Conservation Groups Take Legal Action to Stop Mining at Mojave National Preserve

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.