Our Work

Litigation is the basic tool Earthjustice uses, depending on strong state and federal laws. Often, however, attempts are made to weaken - even destroy - those laws and their implementing regulations. Earthjustice's Policy and Legislation staff work to defend and strengthen those laws and regulations. Learn more about how our Policy and Legislation team works.

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Protecting Wild Roadless Forests: A Victory and a Congressional Fight
The Roadless Rule is one of the greatest forest conservation measures in U.S. history, but the rule has been attacked from all sides...

Hardrock Mining Reform is Long Overdue
When the 1872 Mining Law was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant, the typical prospector worked with a mule and a pick axe. The "mom and pop" operations looking for hardrock minerals, like gold, silver, and copper, have drastically changed in the last 135 years. However, the law governing the mining industry has not.

House Rejects Bush Administration's Misguided Water Policy
Polluters pressure the Bush administration to remove Clean Water Act safeguards.

Forest Service Throws Out Critical Forest Protections -- Again!
For years, the Bush administration has been trying to weaken protections for our nation's public forests by promoting more logging and clear cutting, less protection for wildlife and water resources, and less citizen involvement in the forest planning process.

Polar Bears on Thin Ice
Dramatically rising temperatures in the Arctic are melting the sea ice where polar bears live, hunt, and breed, putting the future of this majestic predator in jeopardy as their habitat melts away.

Taking the Public Out of Our Public Lands
Safeguards designed to protect public lands are in danger! The Bush administration may begin more harmful activities on our public lands...

Protect the Rockies From Misguided Energy Development
The Rocky Mountains are known for their rugged landscape, rushing rivers, and pristine wildlife. But today the health and beauty of the Rockies are being threatened by rampant oil and gas drilling across the region.

Global Warming is Pushing Wildlife Towards Extinction: Countless Imperiled Species Need Our Help
Global climate change is threatening our wildlife, including those already on the brink of extinction.

A Big Win For America's Rainforest, And Your Wallet
America's largest temperate rainforest has finally been given a break. This is good news for your wallet too...

Selling Off An Arctic Treasure Piece by Piece
Ignoring decades of valuable conservation, the Bush adminstration is trying to open protected areas of the Arctic to oil and gas companies.

The Army Corps Should Stop Rubberstamping Destruction of Our Waters
The Army Corps of Engineers is currently trying to weaken important water protections which would cause significant harm to our wetlands and streams.

Grazing Regulations Roll-back Progress, Threaten Public Lands
Despite a court ruling, the progress made over the last decade in regulating livestock grazing on our public lands may be lost.

Highway Robbery - The Great Public Lands Giveaway
Behind closed doors and without seeking input from Congress or the public, the Department of Interior has prepared a new process for approving old claims to some real and fake highways on federal lands across the West, under an antiquated loophole known as RS 2477.

America's Arctic Refuge Should Be Protected for Future Generations
The wild and pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is safe from damaging oil and gas drilling . . . for now. The next step is to protect it permanently.

Liquid Coal: Undermining the Fight Against Global Warming
Liquid coal is a giant step backward in the fight to curb global warming.

The "Bad Samaritan" Bill Would Give Toxic Polluters a Free Ride
No true "Good Samaritan" would want to let mining companies or anyone else spread pollution that hurts people; and why would a "Good Samaritan" want to bypass critical environmental protections?

Dumping Toxic Mine Waste Into a Pristine Lake Would Set an Alarming Precedent
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has authorized a gold mining corporation to dump millions of tons of mine tailings directly into pristine Lower Slate Lake in Alaska!

Working for Limits on Toxic Mercury
Weak approaches to mercury pollution reduction and limits don't come close to resolving this dangerous issue...

A New Fight Against Mountaintop Removal Mining
Courageous women in Appalachia are fighting against mountaintop removal because, "the people and place they love are being destroyed in the name of cheap energy." These brave women need to share their story to the largest audience possible.

A Victory for Environmental Justice
Environmental justice advocates won an important victory when the Hastings amendment was adopted into the House Interior and EPA appropriations bill.