Defenders of Wildlife v. Meissner, Civ. No. 99-2262 (D.D.C.)
Case Summary:
We represented a coalition of groups, including Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club and Frontera Audubon Society, in a challenge to the Border Patrol's "Operation Rio Grande" in South Texas. This massive project included stadium lighting, fences, boat ramps and other intrusions in critical wildlife habitat for jaguarundis, ocelots and myriad other wildlife. As a result of our suit, the Border Patrol entered into formal consultation with the FWS, and prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project. After we filed for summary judgment seeking an injunction to halt certain activities associated with the project while the environmental review processes were underway, we entered into a detailed settlement that committed the Border Patrol to strictly limit the operation until it has fully evaluated the impacts in an EIS and Biological Opinion under the ESA.
Plaintiffs: Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, Frontera Audubon Society, and individuals.
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia