Columbia Riverkeeper and other groups sue Trump administration to prevent weakening Endangered Species Act

On Tuesday, Columbia Riverkeeper joined a coalition of environmental groups that sued the Trump administration over a rule change that would undo protections under the Endangered Species Act for endangered and threatened species of animals like Columbia River salmon, steelhead and northern spotted owls. Other environmental groups and tribes have also filed separate lawsuits over the rule change, including the Swinomish and Squaxin Island Tribes in Washington state and Eugene-based Cascadia Wildlands.

The rule change, which is scheduled to take effect in September, removes the regulatory definition of “harm” under the ESA that for more than 50 years has been interpreted to include harm to endangered species’ habitats. That interpretation was affirmed by the Supreme Court in a 1995 decision. U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a press release the rule change “restores common sense, respects private property, provides much-needed certainty for landowners and follows the statute Congress actually passed.”

Miles Johnson, legal director of Columbia Riverkeeper, joins us for more details. 

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