The legal challenge is being brought by mining companies and Nevada counties which are opposed to the federal land use restrictions announced earlier this year, aimed at preserving habitat of the greater sage grouse. The regulations potentially impact a variety of industrial and commercial activity in parts of Nevada, Utah, California, Idaho and Montana, which are home to a vast amount of federal land holdings.
Defending the regulations are the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and USDA’s Forest Service – both agencies have been involved in the formulation and implementation of the new rules. A Dec. 28 order by the U.S. District Court requires the Forest Service to submit a complete administrative record by Jan. 29 and the BLM to submit its record by Feb. 15.
Another challenge to the sage grouse habitat regulations brought by Idaho is working its way through the US District Court for the District of Columbia. The briefing schedule announced in that case calls for the submission of the administrative record by Jan. 22, plaintiff motion for summary judgment by Feb. 22 and defendants’ opposition brief and cross-motion for summary judgment by March 23.