Free to Flourish: Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday
Free to Flourish is PLF’s Environment and Natural Resources quarterly newsletter. If you agree that a better world is possible through liberty—that a thriving environment and free individuals are not in conflict—subscribe below to follow along.
Welcome to another edition of Free to Flourish.
As millions of Americans prepare to unfurl their flags and fire up their grills this weekend, it’s worth recognizing just how far we’ve come as a nation these past 250 years.
The collective knowledge of humanity is available at our fingertips. Once-devastating infections are now minor inconveniences. We heat and cool our homes at the turn of a dial, and clean water flows on demand.
It’s all thanks to innovators. Wildcatters and roughnecks. Farmers and fishermen. Coders and coal miners who have sacrificed to make our way of life possible.
Our Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) practice was formed last summer to double down on Pacific Legal Foundation’s more-than-50-year legacy as the nation’s leading defender of property rights and environmental common sense.
We aim to uphold America’s promise: to protect constitutional limits on government power, defend the productive use of land and natural resources, and promote innovation that improves quality of life for all.
As you celebrate America’s 250th birthday this weekend, I hope you’ll take heart in progress made—but remember that there is still work to be done.
Below, you’ll find highlights of courageous Americans, from all walks of life, who chose to fight back when the government trampled their rights.
Thank you for standing with us and them this Independence Day.
Challenging Fracking Bans in California and New York
You may recall, back in January, we filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of California siblings John and Melinda Morgan. The Morgans are mineral rights owners challenging the Golden State’s backdoor ban on new oil and gas drilling.
As a part of our efforts to spread awareness of the Morgans’ fight and attract other property owners in similar predicaments, PLF’s Kathy Hoekstra sat down with John Morgan for an episode of American Heroes—giving John an opportunity to share what it’s like to get hit by government overreach and hit back.
Tune in for the full 10-minute discussion or read the show highlights to learn more.
As news of the Morgans’ fight spread, we soon connected with Madison and Thomas Woodward, a father and son duo facing a similar obstruction in New York.
By April, we filed a constitutional challenge on their behalf, arguing that New York’s unilateral fracking ban wiped out all economically viable use of their property—an effective “taking.” Therefore, the Woodwards are owed just compensation under the Fifth Amendment.
A New Fight with an Old Foe
Last week, we joined the City of Springfield, Tennessee, in challenging the constitutionality of a citizen suit brought against it by an Alabama-based group called Tennessee Riverkeeper, alleging violations at the City’s wastewater facility.
Riverkeeper has filed 30 similar lawsuits against small towns and businesses across Tennessee and Alabama—many of which have settled, rather than devote years and large sums of taxpayer funds to costly litigation battles.
Springfield chose to fight back—emboldened by the results of a near-identical suit filed and rapidly abandoned by Riverkeeper last year against the City of Luttrell, Tennessee, just weeks after PLF announced its involvement in the case.
Victory Seven Years in the Making
PLF client Dr. Gregory Ringenberg finalized a settlement with the U.S. Forest Service—after a seven-year legal battle—in which the agency acknowledged that it does not have a right to access or build a public road through his property.
It’s a major win for Dr. Ringenberg and an excellent example of PLF’s staying power.
On The Hill
On May 21, PLF’s director of ENR litigation Mark Miller testified before the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee during a legislative hearing on H.R. 7695—legislation introduced by Representative Harriet Hageman to nullify the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
You can watch the full 3.5-hour hearing or skip straight to Mark’s testimony at around 2 hours and 40 minutes in.
Just weeks later, on June 10, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to advance a federal forestry bill that included a last-minute amendment repealing the Roadless Rule.
The amendment closely mirrors the text of Rep. Hageman’s standalone legislation—on which Mark testified in support weeks earlier.
Supporting Bipartisan Efforts to Unleash American Nuclear Energy
On May 15, Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), alongside Representatives Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) introduced the Build Nuclear with Local Materials Act.
PLF senior fellow Josh Smith was quoted in Sen. Lummis’ press release applauding the bill: “For too long, the federal government has stifled nuclear energy with misguided and unnecessary red tape… Passing this bill is one of many important steps needed to remove key barriers for American nuclear energy to expand, innovate, and power the future.”
Strategic Research
Despite growing demand for critical materials like copper and lithium—which can be found in abundance in the United States—opening new mines is almost impossible.
PLF’s new research report explores the legal barriers that have ballooned mine permitting in the U.S. to an average of 29 years—the second longest of any country in the world.
PLF in the News
The Hill: America’s mineral dependence is dangerous and unnecessary (May 2026)
Salt Lake Tribune: Utah can welcome data centers—without selling out its principles (May 2026)
San Diego Union-Tribune: Unleashing American energy production can lower gas prices (April 2026)
Washington Examiner: Permitting reform—the key to unlocking housing and energy affordability (April 2026)
Washington Examiner: How Congress can claw back its oversight power (April 2026)
The Hill: How the federal government is forcing states to spy on lobstermen (March 2026)
Real Clear Energy: The cure for AI data center energy use is competition, not pledges (March 2026)
Honorable Mentions
As a reminder, all PLF clients are represented 100% free of charge. If you believe your rights may have been violated, please consider submitting your case for review.
Stay tuned for more updates on the cases and clients shaping the future of liberty in America.
Free to Flourish is PLF’s Environment and Natural Resources quarterly newsletter. If you agree that a better world is possible through liberty—that a thriving environment and free individuals are not in conflict—subscribe below to join the fight.
