Livestock Grazing in Montana Watershed Wins Early Court Nod

Federal approval for livestock grazing in the Grasshopper Watershed in Montana will remain in place as environmental groups challenge the decision, after a federal judge ruled the Interior Department reasonably studied less-invasive alternatives.

The US District Court for the District of Montana denied plaintiffs’ bid for a preliminary injunction Wednesday, ruling groups didn’t prove the threatened sage grouse population would face irreparable harm if grazing were allowed to continue.

Judge Brian Morris cited the US Supreme Court’s decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coal. v. Eagle County, which instructed courts to rein in judicial review on the scope of National ...