e.Brief

"The court is unwilling to risk more (wolf) deaths." --U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, as he set May 29 to hear arguments on re-listing the gray wolf as endangered.

Angry callers ask:
Why not drill in the Arctic?

America will stay prisoner to foreign interests if we don't seek alternatives to oil, Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen says in response to callers goaded by a right-wing radio host. Drilling for oil in the Arctic won't lessen fuel prices but will accelerate global warming, Trip notes, as he lays out a national clean energy policy.

Judge halts off-road rebellion in Utah

After years of defiance and court battles, Kane County must halt its illegal efforts to create roadways through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a federal judge ruled. In a major victory for Earthjustice, he ordered the county to remove signs inviting vehicle traffic.

EPA is White House puppet show

Decisions by the Environmental Protection Agency are being made outside the law, outside of science and inside the White House, a powerful congressman charged Tuesday, during a hearing before the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee. Committee chair Henry Waxman said EPA administrator Stephen Johnson was nothing but a "figurehead."

Endangered species on the map

Earthjustice has helped secure federal protection for hundreds of plants and animals over the years. To commemorate Endangered Species Day this month, we created an interactive map featuring some of these magnificent creatures and others still in need.

We are pleased to announce a new Earthjustice blog forum called "unearthed" featuring a variety of new voices. Today, joining Tom Turner and Ted Zukoski on our blogging team is Wayne Salazar, a facile writer within the organization. Other voices will be added on a regular basis.

Suit filed to halt wolf slaughter

Twelve conservation groups led by Earthjustice have sued to halt the killing of gray wolves left unprotected after the federal government removed the wolves from the list of endangered species. At least 39 wolves have been shot since delisting.

Vetoes doom coal plant in Kansas

After seven months of bitter fighting with legislators and coal power supporters, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has emerged the apparent winner, and Kansas has become the first state to reject coal power because of global warming emissions. Sebelius rejected expansion of Sunflower Energy's plant expansion in October because of the 11 million tons of greenhouse gases it would spew each year. Since then, with support from Earthjustice, Sebelius has vetoed three bills that would have allowed the plant.

Sierra forest plan nixed by federal court

A U.S. Forest Service plan to greatly increase logging in Sierra Nevada national forests was struck down by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Earthjustice had challenged the Sierra Nevada Framework management plan on behalf of Sierra Forest Legacy, Sierra Club, and The Wilderness Society.

Coverup charged in DC salmon hearing

Earthjustice helped orchestrate a congressional hearing at which West Coast congressmen accused federal fishery officials of endangering salmon populations by covering up threats posed by diverting river water to farms on the coast. This year's collapse of salmon stocks, fueled in part by these water diversions, led to a ban on coastal salmon fishing.

June 6 trial set in delta salmon case

Earthjustice attorneys are gearing up for a June 6 trial to determine how steelhead and salmon will be protected in the Sacramento River under terms of a ruling they won in April. The ruling disallowed a state water management plan for pumping water out of the Sacramento delta.

Yosemite road construction halted

In response to a lawsuit filed by Earthjustice last month, Mariposa County, California has cancelled a permit that would have allowed a private developer to construct two alleged county roads within Yosemite National Park. The roads would have been bulldozed near the Merced Grove of giant sequoias.

Toxic smelter loses certificate in Peru

After poisoning nearly every child in a Peruvian village with lead, a huge smelter has lost its environmental certification -- thanks to Earthjustice and is sister organization AIDA. The Doe Run Peru facility already had been fined $234,000 by the government for environmental violations.

Clean Air Coalition Starts a Movement

California prides itself on being the nation’s breadbasket, the supplier of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other agricultural products to the country and the world. But the San Joaquin Valley, where many of these crops are grown, has the worst air pollution of any comparable area in the country. Press Secretary Brian Smith recounts how a unique coalition came together to fight for cleaner air.