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Defending the Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains represent an internationally recognized image of rugged natural beauty and an impressive ability of western communities to adapt to an often extreme and unforgiving environment. However, human impacts have and continue to take a toll on the fragile eco-systems of the Rockies.

Energy development in the form of oil and gas extraction and coal powered power plants threatens water and air quality, and intrudes on residents’ peaceful enjoyment of the region’s idyllic beauty. Industrial, residential and commercial development, and the accompanying transportation infrastructure, in and adjacent to the vast public lands of the Rocky Mountains threaten critical wildlife habitat and disrupt essential corridors between the remaining true wild places on the landscape.

Together with dedicated local and regional allies, organizations and individuals alike, the Western Environmental Law Center is successfully working to protect this pristine environment from further harmful activities, and to ensure that those intrusions which do proceed are planned and pursued in a responsible and environmentally sensitive manner.

MacDonald Pass: Protecting a Key Wildlife Corridor: The U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army National Guard are proposing to build a new biathlon training facility directly within an extremely important but narrow wildlife corridor on the continental divide.
Ensuring Responsible Energy Development in the Sagebrush Sea of the Powder River Basin: The Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming holds important energy and wildlife resources (in particular wildlife habitat within the Sagebrush Sea). To harmonize those resources, we’re pushing the Bureau of Land Management to protect the Basin’s wildlife resources by adopting a phased development management regime to protect core habitat and control the timing and location of development, preparing a comprehensive environmental analysis, and preventing unacceptable degradation.
White House drops forest appeal: The Bush administration has dropped its appeal of WELC’s 2007 district court victory protecting 193 million acres of national forest lands.
VICTORY! WELC Wins Battle for Off-Road Records: WELC has won a two-year battle to gain access to U.S. Forest Service’s data on the damage caused by off-road vehicles and unmaintained roads on national forests around the West.
Protecting Waters and Communities from Pesticides: In retaliation for our 2001 victory in Headwaters v. Talent Irrigation District, the pesticide industry asked EPA to exempt certain types of aquatic applications and aerial applications of pesticides from the Clean Water Act.

Drilling the Climate: Colorado Oil and Gas Auction to Fuel Global Warming, BLM Ignoring its Responsibility to Protect Colorado’s Climate
WELC Sues Forest Service Over Attempts to Remove Protections for Wildlife Across the Country: WELC files suit on behalf of 14 conservation organizations

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Defending the Rocky Mountains