Slickspot peppergrass is a rare desert flower found only in portions of southwestern Idaho.  Most known populations have been lost in recent decades due to impacts of livestock grazing, off-road vehicles, and other habitat degradation.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized that slickspot peppergrass thus deserves protection under the Endangered Species Act, issuing a proposed listing rule in 2002.

Bowing to political opposition from ranchers, the State of Idaho, and the Air Force (which operates a "training range" in slickspot habitat), however, the Bush Administration has refused to issue a final listing rule.  Through several series of court challenges -- each of which we won -- the FWS has been repeatedly told its refusal to list slickspot peppergrass is unlawful.  See, e.g., WWP v. Foss, 2005 WL 2002473 (D. Idaho 2005).   The Service is now required to make a final listing decision later in 2009.