Today, the district court for the Western District of New York denied a motion to dismiss a case that we brought on behalf of our clients, the Animal Welfare Institute and Farm Sanctuary. The case aims to compel the United States Department of Agriculture and its Food Safety and Inspection Service to obey the proactive disclosure requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) by placing certain records related to farm animal welfare online, including records of non-compliance with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act. Our clients and others use these records to monitor the agencies’ enforcement (or lack of enforcement) of these important statutes and to advocate for more effective enforcement, statutory and regulatory reform, and improved treatment of farm animals. As such, our clients and others have a long history of frequently requesting these records under FOIA. FOIA, in turn, requires agencies to place certain frequently records online without burdening the public with the need to file repeated FOIA requests for essentially the same information—a requirement that federal agencies often ignore. Today’s ruling is an important victory that brings our clients one step closer to enforcing FOIA’s proactive disclosure mandate.
Comments Filed with FERC on Harmful LNG Pipeline and Export Facility
On behalf of our client Natural Resources Defense Council, we prepared comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline and export terminal in Oregon. The Pacific Connector pipeline and the associated Jordan Cove LNG export terminal would traverse hundreds of miles of federal land, harm numerous federally protected species, including the iconic spotted owl, adversely impact local communities, and exacerbate climate change. Our comments raised a host of important issues that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other agencies must consider before issuing any approval for this harmful and ill-conceived project.
Lawsuit Filed to Protect Unique Wildlife and Historic Resources in the Nebraska Sand Hills
Grand opening of Eubanks & Associates, LLC on July 1
On July 1, 2019, Eubanks & Associates, LLC will officially open its law offices in Washington, DC and Fort Collins, Colorado. Eubanks & Associates, LLC is a distinguished public interest law firm focused on environmental, public health, animal, and open government issues. The firm specializes in impact litigation in federal appellate and trial courts. We are excited to carry on the tradition of Meyer Glitzenstein & Eubanks LLP, where the new firm’s attorneys worked prior to its closure on June 30, 2019.