Week 8/10 - 8/21

National Roadless Rule Upheld
Obama blocks new road building in pristine national forests

The Associated Press reports the Obama administration will join Earthjustice in defending the 2001 Clinton Roadless Rule that blocked road construction and other development on tens of millions of acres of remote national forests. Sustainable Business reports the administration will join Earthjustice in appealing a Wyoming federal district court ruling that struck down the national roadless rule. Earthjustice Vice President Patti Goldman told Grist the move is a great move forward and signified a departure from Bush administration land policies. The announcement comes on the heels of a ruling from the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals won by Earthjustice that also affirmed the 2001 Roadless Rule. 

Wolf Hunts Imminent
Idaho hunt quota of 220, Earthjustice takes legal action

The Idaho Statesmen reports that Idaho plans to allow 220 wolves to be killed during hunting season, representing 25% of the population. Earthjustice attorney Jenny Harbine told the Associated Press that any hunting of this endangered species is inappropriate and perilous to the species survival. The Missoulian reports that Earthjustice will take legal action to block the hunt and restore Endangered Species Act protections to northern rocky wolves to prevent the wolf hunts.

Oil and gas development on public and private lands at the base of the Roan Plateau

Jeff Widmen

Federal Oil and Gas Lease Sales in Colorado Should be Stopped
Interior Secretary Salazar has authority but seems unwilling to cancel lease sales

Earthjustice attorney Micheal Freeman told the Associated Press that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar does have the authority to cancel oil and gas drilling leases sold on Colorado’s Roan Plateau. Freeman said Salazar should repeat what he did in February when he withdrew 77 oil and gas leases issued by the Bush administration in Utah because they were legally vulnerable. However, Salazar announced he will not withdraw the Roan leases because they are too far along. The AP reports that as a Colorado senator Salazar was critical of the Bush administration's oil and gas drilling plan in Colorado and when first appointed as Interior Secretary considered an out-of-court settlement.

Hawaiian Community Groups asks Court to Reject Army’s Environmental Report
Earthjustice fights to get a more thorough review before Army training begins

The Honolulu Star Bulletin reported that Hawaiian community groups, represented by Earthjustice, asked a federal court to reject an environmental study submitted by the U.S. Army and request a new one before soldiers are allowed to resume live-fire training at Makua Military Reservation on Oahu. Earthjustice attorney David Henkin told the Honolulu Advertiser a new more comprehensive study is needed to determine the impacts of the Army training on the culturally rich Makua site. The training area is sacred land to Hawaiians and according to the Honolulu Advertiser it has over 121 archeological sites and contains over 40 endangered plants and animals.

Past Articles:  

Week 8/3- 8/7

Roadless Rule Protections Upheld in Federal Appeals Court
Protection for national forests restored

A federal appeals court ruled that the Bush administration's efforts to strip protections for 40 million acres of national forests were illegal. The ruling comes in a case brought by Earthjustice. The New York Times reports the decision restores the 2001 Clinton administration "roadless rule" which limits road building in national forest lands. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Bush administration efforts to hand control of the nation's forests over to individual states was "unreasonable" in addition to being illegal. Earthjustice attorney Kristen Boyles tells Reuters the decision protects the wild forests and rivers of America. The San Francisco Chronicle says the victory does not guarantee protections nationwide, citing a Wyoming court's ruling that the Clinton rule invalid, which is now pending in a federal appeals court in Denver. Anchorage Daily News reports the Obama administration has not said if it will defend the Clinton rule in the Wyoming case. Boyles tells the Washington Times that the fight is not over and the Obama administration should take the next necessary steps to make protection permanent.   
 

Canada Lynx

Earthjustice Goes to Court to Protect Critical Habitat for the Canada Lynx
Snowmobile associations sue for right to drive in lynx habitat

The Associated Press reports Earthjustice and other conservation groups moved to join a lawsuit to protect critical habitat for the threatened Canada lynx. The conservation groups are squaring off against Wyoming and Washington state snowmobile associations which fear being restricted from snowmobiling in lynx habitat. The Wenatchee World reports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service re-evaluated habitat needs for the Canada lynx, which are listed as a threatened species, and determined more habitat is necessary to ensure the survival of the species. Earthjustice attorney Tim Preso tells the AP the habitat designation is critical to the recovery and survival of the lynx in the United States.

 
Navy Ignores Environmental Concerns and OK's Construction Plan
Underwater training area planned  in endangered right whale critical habitat

Right Whale

NOAA

The Associated Press reports the Navy plans to construct an Undersea Warfare Training Range off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida and will cover 625 square miles despite threats to the endangered right whale and without first obtaining required environmental approvals. Florida Times Union reports the location is also where right whales nurse their young and the Navy training could inflict serious harm. The AP says there are only about 250-300 right whales in existence. Eco Worldly reports Navy ships, low flying aircraft, debris, non-explosive exercise torpedoes and sonar will have harmful effects and cause more deaths to right whales and other endangered marine life, including endangered leatherback sea turtles. Eco Worldly cites Earthjustice attorney Katie Renshaw's demand for the Navy to assess the environmental impacts of the project before construction, as required by law.

Week 7/20- 7/24

Wolf Hunts Scheduled for the Fall
Earthjustice monitoring closely

Gray Wolf

Shutterstock

Montana and Idaho are preparing to have the first wolf hunts this fall since the delisting earlier this year. The Los Angeles Times reports Montana set a quota of 75 wolves and Idaho’s quota will be larger but is yet to be determined. The Associated Press reports a prior quota by Idaho was set at 250 wolves. Earthjustice attorney Doug Honnold told the Helena Independent that Earthjustice is awaiting Idaho's quota for wolf kills before taking any legal action. The AP reports Earthjustice already filed suit against the delisting of wolves in May which is pending before a U.S district judge. 

 

Cultural ceremony at Makua site

Army Plans to Restart Training in Sacred Hawaiian Site
Earthjustice plans to take Army back to court

The Associated Press reports that after a five year legal ban, the Army plans to resume live fire training in Makua Valley in Oahu. The Army made the announcement in spite of the fact many Native Hawaiians consider the valley sacred. Earthjustice attorney David Henkin tells the AP Earthjustice will take the Army back to court. The Honolulu Advertiser reports the Army has started numerous wildfires in Makua which is home to endangered plants and animals as well as cultural sites. However, KHON reports local communities have questions about cleanup, protections for the cultural sites and various endangered species. Henkin tells the Star Bulletin there are other locations more well suited for Army training that do not threaten species or infringe on culturally significant lands.

Old growth forest

Bush Administration Plan to Allow More Logging Dropped
Obama administration reinstates forest protections and protects endangered species

The New York Times reports Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has dropped a Bush administration plan to double the amount of logging allowed in and around old-growth forests managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management in western Oregon. The plan was known as the Western Oregon Plan Revision or WOPR. Earthjustice attorney Kristen Boyles filed a lawsuit challenging the illegal logging plan months ago. The Los Angeles Times reports that Secretary Salazar admits the logging plan is legally indefensible. The announcement restores old-growth forests protections in endangered spotted owl habitat. 

 

Can't get enough? Check these out...

• No More Loopholes for King Coal
  The Waxman-Markey bill marks a huge step towards addressing global warming but maintains loopholes for existing coal plants that needs to be closed in the Senate. 
  
  
  

• EPA vows to examine impact of hazardous waste on poor communities
  The Obama administration EPA, unlike the Bush-era EPA, will examine and regulate hazardous waste recycling plants, which are located in mostly minority populated areas. During the Bush administration these plants could emit up to 1 million pounds of toxic material without federal oversight.  
  
   

• Traditional herring fishermen join fight against midwater trawlers
  The legal fight against destructive industrial herring trawlers gained momentum as "traditional" New England herring fishermen joined Maine groundfishermen. They claim the nets used by these boats also catch significant numbers of haddock and other groundfish.
  
  
  

• Environmental groups support Sotomayor nomination
  Earthjustice supports the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the  U.S. Supreme Court based on her strong federal judicial experience and her fairness about environmental issues.
  
  
  
  Sarah Palin: worse than Bush on wildlife and environment
  Palin welcomes news of Kensington Mine construction despite its destruction to the Alaskan lake and aquatic life.
  
  
  

• Hayward California's Russell City Energy Center to be nation's first power plant with federal greenhouse gas emissions limit
  In response to claims from Earthjustice and other environmental groups, Calpine company has agreed to submit to more rigorous emission limits making it the cleanest natural gas-fired power plant in the nation.