Chronology of Success 2004

‘Winning for the West’

January 2004

  • Lawsuit forces BLM to rescind unlawful settlement with rogue rancher Frank Robbins and closes 50,000 acres to grazing in Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.
  • Under threat of suit, major Idaho dairy is first in its industry to report hazardous emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide under Superfund law.

March 2004

  • In precedent-setting victory, federal court rules BLM must regulate historic irrigation diversions in Upper Salmon basin to protect salmon, steelhead, and bull trout.
  • Two suits force BLM to provide documents and waive fees under FOIA over grazing management and hiring rancher consultants to promote grazing in Owyhee Canyonlands.

May 2004

  • Settlement bars USDA from spraying poisons across southern Idaho for second year.
  • Idaho PUC starts investigation of major rate design changes for Idaho Power to promote energy efficiency, and orders $1.2 million in new conservation spending for low-income customers, as part of general rate case.
  • Executive Director Laird Lucas profiled as one of the nation’s top environmental lawyers in High Country News.

June 2004

  • Federal court injunction bars increased grazing in Jarbidge Canyonlands despite 2004 legislative “rider” procured by livestock industry.
  • Separate injunction orders cows removed from Lower East Fork allotment in Boulder-White Clouds mountains to stop degrading high altitude lakes and streams.

July 2004

  • Settlement over Weiser feedlot protects neighbors’ water supply and Snake River.

August 2004

  • Federal court orders BLM to study grazing impacts to sage grouse and other sensitive species on 1.5 million acres of federal lands in northern Nevada.

September 2004

  • Landmark victory requires mega-dairy in southern Idaho to obtain Clean Air Act permit and regulate emissions of hazardous pollutants.
  • Federal court rules that BLM violated National Environmental Policy Act in issuing grazing permit to rancher in Upper Pahsimeroi basin.

November 2004

  • Final settlement in Snake River Basin Adjudication establishes minimum flows and federal reserved water rights in all Idaho’s Wild and Scenic Rivers.

December 2004

  • Idaho District Court injunction requires BLM to conduct ESA consultation over six “test case” diversions on public lands in Upper Salmon basin, for impacts on endangered fish.