SAN FRANCISCO — Two non-profit organizations that deal with the environment in California are suing a wildlife service, along with its director and its secretary.
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Environmental Protection Information Center filed a lawsuit on Dec. 16, 2015 in the Northern District of California District Court San Francisco Division against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sally Jewell and Daniel M. Ashe for declaratory and injunctive relief.
The lawsuit revolves around the coastal marten, which has alleged suffered from decades of logging, fur trapping and other ills. Also, the plaintiffs clam the surviving martens have to deal with shrinking forests, road kill, isolation and more. According to the lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found data about the martens is contrary to the best scientific data available, which is in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Center for Biological Diversity and the Environmental Protection Information Center claim the defendants believe that the coastal marten is not threatened or endangered. However, the plaintiffs believe the defendants' is incorrect and that they need to reconsider their decision to not list the coastal marten as threatened or endangered in accordance with the ESA.
Along with cost of litigation, the plaintiffs are seeking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data be deemed invalid and to reconsider protecting the coastal marten.
Gregory C. Loarie and Tamara T. Zakim of EarthJustice in San Francisco represent the plaintiffs.
Northern District of California District Court San Francisco Division Case 315-cv-05750-JCS