BLM Categorical Exclusions

Current Status:

Pending

Case Title and Number:

WWP v. Lane, 07-cv-394-BLW (D. Idaho)

Date Filed:

12/11/2007

This case challenges the Bush Administration's August 2007 adoption of new policies allowing BLM to use Categorical Exclusions (CEs) to avoid doing environmental reviews under NEPA of grazing permit renewals and vegetation treatments across the West. BLM would use the CEs to avoid telling the public about how grazing, sagebrush burning and clearing, and other management actions will harm wildlife habitats and populations; and without studying their individual or cumulative impacts as required by federal law.

Files:

First Amended Complaint

WWP's opening summary judgment brief

Staff Attorney(s):

Laird Lucas

Clients:

Western Watersheds Project

Updates

08/28/2009

Settlement Forces BLM To Stop "Categorical Exemptions" In Grazing Permits

The BLM has just instructed all staff to stop using "categorical exclusions" to avoid environmental analysis of grazing permits and vegetation treatments on 160+ million acres of federal public lands across the West.

The new Instruction Memorandum is part of a court-approved settlement of our lawsuit challenging the Bush Administration's August 2007 adoption of a new "categorical exclusion policy," which purported to authorize BLM to sidestep NEPA's requirements in grazing management.

READ THE INSTRUCTION MEMORANDUM HERE.

Categorical Exclusions for Fuels Reduction Vegetation Management and Grazing Permit Issuance