Case: Northern Alaska Environmental Center v. Burgum

3:26-cv-00108 | U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska

Filed Date: March 10, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Filed March 10, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, ten environmental plaintiffs - including the Northern Alaska Environmental Center, Sierra Club, and Center for Biological Diversity - sued the Secretary of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, and the State of Alaska. The plaintiffs sought to challenge the revocation of Public Land Orders 5150 and 5180, which since the early 1970s had withdrawn roughly 2.1 million acres along the Dalton Highway and Trans-Alaska Pipe…

Filed March 10, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, ten environmental plaintiffs - including the Northern Alaska Environmental Center, Sierra Club, and Center for Biological Diversity - sued the Secretary of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, and the State of Alaska. The plaintiffs sought to challenge the revocation of Public Land Orders 5150 and 5180, which since the early 1970s had withdrawn roughly 2.1 million acres along the Dalton Highway and Trans-Alaska Pipeline corridor from mineral entry and State land selection. The complaint alleged violations of ANCSA, ANILCA Section 810, FLPMA, the APA, and NEPA, arguing that the revocation was done without required environmental review, public participation, or adequate subsistence-impact analysis. The plaintiffs sought declaratory relief, a vacatur, reinstatement of PLOs 5150 and 5180, a permanent injunction against land conveyance to Alaska.

This case was initially assigned to the Honorable Senior Judge H. Russel Holland. On request from Judge Holland, however, the case was reassigned to Judge Aaron Christian Peterson.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Ben Hefter (3/22/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72387064/parties/northern-alaska-environmental-center-v-burgum/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Bostrom, Suzanne (Alaska)

Psarianos, Bridget Earley (Alaska)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

3:26-cv-00108

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72387064/northern-alaska-environmental-center-v-burgum/

Last updated March 22, 2026, 5:23 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number AAKDC-3909721.), filed by All Plaintiffs.(Psarianos, Bridget) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

Civil Cover Sheet. (Psarianos, Bridget) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

3

Corporate Disclosure Statement by Alaska Community Action On Toxics, Alaska Wilderness League, Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity, Earthworks, National Parks Conservation Association, Northern Alaska Environmental Center, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, Winter Wildlands Alliance. (Psarianos, Bridget) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

4

CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to the system of random case assignment, this case has been assigned to the Honorable Senior Judge H. Russel Holland. Please use the following case number for all future filings 3:26-cv-00108-HRH. (PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

5

Unissued summons re Defendant Douglas Burgum, (Attachments: # 1 Unissued Summons re Defendant U.S. Bureau of Land Management, # 2 Unissued Summons re Defendant U.S. Department of the Interior, # 3 Unissued Summons re Defendant Kevin Pendergast, # 4 Unissued Summons re Defendant State of Alaska, # 5 Unissued Summons re Defendant Attorney General's Office, # 6 Unissued Summons re Defendant U.S. Attorney General, # 7 Unissued Summons re Defendant Office of the U.S. Attorney Civil Division)(PXS, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

1 - Summons Issued

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

1 - Summons Issued as to USA

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Clerks Notice

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Summons Issued as to Douglas Burgum, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (PXS, COURT STAFF)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Summons Issued as to Kevin Pendergast, State of Alaska, Attorney General's Office. (PXS, COURT STAFF)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

6

HRH TEXT ORDER: At the request of Judge Holland, this case is randomly reassigned to another judge. Pursuant to the system of random case assignments, this case is reassigned to the Honorable Aaron Christian Peterson for all further proceedings. Please use the following case number on all future filings: 3:26-cv-00108-ACP. (ANM, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 03/11/2026)

March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026

Order Reassigning Case

March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Alaska

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 10, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Environmental NGO Coalition

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

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

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

Other Dockets:

District of Alaska 3:26-cv-00108

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Stay of government action

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Environmental Justice and Resources:

Environmental Impact Statements

Recommended Citation