The Ninth Circuit reversed a dismissal of a lawsuit brought by conservation groups to enjoin USDA from killing gray wolves in Idaho pending additional NEPA analysis. The groups argued before the district court that the agency violated NEPA by failing to prepare an EIS on its wolf management activiti...
The D.C. Circuit affirmed summary judgment for NMFS in a challenge to the agency's adoption of the 2016 Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology for fisheries in the northeastern United States. An environmental group argued that the 2016 methodology violated the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) because ...
A district court granted in part a challenge to DOI's decision to lift a 2016 moratorium on new coal leasing on public lands. States and environmental groups argued that DOI's decision to lift the moratorium constituted a major federal action subject to NEPA review, and requested that the court orde...
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that upheld the U.S. Forest Service's management plan to protect the San Isabel and White River National Forests from insects, disease, and fire, improve wildlife habitat, and maintain watershed conditions. A conservation group argued that the Fores...
A district court granted FWS' motion to dismiss a challenge brought by an environmental group concerning conservation of the lesser prairie chicken. The group argued that FWS unreasonably delayed submitting to Congress a 2003 policy concerning conservation efforts when making listing decisions under...
A district court dismissed a lawsuit brought by conservation groups challenging FWS' 2017 enhancement finding that overturned a previous ban on the importation of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe. Conservation groups challenged the finding, which concluded that hunting elephants in Zimbabwe enhanced ...
In an unpublished opinion, the Tenth Circuit vacated a district court's order enjoining BLM's Waste Prevention Rule, which restricted the venting and flaring of natural gas wells, pending finalization of a replacement rule that was undergoing public notice and comment. California, New Mexico, and en...