Media Center

United States Finds Mexico Is Undermining Wildlife Treaty, May Impose Embargo

May 26, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Mexico has failed to halt the illegal wildlife trade threatening the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, diminishing the effectiveness of an international wildlife treaty. Under U.S. law, President Biden must now decide…

Supreme Court Dramatically Narrows Scope of Clean Water Act

May 25, 2023 Press ReleaseUnited States

The Supreme Court today stripped out key protections from the Clean Water Act, weakening the law, and narrowing its ability to defend the quality of the nation’s waterways.

NRDC: COVER Act Will Finally Make Cover Crop Benefits Accessible to All Farmers

May 18, 2023 Press ReleaseEast, United States

WASHINGTON —A key bicameral bill to incent the use of cover crops across the country was re-introduced today. The Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience (COVER) Program Act, which would provide a $5 per acre discount on crop insurance for…

Forest Service Permits Construction on Mountain Valley Pipeline

May 16, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Forest Service has issued a decision allowing construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline on public land in the Jefferson National Forest.

Marine Mammal Bycatch in Ecuador’s Fisheries Threatens Access to U.S. Seafood Market

May 10, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

A report released today by conservation and animal protection groups finds that Ecuador’s fishing industry does not meet U.S. standards for limiting whale and dolphin bycatch. As a result, Ecuador may lose access to the U.S. seafood import market for…

U.S. to Decide Whether Mexico's Failure to Protect Vaquita Warrants Embargo

April 10, 2023 Press ReleaseNew York

In a settlement filed in court Friday, the U.S. Department of the Interior agreed to determine whether Mexico has failed to stop illegal fishing and trade of totoaba that is driving the vaquita porpoise’s extinction. The determination could result in…

Biden Should Veto Clean Water Act CRA

March 29, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — Today, 53 Senators attacked the Clean Water Act by passing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution. The measure would overturn the Biden Administration’s Clean Water Restoration rule and prevent any future administration from issuing similar protections. 

Biden Administration Issues Visionary Conservation Measures

March 21, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — As part of a larger package of land and ocean conservation measures, the Biden administration today announced the first Ocean Climate Action Plan, which includes a host of initiatives relating to responsible offshore wind, marine protected areas to enhance biodiversity…

Biden Administration Formally Replaces Prior Administration’s Clean Water Rollback

December 30, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency today officially replaced a regulation issued by the Trump administration that would have rolled back protections for clean water nationwide. The “Dirty Water Rule” would have eliminated federal Clean Water Act protections for…

Big Wins for Endangered Orcas in Defense Spending Bill

December 15, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The federal government will invest in multiple programs to protect endangered whales as part of a massive spending bill approved this week and signed by President Biden. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes several provisions that…

Tribes, Commercial Fishermen, & Conservation Groups Respond to EPA’s Next Step Towards Protecting Bristol Bay

December 2, 2022 Press ReleaseAlaska

DILLINGHAM, AK — Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its Recommended Determination regarding the Pebble deposit for Bristol Bay. This marks the next step in the process for EPA to stop Pebble Mine by enacting 404(c) Clean Water Act…

Biden Administration Should Strengthen National Marine Sanctuary Protections, Conservation and Faith Groups Say

November 22, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

WASHINGTON - Ten conservation and faith-based organizations, consisting of millions of members, are petitioning the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to strengthen the National Marine Sanctuary System, which America’s iconic underwater parks and the species that live in our…

Judge Approves Multi-Million Dollar Clean-Up for Penobscot River

October 11, 2022 Press ReleaseMaine

BANGOR, ME — Today, a Federal District Court in Maine approved a settlement that requires Mallinckrodt US LLC to pay for mercury remediation in the Penobscot River Estuary, concluding a more than two decade long legal fight led by Maine…

Committee Advances Fisheries Bill to Recognize Climate Impacts for the First Time, Strengthen Resilience for Coastal Communities

September 29, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

Five leading ocean conservation organizations praise Reps. Huffman, Case, and Peltola’s leadership to update U.S. fishing laws

Tribes, Commercial Fishermen, Chefs, Seafood Industry Leaders, Conservation Groups Celebrate Record-Breaking Fishing Season

August 10, 2022 Press ReleaseAlaska

Advocates Double Down, Urge EPA to Finish the Job, End the Threat of Pebble Mine Now

U.S. Leaders Commit to Tackling Illegal Fishing at UN Ocean Conference

July 1, 2022 Press ReleaseInternational

LISBON, PORTUGAL – At the United Nations Ocean Conference this week, the United States made a series of announcements elevating its commitment to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and associated labor abuses.

Biden Administration Five Year Offshore Oil & Gas Plan is “Lose‑Lose”

July 1, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today proposed as many as 11 potential offshore leases for oil and gas companies in public waters in the Gulf of Mexico and possibly Alaska for the…

South Fork Wind and Leading Environmental Organizations Sign Agreement to Further Enhance Protections for North Atlantic Right Whales

June 27, 2022 Press ReleaseEast

BOSTON – South Fork Wind, a joint venture offshore wind project developed by Ørsted and Eversource, announced today it has signed an agreement with leading environmental organizations to further enhance measures designed to protect the North Atlantic right whale during…

Recertification of Lobster Fishery Would Harm Right Whales, Mislead Consumers

June 27, 2022 Press ReleaseEast

NEW YORK – Conservation groups acted today to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale by formally objecting to a determination that the Gulf of Maine lobster fishery should be recertified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability standard…

Over One Hundred Environmental and Community Groups Urge U.S. Supreme Court to Uphold Federal Clean Water Protections

June 17, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

Friend of the court brief filed in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency