By Emily Bregel | Arizona Daily Sun
Environmental groups have taken the first step toward suing two federal agencies for failing to consult on a massive proposed development’s potential to harm threatened species and their habitats in the San Pedro Valley.
On March 9, six groups, represented by nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice, sent a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The notice says the agencies should expect a lawsuit in 60 days unless they initiate consultation, as required by the Endangered Species Act, on the impact of the 28,000-home Villages at Vigneto master-planned community.