Court Battles

Fehily v. Biden (Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument)

March 21, 2023 Court CaseUnited States, EastClosed

Once again, NRDC and our partners have moved to intervene to defend the monument’s legality.

Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association v. Raimondo

March 1, 2022 Court CaseUnited States, EastClosed

With our partners, NRDC is defending the first and only national monument in the Atlantic Ocean.

Conservation Law Foundation v. Biden (Northeast Canyons and Seamounts)

November 11, 2021 Court CaseUnited States, EastClosed

NRDC and our partners are suing to restore full protections to this special monument.

League of Conservation Voters v. Trump (Offshore Leasing Ban)

April 13, 2021 Court CaseUnited StatesClosed

Our broad coalition is fighting the Trump administration to keep our coasts permanently off-limits to oil and gas drilling.

South Carolina Coastal Conservation League v. Ross

November 30, 2020 Court CaseSouth Carolina, EastClosed

NRDC, partners, and coastal states sued to stop seismic blasting in the Atlantic Ocean, which threatens marine life like the endangered North Atlantic right whale.

NRDC v. David L. Bernhardt et al. (Rusty Patched Bumblebee Habitat)

September 1, 2020 Court CaseEast, MidwestClosed

More than two years since the rusty patched bumblebee was listed as an endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has yet to designate and protect the bee’s critical habitat, as required by law.

NRDC v. E. Scott Pruitt et al. (Enlist Duo)

July 23, 2020 Court CaseUnited StatesClosed

The EPA approved the pesticide Enlist Duo despite its serious risks to people and monarch butterflies. So NRDC challenged the EPA’s decision—and won an important victory.

NRDC et al. v. Wilbur Ross et al. (Vaquita)

April 22, 2020 Court CaseUnited States, MexicoClosed

NRDC and partners are fighting to save the last of the vaquitas.

Alfa International Seafood et al. v. Wilbur Ross et al.

January 1, 2018 Court CaseInternational, United StatesClosed

The National Marine Fisheries Service has a Seafood Traceability Rule that helps prevent illegal fishing and seafood fraud. When it came under attack, NRDC stepped in.

Conservation Council for Hawaii et al. v. National Marine Fisheries Service et al.

September 14, 2015 Court CaseUnited States, California, HawaiiClosed

NRDC and our partners achieved a landmark settlement with the U.S. Navy that placed important habitat for vulnerable marine mammal species off-limits to dangerous military activities.