Washington tribes, conservation groups sue over Trump endangered species rule

Northwest tribal nations and conservation groups sued the Trump administration Tuesday, challenging a new endangered species rule aimed at eliminating habitat protections for imperiled species. Filed in federal court in Seattle, the lawsuits argue that for more than 50 years the Endangered Species Act has prohibited or regulated habitat destruction that impairs, kills or injures threatened species. The new rule would rescind the long-standing definition of “harm,” potentially allowing species listed under the ESA to be killed or injured through habitat destruction. The plaintiffs, including the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and Squaxin Island Tribe and groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity and Columbia Riverkeeper, say the changes are illegal and threaten Puget Sound salmon, which they cite as a key driver of decline. The complaints also note over 70% of Puget Sound’s historical tidal wetlands have been lost or damaged. U.S. crude and oil prices were not part of the litigation details, but the suit focuses on habitat loss as the leading cause of species loss.