The following article is from the Associated Press:
A federal judge has ordered six southern Idaho ranchers to remove cattle from 17 public grazing allotments after the Bureau of Land Management failed to create a management plan following a lawsuit by a conservation group.
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill on Monday suspended grazing on 17 of 28 contested allotments managed by the BLM’s Jarbidge Field Office.
The decision stems from a 2005 lawsuit by the Western Watersheds Project contending the BLM violated federal law in reissuing the 28 permits that involve sage grouse habitat.
But Winmill allowed the parties to negotiate and agreements were reached on 11 allotments to allow grazing.
Winmill allowed grazing on another 17 until the BLM could publish a new management plan in 2009, which was extended to 2010.
The Times-News reports that Winmill refused to allow another extension.
Information from: The Times-News, http://www.magicvalley.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Posted by Haylie Shipp
