Facts

Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center and Klamath Forest Alliance filed a complaint against Russell Hays, District Ranger of the Salmon River/Scott River Ranger District, U.S. Forest Service, and Tom Tidwell, Chief of the USFS, concerning defendants' approval of the High Bar Mining Project. The project was a gold mining operation located in the Salmon River watershed in Northern California.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiffs contended that defendants' approval of the project violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, the 1872 Mining Law, and the Administrative Procedure Act. Plaintiffs requested this court to vacate the decision documents related to the project, and a declaration that defendants' approval of the project violated the relevant rules and regulations. Plaintiffs also sought to enjoin the project from moving forward. Additionally, plaintiffs moved for summary judgment.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendants contended that the approval complied with all relevant rules and regulations. Defendants filed a cross-motion for summary judgment.

Result

The court ultimately granted defendants' motion for summary judgment, and denied plaintiffs' cross-motion for summary judgment.

Other Information

FILING DATE: June 22, 2012.