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Public Lands Council v. Western Watersheds Project

The plaintiffs in this case challenged the Bureau of Land Management’s adoption of pro-industry regulations concerning grazing on public lands. Applying conventional principles of standing and ripeness law, the court of appeals allowed the plaintiffs’ lawsuit to proceed. The court further held that the Bureau violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act by failing to consider the environmental impacts of adopting these regulations. The Public Lands Council, a representative of ranching associations, petitioned the Supreme Court and asked it to reverse this decision. On behalf of the plaintiffs, we opposed the petition, and the Court denied it.