Facts

Plaintiffs, a collection of various environmental groups, sued Defendants, a group of state and federal government agencies, alleging violations of the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act related to a proposed four-lane freeway in Mendocino County. Plaintiffs sought to have a new environmental impact study completed because the project would first build a two-lane road and then add lanes later, rather than building four lanes immediately as originally planned.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiffs contended that the highway would threaten wetlands, salmon-bearing streams, and certain plants.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendants contended that the proposed highway would reduce delays and improve transportation safety.

Result

Plaintiffs cannot challenge the highway project because they failed to show that the new two-lane plan required a supplemental environmental impact statement.