Judge rules Forest Service failed to protect sensitive species

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Clarke ruled in our favor that the Forest Service had not done the necessary analyses to protect newly discovered sensitive species before continuing to authorize livestock grazing that trampled habitat for these species.  The Judge ruled that the Forest Service had violated the National Forest Management Act and the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to assess the impacts of grazing on newly discovered sensitive plants and mollusks and the Oregon spotted frog even after damage from cows was documented by the agency's own scientists.  He also ruled that the agency had violated the National Environmental Policy Act by authorizing grazing on Round Meadow without any environmental analysis after that meadow had been closed to grazing for seven years to rehabilitate it.  In response, the Forest Service reduced grazing on the allotment by 1/3 and again closed Round Meadow to grazing for the 2011 grazing season, and is in the process of completing a long-term management plan for the area. 

We will continue to monitor grazing until this long-term plan is completed to ensure the Forest Service is adequately protecting this unique habitat!

Files: 

Order-F&Rs.pdf