News

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed the complaint in Center for Biological Diversity v. Burgum – one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.’s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. 

Earlier this month, the Oregon Natural Desert Association voluntarily dismissed its suit that alleged that the Air Force was illegally discharging countermeasures — chaff and flares — into waterways as part of its fighter jet training operations over the Paradise North area of eastern Oregon. The suit alleged that these releases from aircraft entered waterways and violated the Clean Water Act because the Air Force did not have a permit to do so. The Air Force denied that its operations required a permit in light of an April 20 determination by President Donald J. Trump to exempt for one year

Donald Do, of Daly City, California, was arrested on federal wildlife trafficking charges. Do is charged with conspiracy and Lacey Act crimes related to submitting false paperwork to obtain a federal export permit and trying to ship protected turtles to Asia.

Sunseeker International Limited and Sunseeker USA Sales Co. Inc. (Sunseeker) pleaded guilty this week to two violations of the Lacey Act for using illegally obtained Burmese Teak on yachts that it imported into the United States. Sunseeker agreed to pay a fine of $200,000, and to implement a compliance plan, among other penalties. Sunseeker manufactures luxury performance motor yachts and superyachts. 

Two corporate entities and a shoreside superintendent face criminal charges in connection with the vessel crash that knocked down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland.

A federal magistrate judge in Phoenix ordered Albert Bazaar held in custody following his arrest on charges relating to trafficking turtles. The court unsealed an indictment from San Francisco charging Bazaar, formerly of Angie, Louisiana, on conspiracy and Lacey Act violations. A status conference will be held on May 14 in Phoenix.