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

3:25-cv-10793 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: Dec. 18, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Plaintiffs Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club filed this Administrative Procedure Act action on December 18, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the United States Department of the Interior. The complaint alleged that the U.S. Department of the Interior and several of its sub-agencies violated the APA and the National Environmental Policy Act by issuing an Interim Final Rule that rescinded longstanding regulations requiring public partic…

Plaintiffs Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club filed this Administrative Procedure Act action on December 18, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the United States Department of the Interior. The complaint alleged that the U.S. Department of the Interior and several of its sub-agencies violated the APA and the National Environmental Policy Act by issuing an Interim Final Rule that rescinded longstanding regulations requiring public participation in environmental reviews. Previously, the rule had required federal agencies to solicit public comment on draft environmental impact statements. It also provided for public involvement in preparation of environmental assessments for projects proposed on Interior-managed public lands.

Plaintiffs asserted that Defendant unlawfully eliminated these mandatory public notice and comment procedures for draft environmental impact statements and environmental assessments without advance notice-and-comment rulemaking. The complaint alleged that the new Final Rule was arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law under the APA. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief vacating the Interim Final Rule and restoring Interior’s prior NEPA procedures.

The case was assigned to Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. On February 9, 2026, Judge Corley granted Plaintiff's unopposed motion to relate this case to the ongoing litigation in 26-cv-866-RFL, available on this database as Center For Biological Diversity v. U.S. Department of Agriculture

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Ben Hefter (2/27/2026)

Related Cases

Center For Biological Diversity v. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Northern District of California (2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72054719/parties/center-for-biological-diversity-v-us-department-of-the-interior/


Judge(s)

Corley, Jacquelyn Scott (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Benson, Elizabeth Fay (California)

Jones-Cobb, Brandon (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Cumming, Gregory Martin (California)

Heise, John Karl (California)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

3:25-cv-10793

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Center for Biological Diversity v. United States Department of the Interior

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

Complaint
12

3:25-cv-10793

Order Relating Cases

Feb. 9, 2026

Feb. 9, 2026

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72054719/center-for-biological-diversity-v-us-department-of-the-interior/

Last updated March 12, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against JESSICA BOWRON, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Doug Burgum, Scott J Cameron, Lanny E Erdos, Matthew Giacona, Bill Groffy, National Park Service, Brian Nesvik, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Kenneth Stevens, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ( Filing fee $ 405, receipt number ACANDC-21465677.). Filed by Sierra Club, Center For Biological Diversity. (Park, Wendy) (Filed on 12/18/2025) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

Proposed Summons. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Summons, # 10 Summons, # 11 Summons, # 12 Summons, # 13 Summons, # 14 Summons, # 15 Summons)(Park, Wendy) (Filed on 12/18/2025) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

3

Certificate of Interested Entities by Center For Biological Diversity, Sierra Club (Park, Wendy) (Filed on 12/18/2025) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

4

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21466468.) filed by Center For Biological Diversity, Sierra Club. (Attachments: # 1 Supplement Certificate of Good Standing)(Jones-Cobb, Brandon) (Filed on 12/18/2025) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

5

Case assigned to Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. 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. (jnk, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 12/18/2025) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

~Util - Case Assigned by Intake

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

6

ORDER by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley granting 4 Motion for Pro Hac Vice as to Brandon Jones-Cobb. (ahm, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 12/19/2025) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

7

Summons Issued as to Jessica Bowron, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Doug Burgum, Scott J. Cameron, Lanny E. Erdos, Matthew Giacona, Bill Groffy, National Park Service, Brian Nesvik, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Kenneth Stevens, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (krp, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 12/19/2025) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

8

Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines: Case Management Statement due by 3/11/2026. Initial Case Management Conference set for 3/18/2026 02:00 PM in San Francisco, - Videoconference Only. (krp, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 12/19/2025) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

Summons Issued as to USA

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

Order on Motion for Pro Hac Vice

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

9

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Gregory Martin Cumming on behalf of Jessica Bowron, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Doug Burgum, Scott J. Cameron, Lanny E. Erdos, Matthew Giacona, Bill Groffy, National Park Service, Brian Nesvik, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Kenneth Stevens, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Cumming, Gregory) (Filed on 1/5/2026) (Entered: 01/05/2026)

Jan. 5, 2026

Jan. 5, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Jan. 5, 2026

Jan. 5, 2026

10

NOTICE of Appearance filed by John Karl Heise on behalf of Jessica Bowron, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Doug Burgum, Scott J. Cameron, Lanny E. Erdos, Matthew Giacona, Bill Groffy, National Park Service, Brian Nesvik, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Kenneth Stevens, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Heise, John) (Filed on 1/27/2026) (Entered: 01/27/2026)

Jan. 27, 2026

Jan. 27, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Jan. 27, 2026

Jan. 27, 2026

11

MOTION to Relate Case Unopposed filed 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) (Entered: 02/03/2026)

Feb. 3, 2026

Feb. 3, 2026

12

ORDER by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley granting (11) Motion to Relate Case in case 3:25-cv-10793-JSC.26-cv-866-RFL is related to 25-cv-10793. (ahm, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/9/2026) (Entered: 02/09/2026)

Feb. 9, 2026

Feb. 9, 2026

Clearinghouse
13

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Center For Biological Diversity, Sierra Club (Park, Wendy) (Filed on 2/11/2026) (Entered: 02/11/2026)

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

14

STIPULATION re 1 Complaint,, Extension of Time to Respond filed by Jessica Bowron, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Doug Burgum, Scott J. Cameron, Lanny E. Erdos, Matthew Giacona, Bill Groffy, National Park Service, Brian Nesvik, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Kenneth Stevens, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (Heise, John) (Filed on 2/12/2026) (Entered: 02/12/2026)

Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

15

ORDER granting 14 Stipulation for Extension of Time to Respond by 3/27/2026. Signed by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley on 2/23/2026. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ahm, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/23/2026) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

Order

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

16

ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options (Cumming, Gregory) (Filed on 2/25/2026) (Entered: 02/25/2026)

Feb. 25, 2026

Feb. 25, 2026

17

ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options (Jones-Cobb, Brandon) (Filed on 2/25/2026) (Entered: 02/25/2026)

Feb. 25, 2026

Feb. 25, 2026

18

Notice of Change of Address

March 4, 2026

March 4, 2026

19

Joint Case Management Statement

March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026

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: Dec. 18, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Environmental non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations.

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

Defendant Type(s):

Parks

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

Northern District of California 3:25-cv-10793

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Government services

Environmental Justice and Resources:

Environmental Impact Statements

Recommended Citation