A district court adopted in part, modified in part, and rejected in part a magistrate judge's findings and recommendations in a challenge to FWS' biological opinion (BiOp) for Flathead National Forest's 2018 revised land management plan. Environmental groups argued FWS and the Forest Service violate...

A district court denied summary judgment for environmental groups in a challenge to BLM's management plan for a recreation area in Montana. The groups argued BLM violated NEPA, FLPMA, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) when it developed the plan, and sought a preliminary injunction. The c...

A district court granted 16 states' motion to preliminarily enjoin the Biden Administration's temporary pause of pending decisions on liquefied natural gas exports. The states argued the pause violated the Natural Gas Act and exceeded statutory authority, and sought to stay or enjoin it. The court f...

The Third Circuit affirmed denial of a preliminary injunction motion in a lawsuit concerning an administrative appeal of permits for a pipeline expansion in Pennsylvania. A state agency had issued required permits to the company to begin construction, but environmental groups administratively appeal...

The D.C. Circuit dismissed petitions to review EPA actions applying and enforcing regulations that govern disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCRs). Owners and operators of coal-fired power plants argued EPA's actions amended existing legislative rules governing disposal of CCRs and that the Agen...

The D.C. Circuit vacated a 2022 EPA order requiring chemical manufacturers/processors to test the chronic toxicity of 1,1,2-trichloroethane pursuant to TSCA. A trade organization representing seven entities challenged the order, arguing EPA failed to comply with several statutory requirements. The c...

A district court denied a commercial fisherman's motion to preliminarily enjoin the Army Corps of Engineers and EPA from enforcing a 2023 rule that revised the definition of "waters of the United States." The fisherman argued the agencies did not faithfully implement the Sackett v. Environmental Pro...

A district court granted in part and denied in part an outdoor recreation group's motion to preliminarily enjoin the National Park Service's (NPS') regulations governing commercial filming on public lands. The group argued the regulations' land use fee and permitting requirements violated the First ...

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's permanent injunction in an ESA citizen suit concerning a proposed timber harvesting project on private property in Oregon. Environmental groups argued the project would cause a "take" of marbled murrelets in violation of the ESA by clearing acres of tree...

The Sixth Circuit reversed a district court ruling in a lawsuit concerning the Line 5 Pipeline that runs underwater across the Straits of Mackinac between Michigan’s Lower and Upper Peninsulas. Michigan's attorney general (AG) initially sued the pipeline owner in state court, seeking to enjoin con...