News & Updates

Oil and gas industry must cut dangerous methane releases (WELC Op-ed 4/14/2015)

Apr 14, 2015

Tom SingerNatural gas, the fuel many Americans use daily to cook meals and heat our homes, is made mostly of methane. Natural gas also comes with a “cleaner than coal” reputation when burned to generate electricity. But too many leaks in the supply chain can quickly...

Federal Judge Halts Coal Mine Expansion in Northern New Mexico (Press Release 4/8/15)

Apr 9, 2015

Location:Denver, Colo.In a major victory for clean air and public health, a federal judge issued an order on Tuesday that nullifies a plan to expand the Navajo Mine in northern New Mexico and stops coal mining in the expansion area. Judge John L. Kane’s order follows...

California Salmon and Wildlife Win Court Protection from Old-Growth Logging (Press Release 4/6/15)

Apr 7, 2015

A federal court halted a logging plan in Northern California that would have harmed old-growth forests and federally protected fish and wildlife species. The decision by the U.S. District Court Northern District of California stems from a lawsuit filed by three...

Uncertainty remains about water availability for proposed hydro project (Press Release 4/2/15)

Apr 2, 2015

Location:Olympia, WARiver advocacy groups will return to the courtroom on Friday, April 3, to challenge a decision that could reduce Similkameen Falls in Northeastern Washington to a trickle. The Falls, located on the Similkameen River just downstream of the abandoned...

Oral Arguments for Youth’s Landmark Climate Change Lawsuit Held in Eugene at Lane County Circuit Court (Press Release 4/1/15)

Apr 2, 2015

Location:Eugene, OregonWHAT: Two Eugene youths’ climate change case, Chernaik v. Brown, will be argued before Judge Karsten Rasmussen and in front of national news media at Lane County Circuit Court. Oregonians from across the state are coming to support these young...

Court Decision Orders BLM to Reconsider Allowing Target Shooting in Sonoran Desert National Monument (Press Release 3/31/15)

Apr 1, 2015

Directs agency to revise its management plan to better protect monument resources and visitor safetyLocation:Phoenix, AZRuling two days after oral arguments closed, the Arizona District Court in Phoenix has ordered the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to re-examine its...

Washington Youth’s Climate Case Moves Forward (Press Release 3/17/15)

Mar 17, 2015

Location:Seattle, WAToday, eight young citizens of Washington state filed their opening brief in their climate change case, Zoe & Stella Foster v. Washington Department of Ecology, to King County Superior Court. The young petitioners are appealing the Washington...

National Coalition Plus Tens of Thousands Submit Comments Opposing West Coast Fracked Gas Export Plan

Feb 13, 2015

On behalf of a diverse national coalition, including conservation, commercial fishing and private property owners, the Western Environmental Law Center (WELC) and Sierra Club submitted comments today to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) opposing what...

Proposed Piñon Pipeline Draws Huge Outpouring of Opposition (Press Release 1/29/15)

Jan 29, 2015

More than 10,000 comments against the pipeline submitted to BLM before tomorrow’s deadlineLocation:Farmington, NMIn what is one of the largest outpourings of its kind in New Mexico’s history, more than 10,000 citizens from around the U.S. submitted comments this month...

U.S. Forest Service Withdraws Oil and Gas Drilling Approval in the Gunnison National Forest, Headwaters of the North Fork Valley (Press Release 1/20/15)

Jan 20, 2015

Conservationists settle lawsuit after the government agrees to conduct a comprehensive environmental analysis of the drilling projectLocation:Gunnison County, COConservationists have settled a lawsuit that challenged the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of a new natural...