Swinomish and Squaxin Island tribes file lawsuit challenging rescission of ESA harm rule

Swinomish and Squaxin Island tribes file lawsuit challenging rescission of ESA harm rule

Submitted by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

Washington tribes, environmental groups sue over rule change

Washington tribes and environmental organizations sued the federal government Tuesday, July 14, arguing that recent changes to Endangered Species Act rules defy scientific research and pave the way for the destruction of important wildlife habitat. The two separate lawsuits, filed in the U.S. District Court for Western Washington, challenge the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the legal definition of the word “harm” as used under the E…