ELR Citation: 53 ELR 20068
No(s). CV 22-91-M-DLC (D. Mont. Apr 24, 2023) (Christensen, J.)

A district court granted environmental groups' motion to preliminarily enjoin a logging project in the Kootenai National Forest. The groups argued the project violated the ESA by failing to adequately consider the impacts of unauthorized motorized access on grizzly bears in the project area. The court found the groups were likely to prevail on their ESA claim and established a sufficient likelihood that their members' recreational and aesthetic interests, which depended in part on the health and presence of grizzly bears in the project area, would be irreparably harmed by the project. It granted the groups' motion and preliminarily enjoined the project from being implemented pending a decision on the merits.