Emergency Court Action Seeks to Halt Mining at Mojave National Preserve

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately halt what it describes as unlawful mining operations at the Colosseum Mine within Mojave National Preserve. The motion, filed Tuesday in federal court, seeks to stop ongoing grading, bulldozing, and road construction that conservationists say is causing irreversible damage to the fragile desert landscape.

Mining at the Colosseum Mine ceased in 1993, and the National Park Service was in the final stages of reclaiming the site for public use. However, in a sudden reversal, the Trump administration approved new mining operations in April 2025.

The NPCA, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in April challenging that decision, alleging violations of multiple federal laws designed to protect national parks from harmful mining impacts.

According to court documents, recent activity at the mine has stripped bare portions of the Clark Mountains within the preserve, grading the terrain down to dirt and limiting public access. The NPCA argues that Congress, through the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, intended for this area to be preserved in perpetuity for the American people.

Chance Wilcox, NPCA's California Desert Program Manager, expressed deep concern over the situation. “What’s happening right now at Mojave National Preserve is gut-wrenching.

To see parts of this landscape, in the heart of the Clark Mountains, being stripped bare and graded down to dirt is hard to put into words. We can’t sit by and allow irreparable damage to change this place that was promised to future generations, and that’s why we’re urging the court to step in to protect the park now.”

Katrina Tomas, an Earthjustice attorney representing the NPCA, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Bulldozing, road construction, and mining within the Mojave National Preserve will irreversibly harm the desert landscape in one of our most treasured public places.

The Colosseum Mine is proceeding with operations despite being in violation of national environmental laws. We’re seeking a preliminary injunction to halt this destruction before it’s too late.”

The Colosseum Mine is located near Amboy in Kern County, California, within the Mojave National Preserve. The NPCA is urging the court to act swiftly to prevent further environmental degradation and preserve the area for future generations.