News Releases
Legal complaint: Signal Peak coal mine causing cave-ins, safety hazards
Late last week, conservation groups filed a complaint with state and federal agencies against Signal Peak Energy, operator of the Bull Mountains Coal Mine north of Billings. The complaint cites evidence of the mine causing unreclaimed subsidence cracks (photos for...
Advocates to Biden: Federal oil & gas rule must meet climate imperatives
Eleven western U.S. groups have provided the Bureau of Land Management (the Bureau) comments imploring the agency to address the climate crisis in its proposal to update the country’s antiquated federal oil and gas rules. The proposed rule suggests decades-overdue...
Youths win historic Montana climate lawsuit; MEPA Limitations declared unconstitutional
This June, 16 young Montanans sat in Judge Kathy Seeley’s courtroom in Montana’s First Judicial District Court for the first-ever constitutional climate trial in the U.S. After three years of waiting, these youth finally had the chance to explain to the judge, and the...
Climate and energy coalition applauds President Biden’s visit to New Mexico
A broad coalition of climate, energy and environmental justice organizations commended President Joseph Biden for visiting New Mexico to talk about his administration’s investments in climate and energy ahead of the August 16th anniversary of the signing of the 2022...
Proposed oil and gas leasing rule leaves climate behind
Today, the Bureau of Land Management (the Bureau) issued a proposed rule that focuses almost exclusively on long-overdue fiscal reforms to the federal oil and gas leasing program, with a slight nod to protecting wildlife habitat and cultural sites. The proposed rule...
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...
Media Inquiries:
Brian Sweeney
Communications Director
262-914-1113