ELR Citation: 53 ELR 20157
No(s). CV-20-00461-TUC-JGZ (D. Ariz. Sep 29, 2023) (Zipps, J.)

A district court denied summary judgment for nonprofit groups in a challenge to FWS' authorization of permits to import Sub-Saharan African leopard trophies from overseas sport hunting in Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The groups argued FWS violated the APA by making unsubstantiated non-detriment findings before issuing the permits. FWS asserted the groups lacked standing to sue. The court found the groups failed to demonstrate that their injuries were caused by and fairly traceable to the Service's actions because the evidence demonstrated that import permits were not a prerequisite to hunting leopards. It further found that a decision invalidating the permits was not likely to dissuade American hunters from killing leopards in Sub-Saharan Africa. It denied summary judgment for the groups for lack of standing, and granted FWS' cross-motion.