Sagebrush Steppe

The Mono Basin Sage-Grouse isn't like other sage-grouse.  He struts on leks the same way sage-grouse accross the West have been doing for millenia, but the Mono Basin sage-grouse has unique genetic material that makes him uniquely important to the preservation of the species. 

Files: 

Bodie Hills Complaint

This case challenges a poorly-sited wind facility consisting of 75 wind turbines (each over 400 feet tall) as well as over 25 miles of new roads on BLM public land in Spring Valley, Nevada (east of Ely).  The facility near Great Basin National Park would be only 4 miles from a regionally-significant bat roost known as the Rose Guano Cave.  This cave houses up to 1 million Brazilian free-tailed bats during their fall migration.  

Files: 

9th Circuit concurrence (7-15-11)

9th Circuit memorandum opinion (7-15-11)

The Ruby pipeline is a project of El Paso Pipeline Corp., the country's largest pipeline company, which will cover 650 miles from southwestern Wyoming to southern Oregon.  The Ruby pipeline will carry 1.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, providing a coal substitute for utilities on the West Coast. 

But the Ruby pipeline route cuts through key sagebrush habitats, and will contribute to fragmentation of sage-grouse and pygmy rabbits - both declining species that warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. 

Files: 

WWP - Ruby settlement press release

Map of the Ruby Pipeline Route

This case challenges a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) decision to roundup and remove nearly all of the wild free-roaming horses within three horse areas in northeastern Nevada.  BLM claims that it needs to remove these horses because they are overgrazing the public lands, although BLM's own documents show that cows - and not wild horses - are causing the degradation of public lands. 

Files: 

Appeal, Statement of Reasons and Petition for Stay

This case challenges BLM decisions allowing grazing and construction of numerous livestock watering troughs and fences in the Grouse Creek, Meadow Creek, Trail Creek, and Rock Creek allotments, located in the Pahsimeroi watershed of central Idaho. 

Files: 

Opinion and Order (January 2011)

Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment (July 2010)

Opening Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment (March 2010)

Complaint (June 2009)

Challis Area Map, courtesy of IDFG.

The Burnt Creek allotment is located in the Upper Pahsimeroi watershed, which is occupied by bull trout and sage grouse; and extends over much of the Burnt Creek Wilderness Study Area. 

Our prior litigation in 2002-03 forced BLM to close the allotment to grazing for 4 years, although repeated livestock "trespass" occurred during that time, continuing to harm bull trout habitat. 

Files: 

Burnt opinion, July 2010

Burnt reply brief - April, 2010

Burnt opening brief - March, 2010

Burnt Creek Complaint - July, 2009

Area map, courtesy of IDFG.

The Pleasantview allotment covers 70,000 acres of mostly public lands near Malad City, in southeast Idaho.  It offers habitat for greater sage-grouse, Columbia sharp-tail grouse, and other imperiled species; yet BLM has allowed excessive livestock grazing to badly damage the uplands and stream bottoms.  Weeds and alien species are spreading, aided by livestock overgrazing of native plants and damage to soils.

The Granger and Carter Lease allotments encompass 720,000 acres of prime sage grouse habitat in BLM's Kemmerer Field Office of southwestern Wyoming.

BLM previously approved oil and gas drilling on the Moxa Arch project here, which has already harmed the sage-grouse population.  And BLM is planning to expand the Moxa Arch field, which will further fragment the sagebrush habitat and displace sensitive species, including pygmy rabbit and sage-grouse.

Files: 

Kemmerer ALJ decision

The 330,00-acre Soldier Meadows allotment lies adjacent to the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada; and includes parts of the recently-designated Black Rock wilderness and other new wilderness areas. 

Soldier Meadows also has numerous springs and streams occupied by endangered fish species, including the Lahontan cutthroat trout and desert dace. 

This administrative appeal before the Office of Hearings and Appeals in the Department of Interior challenged BLM's authorization of grazing on the Squaw Valley and Spanish Ranch allotments of northern Nevada, where Barrick Goldstrike -- a major gold mining company -- has purchased several ranches and is running livestock on them.  

Files: 

OHA Decision