ELR Citation: 53 ELR 20124
No(s). 1:22-cv-00225-BLW (D. Idaho Aug 4, 2023) (Winmill, J.)

A district court denied environmental groups' motion for summary judgment in a challenge to the Forest Service's approval of a gold exploration project in Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The groups argued the Service violated NEPA by failing to take a "hard look" at the potential effects exploration drilling could have on groundwater and surface water and by failing to prepare an EIS. They also argued the Service violated its Organic Act by failing to adopt reasonable measures to limit harm to the environment and wildlife. The court found the Service took a hard look at contamination risks of drilling and determined that they were nonexistent or insignificant given the drilling methodology and designs, and that the groups failed to show the impacts warranted an EIS. It further found the Service established that potential impacts to wildlife, including grizzly bears and whitebark pines, were negligible, insignificant, without measurable effect, and short term. It granted summary judgment for the Service.