Oregon files lawsuits with 20 other states to defend endangered species

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) --- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced Wednesday that the state is filing two lawsuits against federal environmental agencies over rule changes that weaken protections under the Endangered Species Act.

The legal actions, supported by Gov. Tina Kotek, challenge regulations issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service that make it easier to alter or destroy protected wildlife habitats.

The state argues the regulatory rollbacks ignore the core purpose of the Endangered Species Act and violate both the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Oregon is joined in the litigation by attorneys general from 20 other states and the District of Columbia.

The first lawsuit, filed against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, challenges the federal government's rescission of the longstanding definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act. For decades, the definition included significant habitat degradation that disrupts breeding, feeding or shelter. State officials contend that narrowing the term allows critical habitats to be destroyed even when the damage threatens a species' survival.

A second lawsuit targets both the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service over two additional policy revisions. One rule change removes automatic protections for newly listed threatened species, while the second alters how federal authorities determine and designate critical habitat areas.

Rayfield emphasized the importance of safeguarding wildlife habitats when announcing the legal filings. “One of the things that makes Oregon a truly great place to live and visit is our natural environment, including our rich, vibrant habitats and animal species,” Rayfield said. “Protecting these spaces and the animals who call them home is about preserving our way of life for generations to come.”

Gov. Kotek voiced strong support for the state's court actions against the federal administration. “Oregon's natural landscapes and waters are the foundation of our rural economies and the ecosystems that define this state,” Kotek said. “While President Trump is doing everything in his power to roll back decades of longstanding habitat protections, Oregon will continue to fight back on every front, with everything we have, to protect our wildlife.”

Oregon contains numerous threatened and endangered species that depend on federal public lands for habitat. The state was also the first in the nation to have a fish species delisted following population recovery under Endangered Species Act protections. According to the attorney general's office, habitat destruction remains the primary cause of wildlife decline nationwide.

Oregon filed the litigation alongside attorneys general from Arizona, Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Hawaii, Ill., Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., N.J., N.M., N.Y., R.I., Vt., Va., Wash., Wis. and the District of Columbia.