Mojave National Preserve credit: NPS
"This is about what we’ve known all along - you can’t break the law and bulldoze a national preserve when these are among the most beloved places in the country."–Chance Wilcox, NPCA's California Desert Associate Director
August 11, 2026 - LOS ANGELES, CA. - On Monday, a federal court ordered that new mining operations halt within Mojave National Preserve, effective immediately.
This preliminary injunction was granted to the National Parks Conservation Association, represented by Earthjustice, in National Parks Conservation Association v. Department of the Interior, et al.
The lawsuit was filed earlier this year challenging the Department of Interior’s decision to allow an Australian company to proceed with industrial mining activities at Colosseum Mine within the national park site, in violation of federal laws that protect America’s national parks from mining impacts.
The Colosseum Mine, previously decommissioned in 1993, is attempting to reopen with increased industrial development moving forward at the site in recent months. This activity has already caused documented irreparable damage to the national park landscape, with areas stripped of vegetation, new road construction and expansion, and public access restricted.
Today’s court order stops further grading, new drilling activity, bulldozing of sensitive habitat, and road development. The injunction will remain in effect while the lawsuit continues.
Mojave National Preserve was established by Congress in 1994 and protects one of the largest desert preserves in the world. Covering 1.6 million acres of diverse desert habitat, the national park site is the third-largest unit of the National Park System in the contiguous United States.
Statement from Chance Wilcox, California Desert Associate Director at the National Parks Conservation Association:
“This is a win for the Mojave and everyone who believes our national parks aren’t industrial mining zones. While the case moves forward, this order will stop the drilling and grading of this incredible landscape and help protect the preserve from the administration’s brazen attempts to sell out our parks for profit. This is about what we’ve known all along - you can’t break the law and bulldoze a national preserve when these are among the most beloved places in the country.”
Statement from Katrina Tomas, Earthjustice Attorney:
“This ruling ensures what the Trump administration has failed to do: protect our land for the public to access and enjoy. No further drilling and bulldozing of sensitive habitat can take place until we have our day in court.”
About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
About Earthjustice: Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit public interest environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change.
Source: National Parks Conservation Association