Center for Biological Diversity

The Fifth Circuit is examining the timing of interventions in a case involving federal protections for the Lesser Prairie Chicken. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed protections for the species, leading environmental groups to challenge the decision in court, which denied their intervention attempts as untimely. The groups argue the process lacked transparency and threatens the bird's survival, with fewer than 5,000 remaining in New Mexico and Texas.

A federal judge ruled that environmental groups failed to prove their case to pause California water projects, including Shasta Dam operations, due to insufficient evidence of harm to endangered salmon. The judge cited a 2024 biological opinion under the Endangered Species Act, which the Bureau of Reclamation claims complies with environmental protections.

A Trump administration rule change to the Endangered Species Act, effective September 14, removes the definition of 'harm' that previously prohibited habitat destruction as a form of harm to protected species. Environmental groups and experts warn this could threaten Georgia's wildlife, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, by allowing habitat loss from logging and development.

Two conservation groups sued the Trump administration over cattle grazing in southeast Arizona, claiming it violates the Endangered Species Act by damaging habitats of endangered species. The Bureau of Land Management relies on a 2024 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opinion to authorize grazing in the Gila District, which the plaintiffs argue harms species like the southwestern willow flycatcher and northern Mexican garter snake.

Environmentalists and two Native American tribes filed lawsuits against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to block its approval of a decommissioned pipeline in the Mojave Desert for a water project by Cadiz Inc. The project aims to extract groundwater from the Mojave Desert aquifer, which environmental groups argue will cause ecological harm by overdrafting the aquifer and drying critical freshwater springs.

Researchers and conservationists are working to save the endangered eastern hellbender salamander in Appalachia as populations decline due to climate change and human activity. A lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity claims federal officials missed a 2025 deadline to propose endangered species protection. Conservation efforts include breeding programs and habitat restoration led by organizations like the Nashville Zoo and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

Environmental groups sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over a nationwide permit that fast-tracks oil and gas pipeline approvals without required environmental reviews under the Clean Water Act. The permit, used for projects like the Mountain Valley and Dakota Access pipelines, allows developers to bypass comprehensive reviews by treating large projects as multiple smaller ones.

Federal authorities plan to auction 2,840 acres of Ohio's Wayne National Forest for oil and gas development, with a lease sale scheduled for September 15. Environmental groups oppose the move, citing threats to wildlife like the Indiana bat, while industry representatives highlight safety and environmental stewardship.

The U.S. Interior Department canceled automatic protections for threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, requiring individualized protection plans instead. Critics warn this change could delay conservation efforts and increase extinction risks for species like monarch butterflies and alligator snapping turtles. The rule change aligns with efforts by the Trump administration to reduce regulatory burdens on industries.

The U.S. Interior Department canceled a rule providing automatic protections for threatened species, requiring individualized plans instead. Critics argue this delays conservation efforts and enables industries to seek exemptions, risking extinctions of species like monarch butterflies and alligator snapping turtles.

The U.S. Interior Department canceled a rule providing automatic protections for threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, requiring individualized protection plans instead. Critics warn this change could hinder wildlife conservation efforts and increase extinction risks for species like monarch butterflies and alligator snapping turtles.

The Center for Biological Diversity accuses the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of failing to meet Endangered Species Act deadlines to protect five freshwater species, including the Alvord chub and Great Basin ramshorn. The group cites threats like cattle grazing, climate change, and habitat degradation, and seeks a court order to compel the agency to issue required findings.

A Hawaii judge halted the redevelopment of a Ritz-Carlton resort on Oahu’s North Shore due to outdated environmental reviews, specifically citing the increased presence of endangered Hawaiian yellow-faced bees near the project site. The court ordered further environmental studies to assess potential harm to the area, including critical habitats for native species like the bees, Laysan albatross, and Hawaiian monk seals.

Environmental organizations sued the Trump administration over the removal of the word 'harm' from Endangered Species Act regulations, arguing it undermines protections for imperiled wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service will eliminate a 50-year-old definition of 'harm' effective September 14, citing conflicts with personal property rights and federal authority. The lawsuit claims the change could threaten species like Florida manatees, grizzly bears, and salmon.

A federal judge in San Francisco narrowed a lawsuit against the U.S. Coast Guard, dismissing claims that its 2023 Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study (PAC PARS) violated environmental laws by failing to complete required consultations under the Endangered Species Act and an environmental assessment. However, the judge allowed claims to proceed regarding the Coast Guard's alleged delay in rulemaking for the study and its failure to complete past Endangered Species Act consultations for shipping corridors in 2011.

The Florida migrant detention facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' has been shut down, but environmental groups are suing state officials over alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act. Plaintiffs argue the facility's construction caused irreversible harm to the Everglades ecosystem, including unreviewed pavement expansion and potential contamination affecting endangered species.

The Center for Biological Diversity dropped its Clean Air Act lawsuit against the state-run Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention center after the facility closed, citing accomplishment of its goal to stop emissions. The group alleged the site emitted hundreds of tons of toxic gases without permits, but the closure ended potential pollution. Another lawsuit remains over alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act during the facility's construction.

A federal judge denied a request to pause California water infrastructure projects, ruling that environmental groups did not prove the projects violate the Endangered Species Act. The projects, including the Central Valley Project, are accused of harming fish species like Chinook salmon and steelhead trout due to changes in water temperature and salinity.

Wyoming is urging a federal judge to split two lawsuits challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s reduced protections for greater sage grouse and transfer the Wyoming-related claims to Wyoming. Conservation groups from seven organizations filed suits in Montana federal court, alleging the BLM weakened habitat protections by expanding oil and gas leasing, while Wyoming argues its management plan is distinct and merits a separate venue.

Environmentalists sued Barstow, California, to block the approval of the Barstow International Gateway, a 4,500-acre rail yard in the Mojave Desert. The lawsuit claims the project's environmental impact analysis is flawed, citing increased diesel pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and harm to local wildlife. The city approved the $4 billion BNSF Railway project, which aims to streamline container transport from Asian ports but faces criticism for its environmental and health impacts.

Sable Offshore secured a rare legal victory over environmental activists in California after facing initial challenges. Attorneys from the Environmental Defense Center and the Center for Biological Diversity attempted to delay the hearing but failed.

The proposed DC Blox data center near the Nashville Zoo could threaten the federally endangered Nashville crayfish, whose limited habitat is close to the construction site. Environmental groups warn that development risks, such as erosion, sediment control failures, or water-cooling systems, could harm the crayfish and other vulnerable species like the alligator snapping turtle and eastern hellbender.

Environmentalists are urging an investigation into the deaths of three birds, including a duckling, near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The pool, recently renovated with a blue coating and hydrogen peroxide treatments for algae, has drawn concerns over potential causes like chemical use or peeling paint. President Donald Trump attributed the issues to vandalism but announced plans to drain the pool for repairs.

The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration for refusing to release documents related to an executive order promoting glyphosate production. The lawsuit claims the order, which delegates authority under the Defense Production Act to boost glyphosate and elemental phosphorus production, was influenced by the pesticide industry. Bayer, the sole U.S. producer of glyphosate-based herbicides, is highlighted in the case.

An environmental nonprofit sued the National Marine Fisheries Service to require federal protection for the sunflower sea star under the Endangered Species Act, citing a 90% population decline since 2013 due to a wasting disease linked to warming waters. The agency acknowledged the species' risk of extinction in 2023 but has not finalized protective measures, prompting criticism of delays.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier aims to convert the shuttered 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration facility into a protected environmental area for the Everglades. The facility, facing environmental lawsuits, is closing, with detainees transferred or deported. Environmental groups remain skeptical of Uthmeier's commitment despite his stated plans.

Environmental groups and a Native American tribe sued California State Parks over the Oceano Dunes habitat conservation plan, arguing it allows harm to federally protected wildlife like the California red-legged frog and least tern. The lawsuit challenges the environmental impact report's certification and seeks to block approvals until compliance with environmental laws is ensured.

ICE has relocated detainees from the 'Alligator Alcatraz' facility in the Everglades, citing hurricane season safety concerns, but advocacy groups dispute this explanation, alleging a lack of transparency and ongoing operations. Environmental organizations, including Friends of the Everglades, continue legal challenges against the facility, arguing it violates environmental laws, though a court previously ruled it exempt from federal regulations.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge rejected a water agency's challenge to endangered species protections for the Southern California steelhead trout. The decision upholds state protections based on scientific evidence, as development, dams, and water diversions have severely threatened the species, which is listed as endangered under both federal and state laws.

Fourteen Republican state attorneys general and 19 GOP members of Congress are urging the EPA to classify mifepristone, an abortion medication, as a water contaminant. Environmental experts and the Center for Biological Diversity state there is no evidence of harm from mifepristone in water systems, citing a 1996 FDA statement and common drug trace amounts in water.

Fourteen Republican state attorneys general and 19 GOP members of Congress are urging the EPA to classify mifepristone, an abortion medication, as a water contaminant. Environmental experts state there is no evidence that mifepristone in wastewater harms humans or the environment, while the request cites a 1996 FDA statement acknowledging the drug may enter the environment but noting harmful effects are 'not anticipated.'

Fourteen Republican state attorneys general and 19 GOP members of Congress are urging the EPA to classify the abortion medication mifepristone as a water contaminant. Environmental experts and advocacy groups state there is no evidence that mifepristone harms water systems or humans, while states have introduced legislation to test for the drug in water.

Fourteen Republican state attorneys general and 19 GOP members of Congress are urging the EPA to classify the abortion medication mifepristone as a water contaminant, citing a 1996 FDA statement. Environmental experts and the Center for Biological Diversity state there is no evidence mifepristone harms water systems or humans, while state lawmakers in seven states introduced bills addressing medication abortion's environmental impact.

Fourteen state attorneys general and 19 GOP members of Congress are urging the EPA to regulate mifepristone, an abortion medication, as a water contaminant. Environmental experts state there is no evidence that mifepristone harms water systems, while the request references a 1996 FDA statement acknowledging potential environmental entry but no anticipated harm.

Fourteen Republican state attorneys general and 19 GOP members of Congress are urging the EPA to regulate mifepristone as a water contaminant, citing environmental concerns. Experts and the Center for Biological Diversity state there is no evidence mifepristone harms water systems or humans, while the FDA noted in 1996 that environmental effects were 'not anticipated.'

Fourteen state attorneys general and 19 GOP members of Congress are urging the EPA to classify mifepristone, an abortion medication, as a water contaminant. Environmental experts state there is no evidence mifepristone in wastewater harms humans or the environment.

The Justice Department seeks to dismiss a lawsuit by environmental groups alleging the U.S. Coast Guard and National Marine Fisheries Service failed to prevent whale strikes in California shipping lanes. The DOJ argues the Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study (PAC PARS) is not final agency action, while plaintiffs counter it is legally binding and has real-world consequences for endangered whales.

California courts ruled against the Fanita Ranch development project in Santee, citing violations of environmental and zoning laws. The project, which aimed to build 3,000 homes and face wildfire risks, was rejected by two judges who found the city of Santee bypassed its own regulations and state laws.

The Center for Biological Diversity is suing the Trump administration to protect the tine springsnail, found only in Quitobaquito Springs, from border wall construction. The lawsuit claims the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to adequately protect the endangered species, which is threatened by the Tucson 2 Project border wall plan.

A surge in whale deaths along the West Coast has led to at least 51 recorded fatalities in 2026, potentially making it one of the deadliest years on record. The Center for Biological Diversity reported the findings in a new analysis.