ELR Citation: 56 ELR 20044
No(s). CV 25-5-M-KLD (D. Mont. Mar 31, 2026) (DeSoto, J.)

A district court granted in part and denied in part environmental groups' motion for summary judgment in a challenge to the Forest Service's and FWS' approval of a logging project in Flathead National Forest. The groups argued the Services' approval violated NEPA, the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, and the ESA. The court found the Services violated NFMA by failing to reasonably demonstrate compliance with lynx management standards in the forest plan and violated NEPA by not taking a "hard look" at cumulative effects related to an adjacent logging project and threatened violations of the lynx management standards. It granted summary judgment for the groups as to these claims, granted summary judgment for the Services on all other claims, enjoined the Services from implementing the project, and remanded to the Services.