Water

ITD Motor Waste Wells

ITD Motor Waste Wells

Case: Idaho Conservation League v. Brian Ness, Jerry Whitehead, R. James Coleman, Janice Vasser, Dwight Horsch, and Lee Gagner

June 6, 2018 — In response to our Safe Drinking Water Act lawsuit, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) recently closed all 70 motor vehicle waste disposal wells at its vehicle and maintenance buildings around the state. Under Safe Drinking Water Act regulations, all motor vehicle waste disposal wells in Idaho were supposed to be closed […]

Galena Mine Clean Water Notice of Intent to Sue

Galena Mine Clean Water Notice of Intent to Sue

Case: Notice Of Intent To Sue U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. and Americas Silver Corporation Over Violations of the Clean Water Act

April 19, 2018 — Advocates for the West reached a settlement agreement with U.S. Silver over its violations. May 17, 2017 — Advocates for the West sent a notice of intent to sue to U.S. Silver and its parent corporation Americas Silver Corp., who own and operate the Galena Mine in the Silver Valley of […]

Salmon River Suction Dredging

Salmon River Suction Dredging

Case: Idaho Conservation League v. State Board of Land Commissioners and Idaho Department of Lands

November 5, 2012 — Mr. Conklin abandoned his proposal and withdrew his lease application, which is a great victory for all who enjoy the beauty of the Salmon River! October 12, 2012 — Advocates for the West filed a Petition for Judicial Review on behalf of Idaho Conservation League challenging the State of Idaho’s approval of a […]

Atlanta Gold

Atlanta Gold

Case: Idaho Conservation League and Northwest Environmental Defense Center v. Atlanta Gold Corporations

July 19, 2012 — Advocates for the West received a strong decision from US District Court Judge Williams in our case against Atlanta Gold Corporation for its ongoing pollution of the treasured Boise River watershed. Judge Williams ordered Atlanta Gold Corp. to come into compliance with the Clean Water Act by October 31, 2012 and […]

Arsenic water quality standards

Arsenic water quality standards

Case: Idaho Conservation League v. Stephen L. Johnson

April 1, 2009 — The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency signed a settlement agreement that required the EPA to approve or disapprove the Pending Arsenic and Cadmium revisions. July 7, 2008 — Advocates for the West presented Stephan L. Johnson, the administrator of EPA a letter of intent to sue. […]

Otter Creek Diversion Challenge

Otter Creek Diversion Challenge

Case: IWP v. Jones

Endangered Species Act citizen suit against Verl and Tuddie Jones for unlawful “take” of threatened bull trout through operation of their unscreened diversion on Otter Creek, located on Salmon Challis National Forest public lands. We won an injunction prohibiting further diversions until the irrigator obtained a special use permit from US Forest Service, and it conducted ESA consultation […]

Herd Creek diversion

Herd Creek diversion

Case: IWP v. Bennetts

Endangered Species Act citizen suit against Jim Bennetts for unlawful “take” of threatened salmon, steelhead, and bull trout associated with his unscreened public lands diversions on Herd Creek and Lake Creek (East Fork Salmon River watershed), and because of livestock damage to critical habitat on his base property. After we filed for summary judgment supported by several […]

Mahogany Creek diversion

Mahogany Creek diversion

Case: IWP v. Whitworth

Endangered Species Act citizen suit against Judd Whitworth and Sulphur Creek Livestock for unlawful “take” of threatened bull trout through operation of unscreened public lands diversion on Mahogany Creek, tributary to upper Pahsimeroi River. Our experts showed that the Mahogany Creek diversion would likely “take” bull trout through entrainment into the unscreened ditch, which continued […]

Sawtooth — North Sheep 2009

Sawtooth — North Sheep 2009

Case: Western Watersheds Project v. U.S. Forest Service

Opening summary judgment brief filed June 25, 2010 in the Sawtooth–North Sheep case alleges that the Forest Service failed to take a “hard look” at sheep grazing impacts on several Sawtooth National Forest allotments, particularly on sensitive wildlife including fish and sage grouse.  Even though we won a prior court order requiring analysis of grazing […]

Clearwater Old Growth

Clearwater Old Growth

Case: The Wilderness Society et al v. Bosworth

Representing a broad coalition of national, state and local conservation groups, we brought this case in 1997 to stop Forest Service plans to log old growth forests in the Clearwater region of central Idaho — including the headwaters of the Lochsa and North Fork Clearwater rivers.   The case focused on how logging and logging roads […]