Center for Biological Diversity

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.

A lawsuit claims Florida's Everglades immigrant detention center, dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz,' is emitting hundreds of tons of toxic gases annually without a required air quality permit. The Center for Biological Diversity alleges violations of the Clean Air Act, citing an environmental assessment showing the facility's diesel generators and lighting towers could emit over 509 tons of carbon monoxide and 204 tons of nitrogen oxides yearly.

The Center for Biological Diversity has petitioned the U.S. government to sanction China over its shark finning practices, which contribute to a global decline in shark populations. Chinese-flagged vessels are accused of legally evading oversight while engaging in brutal finning, prompting potential U.S. seafood import bans worth $1.5 billion.

A heatwave in the Pacific Ocean has triggered a legal requirement to protect loggerhead sea turtles, which are endangered species. The Center for Biological Diversity notified the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries of its legal requirement to protect the species. This action aims to conserve the vulnerable loggerhead sea turtles.

An appeals court ruled that Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center can remain open, rejecting a push for a federal environmental impact review. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the state-run facility is not subject to federal law because it was built and controlled by Florida officials, though a dissent argued federal authority over immigration necessitates oversight.