Earth Island's Plastic Pollution Coalition filed a lawsuit in the District of Columbia Superior Court against Danone Waters of America, LLC, maker of evian bottled water headquartered in the United States, for false and deceptive marketing in violation of the District of Columbia’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA). Danone Waters of America promotes evian as “sustainable,” “natural,” and “healthy,” despite these products containing health-harming microplastics and plastic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), and creating plastic pollution. The CPPA is a consumer protection law that prohibits a wide variety of deceptive and unconscionable business practices. The statute specifically provides that a public-interest organization, like Earth Island, may bring an action on behalf of consumers and the general public for relief from the unlawful conduct directed at consumers.
Plastic Pollution Coalition Files False Advertising Lawsuit Against Danone Waters of America for Representing evian Bottled Water as “Natural” and Sustainable
Complaint filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court against Danone Waters of America alleging claims under DC's Consumer Protection and Procedures Act.
Earth Island Institute, the International Marine Mammal Project (“IMMP”), and A Locally Empowered Response Team Project (“ALERT”) are suing the Army Corps for approving a sediment removal project in Barataria Bay that would divert immense volumes of sediment and freshwater from the Mississippi River to the Barataria Basin in southern Louisiana. The large-scale diversion will have serious adverse effects, including permanently altering the water quality in the Barataria Basin, impacting human health, and disrupting (or even destroying) commercially important fisheries, threatening the livelihoods and economic stability of many residents for decades into the future. Additionally, the diversion would modify and destroy the habitat of several endangered or threatened species, such as the piping plover, the red knot, the Kemp's ridley sea turtle, the loggerhead sea turtle, the green turtle, and a local population of resident bottlenose dolphins.
Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana alleging violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and Administrative Procedures Act.
International Marine Mammal Project
A Locally Empowered Response Team Project (“ALERT”)
Pollution and Toxics
Wildlife Protection
Environmental Justice
Oceans and Water
Earth Island's ALERT Project, along with a coalition of environmental justice groups and individuals, successfully sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to compel the issuance of rules on the use of chemical agents, such as Corexit, to clean up oil spills. Instead of mitigating environmental harm, Corexit dispersants have proven to be more toxic to humans and the environment than the oil alone. The use of dispersants like Corexit is an oil spill response method outlined in a set of federal regulations called the National Contingency Plan, which governs our nation’s oil and chemical pollution emergency responses. The Clean Water Act directs EPA to periodically review the plan and update it to account for new information and new technology. But the EPA has not updated the plan since 1994, and that update did not even incorporate lessons learned from the long-term ecosystem studies following the Exxon Valdez disaster that occurred on March 24, 1989 — much less the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster.
In response to public pressure from Dr. Riki Ott, ALERT's project director, and other plaintiffs involved in the filing, the EPA finally initiated a rulemaking proceeding and invited public comment on the use of Corexit in oil spill response actions. By the time the rulemaking comment period closed in April 2015, the agency had received more than 81,000 responses, the majority of which called for reducing the use of chemical dispersants while decreasing their toxicity and increasing their efficacy. But, EPA never concluded the rulemaking process.
As a result of this lawsuit, the EPA finalized its rulemaking on May 31, 2023. This ruling impacts approximately 133 million Americans who live near the coasts, making up 39 percent of the U.S. population, and the millions more who live near lakes, rivers, or along oil pipeline corridors and who are in harm’s way of the next “big one.”
A fact sheet on Corexit is available here.
US government toughens rules on chemicals used to break up oil slicks
EPA signs the final rule governing dispersant chemicals.
Court Orders EPA to Address Use of Oil Dispersants on Offshore Spills
Judge grants plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment and orders EPA to update it plan for offshore oil spills.
Plaintiffs file a motion for summary judgment asking the court to compel EPA to update its 25-year-old plan for oil spill response.
Judge's ruling on EPA chemical dispersants lawsuit impacts Alaska
'Game-changer' ruling could restrict chemical dispersants on next big oil spill
Judge: EPA Must Update 26-Year-Old Plan for Offshore Oil Spills
Judge denies government's motion to dismiss Clean Water Act claim, and denies American Petroleum Institute's motion to intervene.
EPA Is Getting Sued Over the Toxic Chemicals Used to Clean Up Oil Spills
Lawsuit: EPA Has Dragged Feet on Oil Spill Dispersant Rules
Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California to compel EPA to issue rules restricting use of chemical agents such as Corexit to clean up oil spills.
Chemical that EPA allows to help clean up oil spills sickens people and fish, lawsuit claims
Thirty years after Exxon Valdez, the response to oil spills is still all wrong
Coastal Communities Demand EPA Update Decades-Old Spill Regulations
Environmental Advocates Announce Lawsuit Over EPA's Dangerously Outdated Response Plan for Oil Spills
Notice of Intent to Sue sent to EPA for its failure under the Clean Water Act to update the National Contingency Plan with respect to the use of chemical dispersants during oil spill response actions.
Claudia Polsky, Berkeley Environmental Law Clinic
Kristen Monsell, Center for Biological Diversity
Pollution and Toxics
Raptors Are The Solution (RATS) filed a lawsuit against rodenticide manufacturer Bell Laboratories, Inc., in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia under the District’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA) for misleading consumers with false statements about its deadly rat poison products. Specifically, RATS alleges that Bell Laboratories’ statements that its rodenticides are “sustainable” and “#earthfriendly” are designed to appeal to the growing constituency of consumers in the District of Columbia and around the country who care about supporting environmentally-friendly companies, and use their purchasing power to manifest this care. Their products, however, are far from “sustainable” as they are infiltrating the natural food web and causing widespread poisoning of wildlife. The CPPA allows nonprofits such as RATS to bring a suit on behalf of the general public for a company’s misrepresentations about its products and services. The matter was resolved to the satisfaction of all parties
District of Columbia Superior Court denies the motion to dismiss the case submitted by Bell Laboratories.
Wildlife Advocacy Group Sues Rat Poison Manufacturer Bell Laboratories, Inc., over Misleading Product Claims.
Complaint filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court against Bell Laboratories, Inc., alleging claims under DC's Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
Raptors Are The Solution (RATS) filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act for failing to adequately analyze the impacts of anticoagulant rat poisons on the state’s raptors and other wildlife. Specifically, RATS challenges the department's renewal of the registrations for various rodenticides without considering the magnitude of their impacts, including mortality, sublethal impacts, and genetic impacts. In 2018, as a result of the lawsuit, DPR agreed to reevaluate second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. The lawsuit remains active as it is also requesting that DPR reevaluate diphacinone, a first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide that has been linked to immune system impacts in bobcats and other wildlife, and to deaths and illnesses in many other wildlife species.
California regulators will reassess widely used rat poison
California's First District Court of Appeal reverses the trial court and rules that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation must fully consider evidence of diphacinone impacts on non-target wildlife.
Owls of the Bell Tower: Learning from the loss of Ferndale's feathered family
Raptors Are The Solution filed petition for writ of mandate against the California Department of Pesticide Regulation in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Alameda.
Michael W. Graf, Michael W. Graf Law Offices
Deborah Sivas, Stanford Law School Environmental Law Clinic
Wildlife Protection
Rise St. James, a fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island, along with co-plaintiffs, Inclusive Louisiana and Mount Baptist Church, filed a civil rights lawsuit against St. James Parish, the St. James Parish Council, and the St. James Parish Planning Commission to challenge the discriminatory and harmful land-use plan in St. James Parish that concentrates polluting industries in majority Black districts of the parish.The land-use plan violates both the equal protection and the substantive due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. This lawsuit is brought under the Thirteenth Amendment, challenging the land-use plan as a badge and incident of slavery; the Fourteenth Amendment, arguing that the land-use plan violates both Equal Protection and substantive Due Process; 42 U.S.C. 1982, challenging the devaluation of property because of polluting industry and restrictions on subdivision as limiting; and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, challenging land-use ordinance for its discrimination against non-Catholic churches and the substantial burden it places on the religious practices of Black residents by blocking access to the grave sites of their ancestors. Earth Island Institute along with Rise St. James aims to address the land-use issue by challenging the permissions granted to both the Formosa Plastics complex and the South Louisiana Methanol project, as well as enjoining further industrial land-use permissions until the discrimination can be remedied.
Plaintiffs file landmark civil rights lawsuit against St. James Parish, St. James Parish Council, and St. James Parish Planning Commission in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Earth Island Institute filed a lawsuit against the Coca-Cola Company, the American multinational beverage corporation, for its false and deceptive portrayal as a sustainable and environmentally friendly company while in reality generating more plastic pollution than any other company in the world. Earth Island Institute filed the case in the District of Columbia Superior Court, alleging that Coca-Cola is in violation of the District of Columbia’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA). The CPPA is a consumer protection law that prohibits a wide variety of deceptive and unconscionable business practices. The statute specifically provides that a public-interest organization, like Earth Island, may bring an action on behalf of consumers and the general public for relief from the unlawful conduct directed at consumers. If successful, this lawsuit will prevent Coca-Cola from falsely advertising its business as sustainable, among other things.
District of Columbia Court of Appeals reverses and remands case back to lower court to proceed on the merits
The District of Colombia Solicitor General files an amicus brief in support of Earth Island's CPPA claim against Coca-Cola
Enviro Group Wants Coca-Cola 'Greenwashing' Suit Revived
Earth Island Institute files an appeal following a motion to dismiss in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
Federal District Court grants Earth Island's motion to remand case back to D.C. Superior Court.
Bay Area group sues Coca-Cola over plastic pollution 'greenwashing'
Environmental Group Files Lawsuit Against Coca-Cola for False Advertising
Complaint filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court against Coca-Cola alleging claims under DC's Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
Project Coyote and WildEarth Guardians filed a lawsuit in Montana State Court to halt the state’s extreme anti-wolf hunting and trapping policies. The lawsuit was filed during Montana’s 2022/23 hunting season. During this year, Montana’s wolf hunting and trapping regulations allowed the killing of up to 456 wolves — at least 40 percent of the statewide wolf population. The regulations also allowed the use of strangulation neck snares, bait, and nighttime hunting on private lands with spotlights, thermal imaging, and night vision. The complaint alleges that the State of Montana, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission are in violation of the Montana Constitution, Montana Administrative Procedure Act (MAPA), Public Trust Doctrine, and several federal laws meant to protect wildlife on federally managed lands.
Montana State Court denies the State’s motion to dismiss and motion to strike the plaintiffs' amended complaint.
Project Coyote and co-plaintiffs file an amended complaint in Montana State Court.
Montana State Court grants in part plaintiffs' motion for a temporary restraining order to prevent acceleration of wolf kills.
Project Coyote files lawsuit in Montana State Court challenging wolf hunting and trapping in Montana.
Rise St. James and other regional and national environmental groups appealed the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's decision to issue 15 initial air permits to FG LA, LLC (a member of Formosa Plastics Group) for the construction of 10 chemical plants and four related support units for a new petrochemical complex in St. James Parish, Louisiana. If built, these plants would be one of the largest plastics facilities in the world, would cover much of the landscape in St. James Parish, and would be responsible for a massive discharge of toxic chemicals into the air and water — enormous environmental consequences in an area that already bears a heavy burden of pollution due to the concentration of polluting industries there.
Through this lawsuit, along with years of campaign efforts, Rise St. James is calling for environmental justice in South Louisiana.
Louisiana's 19th Judicial District Court issued a ruling to vacate all 15 Formosa air permits and remanded the matter to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality in accordance with its ruling.
This litigation concerns the 2020 national air toxics standards for Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing plants (MON chemical plants). Rise St. James and co-petitioners have petitioned for reconsideration and judicial review to strengthen these standards to protect public health and the environment from proposed and existing MON chemical plants' pollution, and have intervened to oppose the industry's challenge to these rules to prevent weakening them.
Earth Island Institute filed a lawsuit against BlueTriton Brands (formerly Nestlé Waters North America) for its false and deceptive representation as a sustainable and environmentally friendly company despites its significant and ongoing contributions to plastic pollution and its depletion of natural water resources. Earth Island filed the case in the District of Columbia Superior Court, alleging that BlueTriton is in violation of DC's Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA). The CPPA is a consumer protection law that prohibits a wide variety of deceptive and unconscionable business practices. If successful, this lawsuit will prevent BlueTriton from falsely advertising its business as sustainable, among other things.
BlueTriton Brands, formerly operated as Nestlé Waters North America, is one of the largest plastic-producing companies in the world, and owns a variety of beverage brands, including Poland Spring® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water (“Poland Spring”), Deer Park® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water (“Deer Park”), Ozarka® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water (“Ozark”), Ice Mountain® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, Zephyrhills® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water (“Zephyrills”), Arrowhead® Brand Mountain Spring Water (“Arrowhead”), Pure Life® (“Pure Life”), and Splash.
D.C. Superior Court denies BlueTriton Brands' motion to dismiss Earth Island's lawsuit
Bottled Water Giant BlueTriton Admits Claims of Recycling and Sustainability Are "Puffery"
Federal district court grants Earth Island's motion to remand case back to D.C. Superior Court.
Environmental Group Files Lawsuit Against BlueTriton Brands (Formerly Nestlé) for False Advertising
Complaint filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court against BlueTriton Brands alleging claims under DC's Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
Earth Island Institute filed the first major lawsuit of its kind against Crystal Geyser Water Company; The Clorox Company; The Coca-Cola Company; PepsiCo, Inc.; Nestlé USA, Inc.; Mars, Incorporated; Danone North America; Mondelez Global LLC; Colgate-Palmolive Company; and The Procter & Gamble Company for polluting our waterways, coasts, and oceans with millions of tons of plastic packaging. The lawsuit was filed in California State Superior Court in the County of San Mateo alleging violations of the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act, public nuisance, breach of express warranty, defective product liability, negligence, and failure to warn of the harms caused by their plastic packaging. Through this lawsuit, Earth Island is seeking, among other things, to recover the significant resources it expends to prevent and mitigate the effects of plastic pollution on humans, wildlife, oceans, and waterways in California, where the impacts are particularly acute.
California state court denies defendants' efforts to dismiss the case
Earth Island Adds Unfair Competition Claim in Plastic Pollution Lawsuit
Earth Island Institute files first amended complaint in California State Superior Court in the County of San Mateo
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Major Consumer Goods Companies Must Face Plastic Pollution Lawsuit Brought by Environmental Group in California
California state court denies specially appearing defendants' motion to quash summons and dismiss case for lack of personal jurisdiction
California Green Group Trying to Make Big Plastic Pay for Scourge of Pollution
Environmental Group Wins Key Step in Battle Against Big Plastic
Federal district court grants Earth Island's motion to remand case back to California state court.
Once Case at a Time, Lawyers Fight to Save the Planet
Earth Island Institute argues for keeping plastic pollution case in California state court
Disposable plastic is bad for the environment, but is it illegal? Coca-Cola and Pepsi are about to find out
Coke and Pepsi Are Getting Sued for Lying about Recycling
Lawsuit in California targets plastics pollution from Coca-Cola, Pepsi and other companies
Earth Island Sues 10 Companies, Including Coke, Pepsi, and Nestle, Over Plastic Use
Bay Area group sues Coke, Pepsi, other giants over plastic pollution ‘poisoning everything’
Earth Island Institute Takes on Big Plastic
Complaint filed in California State Superior Court in the County of San Mateo against major food, beverage, and consumer goods companies alleging claims under tort and the California Consumer Remedies Act.
International Marine Mammal Project
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy
Pollution and Toxics
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| Naturally regenerating snag forest habitat that is prime foraging habitat for the endangered Pacific fisher and is being threatened by post-fire logging on the Stanislaus National Forest. (Rim Fire photo by Chad Hanson, John Muir Project.) |
Earth Island's John Muir Project goes to court to enforce federal environmental laws in national forests, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), in order to ensure that federal public forestlands are managed to provide optimal ecological conditions to support and restore the full complement of native biodiversity in these forest ecosystems, which have been severely degraded and damaged by decades of commercial logging and suppression of wildland fires.
On August 10, 2023, the John Muir Project and several co-plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the United States Forest Service to stop logging of mature trees on approximately 13,000 acres of remote wildlands in the Big Bear area of San Bernardino National Forest. The case alleges that the agency approved this project in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act, its own regulations, and the National Forest Management Act. The Law Offices of Babak Naficy is representing John Muir Project in this case.
On June 13, 2022, the John Muir Project filed a lawsuit against the United States National Park Service to stop a large, unprecedented logging project in Yosemite National Park. The logging project is being conducted without any environmental analysis or public input. The lawsuit alleges violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Administrative Procedures Act, and the National Park Service Organic Act. Tom Buchele of Earthrise Law Center is representing the John Muir Project in this case.
January 26, 2023: Case Update
Earth Island Institute files a reply brief in the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
September 6, 2022: Case Update
Earth Island Insitute files a related complaint for injuctive and declaratory relief in response to defendants faliure to respond to a Freedom of Information Act within the required time and manner
August 16, 2022: In the News - Washington Post
California’s giant sequoias are burning up. Will logging save them?
July 30, 2022: In the News - New York Times
The Case Against Commercial Logging in Wildfire-Prone Forests
July 16, 2022: In the News - San Francisco Chronicle
California is desperate to stop mega-fires. But controversy rages over tree thinning
July 5, 2022: Press Release
Logging Halted in Yosemite National Park
On April 27, 2022, the John Muir Project, in coalition with environmental, business, and recreational organizations, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service over its decision to allow commercial logging and vegetation removal atop Pine Mountain and Reyes Peak in Los Padres National Forest. The project area is located on ancestral lands of the Chumash, and is designated critical habitat for the endangered California condor. The lawsuit alleges violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, Roadless Area Conservation Rule, Endangered Species Act, and National Forest Management Act. Environmental Defense Center is representing the John Muir Project in this case.
On July 10, 2019, the John Muir Project, Los Padres Forestwatch, and Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its proposal to allow logging in a roadless area that contains as many as 50 California condor roosting sites. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges improper use of a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act and a violation of the Endangered Species Act. Justin Augustine of the Center for Biological Diversity is representing the John Muir Project in this case.
On July 9, 2019, the John Muir Project and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service alleging various claims under the Administrative Procedures Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The challenge relates to the agency's proposal to remove mostly live trees on over 9,000 acres in the Inyo National Forest, near Mammoth Lakes, California. Tom Buchele of EarthRise Law Center and Justin Augustine of the Center for Biological Diversity are representing the John Muir Project in this case.
Since its inception, Project Coyote, a fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute, has been working to reform U.S. predator management as conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program. Counties across the west contract with the federal program to kill native wild animals largely at the behest of ranchers and farmers. As a result, Wildlife Services indiscriminately kills millions of animals nationwide each year. And despite the adverse environmental impacts caused by the loss of these animals, counties regularly fail to conduct an environmental analysis when renewing their contracts with Wildlife Services.
On March 1, 2022, Project Coyote and Feather River Action! filed a lawsuit against Plumas and Sierra Counties for violating the California Environmental Quality Act by failing to conduct an environmental review of its $76,623 taxpayer-funded contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services program. This contract authorizes Wildlife Services, a highly controversial federal program, to kill hundreds of animals in these counties every year without assessing the ecological impacts of widespread killing and without considering alternative non-lethal management strategies. The parties reached a settlement in 2022 and, as a result, both counties have suspended their contracts with Wildlife Services and are conducting environmental reviews. Jessica L. Blome of Greenfire Law and Donald L. Lipmanson represented Project Coyote in this matter.
On February 3, 2020, Project Coyote and Mendocino Nonlethal Wildlife Alliance filed a lawsuit under the California Environmental Quality Act against Mendocino County over its renewal of a contract with the United States Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services for lethal control of predators and "nuisance" wildlife. Project Coyote contends that these contracts result in the killing of hundreds of animals annually throughout the county without adequate environmental review of the impacts. In a victory for Project Coyote and wildlife advocates, the Mendocino Board of Supervisors ultimately voted to terminate their contract with Wildlife Services. Donald L. Lipmanson represented Project Coyote in this matter.
On August 27, 2019, Project Coyote joined several organizations in a lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture over its failure to update its National Environmental Policy Act analysis for the "Wildlife Damage Management" program in the Sacramento District. Despite the outdated analysis, the agency continues to move forward with these programs across California, which resulted in the killing of more than 30,000 native animals in California in 2017. The parties reached a settlement in April 2020. Cristina Stella of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Collette Adkins of Center for Biological Diversity represented Project Coyote in this matter.
Every year, Shasta County contracts with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services program for the lethal control of predators and other wildlife it considers to be a nuisance. These contracts result in the killing of thousands of animals annually. On June 6, 2018, Project Coyote joined several other organizations in submitting a letter to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors that details how these contracts are a violation of the California Environmental Quality Act, the California Endangered Species Act, the public trust doctrine, and other laws. As a result of this notice letter, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors terminated its contract with Wildlife Services. Christina Stella of Animal Legal Defense Fund represented Project Coyote in this matter.
On June 21, 2017, Project Coyote joined several organizations in a lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture over its failure to update its National Environmental Policy Act analysis for the "Wildlife Damage Management" program in California's North District. Despite killing millions of animals annually, Wildlife Services continued to support its program with wildlife management science from the 1980s and earlier. As a result of this lawsuit, Wildlife Services entered into a settlement agreement that, among other things, created an enforceable timeline for completion of a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision and required the implementation of various best practices for wildlife management in the North District. Collette Adkins and Jennifer Loda of the Center for Biological Diversity represented Project Coyote in this matter.
Monterey County enters into annual contracts with wildlife trappers employed by United States Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services Program for the lethal control of predators and other wildlife it considers to be a nuisance. Despite the fact that these contracts result in the killing of thousands of animals annually, the county enters into these contracts without any environmental review. On June 1, 2016, Project Coyote joined several other organizations in a lawsuit against Monterey County for violations of the California Environmental Quality Act as a result of the execution of the lethal predator control program. On August 9, 2017, the court found in favor of the plaintiffs and held that Monterey County violated the California Environmental Quality Act by failing to analyze environmental and ecological impacts prior to renewal of the contract with Wildlife Services. Attorneys from Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati represented Project Coyote in this matter.
August 15, 2017: In The News - Court rules against Monterey County over predator control program
Photo by Frédéric Vigne
Project Coyote, in coalition with several organizations, sued the state of Wisconsin over its decision to authorize a quota of 300 wolves for the November 2021 wolf hunt, on top of the 218 known killed in a February 2021 hunt. The combination of two killing seasons in a single year with high quotas raised concerns among advocates and scientists about the survival of the Wisconsin wolf population at risk. The lawsuit alleged that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board disregarded the recommendations from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and chose to set an arbitrary and unsustainable kill level without regard for the health and well-being of the wolf population or sustainable ecosystems in which the wolves play an integral role. The lawsuit also alleged that the 2011 law that requires Wisconsin to hold an annual wolf hunt is unconstitutional. It asked the Dane County Circuit Court to overturn the law, reverse the quota set by the board, and enjoin the Wisconsin DNR from issuing licenses for the November hunt. The parties dismissed the lawsuit as a result of the gray wolf regaining endangered species status.
Dane County judge temporarily bars Wisconsin's wolf hunt, orders DNR to set quota of zero wolves
State Judge Issues “Dramatic Decision” in Striking Down Wisconsin Wolf Hunt
Judge grants plaintiffs' request for an injunction and requires that the Wisconsin DNR set the quota at zero wolves for the upcoming wolf trophy hunt.
Complaint filed in Dane County Circuit Court to stop the fall 2021 wolf hunt and overturn the law requiring an annual wolf hunt.
Animal & Earth Advocates
Greenfire Law
Laffey, Leitner & Goode
Wildlife Protection
Earth Island’s John Muir Project goes to court to enforce federal environmental laws in national forests, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), in order to ensure that federal public forestlands are managed to provide optimal ecological conditions to support and restore the full complement of native biodiversity in these forest ecosystems, which have been severely degraded and damaged by decades of commercial logging and suppression of wildland fires. Below is an overview of our past cases (see "Challenging Destructive Logging Projects on Federal Land" on our Current Cases page for our active litigation.)
On March 26, 2021, the John Muir Project, along with Unite the Parks and Sequoia Forestkeeper, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service over the decision to allow logging in the central Sierra Nevada mountain range, which constituted habitat for the endangered Pacific fisher. The lawsuit alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. On April 20, 2021, the plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to halt the Forest Service from moving forward with logging in Summer 2021. Rene M. Voss represented the John Muir Project in this case.
On September 16, 2019, the John Muir Project, Sequoia Forestkeeper, Greenpeace, and Dr. James Hansen filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and the U.S. Forest Service challenging HUD's approval of disaster relief funds for clearcut logging in newly regenerated forestland, which serves as important wildlife habitat, and an associated biomass power plant. The lawsuit alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, Administrative Procedures Act, HUD regulations, and the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013. Meriel L. Darzen of Crag Law Center and Daniel Galpern represented the John Muir Project in this case.
On July 29, 2019, the John Muir Project, Mountain Communities for Fire Safety, and Lost Padres Forestwatch filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service challenging a commercial logging project that would cut medium to large trees and eliminate native shrubs in the Cuddy Valley community. The lawsuit alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Forest Management Act. Rene M. Voss represented the John Muir Project in this case.
On March 7, 2018, the John Muir Project and Sequoia Forestkeeper filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service challenging two tree removal projects, one in Sequoia National Forest (Bull Run project) and the other in the Giant Sequoia National Monument (Spear Creek project). In both instances, the Forest Service bypassed environmental review requirements by relying on the use of categorical exclusions, despite the existence of extraordinary circumstances, which prevent the use of categorical exclusions. Rene P. Voss and Matt Kenna represented the John Muir Project in this case.
On December 12, 2016, the John Muir Project and Sequoia Forestkeeper filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service over its failure to consider significant new circumstances and information with respect to three proposed timber sales. Additionally, the Forest Service failed to consider the combined potential of these projects to adversely affect Pacific fisher, California spotted owl, and northern goshawk habitat. As a result of this legal challenge, the Forest Service prepared additional environmental analysis of the project. Rene P. Voss and Matt Kenna represented the John Muir Project in this case.
On September 29, 2016, the John Muir Project and Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit challenging the United States Forest Service over its proposed green tree timber sale in California spotted owl habitat. Specifically, they challenged the use of a categorical exclusion to avoid environmental analysis of this project, which allowed for the logging of live and dead trees across 2,700 acres of Tahoe National Forest. Justin Augustine of Center for Biological Diversity and Rene P. Ross represented the John Muir Project in this case.
On August 31, 2015, the John Muir Project and Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California challenging the environmental analysis conducted by the U.S. Forest Service for a logging project in the French Fire area of Sierra National Forest. Specifically, the lawsuit challenged the failure to provide for notice and comment on the project's impacts, failure to take a "hard look" at the impacts in the roadless areas, and failure to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. As a result of this challenge, the court enjoined the Forest Service from conducting further logging in the roadless areas unless and until it provided for notice and comment, and responded to those comments. Attorneys from the Center for Biological Diversity represented the John Muir Project in this case.
On July 30, 2015, the John Muir Project joined Center for Biological Diversity in seeking an injunction against the U.S. Forest Service overs its plan to allow logging on about 14,000 acres in Lassen National Forest. The proposed logging threatened burned forest habitat, which is critical habitat for the black-backed woodpecker. Justin Augustine of the Center for Biological Diversity and Sean Malone represented the John Muir Project in this case.
In July 2014, the John Muir Project joined Center for Biological Diversity in seeking an injunction against the U.S. Forest Service over its plan to allow logging on almost two thousand acres in Sierra National Forest. The area of the proposed logging was important habitat for the California spotted owl, the Pacific fisher, and the black-backed woodpecker. Rachel Fazio, associate director and staff attorney of the John Muir Project, and Justin Augustine of the Center for Biological Diversity represented the John Muir Project in this case.
On July 22, 2014, the John Muir Project joined Center for Biological Diversity in seeking an injunction against the United States Forest service over its plan to allow logging on tens of thousands of acres in Tahoe National Forest. The proposed logging threatened burned forest habitat, which is critical habitat of the black-backed woodpecker. Rachel Fazio, associate director and staff attorney of the John Muir Project, and Justin Augustine of the Center for Biological Diversity represented the John Muir Project in this case.
On September 4, 2014, the John Muir Project joined two other organizations in seeking an injunction against the U.S. Forest Service over its plan to allow logging in 52 square miles of the Stanislaus National Forest. The proposed logging threatened critical California spotted owl habitat and sought to prevent logging on 40 percent of the area in order to create a buffer between nests and roosting sites and logging operations. Rachel Fazio, associate director and staff attorney of the John Muir Project, and Justin Augustine of the Center for Biological Diversity represented the John Muir Project in this case.
On August 11, 2008, the John Muir Project filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California challenging the scientific integrity and accuracy of the environmental assessment conducted by the U.S. Forest Service for a timber sale in the Champs area of Lassen National Forest. As a result of this challenge, the court enjoined the Forest Service from moving forward with the timber sale contracts until completion of an adequate and sufficient environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. Rachel Fazio, associate director and staff attorney of the John Muir Project, and Rene P. Voss represented the John Muir Project in this case.
The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) joined several organizations and individual scientists in a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) over the agency's position that it does not have the lawful authority to enforce permit provisions requiring the submission of necropsy reports and veterinary records of the deceased orcas Tilikum, Kasatka, and Kyara. Tilikum and Kasatka, two orcas featured in the 2013 documentary Blackfish, and Tilikum’s granddaughter, Kyara, all died in 2017 of reported lung infections. The permits that were issued to import Tilikum and Kasatka specify that SeaWorld must submit these records to NMFS upon the orcas' deaths — a stipulation that, in Tilikum's case, also applies to his progeny, including Kyara. NMFS did not obtain these records and now claim, without legal justification, that the 1994 amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act voided those provisions. As a result of the agency's position, the public is denied access to vital information about the impacts of captivity on orcas, as well as data that can inform the rescue and treatment of injured or ill marine mammals in the wild. Briefing and oral argument on appeal has concluded.
Why did SeaWorld killer whales die? Animal activists sue for release of necropsy reports
Animal activists sue for SeaWorld necropsy reports while Orlando company faces other lawsuits
Trump Administration Sued Over SeaWorld Necropsy Reports for Captive Orcas
Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia over NMFS's failure to enforce certain permit provisions following the deaths of Tilikum, Kasatka, and Kyara.
International Marine Mammal Project
Don Baur, Perkins Coie
Lizzie Lewis, Eubanks & Associates
Wildlife Protection
On January 8, 2019, the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) sued the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Interior (DOI) over its failure to respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request related to its offshore drilling plans. In January 2018, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and the Trump administration announced its proposal to lease 90 percent of the U.S. offshore area for oil and gas drilling, threatening massive oil spills, chronic oil contamination, dumping of toxic drilling muds, and loud noise from air gun blasting of sediments and oil drilling operations. Despite minimal public outreach in the states affected by offshore drilling and overwhelming public opposition, the administration moved forward with its proposal. IMMP submitted a FOIA request in March 2018 in order to shed light on which third parties Secretary Zinke met with prior to its offshore drilling decision, how DOI developed its public outreach plan, and whether DOI actually took into consideration comments received from the public. Prior to filing our complaint, the Office of the Secretary had not provided a single document.
The Office of the Secretary at the Department of Interior releases its ninth and final set of documents in response to our FOIA request.
The Office of the Secretary at the Department of Interior releases its eighth set of documents in response to our FOIA request.
The Office of the Secretary at the Department of Interior releases its seventh set of documents in response to our FOIA request.
The Office of the Secretary at the Department of Interior releases its sixth set of documents in response to our FOIA request.
The Office of the Secretary at the Department of Interior releases its fifth set of documents in response to our FOIA request.
The Office of the Secretary at the Department of Interior releases its fourth set of documents in response to our FOIA request.
The Office of the Secretary at the Department of Interior releases its third set of documents in response to our FOIA request.
The Office of the Secretary at the Department of Interior releases its second set of documents in response to our FOIA request.
The Office of the Secretary at the Department of Interior releases its first set of documents in response to our FOIA request.
Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia over DOI's failure to respond to IMMP's FOIA request.
International Marine Mammal Project
Institute for Public Representation, Georgetown University Law Center
Oceans and Water
The International Marine Mammal Project joined a coalition of environmental and animal rights groups in an action against the U.S. Navy regarding its plan to "deploy" Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at the Bangor Naval Submarine Base in the state of Washington. Specifically, the plaintiffs challenged the Navy's failure to conduct an environmental analysis for its controversial plan to take dolphins from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the cold waters off Washington for military use. The court agreed with the plaintiffs about the necessity of an environmental analysis. As a result, the Navy abandoned its plan and implemented a policy that prohibited the movement of dolphins between environments with radically different water temperatures.
Court denies defendants' motion to dismiss.
This lawsuit was filed 1/30/12 on behalf of EII and CBD in State Court in Alameda County. In 12/2011, in response to a Petition filed by JMP and CBD to list the Black-backed Woodpecker as Threatened under the California ESA, the Commission listed the species as a Candidate species for ultimate listing under CESA. Shortly thereafter, the Commission issued an emergency regulation which eliminated all projects which would potentially afect habitat for this species from having to apply for incidental take permit prior to proceeding with logging on private lands. This suit alleges that under CEQA preparation of an EIR was required prior to approving such an exemption. Suit settled.
John Muir Project
Chatten-Brown and Carstens LLP
Wildlife Protection
Plastic Pollution Coalition filed a series of Clean Water Act citizen suits against plastic manufacturers for discharges to waterways that contained plastic and other pollutants. As a result of these lawsuits, Plastic Pollution Coalition obtained settlements to remediate plastic pollution and to mitigate its impacts in the San Francisco Bay watershed.
It's taken seven years, but California is finally cleaning up microbead pollution: Nonprofits are using the state's new stormater requirements to sue plastic manufacturers for polluting waterways - and they are winning
Rachel Doughty, Greenfire Law, PC
Pollution and Toxics
Earth Island Institute, along with two individual plaintiffs, sued Southern California Edison over Clean Water Act violations at its San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Specifically, we alleged that both the water intake from and discharges to the Pacific Ocean had substantial adverse ecological and environmental effects on the marine ecosystem. The parties ultimately arrived at a settlement that provided numerous environmental and educational benefits. First, Southern California Edison paid $7.5 million for the acquisition and restoration of wetlands in the San Dieguito lagoon and river valley. Second, Southern California Edison paid $2 million to the San Diego State University Foundation and the Pacific Estuary Research Laboratory to fund wetlands restoration and research. Third, Southern California Edison paid $5.5 million to an undertaking with Earth Island Institute to develop a marine educational program at Redondo Beach, California, for increasing public awareness of and appreciation for the marine environment. Subsequent to court approval of the settlement, the parties sought an amendment to the agreement in light of Southern California Edison's failure to complete the wetland restoration work in the San Dieguito lagoon area. Under the revised agreement, Southern California Edison allocated the bulk of the $7.5 million, plus accrued interest, towards two Wetland Restoration Trust Funds. Earth Island Institute and another organization each administered one fund for the restoration of crucial wetlands throughout Southern California.
Court enters amended consent decree after Southern California Edison's failure to complete the wetland restoration work in the San Dieguito lagoon area.
Court awards additional attorney fees of $88,068 to plaintiffs for consent decree compliance monitoring.
Court awards attorney fees of $1,408,594.94 to plaintiffs.
Court approval of settlement with plaintiffs.
Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California against Southern California Edison for violations of the Clean Water Act at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Generating Station.
Charles Crandall, Milberg Weiss LLP
Josh Floum, Legal Strategies Group
Oceans and Water
The International Marine Mammal Project and several other organizations intervened in support of the National Marine Fisheries Service in a challenge over its denial of a permit to the Georgia Aquarium. Specifically, the Georgia Aquarium sought a permit to import 18 wild-caught beluga whales from Russia despite the negative impacts of removing these whales from the wild. The National Marine Fisheries Service and the intervening plaintiffs prevailed, and the Georgia Aquarium was denied a permit to hold these whales in captivity.
Court affirms denial of beluga whale import permit.
Georgia court weighs destiny of 18 captured beluga whales.
Court grants motion to intervene.
International Marine Mammal Project and several other organizations moved to intervene in Georgia Aquarium, Inc. v. Pritzker filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
International Marine Mammal Project
Donald Stack, Stack & Associates P.C.
Wildlife Protection
Kids vs. Global Warming, a former project of Earth Island, joined five individual teenagers and another organization in the landmark federal climate lawsuit premised on the public trust doctrine. The lawsuit sought to require the federal government to immediately implement steps to reduce greenhouse gases in order to avoid warming beyond two degrees Celsius, as proscribed by Dr. James Hansen and other leading international climate scientists. This case, although supported by prominent groups and individuals across the country, was ultimately dismissed, but it did lay the foundation for the current Atmospheric Trust Litigation.
United States Supreme Court denies plaintiffs' request.
Plaintiffs file a petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeals affirms the district court decision.
Plaintiffs file brief in support of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia of the district court's decision.
Court grants the federal government defedants' and fossil fuel intervenors' motion to dismiss.
Public trust doctrine lawsuit asks for protection of atmosphere as a public resource
The young and the restless: Kids sue government over climate change
22 law professors file an amicus brief in support of youth and the public trust doctrine.
Case is transferred to D.C. because of its national significance and for the convenience of the federal government.
Why is 17-year-old Alec Loorz suing the government over global warming?
Plaintiffs file for a preliminary injunction to compel immediate government action on climate change.
Plaintiffs file an amended complaint.
Why one 16-year-old is suing the US government over climate change
Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Interior, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Commerce, the United States Department of Energy, and the United States Department of Defense.
Kids vs. Global Warming
Philip L. Gregory, Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP
Julia Olson, Wild Earth Advocates
Climate Change Solutions
Project Coyote, in coalition with other organizations, has fought to put an end to wildlife killing contests. These “tournaments” or “derbies” often occur on public land and result in the cruel and senseless killing each year of thousands of coyotes, foxes, bobcats, prairie dogs, crows, and wolves. Children as young as ten are encouraged to participate, and social media pages show them posing with assault rifles beside the bodies of the animals they killed. These contests send a chilling message that killing is fun, wild animals are disposable, and life is cheap. The contests serve no ecological purpose and are instead at odds with all principles of conservation biology and ecosystem-based management. As such, Project Coyote and its partners turned to the courts as part of their broader efforts to end these killing contests.
On November 13, 2014, Project Coyote and other wildlife conservation organizations filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho against the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management over its issuance of a Special Recreation Permit to a group called Idaho for Wildlife. The five-year permit provides that Idaho for Wildlife may conduct an annual three-day hunting contest targeting predators on 3.1 million acres of federal land in Eastern Idaho. The permit further allows for up to 500 participants in the derby each year. Cash and prizes will be awarded for the most coyotes and wolves and other predators that are killed. On August 20, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the case as moot based on the lack of pending permit applications for future killing contests. Attorneys at the Center for Biological Diversity represented Project Coyote in this matter.
In January 2014, Project Coyote joined with other animal-rights activists in a lawsuit against Duane Freilino, d/b/a Shooters Services Unlimited, and JMK Farms in an effort to end the annual JMK Coyote Hunting Contest in Crane, Harney County, Oregon. The contest, organized by Freilino, required hunters to "buy in" to the contest and top teams won cash prizes totaling more than $10,000. The lawsuit alleged that the killing contest and associated betting competition constituted a gambling enterprise, which is illegal and deemed a public nuisance in the state of Oregon. The case settled in July 2014 with an agreement from Freilino to never host another hunting contest in Oregon and to pay attorneys' fees. Attorneys at the Animal Legal Defense Fund represented Project Coyote in this matter.
Cultivate Oregon joined several other organizations as co-plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture over its withdrawal of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practice Rule. The rule would have strengthened the regulations for the care and well-being of animals on organic farms. Most notably, it would have established clear minimum spacing requirements and specified the quality of outdoor space that must be provided for organic poultry. Co-plaintiffs sought immediate implementation of the final rule and its improved livestock care standards. This case was decided on summary judgment.
Defenders of organic integrity win victory for transparency and open government.
Court grants plaintiffs' motion to compel USDA to complete the record with internal documents that were initially withheld.
Court upholds plaintiffs' right to challenge withdrawal of organic animal standards.
Trump administration sued for withdrawing welfare rules for animals certified "organic"
Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the United States Department of Agriculture.
George Kimbrell and Amy Van Saun, Center for Food Safety
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
Anderson et al vs. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Inc., in which the International Marine Mammal Project served an advisory role, challenged SeaWorld’s misleading and false advertising about the health and welfare of their captive orcas. This lawsuit was originally filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the City and County of San Francisco in April 2015. SeaWorld removed the case to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in May 2015. The trial concluded in Spring 2020.
Court denies SeaWorld's motion for judgment on the pleadings but grants SeaWorld's motion for a bifurcated trial.
Trial date is delayed to April 27, 2020.
Trial is set for October 21, 2019.
Plaintiffs seek early trial date to reveal the truth about SeaWorld's captive orcas.
Court denies SeaWorld's fourth attempt to terminate class action lawsuit.
Judge nixes SeaWorld's bid for sanctions against Covington & Burling in Killer Whale Case.
Court denies SeaWorld's motion for sanctions finding that plaintiffs have sufficient basis for their claims.
Court denies the bulk of SeaWorld's motion for summary judgment and finds that plaintiffs may proceed with most claims in their third amended complaint.
Court denies SeaWorld's motion to dismiss portions of plaintiffs' third amended complaint.
Plaintiffs file third amended complaint.
Court grants in part, and denies in part SeaWorld's motion to dismiss.
Plaintiffs file second amended complaint.
Court grants in part and denies in part SeaWorld's motion to dismiss.
Case removed to United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Plaintiffs file first amended complaint.
Latest SeaWorld lawsuit demands park end "false statements" on orca welfare.
Complaint filed in Superior Court of the State of California for the City and County of San Francisco.
International Marine Mammal Project
Christine Haskett, Covington & Burling LLP
Wildlife Protection
For decades, dolphins in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean were intentionally chased and netted by tuna fishermen to catch the tuna that swim beneath dolphin schools. Mexican, Venezuelan, and Colombian tuna fleets continue to chase, net, and drown thousands of dolphins annually. Mexico is fighting to overturn the Dolphin Safe tuna label, going to the World Trade Organization and the U.S. Congress to change U.S. laws so they can falsely label their tuna—stained by the blood of dolphins—as Dolphin Safe. And, to the surprise of many, the Marine Stewardship Council falsely certified Mexican dolphin-deadly fisheries as “sustainable". Earth Island Institute is working to address each of these issues, as well as bycatch of non-target species in tuna nets and in stopping fishermen from killing dolphins for shark bait.
This lawsuit will challenge Marine Stewardship Council for violations of the Lanham Act and potentially the Dolphin Protection and Information Act for the granting of a misleading and scientifically unsupportable ecolabel to the Mexican tuna industry for use on labels to be used in the US market. IMMP seeks to revoke the MSC certification of the Mexican tuna fishing industry's fishery and prohibit any such product from being sold in the US with a "sustainability" logo.
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International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP)
Michael Cohen & Sheppard Mullin
Wildlife Protection
Renew Missouri, a former project at Earth Island Institute, successfully litigated against an electric company and the Missouri Public Service Commission to enforce Missouri's Renewable Energy Standard, which was passed by a ballot initiative and required that all publicly regulated utilities offer solar rebates to their customers. Despite the clear mandate of the Renewable Energy Standard, the Missouri legislature and the Public Service Commission attempted to exempt one electric company from its solar requirements. As a result of Renew Missouri's efforts, the Supreme Court of Missouri upheld the will of the voters, as expressed in the Renewable Energy Standard, to bring clean energy to Missouri.
The Supreme Court of Missouri reverses the Public Service Commission decision and finds that providing an exemption from the solar requirements is inconsistent with Missouri's Renewable Energy Standard and thus invalid.
Renew Missouri files appeal in Supreme Court of Missouri of Public Service Commission decision.
Missouri's Public Service Commission finds in favor of Empire District Electric Company and holds that Empire could rely on legislation that provided an exemption from solar requirements.
Renew Missouri files complaint in Missouri's Public Service Commission to enforce the Renewable Energy Standard against Empire District Electric Company.
Renew Missouri
Henry B. Robertson and Kathleen G. Henry, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center
Climate Change Solutions
NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) lawsuit challenging logging in post-fire habitat created by the Rim Fire five years ago. John Muir Project challenged logging in these same units four years ago but most of that plan was never implemented. The logging plans are being revived but now money for the project is being channeled through CA Department of Housing and Community Development and US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The areas in question contain some of the best wildlife habitat on the Stanislaus National Forest. This year, John Muir Project found two Great gray owl nests, a California Spotted Owl territory, Black-backed and Hairy Woodpecker nests as well as dozens of other species of birds and mammal which are breeding and thriving in these snag forest patches. In addition the forest in areas that has not yet been logged is growing in vigorously, as are naive shrubs and wildflowers. Absent litigation these areas are scheduled to be cut as soon as next week (in the middle of nesting season), wildlife will be displaced or worse killed by the activities and their food source removed which could also lead to their demise. In addition, the vast majority (70 +%) of the regenerating forest (including young trees which are 5 feet tall) will be killed by a project that is being billed as “restoring” the forest.
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John Muir Projecy
Justin Augustine, Center for Biological Diversity
Environmental Protection
Earth Island and its International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) have played a central role in ending the practice of setting tuna nets on dolphins by the United States tuna industry, and influencing other countries to do the same. For reasons scientists still do not completely understand, large yellowfin tuna swim underneath schools of dolphins in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP), so tuna fisherman targeted dolphin schools with speed boats and helicopters, before encircling the dolphins in purse seine tuna nets. When the nets are pulled in like a purse around the tuna, the air breathing dolphins are often injured or drowned. Between 1959 and 1976, it is estimated that more than six million dolphins drowned in tuna nets in the ETP. In 1987, then Earth Island biologist Sam Labudde signed on as a cook on a Mexican purse seine tuna vessel, and surreptitiously filmed dolphins dying in tuna nets by the thousands. Labudde sent his footage to the U.S. Congress, which in response amended the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), in an effort to further safeguard these playful, intelligent mammals.
When the U.S. fleet appeared to ignore many of the protections of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, IMMP took the lead in a series of successful lawsuits against the Departments of Commerce and State, requiring the industry to safeguard dolphins while catching tuna. These cases were handled pro bono by Heller, Ehrman White & McAuliffe (by, among others, current Earth Island Board Directors Josh Floum and Deborah Sivas) and later by Legal Strategies Group and Holme, Roberts and Owen (Josh Floum and Board Director Ariela St. Pierre). Other lawyers notably involved on behalf of the dolphins were Robert Borton, Elizabeth Gunther, Michael Charlson, and Cynthia Koehler.
The parties to the lawsuits drew former Chief Judge Thelton E. Henderson of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, who authored several landmark animal protection decisions. On January 5, 1989, Judge Henderson ordered the entire U.S. fleet back to port and required each vessel to carry an official observer to monitor dolphin mortality. At a later time, he ordered an end to the fishing season due to the fact that tuna operators were undercounting the number of dolphins harmed or killed during fishing sets.
Later, under the provisions of the MMPA, Judge Henderson ordered the embargo of tuna imports from certain countries that were not utilizing similar safety practices as those required of the U.S. fleet. These embargos led to challenges in the then General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Court in Geneva, the first trade/environment issue ever considered by that body.
In the meantime, Earth Island, under the leadership of IMMP (Dave Phillips, Mark Berman, and Mark Palmer), created the dolphin safe tuna label, and ultimately persuaded H.J. Heinz, the owners of StarKist tuna, to go dolphin safe and stop setting tuna nets on dolphins. Around the country, schoolchildren were asking their parents to stop buying dolphin-deadly tuna, and ultimately all U.S. tuna suppliers followed StarKist’s lead and stopped setting nets on dolphins.
In the U.S., dolphin deaths in purse seine nets went from hundreds of thousands each year to zero! In 2018, the World Trade Organization affirmed the legality of Earth Island’s dolphin safe label.
International Marine Mammal Project
Josh Floum and Deborah Sivas, Heller, Ehrman White & McAuliffe
Josh Floum and Ariela St. Pierre, Legal Strategies Group (now Kilpatrick Townsend)
Josh Floum and Ariela St. Pierre, Holme, Roberts and Owen
Wildlife Protection
The Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Monument (PRI Monument) lives up to its name – it comprises a series of islands and atolls in such a remote area of the Pacific Ocean that it is hard to think of another place in the world that could be farther from a human population center. Perhaps Antarctica? Unfortunately for marine life, the 9,000-plus miles between Washington, DC and the PRI Monument do not provide it protection from the Trump administration. This case will challenge any attempt by President Trump to alter the boundaries of or designated uses in the Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Monument. Any such action is contrary to the Antiquities Act and is an unconstitutional exercise of executive power.
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Earth Island Advocates, International Marine Mammal Project, Shark Stewards
Deborah A. Sivas, Director, Environmental Law Clinic, Stanford Law School
Michael Robinson-Dorn, Director, Environmental Law Clinic, University of California-Irvine