Greater Hells Canyon Council v. Wilkes

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.