Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01654/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01654-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:4321 Review of Agency Action-Environment

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Joint Stip. to Stay Litigation, Case No. 07-cv-001654 AWI-GSA

RONALD J. TENPAS

Acting Assistant Attorney General 

Environment & Natural Resources Division

CYNTHIA S. HUBER

Assistant Section Chief

United States Department of Justice 

Environment & Natural Resources Division

P.O. Box 663

Washington, DC 20044-0663

Telephone: (202) 514-5273

Facsimile: (202) 305-0506

BARCLAY SAMFORD

Trial Attorney

Natural Resources Section

Environment & Natural Resources Division

U.S. Department of Justice

1961 Stout Street - 8th Floor

Denver, CO 80294

Telephone: (303) 844-1475

Facsimile: (303) 844-1350

Attorneys for Defendants

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SIERRA FOREST LEGACY, SIERRA

CLUB, EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE,

and CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT

SOCIETY, non-profit organizations,

 Plaintiffs,

v. 

BERNARD WEINGARDT, in his official

capacity as Regional Forester, Region 5,

United States Forest Service, EDWARD

COLE, in his official capacity as Forest

Supervisor, Sierra National Forest

United States Forest Service, ABIGAIL

R. KIMBELL, in her official capacity as

Chief of the United States Forest Service,

and UNITED STATES FOREST

SERVICE, an agency of the United States

Department of Agriculture,

 Defendants.

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CASE NO: 07-CV- 001654 AWI GSA

JOINT STIPULATION AND

ORDER STAYING

LITIGATION

Case 1:07-cv-01654-AWI-GSA Document 18 Filed 11/29/07 Page 1 of 4
1

 This case is one seeking judicial review of an agency decision under the Administrative Procedure

Act and will be adjudicated on an administrative record on the parties’ cross motions for summary

judgment.

Joint Stip. to Stay Litigation, Case No. 07-cv-001654 AWI-GSA

Plaintiffs and Defendants, by their undersigned attorneys, have conferred and hereby

stipulate as follows:

1. Plaintiffs filed this action on May 18, 2007, in the District Court for the Northern District

of California. 

2. On June 1, 2007, Defendants filed a motion to transfer venue to the Eastern District of

California. See Docket No. 11 in Case No. 07-cv-2646. 

3. On July 23, 2007, the District Court for the Northern District of California entered the

parties’ stipulated schedule, which provided that the Defendants’ Answer would be filed 30 days

after a ruling on the motion to transfer, and the Administrative Record would be filed 30 days 1

after submission of the Answer. Docket No. 24 in Case No. 07-cv-2646.

4. On October 17, 2007, the District Court for the Northern District granted Defendants’

motion to transfer the case to the Eastern District. Therefore, based on the parties’ prior

stipulation, Defendants’ Answer would be due November 16, 2007 and the Administrative Record

due December 17, 2007. 

5. On November 20, 2007, the District Court for the Eastern District of California entered an

order setting a mandatory scheduling conference in this matter for February 19, 2008.

6. The parties are engaging in good faith discussions which could obviate the need to litigate

this matter. Rather than expend further judicial and litigant resources at this time, the parties

stipulate and propose to the Court that further judicial proceedings be stayed for ninety (90) days.

7. No later than ninety (90) days from the Court’s entry of this stipulation, the parties will

advise the Court if good faith negotiations are continuing, or if resumption of the litigation is

appropriate.

Case 1:07-cv-01654-AWI-GSA Document 18 Filed 11/29/07 Page 2 of 4
Joint Stip. to Stay Litigation, Case No. 07-cv-001654 AWI-GSA

8. If, at the end of the ninety (90) days, the parties notify the Court that resumption of the

litigation is appropriate, the Defendants will file an Answer to Plaintiffs’ Complaint concurrent

with said notice. Defendants shall file the administrative record for the challenged decision within

thirty (30) days of the date the Answer is filed.

9. This stipulation notwithstanding, the parties will comply with the Court’s November 20,

2007, order setting mandatory scheduling conference.

10. The Forest Service has no intention to, and will not, advertise timber sales or implement

the on-the-ground activities authorized by the challenged Kings River Project Record of Decision

during the stay of this litigation. Should litigation resume, Defendants will give Plaintiffs sixty

(60) days notice before awarding any timber sales or implementing any other on-the-ground

activities pursuant to the Kings River Project Record of Decision. 

Respectfully submitted this 21 day of November, 2007, st

RONALD J. TENPAS

Acting Assistant Attorney General 

Environment & Natural Resources Division

/s/ Barclay Samford 

BARCLAY SAMFORD

Trial Attorney

Natural Resources Section

Environment & Natural Resources Division

U.S. Department of Justice

1961 Stout Street - 8th Floor

Denver, CO 80294

On behalf of Defendants

 /s/ George M. Torgun 

GEORGE M. TORGUN

Earthjustice

426 17 Street, 5 Floor th th

Oakland, CA 94612

On behalf of Plaintiffs Sierra Forest Legacy, Sierra Club, and

California Native Plant Society

/s/ Rachel M. Faizo 

RACHEL M. FAZIO

P.O. Box 697

Cedar Ridge, CA 95924

Case 1:07-cv-01654-AWI-GSA Document 18 Filed 11/29/07 Page 3 of 4
Joint Stip. to Stay Litigation, Case No. 07-cv-001654 AWI-GSA

On behalf of Plaintiff Earth Island Institute

PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, it is ORDERED that:

1. This matter is stayed for ninety (90) days from entry of this order. 

2. No later than ninety days from entry of this order, the parties shall advise the Court

if good faith negotiations are continuing, or if resumption of the litigation is

appropriate.

3. If, at that time, resumption of the litigation is appropriate, the Defendants will

notify the Court and file an Answer to Plaintiffs’ Complaint. Defendants shall file

the administrative record for the challenged decision within thirty (30) days of the

date the Answer is filed. 

4. During the stay of this litigation, Defendants shall refrain from advertising or

awarding any timber sales and shall not implement any on-the-ground activities

authorized by the challenged Kings River Project Record of Decision.

5. Should litigation resume, Defendants will give Plaintiffs sixty (60) days notice

before awarding any timber sales or implementing any other on-the-ground

activities pursuant to the Kings River Project Record of Decision.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 26, 2007 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-01654-AWI-GSA Document 18 Filed 11/29/07 Page 4 of 4