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...
New PSR report reveals oil & gas companies fracked New Mexico wells with PFAS
Previously unpublicized information unearthed by Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) shows that since at least 2013, oil and gas companies have used extremely toxic and persistent chemicals known as PFAS in New Mexico’s oil and gas wells. PSR’s report, Fracking...
Gov. Lujan Grisham’s climate leadership fades with climate vetoes
Today, a year and a day after the ignition of the climate-fueled Hermit’s Peak wildfire—the largest wildfire in New Mexico history— Gov. Lujan Grisham line-item vetoed all five climate incentives in this year’s New Mexico tax bill. She vetoed these reasonable climate...
Helena Hunters successfully defend Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest travel plan
Late last week, the Helena Hunters and Anglers Association (Helena Hunters) received a favorable order in a case in which the group intervened to defend the U.S. Forest Service’s Divide Travel Plan for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Motorized off-road...
WELC, allies will relentlessly pursue NM Oil and Gas Justice and Reform Act
The Senate Conservation Committee’s swift 6-3 passage of SB 418, the much-needed New Mexico Oil and Gas Justice and Reform Act, shows promise for reform of the outdated 1935 law in the near future. We have received word, unfortunately, that the bill won’t proceed...
WELC statement on NM SB520: The Clean Future Act
As the New Mexico legislation enters its final days, we applaud Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart for her introduction of SB520, the Clean Future Act. This bill—though modest and yet still facing an uphill battle in the legislature—would nonetheless prove a...