ELR Citation: 53 ELR 20090
No(s). 21-35936 (9th Cir. Jun 14, 2023)

The Ninth Circuit dismissed for lack of standing a challenge to the Forest Service's livestock grazing decisions in Colville National Forest. Environmental groups argued the decisions would lead to an increase in wolf attacks on livestock, which in turn would cause the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to kill more wolves. The court found the Service had no authority to require the Department to do anything before killing wolves because they were not federally protected. Because the lethal removal of wolves could not be fairly traced to the Service's grazing decisions, a remedy that required it to make different decisions would not redress the harm. The court dismissed for lack of standing.