Cattle Grazing in Arizona Forest Unlawfully Expanded, Court Says

The US Forest Service failed to adequately consider the impacts of expanded cattle grazing allotments in Tonto National Forest in Arizona, the Ninth Circuit found, partially vacating the agency’s environmental assessment underlying its approval of the plan.

Community organization Neighbors of the Mogollon Rim sued the agency, claiming that the expanded grazing could damage vegetation relied on by the Mexican spotted owl and narrow-headed garter snake.

The US District Court for the District of Arizona held that the agency correctly found that the grazing plan was consistent with the Tonto Forest Plan, but a three-judge panel on the US Court ...