Conservationists Seek Emergency Court Order to Halt Mining at Mojave National Preserve Near Amboy

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) filed a motion for a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, June 24, 2026, in an urgent effort to stop unlawful mining operations at the Colosseum Mine within Mojave National Preserve. The preserve, located near Amboy in Kern County, California, is a unit of the National Park System.

Mining at the Colosseum site ceased in 1993, and the National Park Service was nearing completion of reclamation work to restore the area for public use. However, in a significant policy reversal, the Trump administration approved new mining activities at the site in April 2025.

Recent grading, bulldozing, and road construction have caused documented, irreparable damage to the fragile desert landscape and have restricted public access to the preserve. The NPCA, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in April challenging the administration's decision, alleging violations of multiple federal laws designed to protect national parks from harmful mining impacts.

The motion for an injunction asks the court to intervene immediately to protect this desert environment, which Congress designated for permanent preservation under the 1994 California Desert Protection Act. Chance Wilcox, NPCA's California Desert Program Manager, described the situation as "gut-wrenching," noting that parts of the Clark Mountains are being stripped bare and graded down to dirt.

Katrina Tomas, an Earthjustice attorney, emphasized that bulldozing, road construction, and mining will irreversibly harm the desert landscape in one of America's most treasured public places, and that operations are proceeding despite violating national environmental laws. The court's decision on the injunction is pending.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately stop unlawful mining operations at the Colosseum Mine within Mojave National Preserve, a unit of the National Park System. The motion, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles, seeks to prevent further damage to the fragile desert landscape located in the Clark Mountains near Amboy, California, in Kern County.

Mining at the Colosseum Mine ceased in 1993, and the National Park Service was in the final stages of reclaiming the site and returning it to public use. However, in April 2025, the Trump administration reversed course and approved new mining activities.

Recent grading, bulldozing, and road construction have caused documented, irreparable damage to the desert environment and have restricted public access to the preserve.

NPCA, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in April challenging the administration's decision, alleging violations of multiple federal laws designed to protect national parks from harmful mining impacts. The injunction request asks the court to intervene to protect the area, which Congress designated for permanent preservation under the 1994 California Desert Protection Act.

Chance Wilcox, NPCA's California Desert Program Manager, expressed deep concern, stating, "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, added, "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 NPCA's action underscores the ongoing conflict between conservation efforts and resource extraction in protected areas. The outcome of the injunction request could set a precedent for how mining claims are handled within national park units.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately halt mining operations at the Colosseum Mine within Mojave National Preserve. The legal action, announced Tuesday in Los Angeles, aims to stop further damage to the desert landscape and restore public access to the preserve.

The Colosseum Mine, located in the Clark Mountains, ceased operations in 1993, and the National Park Service was in the final stages of reclaiming the site. However, in April 2025, the Trump administration approved new mining activities at the site.

Recent grading, bulldozing, and road development have caused documented, irreparable harm to the fragile desert environment and limited public access to the preserve.

The NPCA, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in April challenging the administration's decision, alleging violations of multiple federal laws designed to protect national parks from harmful mining impacts. The motion for an injunction seeks court intervention to protect the area, which Congress designated for permanent preservation under the 1994 California Desert Protection Act.

Chance Wilcox, NPCA's California Desert Program Manager, expressed dismay at the ongoing destruction. "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, emphasized the urgency. "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. The preserve is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing, and the mining activity threatens its ecological and recreational value.

The court has not yet ruled on the injunction request. The NPCA and Earthjustice are pressing for a swift decision to prevent further degradation of the preserve.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately halt unlawful mining activities at the Colosseum Mine within Mojave National Preserve, a unit of the National Park System located near Amboy in Kern County, California. The motion, filed on Tuesday, June 24, 2026, in Los Angeles, seeks to stop further damage to the fragile desert landscape caused by recent grading, bulldozing, and road construction at the mine site.

Mining at Colosseum originally ceased in 1993, and the National Park Service was in the final stages of reclaiming the mine and returning the area to public use. However, in an abrupt reversal, the Trump administration approved new mining operations at the site in April 2025.

The NPCA, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in April 2025 challenging that decision, alleging violations of multiple federal laws designed to protect national parks from harmful mining impacts.

The NPCA's request for a preliminary injunction asks the court to intervene to protect the desert environment that Congress designated for permanent preservation under the 1994 California Desert Protection Act. According to the NPCA, the ongoing operations have caused documented, irreparable damage to the landscape and have limited public access to the preserve.

Chance Wilcox, NPCA's California Desert Program Manager, described the situation as "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," Wilcox said. "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, added: "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 in the Clark Mountains within the Mojave National Preserve, near the historic town of Amboy. The preserve, established in 1994, encompasses over 1.6 million acres of desert terrain, including volcanic features such as Amboy Crater, a cinder cone that is a popular destination for visitors.

The NPCA's legal action underscores the ongoing tension between conservation and resource extraction on public lands in California's desert regions.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately stop unlawful mining operations at the Colosseum Mine within the Mojave National Preserve, a unit of the National Park System located near Amboy in Kern County, California. The mine, which ceased operations in 1993, was in the final stages of reclamation by the National Park Service when the Trump administration approved new mining activities in April 2025.

Recent grading, bulldozing, and road construction have caused documented, irreparable damage to the fragile desert landscape and have restricted public access to the preserve.

NPCA, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in April challenging the administration's decision, alleging violations of multiple federal laws designed to protect national parks from harmful mining impacts. The motion for an injunction seeks court intervention to safeguard the environment that Congress designated for perpetual preservation under the 1994 California Desert Protection Act.

Chance Wilcox, NPCA's California Desert Program Manager, expressed deep concern: "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, added: "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, located in the Clark Mountains, was originally a gold mine that operated from the late 1980s until 1993. After closure, the site was being restored to its natural state.

The new mining approval has sparked controversy, as it threatens the ecological and recreational values of the preserve, which is home to unique desert species and cultural resources.

NPCA and Earthjustice argue that the approval process bypassed essential environmental reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act and other statutes. The court is expected to hear the motion for a preliminary injunction in the coming weeks, with conservationists hoping for a swift ruling to prevent further damage.