A district court ruled for environmental groups in a challenge to FWS' 2024 finding that listing a distinct population segment (DPS) of gray wolves in the western United States under the ESA was not warranted. The groups argued FWS failed to consider a "significant portion" of the gray wolf's range ...

The D.C. Circuit affirmed dismissal of a challenge to an FWS rule downlisting the American burying beetle from endangered to threatened and to its ESA §4(d) rule establishing protections for conservation of the beetle based on the downlisting. An environmental group argued the downlisting rule...

The D.C. Circuit denied petitions to review EPA's 2024 rule establishing an allocation methodology for hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) allowances for years 2024 through 2028 under the Agency's cap-and-trade program. Refrigerant manufacturers argued Congress violated the nondelegation doctrine when it grante...

A district court granted in part and denied in part summary judgment for conservation groups in a challenge to FWS' approval of a watershed restoration project in the Mattamuskett National Wildlife Refuge. The groups argued FWS violated the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act and NEPA wh...

A district court denied environmental groups' motion for a preliminary injunction in a challenge to the Forest Service's and FWS' approval of a logging project in Flathead National Forest. The groups argued FWS failed to adequately address cumulative impacts to grizzly bears in the biological opinio...

A district court granted in part and denied in part environmental groups' motion for summary judgment in a challenge to the Army Corps of Engineers' and FWS' permitting of a proposed multi-use development project in California. The groups argued FWS violated the ESA by failing to fully consider impa...

A district court denied fishing vessel owners' motion for summary judgment in a challenge to an NMFS rule that sometimes requires vessels fishing for Atlantic herring to bear costs associated with carrying aboard a mandated at-sea monitor. The owners argued the rule was unlawful and should be set as...

A district court granted summary judgment for environmental groups in a challenge to FWS' decision not to designate critical habitat for the eastern black rail. The groups argued the determination that designating critical habitat for the species was "not prudent" was inconsistent with the Service's...

The Tenth Circuit reversed a district court ruling in challenges to BLM's 2022 amendments to its regional management plan for wild horses in southern Wyoming that changed two "herd management areas" to "herd areas." Wild horse advocacy and conservation groups argued the amendments, which reduced the...

In an unpublished opinion, the Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for NMFS in Alaska's challenge to the Service's negative 90-day finding on the state's petition to delist the Arctic ringed seal as a threatened species under the ESA. The appellate court found NMFS reasonably determined that new...