News & Updates
Judge: Federal Shasta River “Safe Harbor” coho salmon program violates Endangered Species Act
Late yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled against a federal “Safe Harbor” program on California’s Shasta River that allowed a dam owner and water diverters to harm threatened coho salmon in exchange for scant “stewardship”...
Advocates applaud intent of proposed public lands conservation rule, offer improvements including environmental justice
Thirteen western U.S. groups have provided the Bureau of Land Management (the Bureau) a roadmap to ensure the agency’s proposal to strengthen public lands conservation succeeds. The Bureau holds the authority and responsibility to conserve public lands in the public...
Advocates applaud “Beaver Believer Bill” champ as it heads to governor for expected signature
Today, the Oregon Senate passed HB 3464, the “Beaver Believer Bill” 19-5 on a bipartisan vote. The bill now heads to Gov. Kotek to be signed into law. The bill allows the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and its Commission to manage beavers on private...
Interior Sec. Haaland protects Chaco Canyon from oil, gas drilling
In response to Interior Sec. Deb Haaland’s decision today to prohibit new federal oil and gas leasing within 10 miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, members of the Greater Chaco Coalition called on the Biden administration to go further and end all new...
WELC STATEMENT: Vote no on “Dirty Debt Deal”
The Fiscal Responsibility Act—or debt ceiling bill—announced over Memorial Day weekend contains numerous pieces from the failed “Dirty Deal” that would create a decades-long legacy of pollution and further brutalize frontline communities. The Western Environmental Law...
SCOTUS guts Clean Water Act protections, risking western waters
Siding with polluters, the U.S. Supreme Court turned back the clock 50 years gutting Clean Water Act protections for communities, fish, and wildlife. These impacts will be felt by everyone who cares about clean water, healthy communities, and thriving populations of...
Advocates launch lawsuit to overturn Trump-era permit to kill northern spotted owls
The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), represented by the Western Environmental Law Center, gave formal notice of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) for violations of the Endangered Species Act that harm the threatened...
Court upholds expanded Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument made by President Obama in January 2017. President Clinton designated the Monument in 2000 under the Antiquities Act as a biological crossroads and ecological...
Greater Chaco Coalition provides guide for initiative to truly “Honor Chaco”
Having monitored the progress of the Honoring Chaco Initiative (HCI) for 18 months, the Greater Chaco Coalition today shared recommendations on how the Department of Interior can ensure the initiative produces timely, durable outcomes that advance environmental...
Oregon wolf population stagnates
Today, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife released its wolf conservation and management report for 2022. It shows weak population growth of only three wolves more than the 175 counted in 2021, and a high 17 human-caused wolf mortalities in 2022. “This is the...
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