwindling population of endangered red wolves.
Read more.Trump EPA OKs ‘Emergency’ Use of Bee-killing Pesticide on 13.9 Million Acres
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency announced so-called “emergency” approvals today to spray sulfoxaflor — an insecticide it considers “very highly toxic” to bees — on nearly 14 million acres of crops known to attract bees.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Info on Trump Administration Eliminating Environmental Grades
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to release public records on why it abruptly stopped issuing public grades on environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Read more.Utah Board OKs $21.4 Million in Public Money for Oil-train Railway
VERNAL, Utah— A Utah board today approved spending $21.4 million in public money for a railway to move oil from the Uinta Basin to refineries in other states, despite concerns that the funding is illegal.
Read more.Trump Administration Sued for Failing to Protect Imperiled Ice Seals’ Arctic Habitat
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the National Marine Fisheries Service today for failing to designate critical habitat in Alaska for two ice-seal species. Both bearded and ringed seals are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act because climate change is melting their Arctic sea-ice habitat.
Read more.California Court Halts Plan to Widen Highway 101 Through Old-growth Redwoods
EUREKA, Calif.— Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Kelly Neel ruled in favor of environmental organizations Tuesday in the latest legal battle in the nearly decade-long effort to prevent the widening of Highway 101 through old-growth redwoods at Richardson Grove State Park.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Endangered Species Protections for Lesser Prairie Chickens
WASHINGTON— Conservation groups today sued the Trump administration for failing to protect severely imperiled lesser prairie chickens under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Groups Blast Plan to Restart Public-lands Coal Leasing
DENVER— Fifty conservation groups sent a letter calling on the Trump administration to restore a 2016 moratorium on new federal coal leasing and plan an orderly and just transition away from coal production on public lands.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Rollbacks of Offshore Drilling Safety Regs
WASHINGTON— Ten environmental groups sued the Trump administration today to challenge rollbacks of the 2016 Well Control and Blowout Preventer Rule, a safety regulation meant to prevent another blowout like the one that caused the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Read more.Utah Coalition to Protest Public Financing of Uinta Basin Railway for Oil Trains
VERNAL, Utah― Opponents of the proposed Uinta Basin Railway oil-train project will protest in Vernal Thursday to challenge continued funding of the rail line by Utah’s Permanent Community Impact Fund Board.
Read more.Oregon Court Ruling Means Streaked-horned Lark May Get Endangered Status
PORTLAND, Ore.— A federal judge ruled late yesterday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service erred in determining that the streaked-horned lark only warranted threatened, and not endangered, status. The lark has suffered massive declines across its range in western Oregon and Washington, and as few as 1,100 remain alive.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Stop Toxic Algae Bloom Releases From Lake Okeechobee
FT. PIERCE, Fla.— Conservation groups sued three federal agencies today for failing to address harm to Florida’s endangered species from Lake Okeechobee releases containing toxic algae.
Read more.Utahns to Protest Gov. Herbert’s Failure to Halt Oil, Gas Leasing Near Great Salt Lake
SALT LAKE CITY― Opponents of the Trump administration’s plan to auction off nearly 10,000 acres of public land for oil and gas drilling near the Great Salt Lake will rally Tuesday to protest the lease sale outside Gov. Gary Herbert’s office in the Capitol building.
Read more.Appeals Court Throws Out Case Blocking Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline, Relying on New Permit Issued by President Trump
SAN FRANCISCO— The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a legal challenge to the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, ruling the case was no longer active due to President Trump’s revocation of the permit at the center of the case. In March, Trump issued a new “presidential” permit for Keystone XL, in an effort to spur construction of the pipeline.
Read more.New Study: United States Uses 85 Pesticides Outlawed in Other Countries
PORTLAND, Ore.— The United States allows the use of 85 pesticides that have been banned or are being phased out in the European Union, China or Brazil, according to a peer-reviewed study published today by the academic journal Environmental Health.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Permits for Longline Fishery Off California Coast
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network sued the Trump administration today for permitting a new longline fishery in the Pacific Ocean.
Read more.Court Blocks Contested Oregon Grazing Permits
PORTLAND, Ore.― A federal judge in Oregon today granted conservation groups’ motion to block livestock from using public lands allotments near Burns during the month of June. The temporary restraining order was issued in response to a lawsuit challenging former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s order to reinstate the grazing permits, overriding the 2014 recommendations of the Bureau of Land Management to cancel the permits. The allotments at issue contain important habitat for greater sage grouse and redband trout, and grazing on one of the allotments, Mud Creek, was scheduled to occur later this week.
Read more.Center for Biological Diversity Awarded $72,000 Grant by CREDO Mobile
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity was recently awarded a grant of more than $72,000 as a part of CREDO Mobile's donation program.
Read more.Trump’s EPA Exempts Factory Farms From Reporting Harmful Emissions
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency published a rule today exempting huge factory farming operations from federal safety and transparency laws that require the reporting of hazardous substance releases.
Read more.Endangered Mussels to Gain Protected Habitat in 18 Eastern, Midwestern States
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today agreed to designate critical habitat for four endangered freshwater mussels found in 18 states in the East and Midwest, marking a major legal victory for the species and for the Center for Biological Diversity.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Force Trump EPA to Protect California’s Ventura County From Deadly Smog
VENTURA, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health filed a notice today of their intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to finalize plans to curtail dangerous smog in Ventura County, Calif.
Read more.Reward Increased to $10,000 for Info on Killing of Endangered Washington Wolf
SEATTLE— The Center for Biological Diversity today increased to $10,000 the reward for information leading to a conviction for the latest illegal killing of a radio-collared wolf found in northeast Washington.
Read more.Court Urged to Reject Discrimination Against Arizona Rooftop-solar Customers
PHOENIX— The Center for Biological Diversity today took legal action in a federal court to challenge an Arizona power-utility company’s discrimination against rooftop-solar customers.
Read more.Agriculture Department’s ‘Wildlife Services’ Killed Nearly 1.5 Million Native Animals in 2018
WASHINGTON— The arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture known as Wildlife Services killed nearly 1.5 million native animals during 2018, according to new data released by the agency this week.
Read more.Rally to Oppose Dangerous Oil-industry Injections in Santa Maria Aquifers
SANTA MARIA, Calif.— Santa Barbara County residents and environmental advocates will rally Wednesday against a proposed aquifer exemption that could pollute groundwater and drastically expand oil drilling in the county. The rally will precede the state’s public meeting on the proposal.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Federal Habitat Protection for Two Central Texas Salamanders
AUSTIN, Texas— The Center for Biological Diversity today sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate critical habitat in central Texas for the Georgetown salamander and Salado salamander.
Read more.Top Wolf Experts Say Science Doesn't Support Trump Plan to Strip Away Species’ Protection
WASHINGTON— Top wolf scientists said today that there are major flaws in the Trump administration proposal to end Endangered Species Act protection for gray wolves in nearly all the lower 48 states.
Read more.Federal Appeals Court Allows Lawsuit Challenging Lead Ammo Use in Arizona's Kaibab National Forest
TUCSON, Ariz.— Ruling in favor of conservation groups, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today allowed a lawsuit to move forward challenging the use of lead ammunition in Arizona’s Kaibab National Forest.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered California Salmon Harmed by Federal Beaver-killing
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity today launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program for killing California beavers and harming native salmon, southwestern willow flycatchers and other endangered wildlife that uses habitats created by beavers.
Read more.2019 Hurricane Predictions Spell Disaster for Coastal Communities, Wildlife
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season officially starts on Saturday, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting a total of nine to 15 named storms and as many as four major hurricanes.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Hawaii’s Cauliflower Coral After 36 Percent Decline
HONOLULU— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to protect cauliflower coral around the Hawaiian Islands. The bushy, shallow-water coral species has been devastated by ocean warming triggered by human-caused climate change.
Read more.Critically Endangered Spring Pygmy Sunfish Gains 1,330 Acres, Six Stream Miles of Protected Habitat
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.— Following a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will protect 1,330 acres and 6.7 stream miles of critical habitat for the federally threatened spring pygmy sunfish under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered Lake Sturgeon in Mississippi River, Great Lakes
CHICAGO— Conservation groups sent a notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to respond to a 2018 petition seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the lake sturgeon.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges City-sized Sprawl Development in L.A. County
LOS ANGELES— Conservation groups sued the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today for approving the controversial 12,000-acre Centennial development, one of the largest ever proposed in county history.
Read more.Poll: Majority of Americans Oppose Trump Plan to End Wolf Protections
WASHINGTON— A new national poll released today by the Center for Biological Diversity shows the majority of Americans oppose the Trump administration’s proposal to end Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in nearly all the lower 48 states.
Read more.Louisiana Announces Air-pollution Hearing for Formosa Plastics Plant
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.— The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality today announced a public hearing and comment period to consider granting an air-pollution permit to a massive plant Formosa Plastics wants to build in St. James Parish.
Read more.Decision on Monarch Butterfly's Endangered Species Protection Extended to 2020
WASHINGTON— In an agreement approved today, the Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Food Safety accepted an extended deadline for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decide on protection for monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks to Protect South Platte River From Colorado Slaughterhouse Pollution
DENVER— The Center for Biological Diversity and Food & Water Watch filed a lawsuit in federal court today against the JBS-Swift Beef Company to stop illegal discharges of slaughterhouse pollution into Colorado’s South Platte River.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Force Trump to Protect Oregon's Red Tree Vole, Other Species
PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity and San Francisco Baykeeper sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect eight highly imperiled species across the country under the Endangered Species Act, including Oregon’s North Coast population of the red tree vole. The tree voles have been devastated by logging and historic fires.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Force Trump to Protect Imperiled Longfin Smelt, Seven Other Species
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity and San Francisco Baykeeper sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect the longfin smelt, as well as seven other highly imperiled species across the country, under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Florida Petitioned to Protect People From Harmful Algae Blooms
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.― The Center for Biological Diversity, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and Calusa Waterkeeper petitioned the Florida Department of Environmental Protection today to protect the public from toxins in the harmful algal blooms that keep reoccurring in the state.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Force Trump to Protect Eastern Gopher Tortoise in Florida, Other Southern States
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity and San Francisco Baykeeper sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect the eastern gopher tortoise and seven other highly imperiled species across the country under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Lawsuit Aims to Force Trump to Protect Endangered Species Nationwide
SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity and San Francisco Baykeeper sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect eight highly imperiled species across the country under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Fisheries Meeting Aims to Ensure Enough West Coast Salmon for Starving Orcas
PORTLAND, Ore.— Federal, state and tribal fishery managers and experts on critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales begin meeting today to discuss how West Coast salmon fishing is limiting availability of the starving orcas’ main food source.
Read more.Disregarding Climate, Trump Administration Pushes to Re-open Public Lands to Coal Leasing
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration today restarted an effort to reopen public lands to new federal coal leasing. In today’s action, the Interior Department responded to a court order overturning its illegal nixing of a nationwide coal leasing moratorium with a highly abbreviated environmental review.
Read more.Lawsuit Pushes Trump EPA to Address Asthma-causing Air Pollution in Phoenix, Northern California
OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today for failing to address smog and soot pollution affecting more than 1.5 million people in Arizona and Northern California.
Read more.Amid Extinction Crisis, Rep. Grijalva Introduces Bill to Save Critically Endangered Species
WASHINGTON— As scientists warn of a global extinction crisis, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced legislation today that would provide funding for some of the most critically imperiled species in the United States — butterflies, Hawaiian plants, eastern freshwater mussels and southwest desert fish.
Read more.North Carolina Fish, Salamander Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection
ASHEVILLE, N.C.— Following a petition and lawsuits from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed the Carolina madtom catfish and Neuse River waterdog salamander for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more.Rallies in Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara to Oppose Trump's Oil-leasing Plan for California
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— Environmental and community groups joined by elected officials will hold rallies this week to blast the Trump administration’s draft plan to open more than a million acres of public land and mineral estate in central California to oil drilling and fracking. The rallies will precede each of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s public hearings in Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.
Read more.Pipeline Shutdown Prevented 27 Million Tons of Carbon Pollution in California
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The closure of Plains All American Pipeline’s coastal California oil pipeline after it ruptured four years ago has prevented massive emissions of climate pollution. If the seven offshore drilling platforms served by the pipeline had not gone idle, they would have added 27 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution to the atmosphere. That’s roughly equivalent to operating two coal-fired power plants in California over the same period — or burning almost 30 billion pounds of coal.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Approval of Massive Utah Oil Shale Development
BONANZA, Utah— Conservation groups today sued the Trump administration to challenge what would be the nation’s first commercial-scale oil shale mine and processing facility. The lawsuit says officials failed to protect several endangered species when they approved rights-of-way across public lands to provide utilities to the proposed oil shale development.
Read more.New Data Finds U.S. Birth Rate at Lowest Level in 32 Years
WASHINGTON— Data released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that last year the United States had the lowest number of births in 32 years.
Read more.Court Order Sought to Stop Rosemont Mine Construction in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz.— Conservation groups and tribes Wednesday asked a federal court to prevent construction from starting on the Rosemont Copper Mine in southern Arizona until a judge rules on pending lawsuits filed by the parties.
Read more.Study: Antibiotics Proposed for Pesticide Use by Trump EPA Can Facilitate Resistance in Lethal Bacteria
WASHINGTON— A federal study has found that medically important antibiotics the EPA has proposed to re-approve for expanded pesticide use on crops can facilitate antibiotic resistance in bacteria that pose “urgent” and “serious” threats to human health.
Read more.Emergency Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Delaware Firefly
BETHANY BEACH, Del.— The Center for Biological Diversity and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation filed an emergency petition today seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the critically imperiled Bethany Beach firefly.
Read more.Report: Trump Fracking Leases Top 1 Gigaton of Potential Climate Pollution in Lower 48
TUCSON, Ariz.— A new Center for Biological Diversity report shows that the Trump administration is dramatically ramping up oil and gas leases, offering nearly 5 million acres of public lands in the lower 48 states ― most of it in Wyoming and Utah. Those leases, offered as scientists warn that fossil fuels should be rapidly phased out, contain 1 gigaton of potential greenhouse gas pollution.
Read more.Trump Administration Waives Laws to Build 100 Miles of Border Wall Across Arizona National Monument, Wildlife Refuges
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Trump administration will waive dozens of environmental and public health laws to speed border-wall construction through federally protected sites in Arizona and California.
Read more.House Democrats Boost Endangered Species Listing Budget by 30%
WASHINGTON— House Democrats today released a funding bill for the Interior Department that includes $23.4 million to evaluate whether imperiled animals and plants warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. That’s an increase of $5 million from the 2019 budget.
Read more.900,000 Already Oppose Trump Plan to End Wolf Protections
WASHINGTON— A coalition of organizations submitted nearly 900,000 comments today opposing the Trump administration’s proposal to end Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in nearly all the lower 48 states. This is the largest number of comments ever received by the federal government on an Endangered Species Act issue in the law’s 45-year history.
Read more.Massive New Mexico Logging Plan Threatens Iconic Owl Stronghold
CLOUDCROFT, N.M.― Conservation groups today called on the U.S. Forest Service to revise plans for large-scale commercial logging in southern New Mexico’s Lincoln National Forest. The logging threatens habitat for the imperiled Mexican spotted owl and New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.
Read more.Lawsuit Targets Trump Administration Renewal of Oregon Ranchers' Grazing Permit
PORTLAND, Ore.― Conservations groups filed suit today challenging former Interior secretary Ryan Zinke’s order to renew grazing permits for Oregon ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond. Zinke’s January 2019 order, one of his last official acts, came despite the Bureau of Land Management’s 2014 decision to cancel the Hammonds’ privilege to graze on public lands following a series of arson fires.
Read more.Trump EPA Seeks to Slash Pesticide Protections for Imperiled Wildlife
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released a set of proposed changes that would dramatically reduce protections for the nation’s most endangered plants and animals from pesticides known to harm them. The proposals ignore the real-world, science-based assessments of pesticides’ harms, instead relying on arbitrary industry-created models.
Read more.Lawsuit Launched to Force Trump Administration to Protect Endangered Species From Coal Mining in Appalachia
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity and allies filed a formal notice of intent today to sue the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state of West Virginia for failing to protect endangered species from coal mining.
Read more.Trump Finalizes Plan to Open 725,500 Acres of California's Central Coast to Drilling, Fracking
MARINA, Calif.— The Trump administration today finalized a plan to open 725,500 acres of public lands and mineral estate across California’s Central Coast and the Bay Area to new oil and gas drilling. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management plan is an increase of nearly 327,000 acres from the draft proposal prepared under the Obama administration.
Read more.Records Sought on EPA Proposal to Reapprove Cancer-linked Pesticide
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today asked the Trump administration for public records to assess the pesticide industry’s influence on the Environmental Protection Agency proposal to reapprove the cancer-linked pesticide glyphosate.
Read more.Analysis: Public Overwhelmingly Wants EPA Ban on Wildlife-killing 'Cyanide Bombs'
WASHINGTON— More than 99.9 percent of people commenting on a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposal to reauthorize sodium cyanide in wildlife-killing devices called M-44s support a ban on these “cyanide bombs,” according to an analysis released today.
Read more.More than 100 Scientists Oppose Removing Federal Protections for Gray Wolves
WASHINGTON— More than 100 scientists today sent a letter to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt objecting to the proposal to remove Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves across nearly all of the lower 48 states.
Read more.Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration's Massive Old-growth Timber Sale in Alaska National Forest
JUNEAU, Alaska— Eight conservation groups sued the Trump administration today to stop its authorization of the largest logging project in the national forest system in a generation, including thousands of acres of old-growth timber in the Tongass National Forest.
Read more.Lawsuits Challenge Trump Administration's Refusal to Release Documents on Pesticides
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed four lawsuits today challenging the Trump administration’s failure to release a trove of documents detailing how the administration is regulating dangerous pesticides, especially as they relate to endangered species.
Read more.Oregon Denies Key Permit for Proposed Jordan Cove Natural Gas Project
SALEM, Ore.— The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality today issued a resounding denial of the proposed Jordan Cove LNG project and the Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline, which have faced fierce opposition from a grassroots coalition for more than a decade. The denial effectively stops the project from moving forward.
Read more.Federal Court Again Halts Destructive Caltrans Project Through Ancient California Redwoods
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups and Humboldt County residents have won a federal court victory halting Caltrans’ controversial Richardson Grove highway-widening project. The project would needlessly harm ancient redwood trees in California’s iconic Richardson Grove State Park along Highway 101 in Humboldt County. The U.S. District Court in San Francisco struck down the Caltrans plan in a 26-page order issued late Friday afternoon.
Read more.Records Show ExxonMobil's Pacific Platforms Were Corroded Before 2015 Shutdown
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— Federal records show ExxonMobil’s offshore drilling platforms on the California coast had widespread corrosion and gas leaks requiring emergency responses before they were shut down by the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill.
Read more.Lawsuit Seeks Details on Ocean Chief's Oversized Role in Slashing Environmental Protections
WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration today for refusing to release public records detailing the activities of Stuart Levenbach, the agency’s chief of staff. The NOAA chief of staff oversees the overall operations of the agency and implements the policy directives and objectives of the administration.
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