Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-00325/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-00325-2/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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1/ For the purpose of this Order “Off-Highway Vehicle” refers to wheeled, motorized vehicles

such as motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, but does not refer to snow-mobiles

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CENTER FOR SIERRA NEVADA CONSERVATION, ) CIV-S-02-0325 LKK/JFM

ET AL., )

) 

 Plaintiffs, ) 

) 

 v. ) 

) PROPOSED ORDER 

JOHN BERRY, Eldorado National Forest Supervisor, ) 

ET AL. ) 

) 

) 

Federal Defendants, ) 

)

FRIENDS OF THE RUBICON, et al. ) Hon. Lawrence K. Karlton

)

Intervenor Defendants and Cross Claimants. )

________________________________________________)

Presently pending before the Court is the determination of the appropriate remedy to enter

to effectuate the Court’s February 15, 2005 Order finding certain violations of the National

Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) in the implementation in the Eldorado National Forest(“ENF”)

of the 1990 Off-Highway Vehicle1/ (“OHV”) Plan and the 1999 Rock Creek Recreational Trails Plan

in the above-captioned case. The Court has received briefing on the issue from all parties and heard

oral argument on May 9, 2005. Have considered the briefs and argument of all parties, it is this 16th

day of August, 2005, ORDERED:

1) That the United States Forest Service will withdraw the 1990 ENF OHV Plan

promptly upon issuance of this Order, and on or before December 31, 2007will issue

a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision on a new ENF OHV

Plan (or site-specific area plans) to be consistent with regional guidelines for OHV

route designation, with new national OHV regulations which the Forest Service

expects will be promulgated later this year, and with the requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act and the National Forest Management Act;

Case 2:02-cv-00325-LKK -JFM Document 163 Filed 08/16/05 Page 1 of 2
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2) That until new management direction is adopted, across the ENF (except in the Rock

Creek Recreational Trails Area, where more specific direction is provided in

paragraph 3 below) the Forest Service will restrict private party use of wheeled motor

vehicles (excluding administrative use by the Forest Service or its agents, other

permitted uses, or uses under valid pre-existing rights) to National Forest System

roads open for public use, and National Forest System trails managed for OHV use

and open for public use; 

3) That on or before October 31, 2006, the Forest Service will supplement the Rock

Creek Recreation Trail Plan Environmental Impact Statement as specified by the

Court in its Order of February 15, 2005. In the interim, the Forest Service will

continue to follow the management direction in the Rock Creek Recreational Trails

Plan Record Of Decision with regard to OHV use, operations, trail maintenance, trail

closures, restoration, and recreation events, except that the Forest Service will delay

implementation of new trail construction and reroutes until a supplement to the Rock

Creek Recreational Trails Plan EIS is completed; and

4) That on or before June 1, 2006, the Forest Service shall file with the Court and all

parties a status report setting forth the progress it has made toward compliance with

this Order. 

August 16, 2005. /s/Lawrence K. Karlton

Date Lawrence K. Karlton

Senior Judge

United States District Court

Submitted by:

KELLY A. JOHNSON

Acting Assistant Attorney General

PAUL D. BARKER, JR.

Trial Attorney

U.S. Department of Justice

Environment and Natural Resources Division

P.O. Box 663

Washington, D.C. 20044

Telephone: (202) 305-0492

Case 2:02-cv-00325-LKK -JFM Document 163 Filed 08/16/05 Page 2 of 2