Green sturgeon critical habitat challenge: oral argument this week

On Thursday, March 5, 2015, at 9 a.m., I’ll be arguing at the 9th Circuit in support of our challenge under the Endangered Species Act to the critical habitat designation for a marine species known as the green sturgeon.  The critical habitat designation encompasses virtually the entire West Coast of the United States, making any development activity in that vast area a nightmare.  The legal problem is that the government missed a step.  It did not weigh the conservation benefits against the economic impacts of designating critical habitat in so-called “high value” areas, thereby violating a key requirement of the Act.  When government agencies violate the law, we go after them.  That’s a job worth doing.  More detail here:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/31/hadzi-antich-fishy-friends-in-high-places/