WESTERN WATERSHEDS
PROJECT NEWS RELEASE
August 11, 2006
Contacts:
Jon Marvel, Western Watersheds Project: 208-788-2290
Todd Tucci, Advocates For The West: 208-724-21426
WESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT WINS A NATIONAL COURT INJUNCTION
FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE B. LYNN WINMILL ISSUES A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
BLOCKING IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT GRAZING REGULATIONS
THAT REDUCE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC LANDS RANCHING
Western Watersheds Project – the nation’s leading conservation group working
to protect fish and wildlife from livestock grazing throughout the West – has
been granted a federal court victory through a preliminary injunction issued
by federal court Idaho District Chief Judge B. Lynn Winmill that stops the
Bureau of Land Management from implementing any reductions in public
involvement in the administration of livestock grazing on 160,000,000 acres of
western public lands until WWP’s litigation on the new regulations is
resolved.
The federal court acknowledged in its Order issued late on August 11, 2006
that Western Watersheds Project has shown a likelihood of prevailing in its
legal claims that the BLM has violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
and the Federal Land Policy And Management Act (FLPMA) in preparing its
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the new grazing regulations. The court
did not reach WWP’s claims of violation of the Endangered Species Act in
issuing the injunction.
In his Order (page 18) Judge Winmill states: “The Court finds that WWP has a
strong argument that the FEIS violates NEPA and FLPMA by (1) improperly
minimizing the detrimental effects of the changes on public input, and (2)
failing to contain information from which the Court and public could evaluate
the limitations on public input contained in the new regulations. Moreover,
WWP has shown the necessary possibility of irreparable harm. The public input
of groups like WWP will be limited, as discussed above, and irreparable harm
could result from the BLM making decision(s) without the full public input
mandated by NEPA.”
The enjoined regulations would have enabled massive reductions in public
involvement in the administration of livestock production on 160,000,000 acres
of western public lands while providing for more control by ranchers of the
use of public lands.
Jon Marvel, executive director of Western Watersheds Project said: “This is
another victory blocking the Bush administrations agenda of privatizing public
lands for the benefit of a the very few. Considering the language in this
District Court decision, the BLM is at risk if it chooses to implement any of
the new grazing regulations.”
Western Watersheds Project is ably represented in this important litigation by
Advocates For The West’s Boise Office including attorneys Laurie Rule, Laird
Lucas and Todd Tucci.
LOOK AT
the relevant legal documents (PDF
files):
Opening Brief in Support of Immediate Injunction for ESA Violations
Opening Brief in Support of Immediate Injunction for NEPA Violations
Motion for Immediate Injunction for NEPA Violations
Motion for Leave to File First Amended Complaint
First Amended Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief
ALSO LOOK AT
the
Press Release Re: Relevant Legal Filings