As we previously reported, on August 29, 2012, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) gave notice of its intent to sue the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Last week, BLM responded to CBD’s notice, rejecting CBD’s central contention that BLM has unlawfully failed to reinitiate consultation under the ESA in connection with claimed risks to various ESA-listed species caused by hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in California’s Monterey Shale.

For more details, please see our full analysis below.