ELR Citation: 56 ELR 20027
No(s). CV-25-104-BU-BMM (D. Mont. Mar 11, 2026) (Morris, J.)

A district court denied environmental groups' motion to preliminarily enjoin and temporarily restrain BLM from permitting spring grazing and authorizing grazing infrastructure projects in southwest Montana. The groups argued BLM authorized the projects without adequately analyzing impacts on sage grouse, its habitat, and other wildlife habitat, in violation of NEPA, and violated FLPMA by failing to comply with its sage grouse management plan. The court found the groups sufficiently demonstrated a likelihood of success on their claims that BLM's actions were arbitrary and capricious in failing to disclose data baseline information in the EA and in seemingly failing to conduct and publish a cumulative impacts analysis on spring grazing's effect on sage grouse, but that they failed to demonstrate irreparable harm or prove that the balance of equities and interests tipped in their favor. It denied the motion for preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order.