Description: Challenge to designation of critical habitat in California for three amphibian species.
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California Cattlemen’s Association v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Case Documents:
Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary 03/27/2019 Memorandum Opinion Download Complaint dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. D.C. Federal Court Dismissed Challenge to Critical Habitat for Climate Change-Threatened Sierra Nevada Amphibians. The federal district court for the District of Columbia ruled that the California Cattlemen’s Association and two other agricultural trade groups lacked standing to challenge the designation of critical habitat for three amphibian species listed under the Endangered Species Act. All three species live in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range and are threatened by a number of factors, including changes associated with climate change. The district court found that the trade groups had not established that any of their members would suffer an injury traceable to the designation of critical habitat, as opposed to pre-existing requirements. In addition, the groups failed to show that a decision in their favor would redress the alleged injuries. 05/29/2018 Memorandum Opinion Download Government's motion to dismiss denied without prejudice and defendant-intervenor's motion to dismiss granted as to the 5 U.S.C. 603 claim but otherwise denied without prejudice. 03/19/2018 Opposition Download Opposition filed to motions to dismiss. 02/27/2018 Motion to Dismiss Download Motion to dismiss filed by defendant-intervenors. 02/06/2018 Order Download Motion to intervene granted. 12/15/2017 Motion to Intervene Download Motion to intervene filed by environmental groups. Center for Biological Diversity and two other organizations moved to intervene in the lawsuit challenging the designation of critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, the northern distinct population segment of the mountain yellow-legged frog, and the Yosemite toad, all three of which are amphibian species living at high elevations in the Sierra Nevada that are protected under the Endangered Species Act. The organizations noted that all three species were threatened by climate change, among other threats. 11/22/2017 Motion to Dismiss Download Motion to dismiss filed by federal defendants. 07/31/2017 Complaint Download Complaint filed.