Summary:  Washington Court of Appeals has upheld tough new rules governing polluted storm water runoff in Washington state.

Jan Hasselman, Seattle attorney for Earthjustice, said in a statement that it’s time for Clark County to stop fighting environmental protections. “At some point, there’s going to be some accountability,” Hasselman added. “Our first choice is always to sit down and work out a solution that does the most for the environment.”

  Full Article:  http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/sep/25/county-loses-stormwater-ruling/"

  Summary:  Petroleum giants recently argued before a federal court of appeals that once a decision has been made to auction the federal lands for oil and gas development, federal land managers must then issue a development lease to the company that paid for it. The drilling companies’ apparent entitlement to a speedier process was challenged by a candid question from the judge: “Why do you have the right to complain about it when you knew going in what their position was?”

"The companies knew the rules of the game," said Earthjustice's Melanie Kay, the lawyer representing nine environmental groups opposing the energy companies. Kay contended that energy companies know how the lease process works and must comply when leases take a long time to be reviewed before they're issued.

  Full Article:  http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Petroleum-companies-challenge-federal-leasing-3873084.php"

  Summary:  The state of Utah is pushing the federal 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to redefine the function of Salt Creek—a vital creekbed that runs through the Canyonlands National Park—claiming that it is a “highway” and should be open to vehicles. Salt Creek supports a rich riparian habitat and an array of birds and other wildlife outside of Colorado’s river corridors.

According to Ted Zukoski, a staff attorney with Earthjustice, "Salt Creek is just the first domino the state hopes will fall to its extreme interpretation of law. By gaining control of such 'highways,' the state could effectively tie the hands of park rangers and other land managers so they wouldn't be able to protect the land, wildlife, or watersheds inside a national park from the destructive impacts of motor vehicle.”

  Full Article:  http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2012/09/state-utah-hoping-10th-circuit-judges-agree-creek-canyonlands-national-park-also-road10537"

  Summary:  On behalf of a coalition of environmental groups, Earthjustice has notified the federal government that it will challenge its decision to hand over the wolf management plan to the state of Wyoming. Wyoming’s “shoot on sight” policy treats wolves as predators that can be killed at any time in most of the state.

"We think that that current Wyoming law is a kissing cousin of the former law which both the Fish and Wildlife Service and the federal court found too extreme to justify delisting," said Jenny Harbine, an Earthjustice attorney in Bozeman, Mont., who represents the groups in the challenge.

  Full Article:  http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ap_news/montana/article_87b188c9-618b-5e73-9d95-8e12ea711332.html"