WildEarth Guardians v. Provencio, No. 17-17373 (9th Cir. 2019)
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The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment for the Forest Service in an action brought by environmental groups challenging travel management plans permitting limited motorized big game retrieval in three Ranger Districts in the Kaibab National Forest. The panel held that the plans did not violate the Travel Management Rule where the new restrictions constitute a "limited" use of motorized vehicles; the Forest Service complied with the rule by limiting motor vehicle use to a defined set of roads in each District; and the Forest Service did not violate the plain terms of the Travel Management Rule.
Determining that plaintiffs have standing, the panel held that the Forest Service did not violate the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), because the Forest Service's determination that no environmental impact statements (EIS) were needed as to the Districts' travel management plans was reasonable. Finally, the Forest Service did not violate the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), because the Forest Service conducted the required prefield work, consulted with the appropriate entities, and reached a determination consistent with the evidence before it.
Court Description: Environmental Law. The panel affirmed the district court’s summary judgment in favor of the United States Forest Service in an action by plaintiff environmental groups challenging travel management plans implemented by the Forest Service to permit limited motorized big game retrieval in three Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest. The Travel Management Rule, promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Forest Service lands, generally prohibits off-road, motorized travel, but permits the “limited” use of motor vehicles within a specified distance of “certain” forest roads for the purposes of camping or retrieval of downed big game animals. The panel rejected plaintiffs’ contention that the Forest Service violated the Travel Management Rule by implementing plans that did not sufficiently limit motorized big game
This opinion or order relates to an opinion or order originally issued on March 13, 2019.
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