News & Updates
Lawsuit: USFWS ignored court order on southern Rockies lynx critical habitat
Late yesterday, wildlife advocates filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) over its failure to take any action in response to a 2016 court order striking down the agency’s exclusion of Canada lynx habitat in the species’ entire...
Hearing examiners embrace renewable future for Four Corners in recommendation to PRC
On Wednesday, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) hearing examiners recommended the PRC replace San Juan Generating Station power with 100 percent renewable energy when the coal-fired power plant is retired in 2022. The PRC must now choose to lead by...
Trump administration OKs beaver killing in Oregon, despite harm to endangered salmon, steelhead
Despite recognizing that restoring beaver populations is key to recovery of imperiled salmon and steelhead species, a federal agency just gave the go-ahead to keep killing beavers in Oregon. In a long-awaited analysis, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)...
Trump exploits public health and racial crises to silence public, increase pollution, steamroll vulnerable communities
Today, the president is expected to sign a far-reaching executive order under the guise of “economic emergency,” exempting large, intrusive, highly polluting and destructive projects from public scrutiny and environmental guardrails in place since 1970 under the...
Southern Oregon advocates challenge federal approval of Jordan Cove LNG
Today, southern Oregon organizations filed a lawsuit challenging Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval of the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline. FERC issued its approval in March, conditioned on the project...
New Rio Grande National Forest Management Plan is bad news for wildlife, wildlands, and waters
Today, the U.S. Forest Service released its final revised land management plan for the Rio Grande National Forest, located in south-central Colorado. Hundreds of local community members and citizens throughout the country had urged the Forest Service to include strong...
Federal court green-lights bear baiting lawsuit
A federal court in Boise today denied the Trump administration’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to stop black bear baiting in national forests in Idaho and Wyoming – a practice known to result in the deaths of endangered grizzly bears. U.S. magistrate judge...
Daniel Cordalis and Cliff Villa join WELC board of directors
The Western Environmental Law Center, a nonprofit public-interest environmental law firm, is proud to announce the addition of Daniel Cordalis and Cliff Villa to its board of directors. Daniel Cordalis, a member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in Durango, Colorado,...
Court ruling cancels oil and gas leases on nearly 150,000 acres in Montana
Today Montana landowners, farmers, and conservation groups won an important victory to protect local groundwater and the climate when a federal judge ruled that the Bureau of Land Management failed to consider risks to Montana’s environment and water supply before...
Chaco Coalition responds to another Trump administration broken promise
Yesterday, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Farmington Field Office and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) denied requests to suspend the public comment period on the controversial drilling plan for the Greater Chaco region, instead the agencies are planning to hold 4...
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