ELR Citation: 54 ELR 20170
No(s). 1:21-cv-2994-RMR (D. Colo. Dec 13, 2024) (Rodriguez, J.)

A district court denied conservation groups' petition to review the Forest Service's approval of a revised management plan for the Rio Grande National Forest. The groups argued the Service's approval violated the National Forest Management Act and the 2012 Planning Rule by not including species-specific plan components to contribute to recovery of the Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly (UFB), and violated NEPA by failing to take a "hard look" at the plan's effects on the UFB and the Canada lynx and by failing to analyze a reasonable range of alternatives. The court found the groups failed to show it was unreasonable for the Service to conclude that the plan's components sufficiently facilitated recovery of the UFB and that additional fine-filter components were not necessary. It further found the Service considered and applied what it considered to be the best available science in approving the revised plan, and that the groups did not demonstrate the Service failed to consider a reasonable range of alternatives when it discussed and rejected the two proposed special interest areas. It denied the groups' petition.