litigation Archives - San Juan Citizens Alliance

Jul 11 2019

Groups Challenge BLM’s Response to Chaco Court Ruling

By Erika Brown Oil & Gas No Comments

Photo: Wildearth Guardians Even a court ruling doesn't seem to deter the Bureau of Land Management in Farmington. They are determined to push through industry wish lists, undermining environmental review, public input, and even the courts. We'll continue calling them…

Jun 11 2019

Forest Service Rescinds Approval of Chainsaws in Wilderness!

By Erika Brown Lands Protection No Comments

Photo: Tom Sykes The Forest Service has rescinded its approval to use chainsaws in Weminuche and South San Juan Wildernesses! We were surprised last month to hear about Regional Forester's illegal approval to use motorized equipment in the form of…

Jun 04 2019

Chain Saws in Wilderness Update

By Erika Brown Lands Protection No Comments

Photo: National Park Service Chain Saws in Wilderness Update June 4th, 2019 Background On May 7th the Forest Service unexpectedly, and without any public notice or input, announced it would allow chain saws in the Weminuche and South San Juan…

May 28 2019

Challenging the Forest Service (again) over Village at Wolf Creek

By sjca Lands Protection, Species, Wolf Creek 2 Comments

Clean off those 'No Pillage' bumperstickers*, because here we go again. If you've lived in the area for long, you know the Village has a decades-long history. The short story is that a billionaire from Texas has long wanted to…

May 22 2019

We’re Challenging the Forest Service on Secretive Approval of Chainsaws in Wilderness

By Erika Brown Lands Protection One Comment

Below is our press release detailing our arguments against the Forest Service's recent secretive approval allowing for chainsaws to be used in the Weminuche and South San Juan Wildernesses starting June 1. We're asking the court to reverse the decision.…

May 07 2019

Greater Chaco Region Wins Reprieve From Fracking

By Erika Brown Oil & Gas 3 Comments

This is great news! Momentum in our decade-long effort to protect Greater Chaco from unbridled (and illegal) oil and gas development is finally resulting in real gains. Back in 2015, along with our partners, we filed a lawsuit against the…

Dec 12 2018

Future home of would-be Village at Wolf Creek

Conservation Groups Cheer Latest Court Decision Rejecting Village at Wolf Creek Land Exchange

By Erika Brown Lands Protection, Species, Wolf Creek No Comments

Photo: Alex Pullen, Future home of would-be Village at Wolf Creek Good News! You probably aren't new to this decades-long controversy over the proposed Village at Wolf Creek development. And even so, it can be hard to follow all the…

Nov 15 2018

Protecting Wildlife and Quiet Use on San Juan National Forest

By Erika Brown Forest Health, Lands Protection, Species No Comments

Photo: Wikipedia Commons We've been advocating for wildlife, quiet use and watershed protections within the Rico West Dolores Travel Management Plan for a decade. Many of you have joined us in demanding that the region be managed for the those…

Oct 01 2018

SJCA & Broad Coalition Challenges BLM Gutting the Methane Rule

By Erika Brown Oil & Gas No Comments

Again? Yes, again. It's hard to keep track how many times and in how many different ways this administration has attempted to gut the two common-sense methane rules established under the Obama Administration. Secretary Zinke has tried, and failed, twice…

Aug 23 2018

Governments, Groups Demand Public Hearings on New Mexico Oil and Gas Sale Call on BLM for Greater Transparency and Accountability for Fracking Greater Chaco

By sjca Oil & Gas No Comments

Photo: Rob Zeigler Last spring, Secretary Zinke instructed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to defer a lease sale in the Greater Chaco region due to a need for "more study." This December, they plan to auction those same parcels…

Jul 03 2018

Colorado County and Conservation Groups Sue Trump Administration Again Over Southwest Colorado Oil and Gas Leases

By sjca Oil & Gas One Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 2, 2018 Colorado County and Conservation Groups Sue Trump Administration Again Over Southwest Colorado Oil and Gas Leases San Miguel County, Rocky Mountain Wild, the San Juan Citizens’ Alliance, and Conservation Colorado filed another lawsuit against…

Jun 11 2018

After pressure, New Mexico oil and gas company withdraws attempt to avoid regulations, public input

By sjca Oil & Gas One Comment

In mid-May, we were approached by long time rancher, environmental advocate, and San Juan Citizens Alliance member, Don Schreiber, who discovered that Hilcorp Energy Company was trying to get exemptions from laws that restrict the number of wells they can…

Apr 30 2018

Public Defends BLM Methane Rule, Again

By sjca Oil & Gas No Comments

The road for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) methane waste rule has been long and winding, and unfortunately we’re not at the end. Last week, however, we threw a big wrench in Secretary Zinke’s never-ending attempts to rollback this…

Dec 19 2017

Groups challenge new rule nullifying compliance obligations under BLM methane rule

By sjca Oil & Gas No Comments

This fall, over 175,000 people commented against a proposed delay of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) methane rule, a rule that is particularly important for those of us under the Four Corners Methane Hotspot and suffer the royalty losses,…

Dec 11 2017

BLM, can you hear us?

By sjca Oil & Gas No Comments

Last week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proved their determination to elevate the interests of the oil and gas industry above those of the people they’re charged to protect – twice. But we can’t give up now. GREATER CHACO…

Nov 09 2017

Groups Appeal District Court’s Dismissal of Case on Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine

By Erika Brown Climate Change, Coal 2 Comments

Photo: EcoFlight While other coal plants in the region are announcing early closures, due in large part to the low cost of renewables, the 55-year-old Four Corners Power Plant was issued a whopping 25-year permit extension in 2015. As you may remember,…

Oct 16 2017

Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Southwest Colorado Oil and Gas Leases

By Erika Brown Lands Protection, Oil & Gas, Species No Comments

We're taking the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to court over their March 2017 lease sale. In order to explain why the Tres Rios Field Office (TRFO) March 2017 lease sale is worthy of a lawsuit, we need to take a step…

Sep 15 2017

Court Again Denies Red McCombs’ Plea to Approve Village at Wolf Creek

By Erika Brown Lands Protection, Wolf Creek No Comments

You may have heard that back in May a federal judge ruled in our favor in our court case against the land exchange that would have allowed the Pillage at Wolf Creek to be finally built. Judge Matsch agreed with us…

Mar 01 2017

Navajo President with All Pueblo Council of Govenors

Navajo Nation, Pueblo Council Join Forces to Protect Greater Chaco

By sjca Oil & Gas 3 Comments

PHOTO: President Russell Begaye stands with Governors from the All Pueblo Council of Governors. Photo from Navajo Nation Press Release. Last Thursday, Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye and Vice President Jonathan Nez met with the All Pueblo Council of Governors. The…

Feb 03 2017

Rollback of Methane Rule Puts Industry Interests Above Climate, Public Health, Taxpayers

By sjca Oil & Gas One Comment

Today, the U.S.House of Representatives put the special interests of big oil and gas companies ahead of the public interest by voting to roll back the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) methane rule. The measure now heads to the Senate.…

Jan 19 2017

#DontFrackChaco Rally on 1/17!

By sjca Oil & Gas One Comment

On Tuesday, four Navajo Nation chapter presidents, impacted community members, and one NM State Representative met with State Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Amy Lueders. The group requested a cancellation of the January 2017 oil and gas lease sale…

Jan 18 2017

Health, Environmental, and Tribal Groups Applaud Order Denying Industry Efforts to Halt BLM Methane Waste Rule Implementation

By Erika Brown Oil & Gas No Comments

The greatest concentration of methane in the country floats above us here in the Four Corners. Although we can't see it, it's not harmless. In addition to being a powerful greenhouse gas, over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, it's released…

Dec 08 2016

We filed a protest against the leasing of 1,000 acres near Chaco

By sjca Oil & Gas No Comments

This is getting ridiculous. This week, with many partners, we submitted our protest to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Farmington Field Office’s January 2017 oil and gas lease sale - a lease sale that shouldn’t be happening in the first place.…

Dec 05 2016

UPDATE: BLM Methane Rule Challenged

By sjca Climate Change, Oil & Gas No Comments

In 2014 we (the San Juan Basin) became the national methane hotspot. Last month we had a huge win in curbing the hotspot with the passing of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'s methane standards... and they're already under attack. But before…

Dec 02 2016

Public Health and Environmental Groups Move to Defend Standards to Reduce Waste of Natural Gas on Public Lands

By sjca Oil & Gas No Comments

Today we filed a motion to intervene in the case recently brought against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) methane rule. The rule would protect the climate, public health, and our economy. It would also help address the Four Corners methane hotspot.…

Oct 27 2016

Court allows continued intensive, unstudied fracking in Greater Chaco Northwest New Mexico oil drilling will continue despite risks to communities, cultural resources and environment

By sjca Oil & Gas No Comments

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Farmington Field Office has agreed that their 2003 Resource Management Plan (RMP) does not sufficiently plan for fracking around Chaco Canyon. Yet, while they amend their RMP to reflect this awareness, they are still approving…

Sep 30 2016

Pillage at Wolf Creek – Fall 2016 Update

By Erika Brown Lands Protection, Wolf Creek 4 Comments

Are they still trying to build that Village at Wolf Creek? Yes. And we’re still fighting it. In fact, we just filed an opening brief in the U.S District Court of Colorado as a part of our most recent lawsuit to…

Sep 09 2016

Inspector General Finds Former BLM Director Violated Ethical Conduct, Federal Laws

By sjca Oil & Gas One Comment

This week we received evidence of a local public servant sacrificing the public interest for personal gain. Federal investigators released results of their inquiry into Steve Henke’s conduct while head of New Mexico’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Farmington Field…

Jun 07 2016

BLM Postpones Sale of Oil and Gas Leases Near Chaco for the Third Time

By sjca Oil & Gas One Comment

Yesterday, Chaco got a moment to breathe. BLM's Farmington Field Office announced it would not auction parcels in Greater Chaco for fracking leases as planned in October. This is the third time the sale of these three parcels has been postponed.…

May 04 2016

Citizens Groups Challenge Fracking in Santa Fe National Forest

By sjca Oil & Gas No Comments

The Bureau of Land Management in Farmington, NM hasn't updated it's 2003 Resource Management Plan (RMP) since horizontal fracking technologies became viable in the Four Corners. Currently, they are revising the RMP to reflect these new technologies. Yet, at the…

Apr 20 2016

NEW VIDEO: Time’s Up For Coal at the Four Corners Power Plant

By sjca Climate Change, Coal No Comments

The Four Corners Power Plant (FCPP) and Navajo Mine complex is a massive source of pollution. It can’t be permitted to operate until 2041. Learn More. Amid last year’s crumbling coal economy, and despite promises to address climate change, the Obama Administration approved a…

Apr 20 2016

As Coal Collapses, Groups Launch Lawsuit Challenging 25-year Extension of Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine

By sjca Climate Change, Coal No Comments

Last week Peabody Coal joined Arch, Alpha, Patriot, and other US companies in bankruptcy. This progression of bankruptcies is raising a myriad of concerns about the financial viability of coal, the future costs of clean up, the dangers of self-bonding,…

Apr 07 2016

WCF Exhibit 5: “McCombs is rattling cages.”

By sjca Wolf Creek No Comments

This is part of our Wolf Creek Files blog series. Each post explains, in detail, the context behind an email or string of emails: who is writing, what is being discussed, and why it concerns us. Click here to see…

Feb 23 2016

WCF Exhibit 4: Redaction

By sjca Wolf Creek No Comments

Feb 14 2016

WCF Exhibit 3: “They may consult with Undersecretary Sherman…”

By sjca Wolf Creek No Comments

Feb 11 2016

Our attorney says #NoPillage

By sjca Lands Protection No Comments

“There’s a sense of… disgust and outrage with our federal agency employees who know better.” For three decades we have fought to protect Wolf Creek Pass from Texas-billionaire Red McCombs’ “Village at Wolf Creek” development. Wolf Creek Pass is a…

Feb 07 2016

WCF Exhibit 2: “Gyrations… to keep the document from being subject to FOIA”

By sjca Wolf Creek One Comment

Feb 07 2016

Wolf Creek Files

By sjca Wolf Creek No Comments

Our attorney’s dug through the “Wolf Creek Files” and what they found confirmed our worst fears: The National Forest Service was in collusion with developer Red “B.J.” McCombs, again. We're sharing the evidence with you. Ever had the desire to read through…

Dec 22 2015

Lawsuit to Challenge Feds’ Approval of Decades More Coal Pollution at Four Corners

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, Species No Comments

Photo Credit: EcoFlight This is a huge moment. Today we joined together with Diné CARE and other regional and national conservation groups to seek justice for the communities and species threatened by the the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo…

Nov 18 2015

RELEASE: Wolf Creek Files

By sjca Lands Protection, Wolf Creek One Comment

We’re about to finally discover what the Forest Service has been hiding for over a year and a half. ------------ Ever had the desire to read through and analyze 69,701 pages of correspondences and reports? No? That's okay, we're doing…

Nov 18 2015

Records reveal Forest Service’s suspicious ways

By sjca Durango Herald Column, Lands Protection, Wolf Creek No Comments

Let’s talk numbers. 22: inches of fresh snow Wolf Creek Ski Area reported as of Wednesday morning. 69,701: pages of public records opponents of the Pillage at Wolf Creek just received from the federal government. 2: over-caffeinated lawyers reading those…

Nov 14 2015

Wolf Creek Pass and the 30-year Battle That is Definitely Not Over

By sjca Lands Protection, Wolf Creek One Comment

“Isn’t that over? Wasn’t McCombs’ deal approved?” I keep hearing this, despite the fact that San Juan Citizens Alliance, and Friends of Wolf Creek partners, continue fighting tooth and nail (in three lawsuits) to prevent the construction of a massive…

Oct 29 2015

EPA Proposing Rule for Natural Gas Processing Plants To Report Toxic Pollution

By Erika Brown Oil & Gas No Comments

A big win for public health and communities' right-to-know! Astonishingly, the oil and gas extraction industry has never been required to report emissions to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), a federally-managed public database detailing how, what and where toxic chemicals are…

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