Western Watersheds Project et al v. U.S. Forest Service

Filing 170

STIPULATION AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL, ***Civil Case Terminated. Signed by Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton on 11/9/12. (nah, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/9/2012)

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JEFFREY R. CHANIN (CSB # 103649)
WARREN A. BRAUNIG (CSB # 243884)
KEKER & VAN NEST, LLP
710 Sansome Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone:
[phone]
Facsimile:
[phone]
Email: [e-mail]
[e-mail]
LAUREN M. RULE (ISB # 6863), pro hac vice
ADVOCATES FOR THE WEST
P.O. Box 1612
Boise, ID 83701
Telephone:
[phone]
Facsimile:
[phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Attorneys for Plaintiffs

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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OAKLAND DIVISION

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WESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT;
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE
COUNCIL; CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY; CALIFORNIA TROUT;
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
INFORMATION CENTER; KLAMATH
SISKIYOU WILDLANDS CENTER; and
SIERRA FOREST LEGACY,

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418494.01

Plaintiffs,
vs.
U.S. FOREST SERVICE,
Defendant.

) Case No.: C 08-01460 PJH
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) STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL
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STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL
Case No. C-08-01460-PJH

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Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2), Plaintiffs Western Watersheds Project, et al. and

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Federal Defendant United States Forest Service hereby voluntarily dismiss the remaining claims

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in this action from Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint (ECF No. 103). Plaintiffs’ Third

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Amended Complaint challenged ten categorical exclusion (“CE”) decisions covering authoriza-

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tion of livestock grazing. Those CE decisions were the following:

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Klamath National Forest

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Little North Fork CE; Shelly Meadows CE; Big Ridge CE; Big Meadows CE;

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Modoc National Forest

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Mount Dome CE; Beaver Dam, East Grizzlie, Timbered Mountain, and Surveyors Valley

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CE;

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Mendocino National Forest

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Pine Mountain, York Cabin, Middle Creek and Elk Mountain CE;

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Lassen National Forest

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Deer Creek and Lyonsville CE; Champs Flat, Gooch Valley, Lower Pine Creek, and

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North Eagle Lake CE;

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Inyo National Forest

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Tunawee, Ash Creek, Alabama Hills, and George Creek CE.

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Subsequently, the Forest Service withdrew the two Modoc and the Inyo CE decisions.

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See ECF No. 117, at 1.

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The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment as to two CE decisions: the Big

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Ridge CE on the Klamath National Forest and the Pine Mountain, York Cabin, Middle Creek

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and Elk Mountain CE on the Mendocino National Forest (ECF No. 136; ECF No. 147).

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On March 30, 2012, the Court issued an Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part

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Motions for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 159). The Court held the conclusions reached by the

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Forest Service in connection with the Big Ridge CE and Mendocino CE decision memos were

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arbitrary and capricious in certain respects and failed to take the “hard look” required by NEPA.

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The Forest Service has subsequently acknowledged that, pursuant to the Court’s

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Summary Judgment Order, the Big Ridge and Mendocino CE Decision Memos are set aside, and
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418494.01

STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL
Case No.: C 08-01460 PJH

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has notified Plaintiffs that, as of October 23, 2012, the Big Ridge allotment on the Klamath

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National Forest and the Pine Mountain, York Cabin, Middle Creek and Elk Mountain allotments

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on the Mendocino National Forest are currently scheduled for environmental analysis under

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NEPA during the 2014-2016 review period.

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Of the remaining CEs challenged in Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint, the Forest

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Service has also notified Plaintiffs that it has withdrawn the Little North Fork, Shelly Meadows,

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and Big Meadows CE decisions on the Klamath National Forest and the Champs Flat, Gooch

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Valley, Lower Pine Creek, and North Eagle Lake CE decision on the Lassen National Forest. As

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of October 23, 2012, these allotments are currently scheduled for environmental analysis under

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NEPA during the 2014-2016 review period.

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Plaintiffs hereby dismiss with prejudice their claims against the one outstanding CE

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decision from their Third Amended Complaint: the Deer Creek and Lyonsville CE from the

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Lassen National Forest.

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Pursuant to these actions by Defendant Forest Service and Plaintiffs, all of the remaining

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claims in Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint are resolved.

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Defendant Forest Service stipulate under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2) that this case may be dismissed

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with prejudice, in accordance with the accompanying judgment.

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IT IS SO STIPULATED:
FOR PLAINTIFFS

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Dated: November 8, 2012

/s/Warren A. Braunig
JEFFREY R. CHANIN
WARREN A. BRAUNIG
KEKER & VAN NEST LLP
633 Battery St.
San Francisco, California 94111
Telephone:
[phone]
Facsimile:
[phone]
Email: [e-mail]

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418494.01

Therefore, Plaintiffs and

STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL
Case No.: C 08-01460 PJH

/s/Lauren M. Rule
LAUREN M. RULE
ADVOCATES FOR THE WEST
P.O. Box 1612
Boise, Idaho 83701
Telephone:
[phone]
Facsimile:
[phone]
Email: [e-mail]

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FOR FEDERAL DEFENDANT

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Dated: November 8, 2012

IGNACIA S. MORENO
Assistant Attorney General
Environment & Natural Resources Division
/s/David B. Glazer
DAVID B. GLAZER
Natural Resources Section
Environment & Natural Resources Division
United States Department of Justice
301 Howard Street, Suite 1050
San Francisco, California 94105
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

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418494.01

STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL
Case No.: C 08-01460 PJH

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S DISTRIC

11/9/12
Dated:_________________

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ER

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STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL
Case No.: C 08-01460 PJH

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Judge Ph

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amilton

yllis J. H

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FO

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418494.01

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______________________
TA
HON. PHYLLISRDERED
J. HAMILTON
OO
IT IS S
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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IT IS SO ORDERED

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approves the Parties’ Stipulation of Dismissal.

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PURSUANT TO STIPULATION AND GOOD CAUSE APPEARING, the Court hereby

UNIT
ED

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[PROPOSED] ORDER

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