News & Updates

BLM Defers Fracking Around New Mexico’s Sacred Chaco Canyon for Third Time (Press Release 3/22/16)

Mar 22, 2016

Rampant Drilling in the San Juan Basin Continues to Threaten Public Health, the Climate, Clean Air and Water Location:Santa FeUPDATE: BLM has admitted an internal mix-up on this issue. The leases are not yet deferred, and we can expect a news release from the agency...

Court Rejects Water Pollution Permit for Rosebud Coal Mine (Press Release 3/18/16)

Mar 18, 2016

Location:HelenaYesterday the Montana First Judicial District Court ruled in favor of water quality and reinforced the state of Montana’s obligation to protect waterways from pollution caused by coal mining. The court rejected a water pollution discharge permit that...

Citizen Groups Challenge Plans to Green Light Huge Fossil Fuel Development in Powder River Basin (Press Release 3/15/16)

Mar 15, 2016

BLM Plans Span 10 Million Acres, 81 Billion Tons of CoalLocation:Great FallsA plan to keep open vast amounts of public land in Montana and Wyoming for fossil fuel development and drilling is short-sighted and fails to consider dramatic changes in energy markets...

Canada climate deal will multiply effects of existing U.S. plans to curb methane (Press Release 3/10/16)

Mar 10, 2016

Reductions will protect health, landscapes, rural communities, and taxpayersToday's announcement of a climate pact between the U.S. and Canada is great news for public health, landscape health, rural communities, the climate, and more. With Canada's agreement to...

Tribe and conservationists file suit to protect wild salmon, rural river communities (Press Release 3/3/16)

Mar 3, 2016

Groups Seek Alternatives to Flawed Forest Service Salvage PlanLocation:Happy Camp, Calif.Today the Karuk Tribe, along with the Environmental Protection Information Center, Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, Center for Biological Diversity, and Klamath Riverkeeper,...

Spokane River advocates petition state to increase summertime water flow (Press Release 3/1/16)

Mar 2, 2016

Water is needed for river health, fish, recreational boaters, and scenic beautyLocation:SpokaneOn Monday, advocates for the Spokane River petitioned the Washington Department of Ecology to increase its flow rule for the popular and heavily used Spokane River. The...

State of Washington Delays Action on Climate Change – Again (Press Release 3/2/16)

Mar 2, 2016

Department of Ecology Abandons Proposed Greenhouse Gas RuleLocation:SeattleOn Friday, Feb. 26, the Washington Department of Ecology withdrew its proposed rule to reduce carbon emissions in the state. The rule was supposed to remedy a lawsuit brought by eight youth...

Lawsuit Challenges Wildlife Services’ Authority to Kill Wolves in Oregon (Press Release 2/3/16)

Feb 3, 2016

Location:Portland, Ore.Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the authority of the federal wildlife-killing program Wildlife Services to kill any of the approximately 81 remaining gray wolves in Oregon. The legal challenge, filed by the Western...

National Forest in Arizona Challenged to Protect Wildlife from Motorized Uses (Press Release 1/25/16)

Jan 25, 2016

Suit Filed to Stop Excessive Cross-Country Travel by Motor VehiclesLocation:Phoenix, Ariz.Four conservation groups, represented by the Western Environmental Law Center, filed suit today against the Kaibab National Forest in Arizona, aiming to protect wildlife and...

BLM methane rule an important step for NM, nation (Press Release 1/22/16)

Jan 22, 2016

Reductions will benefit climate, improve health, reduce waste, and generate revenueThe Bureau of Land Management today released for public comment a proposed rule to rein in out-of-control methane waste on federal lands by the oil and gas industry. BLM is required to...