The court upholds a district court decision that Louisiana Act 315 of 1940 cannot be applied retroactively to mineral servitudes created prior to the Act but can be applied prospectively to post-1940 transfers. In 1929, a mineral servitude was created for two parcels of land in Louisiana. Between 19...

The court holds that res judicata bars a manufacturer's declaratory relief action seeking a declaration that insurers must indemnify the manufacturer for claims brought against it for harm caused by the discharge of chemicals to groundwater at a California site. In a prior action, a court held that ...

The court issues a preliminary injunction halting salvage logging on fire-charred lands in Oregon until the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) resolves serious questions raised by environmental groups as to whether the agency complied with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in authorizing the...

The court upholds the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS') denial of Missouri's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for certain documents produced by a nonprofit corporation involved in the conservation and protection of the Missouri River. The corporation is made up of fish and wildlife co...

The court affirms a district court's denial of attorney fees to an environmental group whose lawsuit challenging the adequacy of a Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) environmental assessment (EA) was not a material factor in the FHwA's decision to supplement the EA. The court first holds that the...

The court holds that county ordinance provisions directing solid waste to designated in-state facilities do not discriminate against interstate commerce; however, provisions that prevent the delivery of waste to out-of-state processors violate the U.S. Commerce Clause. The court first holds that the...

The court holds that the state of Texas met the requirements for intervention as of right in various capacities in an action where an environmental group brought suit under the Endangered Species Act to enjoin various parties who pump water from the Edwards aquifer. The court first holds that the de...

The court holds that the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) decision to enter or extend power contracts with several direct service industries (DSIs) was not arbitrary and capricious as alleged by a coalition of consumers, public power associations, and environmental groups. The court first add...

The court affirms in part and reverses in part a district court decision on trespass, nuisance, strict liability, and negligence claims brought by property owners in Mississippi against a tire factory for the alleged release of carbon black and petroleum naptha. The court first holds that the simila...

The court holds that the U.S. Forest Service's management of national forests in Texas violates the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and its regulations. As a result of these violations, the court enjoins the Forest Service from engaging in timber harvesting under any method until such time tha...