WE WORK WONDERS for NATURAL WONDERS
When an environmental plight calls for lean and hard-hitting legal muscle, conservation groups call on us. Advocates for the West boosts the strength of environmental nonprofits and concerned citizens – advancing the mission of every partner by putting the power of law and science on the side of the West.
Since our founding in 2003, Advocates for the West has provided free legal support to over 35 partners on more than 170 cases – with an 85% record of success.
Smart and efficient, our attorneys work with partners to develop strategic cases aimed at enforcing the nation’s bedrock environmental laws. We handle an extensive caseload with an impressive win (link to wins list) record.
We work wonders to perpetuate natural wonders. It’s how the West is won.
Little Colorado River Basin Fracking
Case: Case 3:19-cv-08204-CDB
February 6, 2020 — Advocates for the West reached an agreement with the Trump administration suspending 4,200 acres of oil and gas leases on public land in Arizona’s Little Colorado River Valley as part of a joint motion filed in federal court. The federal government’s suspension of the leases prohibits any oil and gas activity…
Idaho Clean Water Act Permitting
Case: No. 18-72684
June 26, 2019 – Advocates for the West filed our opening brief in the Ninth Circuit on behalf of Idaho Conservation League in a case against the Environmental Protection Agency. Our case challenges EPA’s decision to allow Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) to take over Clean Water Act permitting in Idaho, which EPA used…
June 17, 2019
Sawtooth National Forest Water Diversions
Case: Idaho Conservation League v. U.S. Forest Service
June 17, 2019 – Court order Forest Service to analyze water use at the 20 diversions and determining how to mitigate negative impacts on fish. March 13, 2017 – Advocates for the West sent the Forest Service a notice of intent to sue for violating the Endangered Species Act by authorizing 23 existing irrigation diversions and ditches in…
Duck Creek Livestock Grazing
Case: 1:19-cv-00037-BLW
February 10, 2020 – Advocates for the West filed our opening brief in this case. April 29, 2019 – Defendants DOI and IBLA filed a motion to dismiss or transfer venue, arguing that this case should be heard in Utah rather than Idaho federal court. Advocates for the West opposed the motion, demonstrating that client Western…
October 16, 2019
Sage-Grouse RMP Challenge
Case: No. 1:16-cv-83
February 25, 2016 – Advocates for the West filed a new lawsuit in Idaho federal court seeking to increase protections for greater sage-grouse across more than 70 million acres of federal lands in 10 western states. The case argues that new land use plans adopted by the Forest Service and BLM fail to address climate change and…
Air Force Urban Warfare Training
Case: Case 1:19-cv-00103-CWD
March 27, 2020 — Advocates for the West filed our reply brief in this case, as well as our opposition to the Air Force’s motion to strike Dr. Jesse Barker’s declaration in this case, which can be found under Case Filings below. January 15, 2020 — Advocates for the West filed our opening brief seeking summary…
Sheep Experiment Station Followup Case
Case: Case 1:19-cv-00065-REB
December 23, 2019 — Advocates for the West filed a motion for summary judgment in this case, accompanied by seven declarations from scientific experts and witnesses in support of our case. February 20, 2019 – Advocates for the West filed suit on behalf of Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project and WildEarth Guardians in our latest…
Oil and Gas Lease Sales Near Bears Ears National Monument
Case: Friends of Cedar Mesa v. DOI, BLM, Kent Hoffman
February 6, 2019 – Advocates for the West filed suit to halt oil and gas lease sales in an unprotected and archaeologically rich area in southern Utah. Located between Canyons of the Ancients and Bears Ears National Monuments, this region is by far the densest archaeological area open to oil and gas leasing on public lands in…
Wishbone Bighorn Herd Protection
Case: WildEarth Guardians and Western Watersheds Project V. U.S. Forest Service, Case #1:19-cv-00208
January 24, 2019 – Advocates for the West filed suit to halt the Rio Grande National Forest decision to graze domestic sheep within the habitat range of bighorn herds. The suit, filed on behalf of WildEarth Guardians and Western Watersheds Project, asserts that the forest managers knew the risk that domestic sheep would pose to bighorn, yet…
Bonneville Power Administration Ratemaking
Case: Petition to Intervene
December 14, 2018 – BPA granted our motion to intervene, which will give us a real opportunity to dig into the true cost of the Lower Snake River dams. December 11, 2018 – Advocates for the West filed a petition to intervene with the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) Joint Power and Transmission Rate Proceeding for the 2020-2021…
