“The rulings come at a time when an emerging bipartisan coalition of Western politicians, hunters, anglers and homeowners has joined conservation groups in objecting to the rapid pace and environmental consequences of Bush administration policies for energy extraction on federal land.” Read about it in the Washington Post (via the Casper Star Tribune).
Related: Interior Board of Land Appeals temporaily halts Oil and Gas leasing in the Wyoming Range. Earth Justice News Release.
The Wyoming Range may be the best elk country in the state of Wyoming.
On the divide between Lunch Creek (right) and the Roaring Fork (to the left).
High in the Wyoming Range (elk heaven). Copyright Ralph Maughan
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project.
Thinking people will see this for what it is: real judges pointing out the breaking of laws by people who’re supposed to know better.
Ideologues, on the other hand, will label it “judicial activism.”
In any case, we see again why organizations are forced to sue to get agencies to adhere to the law.
That’s one reason the Western Watersheds Project keeps winning lawsuit after lawsuit. The BLM and the Forest Service have pretty much been forced to stop grazing management. The judge realizes it when the facts of the suit are presented, and the case is nearly a slam dunk.