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The Climate Litigation Database

Greater Hells Canyon Council v. Wilkes

Geography
🇺🇸 United States / Oregon
Date
2022
Document type
Litigation
Part of
Greater Hells Canyon Council v. Wilkes

About this case

Filing year
2022
Status
Plaintiffs' summary judgment motion largely granted and defendant ordered to prepare an EIS.
Geography
Docket number
2:22-cv-00859
Court/admin entity
United States → United States Federal Courts → United States District of Oregon (D. Or.)
Case category
Federal Statutory Claims → NEPAFederal Statutory Claims → Other Statutes and Regulations
Principal law
United States → Administrative Procedure Act (APA)United States → Endangered Species Act (ESA)United States → National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)United States → National Forest Management Act (NFMA)
At issue
Challenge to U.S. Forest Service approval of the Forest Plans Amendment to Forest Management Direction for Large Diameter Trees in Eastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington that allegedly would remove protections for large and old trees.

Documents

Filing Date
Type
Action Taken
Summary
Document
03/29/2024
Decision
Plaintiffs' summary judgment motion largely granted and defendant ordered to prepare an EIS.
–
View
09/21/2023
Objections
Objections to findings and recommendations submitted by defendant-intervenors.
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View
09/21/2023
Objections
Objections to findings and recommendation submitted by federal defendants.
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View
08/31/2023
Report And Recommendation
Magistrate judge recommended that plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment be granted in part and that federal defendants' and defendant-intervenors' motions be denied.
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View
01/20/2023
Amicus Motion/Brief
Brief filed by amicus curiae Nez Pierce Tribe in support of plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment.
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View
12/27/2022
Motion For Summary Judgment
Motion for summary judgment filed by plaintiffs.
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View
06/14/2022
Complaint
Complaint filed.
Six groups challenged the U.S. Forest Service approval of the Forest Plans Amendment to Forest Management Direction for Large Diameter Trees in Eastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington, which the complaint alleged would remove “long-standing protections for large and old trees.” The plaintiffs alleged that the agency did not prepare an environmental impact statement and classified the amendment as “insignificant” under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) despite, among other factors indicating significance, “the value of large trees as major and increasing stores of carbon that help mitigate climate change.” The plaintiffs asserted violations of National Environmental Policy Act, the NFMA, the Endangered Species Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act.
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Summary

Challenge to U.S. Forest Service approval of the Forest Plans Amendment to Forest Management Direction for Large Diameter Trees in Eastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington that allegedly would remove protections for large and old trees.