[
{"action_title":"Canceled Defense Department social-science research on climate-change impacts","status":"canceled","summary":"The Defense Department scrapped its portfolio of social-science research, including studies focused on climate-change impacts, global migration patterns, and social trends.","action_type":"research cancellation","issues":"climate change, environmental science","source_url":"https://climate.law.columbia.edu/content/defense-department-cancels-research-climate-change-impacts","environmental_harm":"The cancellation ended research into climate-change impacts that informs understanding of climate risks, migration, and national-security planning.","action_date":"2025-03-07","targeted_policy":"Department of Defense social-science research portfolio","acting_body":"U.S. Department of Defense","_key":"2025-03-07\u0001canceled defense department social-science research on climate-change impacts\u0001u.s. department of defense","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.661Z"},
{"action_date":"2025-04-11","action_title":"Terminated Lowndes County environmental-justice sanitation settlement","environmental_harm":"The terminated agreement had been intended to end exposure to raw sewage, improve health outcomes and develop safe, equitable sanitation solutions for a predominantly Black community where the federal investigation found a pattern of inaction and neglect around wastewater risks.","geography":"Lowndes County, Alabama","summary":"The Justice Department immediately terminated its interim resolution agreement with Alabama public-health agencies arising from the federal environmental-justice investigation of wastewater and sanitation conditions in Lowndes County.","acting_body":"U.S. Department of Justice","status":"terminated","issues":"environmental justice, water, public health, enforcement","targeted_policy":"DOJ–Alabama Department of Public Health Interim Resolution Agreement","official_action_url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-terminates-environmental-justice-settlement-agreement-advancing-president","action_type":"settlement termination","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-terminates-environmental-justice-settlement-agreement-advancing-president","_key":"2025-04-11\u0001terminated lowndes county environmental-justice sanitation settlement\u0001u.s. department of justice","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.441Z"},
{"summary":"The Patent and Trademark Office formally terminated a program that accelerated review of patent applications for innovations that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and mitigate climate change.","official_action_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/18/2025-06701/termination-of-the-climate-change-mitigation-pilot-program","issues":"climate change, clean technology","environmental_harm":"Ending the program removed no-cost expedited patent review for climate-mitigation innovations, slowing a federal pathway designed to advance technologies that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.","acting_body":"U.S. Patent and Trademark Office","action_title":"Terminated the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program","source_url":"https://climate.law.columbia.edu/content/patent-and-trademark-office-terminates-climate-change-mitigation-pilot-program","action_type":"program termination","action_date":"2025-04-18","targeted_policy":"Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program","status":"terminated","_key":"2025-04-18\u0001terminated the climate change mitigation pilot program\u0001u.s. patent and trademark office","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.673Z"},
{"environmental_harm":"NRDC documented that Fotouhi represented energy clients and would help EPA leadership fast-track rollbacks of clean-air and clean-water safeguards while promoting fossil-fuel expansion.","status":"confirmed","official_action_url":"https://eponline.com/articles/2025/06/10/senate-confirms-david-fotouhi-as-deputy-administrator-of-epa.aspx","source_url":"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/wyQfX/8/dataset.csv","action_date":"2025-06-10","action_title":"Confirmed David Fotouhi as EPA deputy administrator","issues":"clean air, water, fossil fuels, environmental enforcement","geography":"United States","acting_body":"U.S. Senate","targeted_policy":"Environmental Protection Agency leadership","summary":"The Senate confirmed David Fotouhi as deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency by a 53–41 party-line vote, placing the former Trump EPA lawyer and fossil-fuel-industry attorney in a key agency leadership role.","action_type":"personnel action","_key":"2025-06-10\u0001confirmed david fotouhi as epa deputy administrator\u0001u.s. senate","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.453Z"},
{"targeted_policy":"PHMSA Pipeline Safety Research and Development Program","issues":"environmental science, public health, fossil fuels, pipeline safety","action_type":"research cancellation","summary":"PHMSA terminated nine pipeline-safety research and development projects worth about $7 million, including studies of carbon-dioxide pipeline impact zones, hydrogen pipeline safety and corrosion prevention, stating that the cancellations reflected a change in administration priorities.","acting_body":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","geography":"United States","source_url":"https://pstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Dec.25_PR_PHMSA-RD_FINAL.pdf","action_title":"Terminated nine pipeline-safety research projects","action_date":"2025-09-01","environmental_harm":"Ending the projects prevents the public from receiving safety research intended to reduce pipeline failures, leaks and harms to communities and the environment, including research prompted by a carbon-dioxide pipeline rupture that hospitalized 45 people.","status":"terminated","_key":"2025-09-01\u0001terminated nine pipeline-safety research projects\u0001pipeline and hazardous materials safety administration","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.417Z"},
{"issues":"environmental justice, toxics, public health, enforcement","status":"ended","official_action_url":"https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-agreement-environmental-justice-investigation-illegal-dumping","action_title":"Ended federal monitoring of illegal dumping in Houston environmental-justice communities","targeted_policy":"DOJ–City of Houston voluntary resolution agreement on illegal dumping","summary":"The Justice Department withdrew from its voluntary resolution agreement with Houston and ended federal oversight of the city’s response to illegal dumping before the agreement’s scheduled expiration, removing monitoring, accountability, signage, cameras and other resources from predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods.","environmental_harm":"Residents and local leaders said the monitoring had made waste pickup faster and neighborhoods cleaner and safer; after it ended they feared worsening piles of tires, construction debris, mattresses, hazardous waste and other dumping, with diminished city responsiveness and accountability.","geography":"Trinity/Houston Gardens and Fifth Ward, Houston, Texas","acting_body":"U.S. Department of Justice","source_url":"https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/12/11/federal-oversight-on-illegal-dumping-in-minority-neighborhoods-dismissed-leaving-trinity-gardens-residents-worried/","action_date":"2025-12-09","action_type":"enforcement withdrawal","_key":"2025-12-09\u0001ended federal monitoring of illegal dumping in houston environmental-justice communities\u0001u.s. department of justice","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.428Z"},
{"issues":"public lands, wildlife, transportation","action_date":"2026-01-21","environmental_harm":"The highway would permanently eliminate designated critical habitat for threatened Mojave desert tortoises, increase wildfire risk, spread invasive plants, damage cultural resources and red-rock landscapes, and disrupt recreation.","targeted_policy":"Northern Corridor Highway right-of-way","source_url":"https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/bureau-of-land-management-reapproves-highway-through-utahs-red-cliffs-national-conservation-area-2026-01-21/","geography":"Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Utah","acting_body":"Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service","summary":"Federal agencies reversed their December 2024 rejection and reapproved a four-lane, high-speed highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area near St. George.","action_type":"project approval","action_title":"Reapproved the Northern Corridor Highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area","status":"reapproved","_key":"2026-01-21\u0001reapproved the northern corridor highway through red cliffs national conservation area\u0001bureau of land management and u.s. fish and wildlife service","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.579Z"},
{"action_type":"enacted appropriations law","targeted_policy":"Bipartisan Infrastructure Law lead service line replacement funding","environmental_harm":"The cut removed funding needed to replace toxic lead service lines; lead exposure harms every major body system and millions of families remain exposed through contaminated drinking water.","summary":"Congress enacted and President Trump signed the FY2026 Interior and Environment appropriations law, transferring $125 million previously appropriated for EPA State and Tribal Assistance Grants, including lead service line replacement funding, to Interior wildland fire management.","geography":"United States","action_title":"Cut $125 million from lead service line replacement funding","official_action_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ74/html/PLAW-119publ74.htm","issues":"clean water, toxics, public health, environmental justice, funding cuts","source_url":"https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2026/01/08/federal-spending-package-would-cut-lead-pipe-replacement-funding/","acting_body":"U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump","status":"enacted","action_date":"2026-01-23","_key":"2026-01-23\u0001cut $125 million from lead service line replacement funding\u0001u.s. congress and president donald trump","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.557Z"},
{"official_action_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ74/html/PLAW-119publ74.htm","action_title":"Cut $500 million from abandoned mine land cleanup funding","issues":"clean water, toxics, public lands, environmental justice, funding cuts","summary":"Congress enacted and President Trump signed an appropriations law that redirected $500 million previously appropriated for abandoned mine land cleanup, reducing annual reclamation grants to states and tribes by about $45.45 million for each of the next 11 years.","status":"enacted","action_type":"enacted appropriations law","targeted_policy":"Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Abandoned Mine Land reclamation grants","geography":"United States, including Appalachia","source_url":"https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/breaking-down-how-much-congress-cut-aml-funds-by-state/","action_date":"2026-01-23","environmental_harm":"The reduction means more hazardous coal-mining damage to land and water will remain unreclaimed, delaying cleanup of threats to local populations in Appalachia and other mining regions.","acting_body":"U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump","_key":"2026-01-23\u0001cut $500 million from abandoned mine land cleanup funding\u0001u.s. congress and president donald trump","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.569Z"},
{"acting_body":"Bureau of Ocean Energy Management","official_action_url":"https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/press-releases/boem-publishes-final-notice-sale-cook-inlet-lease-sale","action_type":"lease sale","action_title":"Published final notice for Cook Inlet offshore oil and gas lease sale","summary":"BOEM published the final notice for a March 4 offshore oil-and-gas lease sale in Cook Inlet, the first of six such sales scheduled through 2032.","status":"final notice published","action_date":"2026-01-30","issues":"fossil fuels, climate change, wildlife, oceans, environmental justice","geography":"Cook Inlet, Alaska","targeted_policy":"Cook Inlet OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 1","environmental_harm":"The sale proceeded without updated environmental review or Endangered Species Act consultation and posed risks from oil spills, noise pollution, vessel strikes and climate impacts to the critically endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, northern sea otter, Steller’s eider, fisheries and coastal communities.","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/traditional-tribal-nation-community-and-environmental-groups-notify-interior-department-of-intent-to-challenge-upcoming-offshore-oil-and-gas-sale-in-cook-inlet-alaska","_key":"2026-01-30\u0001published final notice for cook inlet offshore oil and gas lease sale\u0001bureau of ocean energy management","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.535Z"},
{"official_action_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/11/2026-02719/notice-of-2026-national-petroleum-reserve-alaska-oil-and-gas-lease-sale-lease-sale","action_type":"lease sale","source_url":"https://apnews.com/article/petroleum-reserve-alaska-leases-lawsuit-drilling-248df6e9adbecc807353de162101525d","action_title":"Scheduled a 5.5-million-acre oil and gas lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska","summary":"BLM announced the first National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska oil and gas lease sale since 2019, offering more than 600 tracts across about 5.5 million acres for a March 18 auction.","action_date":"2026-02-11","acting_body":"Bureau of Land Management","environmental_harm":"The sale made ecologically sensitive and long-protected lands near Teshekpuk Lake and the Colville River available for drilling, threatening caribou habitat, subsistence values, bears, wolves and millions of migratory birds while relying on challenged environmental reviews.","issues":"fossil fuels, public lands, wildlife, climate change, environmental justice","geography":"National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, North Slope, Alaska","targeted_policy":"National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Oil and Gas Lease Sale 2026","status":"scheduled","_key":"2026-02-11\u0001scheduled a 5.5-million-acre oil and gas lease sale in the national petroleum reserve-alaska\u0001bureau of land management","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.547Z"},
{"source_url":"https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/lawsuit-filed-to-protect-endangered-wildlife-from-trumps-expanded-grazing-plan-2026-08-13/","summary":"Federal land-management agencies signed a memorandum of understanding implementing a plan to open up to 24 million additional acres of public lands across the West to livestock grazing.","issues":"public lands, wildlife, grazing","acting_body":"Federal public land management agencies","action_type":"interagency agreement","action_title":"Approved expanded livestock grazing plan for up to 24 million acres of public lands","geography":"Western United States","targeted_policy":"Interagency expanded livestock grazing memorandum of understanding","action_date":"2026-03-01","status":"approved","environmental_harm":"Expanded cattle grazing would trample and degrade public lands and harm imperiled wildlife including wolves, grizzly bears, Gunnison sage-grouse, Mexican spotted owls and spikedace.","_key":"2026-03-01\u0001approved expanded livestock grazing plan for up to 24 million acres of public lands\u0001federal public land management agencies","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.639Z"},
{"acting_body":"U.S. Forest Service","environmental_harm":"New roadbuilding in an already road-dense landscape would displace and harm protected grizzly bears and add sediment and warming to cold-water streams used by threatened bull trout, reducing egg and embryo survival.","action_title":"Approved the West Reservoir timber project as an emergency action","action_type":"project approval","issues":"forests, wildlife, public lands, clean water","geography":"Flathead National Forest, Montana","targeted_policy":"West Reservoir Project","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/groups-intend-to-sue-trump-administration-over-flathead-national-forest-timber-project","status":"approved","summary":"The Forest Service approved the West Reservoir timber project in Flathead National Forest using an emergency designation and without consulting the Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act.","action_date":"2026-03-11","_key":"2026-03-11\u0001approved the west reservoir timber project as an emergency action\u0001u.s. forest service","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.590Z"},
{"acting_body":"U.S. Department of the Interior","source_url":"https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-and-totalenergies-agree-end-offshore-wind-projects-lowering-costs-american","geography":"New York Bight, Carolina Long Bay, Texas and Gulf of Mexico","issues":"clean energy, climate change, fossil fuels","summary":"Interior agreed to terminate TotalEnergies offshore wind leases in the New York Bight and Carolina Long Bay, refund $928 million in bonus-bid payments, and obtain a commitment for the company to invest the same amount in U.S. oil and gas projects.","action_date":"2026-03-23","action_title":"Terminated TotalEnergies offshore wind leases and redirected investment to fossil fuels","status":"terminated","environmental_harm":"The agreement canceled planned offshore wind development while redirecting an equivalent investment toward fossil-fuel production and processing, undermining renewable-energy deployment and increasing climate-pollution risk.","targeted_policy":"TotalEnergies offshore wind leases","official_action_url":"https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-and-totalenergies-agree-end-offshore-wind-projects-lowering-costs-american","action_type":"settlement agreement","_key":"2026-03-23\u0001terminated totalenergies offshore wind leases and redirected investment to fossil fuels\u0001u.s. department of the interior","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.464Z"},
{"action_title":"Approved expanded gold exploration at Conglomerate Mesa","acting_body":"Bureau of Land Management","status":"approved","issues":"mining, public lands, wildlife, environmental justice","geography":"Conglomerate Mesa, California","environmental_harm":"The exploration would disrupt wildlife and fragile desert habitat, threaten the Inyo rock daisy and other rare plants, damage culturally significant lands and archeological sites, divert scarce water, and restrict public recreation.","targeted_policy":"Mojave Precious Metals Conglomerate Mesa exploration project","source_url":"https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/trump-administration-greenlights-controversial-mining-project-on-california-desert-lands-2026-04-08/","summary":"BLM approved a second phase of gold exploration allowing 76 drill holes at 22 helicopter-accessed sites on conservation lands at Conglomerate Mesa near Death Valley National Park.","action_type":"project approval","action_date":"2026-04-07","_key":"2026-04-07\u0001approved expanded gold exploration at conglomerate mesa\u0001bureau of land management","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.601Z"},
{"official_action_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/PLAW-119publ85","environmental_harm":"The repealed withdrawal protected the Rainy River watershed and Boundary Waters from sulfide-ore copper mining that the Forest Service environmental assessment concluded would cause irreversible ecosystem harm and downstream harm to Voyageurs National Park.","targeted_policy":"Public Land Order 7917 Boundary Waters mineral withdrawal","action_title":"Repealed the Boundary Waters mineral withdrawal","summary":"President Trump signed H.J.Res. 140 as Public Law 119-85, nullifying Public Land Order 7917 and ending a 20-year withdrawal of approximately 225,504 acres of Superior National Forest land from mineral and geothermal leasing.","geography":"Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, Minnesota","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/senate-votes-to-strip-minnesotas-boundary-waters-of-protection-from-mining-pollution","acting_body":"President Donald Trump and 119th Congress","action_date":"2026-04-27","status":"enacted","issues":"public lands, water, mining, wildlife","action_type":"Congressional Review Act resolution","_key":"2026-04-27\u0001repealed the boundary waters mineral withdrawal\u0001president donald trump and 119th congress","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.752Z"},
{"official_action_url":"https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-announces-two-historic-agreements-promote-affordable-reliable-energy","source_url":"https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-announces-two-historic-agreements-promote-affordable-reliable-energy","targeted_policy":"Bluepoint Wind and Golden State Wind offshore leases","action_title":"Terminated Bluepoint and Golden State offshore wind leases","summary":"Interior announced agreements ending Bluepoint Wind’s lease offshore New York and New Jersey and Golden State Wind’s lease offshore California, paying the companies about $900 million and tying the settlements to investments in conventional energy projects.","issues":"clean energy, climate change, fossil fuels","action_type":"settlement agreements","environmental_harm":"The agreements removed two major offshore wind development areas and redirected capital toward oil, gas, LNG, and other conventional energy infrastructure, hindering renewable-energy deployment and raising climate-pollution risks.","action_date":"2026-04-27","status":"terminated","acting_body":"U.S. Department of the Interior","geography":"New York, New Jersey, and California offshore waters","_key":"2026-04-27\u0001terminated bluepoint and golden state offshore wind leases\u0001u.s. department of the interior","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.475Z"},
{"action_date":"2026-05-08","status":"proposed","official_action_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/08/2026-09146/air-plan-approval-nc-removal-of-the-states-vehicle-inspection-and-maintenance-program","action_title":"Proposed removal of North Carolina's vehicle emissions inspection program","source_url":"https://www.wfdd.org/environment/2026-05-14/forsyth-and-guilford-among-19-counties-set-to-end-emissions-testing-requirements","acting_body":"Environmental Protection Agency","issues":"clean air, public health, environmental justice, transportation","environmental_harm":"The proposal would increase nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compound emissions by about 1%, with critics warning that Black and brown communities near major highways would bear the brunt of localized pollution hot spots.","action_type":"proposed rule","summary":"EPA proposed approving North Carolina's request to eliminate its vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program in the remaining 19 counties where annual testing still applied.","geography":"North Carolina","targeted_policy":"North Carolina vehicle Inspection and Maintenance program","_key":"2026-05-08\u0001proposed removal of north carolina's vehicle emissions inspection program\u0001environmental protection agency","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.509Z"},
{"status":"finalized","targeted_policy":"Hawaii Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the second planning period","action_type":"final State Implementation Plan disapproval","geography":"Hawaii","issues":"clean air, public health, national parks, climate change","action_date":"2026-05-15","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/trump-administrations-epa-rejects-hawaii-clean-air-plan","acting_body":"Environmental Protection Agency","action_title":"Rejected Hawaii's Regional Haze clean-air plan","official_action_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/15/2026-09585/approval-and-promulgation-of-air-quality-implementation-plan-hawaii-regional-haze-state","environmental_harm":"Earthjustice documented that without the plan nearly 8,000 tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides plus fine particulate pollution would continue, worsening haze and increasing asthma attacks, heart and lung disease, hospital visits, and premature deaths.","summary":"EPA finalized disapproval of Hawaii's Regional Haze State Implementation Plan, allowing Hawaiian Electric to abandon commitments to retire aging oil-fired power plants instead of installing pollution controls.","_key":"2026-05-15\u0001rejected hawaii's regional haze clean-air plan\u0001environmental protection agency","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.740Z"},
{"issues":"clean air, public health, environmental justice, enforcement","action_type":"proposed rule","action_title":"Proposed removal of Ohio's Air Nuisance Rule from its federal clean-air plan","acting_body":"Environmental Protection Agency","environmental_harm":"The proposal would remove a tool citizens and local governments use to file or threaten federal lawsuits against air-polluting entities, and environmental advocates said people subjected to air nuisances would suffer irreparable harm.","status":"proposed","geography":"Ohio","action_date":"2026-05-28","summary":"EPA proposed approving Ohio's request to remove the state's 50-year-old Air Nuisance Rule from its implementation plan under the federal Clean Air Act.","targeted_policy":"Ohio Air Nuisance Rule in the State Implementation Plan","source_url":"https://www.wosu.org/2026-06-24/u-s-epa-plans-to-remove-ohios-air-nuisance-rule-residents-can-still-weigh-in","official_action_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/28/2026-10643/air-plan-approval-ohio-removal-of-air-nuisance-rule","_key":"2026-05-28\u0001proposed removal of ohio's air nuisance rule from its federal clean-air plan\u0001environmental protection agency","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.522Z"},
{"source_url":"https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/trump-administration-waives-environmental-laws-to-blast-border-barriers-roads-through-big-bend-national-park-2026-06-08/","status":"waived","environmental_harm":"Construction would blast through roadless canyon country, damage habitat, impede Rio Grande access, fragment wildlife movement, harm national-park scenery and recreation, and flood dark skies with artificial light.","summary":"DHS waived dozens of environmental laws, including the National Park Service Organic Act, Endangered Species Act and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, to accelerate border barriers and roads through Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.","action_title":"Waived environmental laws for border barriers and roads through Big Bend National Park","action_date":"2026-06-08","action_type":"legal waiver","acting_body":"U.S. Department of Homeland Security","targeted_policy":"Environmental and cultural-resource laws governing Big Bend border construction","issues":"public lands, wildlife, environmental review, environmental justice","geography":"Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas","_key":"2026-06-08\u0001waived environmental laws for border barriers and roads through big bend national park\u0001u.s. department of homeland security","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.615Z"},
{"geography":"New York Bight, Central Coast of California, and Gulf of Maine","summary":"Interior announced an agreement under which Invenergy affiliates would terminate four offshore wind leases in the New York Bight, off California’s Central Coast and in the Gulf of Maine, totaling $765 million, and redirect the same amount toward natural-gas power plants and geothermal projects.","targeted_policy":"Invenergy offshore wind leases OCS-A 0542, OCS-P 0565, OCS-A 0562, and OCS-A 0567","source_url":"https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-announces-new-energy-agreement-strengthen-american-energy-security-and-lower","official_action_url":"https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-announces-new-energy-agreement-strengthen-american-energy-security-and-lower","action_date":"2026-06-17","issues":"clean energy, climate change, fossil fuels","action_type":"settlement agreement","environmental_harm":"The agreement ended four offshore wind leases and redirected $765 million from renewable-energy projects toward other energy sources, including natural-gas-fired power plants in five Midwestern states.","status":"terminated","action_title":"Terminated four Invenergy offshore wind leases","acting_body":"U.S. Department of the Interior","_key":"2026-06-17\u0001terminated four invenergy offshore wind leases\u0001u.s. department of the interior","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.695Z"},
{"acting_body":"Bureau of Land Management","issues":"public lands, wildlife, water, clean air, environmental review","geography":"Boulder City, Nevada","environmental_harm":"The project would occupy desert tortoise habitat, draw water from the drought-stressed Colorado River Basin, and produce air pollution; conservation groups said the shortcut also denied the public review of those harms.","action_type":"right-of-way approval","status":"approved; administratively appealed","summary":"BLM approved a 167-megawatt data center on 88.5 acres of public land near Boulder City by amending an authorization for an adjacent solar project rather than conducting a new environmental review or public process.","targeted_policy":"Townsite Data Center right-of-way amendment","official_action_url":"https://www.blm.gov/announcement/approved-decision-townsite-data-center","source_url":"https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/appeal-challenges-public-lands-data-center-in-nevada-2026-07-27/","action_title":"Approved the Townsite Data Center on Nevada public lands without new environmental review","action_date":"2026-06-26","_key":"2026-06-26\u0001approved the townsite data center on nevada public lands without new environmental review\u0001bureau of land management","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.717Z"},
{"status":"terminated","source_url":"https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-announces-energy-agreement-strengthen-american-energy-security-and-lower","action_title":"Terminated Duke Energy Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease","environmental_harm":"The agreement eliminated another offshore wind development opportunity and explicitly shifted investment toward natural gas, hindering renewable-energy deployment and increasing climate-pollution risk.","geography":"Carolina Long Bay","targeted_policy":"Duke Energy Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease","action_date":"2026-06-29","issues":"clean energy, climate change, fossil fuels","acting_body":"U.S. Department of the Interior","action_type":"settlement agreement","official_action_url":"https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-announces-energy-agreement-strengthen-american-energy-security-and-lower","summary":"Interior agreed to terminate Duke Energy’s Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease, return $129 million, and obtain a commitment by Duke to invest in nuclear, natural-gas, and grid projects.","_key":"2026-06-29\u0001terminated duke energy carolina long bay offshore wind lease\u0001u.s. department of the interior","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.487Z"},
{"status":"approved","summary":"The Forest Service issued final approval for South32’s Hermosa underground zinc, manganese, silver and lead mine, granting 31 exemptions from the Coronado National Forest Plan and allowing full development to proceed.","issues":"mining, water, wildlife, public lands, toxics, public health","geography":"Patagonia Mountains, Santa Cruz County, Arizona","environmental_harm":"The mine would drain billions of gallons of groundwater annually, threaten local wells and water quality, release toxic air pollution, industrialize a biodiversity hotspot, and affect critical habitat for jaguars, Mexican spotted owls and other imperiled wildlife.","source_url":"https://azluminaria.org/2026/07/08/feds-give-final-approval-for-patagonia-mine-situated-in-critical-habitat-for-jaguars-and-mexican-spotted-owls/","action_title":"Approved the Hermosa critical minerals mine in the Patagonia Mountains","acting_body":"U.S. Forest Service","action_date":"2026-07-07","targeted_policy":"Hermosa Critical Minerals Project mine plan","action_type":"project approval","_key":"2026-07-07\u0001approved the hermosa critical minerals mine in the patagonia mountains\u0001u.s. forest service","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.797Z"},
{"geography":"Mojave Desert, California","environmental_harm":"Groundwater extraction would lower desert aquifers, expose playa lakebeds and create toxic-dust air pollution, while pipeline construction would bulldoze habitat, disturb biological resources and generate air pollution across a large area.","action_date":"2026-07-09","issues":"clean water, public lands, wildlife, clean air","targeted_policy":"Cadiz Northern Pipeline right-of-way","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/lawsuit-challenges-trump-administrations-latest-attempt-to-drain-mojave-desert","status":"approved","acting_body":"Bureau of Land Management","action_type":"right-of-way approval","action_title":"Approved Cadiz Northern Pipeline right-of-way across Mojave public lands","summary":"BLM approved Cadiz Inc.'s plan to convert a former oil-and-gas pipeline crossing public lands to transport groundwater out of the Mojave Desert for sale.","_key":"2026-07-09\u0001approved cadiz northern pipeline right-of-way across mojave public lands\u0001bureau of land management","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.627Z"},
{"issues":"clean air, public health, climate change, data centers","geography":"United States","action_date":"2026-07-16","environmental_harm":"The exemption could allow islanded power generators to avoid the program’s sulfur dioxide allowance system and nitrogen oxide emission limits. Those pollutants cause acid rain and have severe health effects, especially for children and people with asthma.","acting_body":"Environmental Protection Agency","summary":"EPA issued guidance stating that fossil-fuel power generation not connected to the larger electricity grid is exempt from the Clean Air Act Acid Rain Program, expressly expanding opportunities for islanded generation serving data centers.","status":"announced","targeted_policy":"Clean Air Act Acid Rain Program","official_action_url":"https://www.epa.gov/power-sector/acid-rain-program-applicability-islanded-power-generation","source_url":"https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/tracker/epa-released-guidance-exempting-islanded-power-generation-from-acid-rain-program/","action_title":"Exempted islanded power generation from the Acid Rain Program","action_type":"guidance","_key":"2026-07-16\u0001exempted islanded power generation from the acid rain program\u0001environmental protection agency","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.808Z"},
{"geography":"Revillagigedo Island, Tongass National Forest, Alaska","source_url":"https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/lawsuit-aims-to-halt-massive-old-growth-logging-project-in-alaskas-tongass-national-forest-2026-08-27/","acting_body":"U.S. Forest Service","action_type":"project approval","action_date":"2026-07-31","issues":"public lands, wildlife, forests, climate change, environmental justice","official_action_url":"https://www.fs.usda.gov/r10/tongass/projects/303899","targeted_policy":"South Revilla Integrated Resource Project","status":"approved","action_title":"Approved the South Revilla old-growth logging project in Tongass National Forest","summary":"The Forest Service issued a final record of decision authorizing the 15-year South Revilla project across more than 40,000 acres, including about 60 million board feet of old-growth logging, about 23 million board feet of young-growth sales, 40 miles of new roads, and reopening 30 miles of closed roads.","environmental_harm":"The project would fragment the forest, harm subsistence uses and wildlife including salmon, deer, goshawk, wolves, marten and black bears, and diminish old-growth carbon storage, watershed protection, recreation, hunting, fishing and cultural values.","_key":"2026-07-31\u0001approved the south revilla old-growth logging project in tongass national forest\u0001u.s. forest service","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.401Z"},
{"geography":"Federal waters off California","action_date":"2026-08-01","targeted_policy":"West Coast modified longline exempted fishing permits","status":"issued","source_url":"https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/lawsuit-challenges-trump-administrations-california-longline-fishing-permits-2026-08-14/","action_type":"fishing permit","issues":"oceans, wildlife, fisheries","summary":"NOAA exempted two fishing vessels from the federal prohibition on longline fishing off California for the 2026–2027 fishing season.","environmental_harm":"Longline gear can entangle, hook and kill threatened and endangered marine animals, including leatherback sea turtles and humpback whales, and the agency did not fully disclose the permits' harms.","action_title":"Issued two exemptions for longline fishing off California","acting_body":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","_key":"2026-08-01\u0001issued two exemptions for longline fishing off california\u0001national oceanic and atmospheric administration","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.650Z"},
{"geography":"Alaska Outer Continental Shelf, Arctic Ocean","action_title":"Proposed weakening Arctic offshore drilling safety requirements","summary":"Interior proposed weakening the 2016 Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule by loosening requirements for real-time safety monitoring, source-control and containment equipment, and oil-spill response plan reviews for oil and gas exploration on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf.","acting_body":"U.S. Department of the Interior","official_action_url":"https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/department-interior-proposes-targeted-updates-arctic-exploratory-drilling-rule","status":"proposed","environmental_harm":"NRDC warns that weakening blowout-prevention, containment, and spill-response safeguards raises the risk of a disastrous spill in the remote and fragile Arctic Ocean, where extreme weather and limited infrastructure could make cleanup impossible and damage could last for generations.","targeted_policy":"2016 Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule","action_type":"proposed rule","issues":"oceans, fossil fuels, public lands, wildlife","action_date":"2026-08-03","source_url":"https://www.nrdc.org/reaction/interior-proposes-weakening-arctic-ocean-drilling-safety-standards","_key":"2026-08-03\u0001proposed weakening arctic offshore drilling safety requirements\u0001u.s. department of the interior","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.684Z"},
{"action_date":"2026-08-05","summary":"DOE reworked a nearly $489 million federal loan for Puerto Rico’s electrical grid, eliminating financing for planned solar projects in favor of gas infrastructure.","targeted_policy":"Puerto Rico grid loan for solar and storage projects","official_action_url":"https://www.energy.gov/edf/articles/does-office-energy-dominance-financing-closes-loan-strengthen-puerto-ricos-grid","issues":"clean energy, climate change, fossil fuels, environmental justice","action_type":"loan restructuring","geography":"Puerto Rico","environmental_harm":"NRDC documented that redirecting the investment from solar and storage toward imported fossil fuels exposes Puerto Rico residents to volatile fuel costs, sidelines locally produced clean energy, and undermines grid resilience.","source_url":"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/NTliy/20/dataset.csv","action_title":"Reworked Puerto Rico grid loan to replace planned solar financing with gas","acting_body":"U.S. Department of Energy","status":"announced","_key":"2026-08-05\u0001reworked puerto rico grid loan to replace planned solar financing with gas\u0001u.s. department of energy","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.820Z"},
{"source_url":"https://www.rwe.com/en/press/rwe-americas/2026-08-06-rwe-us-offshore-reaches-settlement-with-doi-on-offshore-wind-leases/","summary":"Interior and RWE agreed to terminate three offshore wind leases in the New York Bight, California Central Coast, and Gulf of Mexico, with RWE receiving $1.22 billion after specified U.S. natural-gas investments.","acting_body":"U.S. Department of the Interior","action_type":"settlement agreement","action_date":"2026-08-06","status":"terminated","action_title":"Terminated three RWE offshore wind leases","targeted_policy":"RWE offshore wind leases","geography":"New York Bight, California Central Coast, and Gulf of Mexico","environmental_harm":"The settlement removed three offshore wind development areas and conditioned the payment on investment in natural-gas projects, shifting capital away from renewable power and increasing climate-pollution risk.","issues":"clean energy, climate change, fossil fuels","official_action_url":"https://www.rwe.com/en/press/rwe-americas/2026-08-06-rwe-us-offshore-reaches-settlement-with-doi-on-offshore-wind-leases/","_key":"2026-08-06\u0001terminated three rwe offshore wind leases\u0001u.s. department of the interior","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.498Z"},
{"official_action_url":"https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/News/News-Releases/Article/4569792/corps-of-engineers-issues-enbridge-energy-permit-for-regulated-activities-propo/","targeted_policy":"Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/case/line-5-pipeline","action_date":"2026-08-12","action_type":"permit","issues":"water, fossil fuels, climate change, environmental justice, wildlife","status":"approved","geography":"Straits of Mackinac, Michigan","action_title":"Approved the Enbridge Line 5 tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac","environmental_harm":"The tunnel would prolong transport of more than half a million barrels of oil daily through the Great Lakes, threaten treaty-protected waters and resources, create years of construction disturbance in a sacred landscape, and perpetuate the risk of an oil spill.","summary":"The Army Corps issued a federal permit for Enbridge to build a tunnel carrying a new four-mile segment of the Line 5 oil pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac.","acting_body":"U.S. Army Corps of Engineers","_key":"2026-08-12\u0001approved the enbridge line 5 tunnel beneath the straits of mackinac\u0001u.s. army corps of engineers","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.787Z"},
{"action_date":"2026-08-12","status":"canceled","targeted_policy":"National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designations","official_action_url":"https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-secretary-announces-cancellation-three-proposed-national-interest-electric","acting_body":"U.S. Department of Energy","environmental_harm":"Canceling the corridors makes it harder to build long-distance transmission needed to connect cleaner power, improve grid reliability, and lower costs as extreme weather and electricity demand strain the grid.","summary":"The Energy Department canceled the Lake Erie–Canada Corridor, Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor, and Tribal Energy Access Corridor, ending proposed federal corridor designations intended to speed long-distance transmission development.","action_type":"program cancellation","issues":"clean energy, climate change, environmental justice","action_title":"Canceled three proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors","geography":"Southwest, Great Plains, Mid-Atlantic and Canada","source_url":"https://www.edf.org/media/trump-administration-cancels-major-electric-transmission-corridors-intended-curb-costs","_key":"2026-08-12\u0001canceled three proposed national interest electric transmission corridors\u0001u.s. department of energy","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.763Z"},
{"issues":"offshore drilling, climate change, wildlife, oceans","geography":"Gulf of America federal waters","targeted_policy":"Big Beautiful Gulf 3 offshore oil and gas lease sale","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/trump-administration-holds-latest-giveaway-of-gulf-waters-to-oil-industry-first-since-god-squad-decision","official_action_url":"https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing/big-beautiful-gulf-3-bbg3-oil-gas-lease-sale","status":"held","acting_body":"Marine Minerals Administration","action_title":"Held Gulf offshore oil and gas Lease Sale BBG3","action_date":"2026-08-12","environmental_harm":"Earthjustice and Gulf groups said the sale increases spill and drilling risks for Gulf communities and could harm whales, sea turtles, fish, rays, corals, birds, and the critically endangered Rice’s whale.","summary":"The administration held Lease Sale BBG3, offering roughly 80.4 million Gulf acres and receiving high bids on 59 blocks covering about 330,150 acres.","action_type":"offshore oil and gas lease sale","_key":"2026-08-12\u0001held gulf offshore oil and gas lease sale bbg3\u0001marine minerals administration","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.729Z"},
{"action_date":"2026-08-14","acting_body":"Environmental Protection Agency","action_title":"Approved two toxic semiconductor chemicals for immediate use","status":"approved","summary":"EPA approved two new chemicals for immediate use in semiconductor manufacturing despite acknowledging that it lacked information needed to calculate the full extent of their health risks.","issues":"toxics, public health, environmental justice","environmental_harm":"EPA identified potential serious health risks including cancer, neurological harm and sudden death, while the suspected persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals may expose workers and fenceline communities and contaminate breast milk, cord blood and future generations.","source_url":"https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/groups-sue-epa-over-approval-of-toxic-semiconductor-chemicals","targeted_policy":"Toxic Substances Control Act new-chemical review","geography":"United States","action_type":"chemical approval","_key":"2026-08-14\u0001approved two toxic semiconductor chemicals for immediate use\u0001environmental protection agency","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.774Z"},
{"action_type":"interpretive rule and enforcement discretion","issues":"climate change, clean transportation, energy efficiency","official_action_url":"https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/truck-engine-fuel-efficiency-rule-reversed","acting_body":"National Highway Traffic Safety Administration","action_date":"2026-08-28","targeted_policy":"Medium- and heavy-duty engine fuel-efficiency standards","geography":"United States","action_title":"Ended standalone fuel-efficiency regulation of medium- and heavy-duty truck engines","status":"effective","summary":"NHTSA adopted an interpretation that it lacks authority to regulate medium- and heavy-duty truck engines separately from complete vehicles and said it would enforce the program in line with that interpretation pending further rulemaking.","environmental_harm":"Public Citizen said weakening the standards would increase fuel use and emissions that drive the climate crisis.","source_url":"https://www.citizen.org/news/trump-administration-seeks-to-reverse-fuel-efficiency-standards-for-heavy-truck-engines/","_key":"2026-08-28\u0001ended standalone fuel-efficiency regulation of medium- and heavy-duty truck engines\u0001national highway traffic safety administration","_updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:59:01.706Z"}
]