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| Dear Friend, |
| As we fight the Trump administration’s attacks on the environment, we are celebrating the victories you've helped us achieve. |
| In these updates, we’ll introduce you to some of our clients on the ground who are daring to take on corrupt polluters and build a more just, sustainable world. Thank you for making all of this possible! |
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| Preventing Over 1,000 Sea Turtle Deaths Per Year |
Every year, thousands of sea turtles are inadvertently caught and drowned in shrimper trawl nets in the southeastern United States. To help prevent sea turtle deaths, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a rule in 2019 that required expanded use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in southeastern U.S. shrimp trawl fisheries. TEDs are essentially escape hatches for sea turtles.
After the Louisiana Shrimp Association challenged that rule, Earthjustice stepped in to help defend it by filing an amicus brief. In July, the Eastern District of Louisiana ruled in our favor, upholding the rule and helping prevent approximately 1,000 sea turtle deaths a year.
This rule does not protect sea turtles as much as we would like, but we are glad it survived. Earthjustice will continue to fight for protections for sea turtles and other imperiled marine species in the Gulf of Mexico. |
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| 200,000 Supporters Take Action since Trump's Inauguration |
| Since Trump took office, Earthjustice supporters have joined us in defending policies that aim to build lasting environmental protections. We cannot let this new administration erase the progress we have achieved together. Your advocacy is more important than ever. |
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| Victory for Southwest Alaska Tribes Who Oppose Donlin Gold Mine |
In a victory for Southwest Alaska tribes who oppose the Donlin Gold Mine proposed in their region, a U.S. District Court in Alaska barred construction on the mine pending further approvals. The court ordered that federal agencies responsible for permitting the Donlin mine must examine the risks of a much larger tailing spill at the mine to supplement the project’s environmental study.
Alaska Native leaders say the mine would pose an existential threat to their Tribes’ food security and cultural traditions. If the mine is built, the tribal leaders fear toxic chemicals from mining could seep into nearby lands and waters, harmning fish, wildlife, and birds, and affecting their ability to live off the land.
Earthjustice represents the tribes who filed the legal challenge against the mine. Now, the government must reassess its permits for the mine, taking into consideration the risks of a catastrophic dam failure. |
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| Court Orders New York State to Act on Drinking Water Crisis |
A New York court ruled that the state Department of Health (DOH) broke the law by refusing to help protect Owasco Lake from agricultural pollution that is reaching the drinking water of 45,000 people in Cayuga County. The Albany County Supreme Court ordered the state to work with local governments on commonsense safeguards to keep harmful contaminants out of the lake and ensure clean, safe water for families who depend on it.
Owasco Lake is plagued by harmful algal blooms stemming from pollution from agricultural runoff, including manure. These blooms, which release toxins linked to liver damage and cancer, have forced beach closures and costly water treatment efforts, burdening local taxpayers. The July court decision is a major victory for public health and environmental protections in upstate New York.
In this case, Earthjustice represented the City of Auburn, the Town of Owasco, and the Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA). |
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| Court Finds Errors in EPA’s Analysis of Biofuels’ Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
After a lawsuit by Earthjustice, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit found that the EPA reused an outdated study instead of newer data to justify a rule for crop-based biofuels.
The court found that the EPA’s analysis was arbitrary and capricious, particularly in regard to the climate effects of increasing the use of crop-based biofuels such as corn ethanol and soy-based diesel. The widespread use of food crops as fuel destroys wildlife habitat, degrades air and water quality, and offers no demonstrated climate change mitigation benefits. All the while it imposes billions of dollars of increased food and fuel costs on consumers. Today’s decision holds that the EPA cannot ignore evidence of the higher greenhouse gas emissions associated with these fuels when setting renewable fuel standards. We hope the EPA will keep this harsh impact in mind as it moves forward with setting the volumes for 2026 and 2027. |
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| Support the Next Earthjustice Victory! |
| Friend, want to be part of the next Earthjustice victory? We rely on supporters to fund the lawsuits that protect our planet's future. Donate today to help fight back against the Trump administration’s environmental attacks. |
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| Photo Credits (top to bottom): Irina K. / Shutterstock; NASA / Getty Images; Brad Zweerink for Earthjustice |
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