Case: Center For Biological Diversity v. U.S. Department of Agriculture

3:26-cv-00866 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: Jan. 28, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On January 28, 2026, Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its secretary, Brooke Rollins, to challenge USDA's deregulation of agency action under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.. Plaintiffs also brought this complaint against the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and their respective leadership to challenge their unlawful implementation of NEPA following USDA's policy and regulation changes. Filing under the Administrative Procedure Act 5 U.S.C. § 551 et seq., and NEPA, they sought declaratory and injunctive relief barring the implementation of the USDA's Final Rule.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (2/9/2026)

Related Cases

Center For Biological Diversity v. U.S. Department of the Interior, Northern District of California (2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72197632/parties/center-for-biological-diversity-v-us-department-of-agriculture/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Benson, Elizabeth Fay (California)

Connor, Hannah Mary (California)

Jones-Cobb, Brandon (California)

Park, Wendy Sangbee (California)

Shoaff, Nathaniel Thomas (California)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

3:26-cv-00866

Complaint and Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Center For Biological Diversity et al. v. United States Department of Agriculture et al.

Jan. 28, 2026

Jan. 28, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72197632/center-for-biological-diversity-v-us-department-of-agriculture/

Last updated Oct. 25, 2026, 3:41 a.m.

Docket for: Center For Biological Diversity v. U.S. Department of Agriculture
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Jan. 28, 2026

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405, receipt number ACANDC-21590733.). Injunction against the US government/official or APA vacatur requested. Filed by Sierra Club, Center For Biological Diversity. (Park, Wendy) (Filed on 1/28/2026) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

Clearinghouse
2 Jan. 28, 2026

Case assigned to Judge Rita F. Lin. Counsel for plaintiff or the removing party is responsible for serving the Complaint or Notice of Removal, Summons and the assigned judge's standing orders and all other new case documents upon the opposing parties. For information, visit E-Filing A New Civil Case at http://cand.uscourts.gov/ecf/caseopening.Standing orders can be downloaded from the court's web page at www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges. Upon receipt, the summons will be issued and returned electronically. A scheduling order will be sent by Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) within two business days. (mbc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 1/28/2026) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

RECAP
3 Jan. 28, 2026

Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines: Case Management Statement due by 4/29/2026. Initial Case Management Conference set for 5/6/2026 10:00 AM in San Francisco, - Videoconference Only. (mbc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 1/28/2026) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

RECAP
4 Jan. 28, 2026

Certificate of Interested Entities by Center For Biological Diversity, Sierra Club (Park, Wendy) (Filed on 1/28/2026) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

RECAP
5 Jan. 28, 2026

Proposed Summons. (Park, Wendy) (Filed on 1/28/2026) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

RECAP
6 Jan. 28, 2026

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21592789.) filed by Center For Biological Diversity. (Connor, Hannah) (Filed on 1/28/2026) (Entered: 01/28/2026)

RECAP
Jan. 28, 2026

~Util - Case Assigned by Intake

Jan. 28, 2026

Electronic Filing Error

Jan. 28, 2026

Electronic filing error. Only ONE Summons will be issued to ALL Defendants. You may attach a list of Defendants with their Addresses, if the space provided is not enough. This filing will not be processed by the clerks office.Please re-file in its entirety. Re: 5 Proposed Summons filed by Center For Biological Diversity, Sierra Club (mbc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 1/28/2026)

7 Jan. 29, 2026

Proposed Summons. (Park, Wendy) (Filed on 1/29/2026) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

RECAP
8 Jan. 29, 2026

Summons Issued as to Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Brooke Rollins, Tom Schultz, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Michael Watson, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (mbc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 1/29/2026) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

RECAP
9 Jan. 30, 2026

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21600335.) filed by Center For Biological Diversity, Sierra Club. (Jones-Cobb, Brandon) (Filed on 1/30/2026) (Entered: 01/30/2026)

RECAP
10 Jan. 30, 2026

ORDER by Judge Rita F. Lin denying 6 Motion for Pro Hac Vice. (afm, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 1/30/2026) (Entered: 02/02/2026)

RECAP
11 Jan. 30, 2026

ORDER by Judge Rita F. Lin granting 9 Motion for Pro Hac Vice. (afm, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 1/30/2026) (Entered: 02/02/2026)

RECAP
12 Feb. 2, 2026

AMENDED 6 MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21592789.) filed byCenter For Biological Diversity. (Related document(s) 6 ) (Connor, Hannah) (Filed on 2/2/2026) Modified on 2/2/2026 (afm, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 02/02/2026)

RECAP
13 Feb. 2, 2026

ORDER by Judge Rita F. Lin granting 12 Motion for Pro Hac Vice. (afm, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/2/2026) (Entered: 02/02/2026)

RECAP
14 Feb. 3, 2026

UNOPPOSED Administrative Motion to Consider Whether Cases Should be Related by Center For Biological Diversity, Sierra Club (Attachments: # 1 Signature Page (Declarations/Stipulations) Stipulation to Relate Cases, # 2 Proposed Order) (Park, Wendy) (Filed on 2/3/2026) Modified on 2/4/2026 (kmg, COURT STAFF). Modified on 2/4/2026 (kmg, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 02/03/2026)

RECAP
15 Feb. 4, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Gregory Martin Cumming on behalf of Brooke Rollins, Tom Schultz, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Michael Watson (Cumming, Gregory) (Filed on 2/4/2026) (Entered: 02/04/2026)

RECAP
Feb. 4, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

16 Feb. 9, 2026

Order on Motion to Relate Case

RECAP
18 Feb. 10, 2026

Clerk's Notice Setting Zoom Hearing

RECAP
Feb. 10, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

19 Feb. 11, 2026

Certificate/Proof of Service

RECAP
20 March 3, 2026

Summary Judgment

1 Declaration Declaration of Kristine Akland

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2 Declaration Declaration of Justin Augustine

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3 Declaration Declaration of Rick Bass

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4 Declaration Declaration of Christopher Bugbee

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5 Declaration Declaration of Kemp Burdette

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6 Declaration Declaration of Alex Craven

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7 Declaration Declaration of Gerald Curran

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8 Declaration Declaration of Will Harlan

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9 Declaration Declaration of Jill Hunkler

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10 Declaration Declaration of Brandt Mannchen

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11 Declaration Declaration of Russ McSpadden

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12 Declaration Declaration of Brian Nowicki

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13 Declaration Declaration of Kara Parker

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14 Declaration Declaration of Zack Porter

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15 Declaration Declaration of Ryan Shannon

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16 Declaration Declaration of Molly Jo Stanley

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17 Declaration Declaration of Mike Town

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RECAP
21 March 4, 2026

Notice of Change of Address

RECAP
March 4, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

23 March 25, 2026

Stipulation and Proposed Order

RECAP
March 25, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

25 March 26, 2026

Order on Stipulation

RECAP
March 26, 2026

Set Motion and Deadlines/Hearings

26 April 15, 2026

ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options

RECAP
27 April 15, 2026

ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options

RECAP
28 May 1, 2026

Stipulation and Proposed Order

1 Declaration of John K. Heise

View on PACER

RECAP
29 May 4, 2026

Order on Stipulation

RECAP
30 May 8, 2026

Leave to File Document

RECAP
31 May 8, 2026

Stay

RECAP
32 May 11, 2026

Order on Motion for Leave to File

RECAP
33 May 11, 2026

Order on Motion for Leave to File

RECAP
34 May 11, 2026

Amended Complaint

RECAP
35 May 26, 2026

Notice (Other)

1 Declaration of Tera Graelyn

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2 Exhibit Index of Record

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RECAP
36 June 9, 2026

NOTICE by Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Brooke Rollins, Tom Schultz, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Michael Watson of Lodging of Supplemental Administrative Record (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certification of Record, # 2 Exhibit Index of Record)(Heise, John) (Filed on 6/9/2026) (Entered: 06/09/2026)

1 Exhibit Certification of Record

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2 Exhibit Index of Record

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RECAP
37 June 10, 2026

ORDER by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley granting 31 Motion to Stay. (ahm, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/10/2026)

RECAP
38 June 18, 2026

Partial Summary Judgment

RECAP
39 June 18, 2026

Declaration in Support

RECAP
40 July 31, 2026

Opposition/Response to Motion

RECAP
41 Aug. 20, 2026

Stipulation and Proposed Order

RECAP
42 Aug. 21, 2026

Order on Stipulation

RECAP
Aug. 21, 2026

Set Motion and Deadlines/Hearings

Aug. 27, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

44 Sept. 11, 2026

Reply to Opposition/Response

RECAP
45 Oct. 20, 2026

Stipulation and Proposed Order

RECAP
46 Oct. 20, 2026

Order on Stipulation AND Order on Stipulation

RECAP
Oct. 20, 2026

Set Motion and Deadlines/Hearings

Case Details

State / Territory:

California

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 28, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs are nonprofit corporations dedication to the protection of wildlife, wildlands, ecosystems, and recreational opportunities on public lands.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

United States Department of Agriculture

United States Forest Service

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Parks

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321–4370f

Other Dockets:

Northern District of California 3:26-cv-00866

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Declaratory judgment

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Environmental Justice and Resources:

Threatened/endangered fauna

Threatened/endangered flora

Recommended Citation