Case: Montana Environmental Information Center v. Doug Burgum

1:26-cv-00021 | U.S. District Court for the District of Montana

Filed Date: March 3, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.]

On March 3, 2026, the Montana Environmental Information Center, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Wildearth Guardians filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Montana against the Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI), Doug Burgum, the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) within the DOI, the DOI, and the Directors within the DOI. Plaintiffs allege that OSM sidestepped environmental concerns when it approved the federal mining plan modification for the Amendment 3 (AM3) expansion of the Bull Mountains Mine on June 6, 2025. OSM rushed its approval of the project, skipping the preparation of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) and ignoring related public comments. 

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72355449/parties/montana-environmental-information-center-v-doug-burgum/


Judge(s)

Cavan, Timothy J. (Montana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Hernandez, Shiloh Silvan (Montana)

Hornbein, Melissa Anne (Montana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-00021

Complaint For Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Montana Enviromental Information Center v. Burgum

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72355449/montana-environmental-information-center-v-doug-burgum/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:13 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF against Doug Burgum, U. S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, U. S. Department of the Interior, Marcelo Calle and Lanny Erdos filed by Montana Environmental Information Center, Center for Biological Diversity, and WildEarth Guardians. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet) (JDH) (Entered: 03/03/2026)

1 Exhibit 1

View on PACER

2 Exhibit 2

View on PACER

3 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

Summons Issued as to Doug Burgum, Marcelo Calle, Lanny Erdos, U. S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Issued summons may be downloaded and printed by counsel for service. (JDH) (Entered: 03/03/2026)

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

3

Corporate Disclosure Statement by Center for Biological Diversity, Montana Environmental Information Center, WildEarth Guardians. (Hernandez, Shiloh) (Entered: 03/03/2026)

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

4

Notice of Interested Parties by Center for Biological Diversity, Montana Environmental Information Center, WildEarth Guardians. (Hernandez, Shiloh) (Entered: 03/03/2026)

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

5

MOTION Brandon Jones-Cobb to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 273 receipt number AMTDC-3642648.). Shiloh Silvan Hernandez appearing for Plaintiffs Center for Biological Diversity, Montana Environmental Information Center, WildEarth Guardians. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Text of Proposed Order) (Hernandez, Shiloh) (Entered: 03/03/2026)

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

6

MOTION Daniel Timmons to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 273 receipt number AMTDC-3642670.). Shiloh Silvan Hernandez appearing for Plaintiffs Center for Biological Diversity, Montana Environmental Information Center, WildEarth Guardians. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Text of Proposed Order) (Hernandez, Shiloh) (Entered: 03/03/2026)

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

7

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice - MT

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

8

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice - MT

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

Filing Fee Received

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

Filing fee received: $ 405.00, receipt number AMTDC-3642407 (JDH)

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026

9

Notice of Acknowledgment of Pro Hac Vice Order - MT

March 5, 2026

March 5, 2026

10

Notice of Acknowledgment of Pro Hac Vice Order - MT

March 5, 2026

March 5, 2026

11

Order Reassigning Case

March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026

12

Order Setting - MT

March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026

13

Summons Returned Executed as to USA

March 23, 2026

March 23, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Montana

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 3, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of Montana 1:26-cv-00021

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation