A district court held that FWS complied with NEPA when it approved the opening and expansion of sport hunting in 60 National Wildlife Refuges. Between 1997 and 2005, the FWS issued nine final rules creating or expanding recreational hunting opportunities on 60 wildlife refuges. In 2006, a court...
A district court denied environmental groups' motion to preliminarily enjoin the BLM from authorizing the site clearing and construction of a wind energy facility in Spring Valley, Nevada. The groups are not likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that an EIS was required. The BLM's deci...
A district court held that mining companies violated the selenium effluent limitations set forth in their state-issued NPDES and surface mining permits. The companies had sought permit modifications from the state's environmental agency, and when those requests were denied, the companies appeal...
United States v. Lookout Mountain Mining & Milling Co., No. 11-0029 (D. Idaho Jan. 25, 2011). Settling CERCLA defendants responsible for violations at the Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Complex Superfund site in northern Idaho must assign their interest in insurance policies to a trust and must pay 2% of net smelter returns from future activities.
United States v. Blue Tee Corp., No. 5:11-civ-04004 (D. Kan. Jan. 14, 2011). A settling CERCLA defendant responsible for violations at three smelting facilities in Kansas must pay trustees a total of $180,298.27 in past assessment costs, future restoration planning costs, and operation and maintenance costs and must arrange for the purchase and transfer of a specified 80-acre parcel of property to offset injured, lost, and destroyed natural resources.
OSM seeks public comment on proposed revisions to Oklahoma's regulatory program under SMCRA that would add size limitations for permanent impoundments, slope limitations affecting post-mine contours. a subsidence allegation reporting requirement, and a requirement for bond calculation at renewal.
The president proclaimed December 6, 2010, as the 50th anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The Forest Service proposed to establish a state-specific rule to provide management direction for conserving and managing inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands in Colorado.
The U.S. Forest Service seeks public comment on a proposed new rule to guide land and resource management planning for all units of the National Forest System.
OSM proposed to approve an amendment to Alabama's regulatory program under SMCRA concerning licensing; see above for direct final rule.