Court Battles

Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has been in court defending the environment and human health. Litigation is in our DNA. 

Here, you can follow some of our landmark court battles as well as other legal advocacy, including administrative cases and amicus briefs. Whether up against a fossil fuel corporation or a government agency, NRDC will continue using facts, evidence, and the rule of law to enforce safeguards and hold polluters accountable.

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Featured Court Battles

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Center for Biological Diversity et al. v. Bureau of Land Management et al. (Willow Project)

Court CaseAlaskaActive
NRDC and partners are suing the agencies that have illegally approved the Willow oil development project—a ticking “carbon bomb”—in Alaska.

NRDC v. EPA (Tetrachlorvinphos)

Court CaseUnited StatesActive
NRDC is fighting to ban the use of a dangerous pesticide in household pet products.

Communities for a Better Environment v. Corteva Inc. et al.

Court CaseCaliforniaActive
NRDC is working with a top environmental justice watchdog to clean up a chemical plant in California.

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NRDC et al. v. Dan Brouillette et al.

Court CaseUnited StatesClosed
The Trump administration’s Energy Department abandoned its obligations to review and update efficiency standards. So we sued—and won.

Dirty Water Rule

Court CaseUnited StatesClosed
The Trump-era rule narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act by revoking federal protections for countless streams, wetlands, and other waters.

The California WaterFix project

Court CaseCaliforniaClosed
The California WaterFix project was no fix at all. In a victory for the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, California abandoned its two-tunnel project in May 2019.

NRDC Litigation in Action

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A 22-Year Court Battle Ends with Justice for the Penobscot River

NRDC in ActionMaineNicole Greenfield
After more than a half century of toxic mercury contamination, Maine’s longest river is finally getting cleaned up—a major win for the public interest over corporate polluters.

Fighting the Tide of Watered Down Justice

NRDC in ActionFlint, Michigan, Newark, New JerseyNicole Greenfield
Nearly three years after winning a $97 million legal settlement that required the city of Flint to replace its lead water service lines, NRDC is still on the ground holding officials accountable, and using similar tactics as we demand clean…

America’s Gray Wolves Get Another Chance at Real Recovery

NRDC in ActionShelia Hu
After getting last year’s unlawful delisting rule reversed, NRDC is setting the stage for stronger wolf conservation.

The Unlikely Takedown of Keystone XL

NRDC in ActionCanada, United States, Nebraska, South Dakota, MontanaCourtney Lindwall
The notorious tar sands pipeline was a lightning rod in the fight against climate change and the seemingly unstoppable oil industry. NRDC advocates were part of a broad coalition that helped stop Keystone XL—for good.

The Revitalization of This Former Coal Town Starts Now

NRDC in ActionPeoria, IllinoisNicole Greenfield
Following a landmark settlement agreement, $8.6 million will be invested back into projects that uplift the community of Peoria, Illinois, where a dirty coal plant is scheduled to close by the end of 2022.

A Whale of a Win

NRDC in ActionCalifornia, HawaiiNicole Greenfield
How we got the U.S. Navy to finally agree to stop conducting harmful sonar testing in sensitive whale migration and breeding areas.