ELR Citation: ELR 20019
No(s). 04-114-KI (D.Or. Jan 20, 2005)

A district court held that the U.S. Forest Service complied with the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations when it issued environmental assessments in its decision to reissue two special use permits allowing snowmobiling and helicopter skiing in the Okanogan National Forest in northern Washington. The Forest Service did not act arbitrarily in deciding not to evaluate the impacts of each project in a single document. In addition, the Forest Service adequately evaluated the cumulative effects of each proposed action, alone and together. Consequently, the Forest Service's and intervenors' motions for summary judgment were granted, and the environmental groups' motion for summary judgment was denied.