Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01608/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01608-8/pdf.json

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

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE, No. 2:05-cv-1608-MCE-GGH

a California non-profit;

and CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL

DIVERSITY, a non-profit

corporation,

Plaintiffs,

v. ORDER

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE; 

DALE BOSWORTH, in his official

capacity as Chief of the U.S.

Forest service; and JOHN BERRY,

in his capacity as Forest

Supervisory for the Eldorado

National Forest, 

Defendants.

SIERRA PACIFIC INDUSTRIES,

Defendant-Intervenor,

and

TUOLUMNE COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR

RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT;

SIERRA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, INC.;

TUOLUMNE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE;

and CALIFORNIA FOREST COUNTIES

SCHOOLS COALITION,

Defendant-Intervenors.

Case 2:05-cv-01608-MCE-GGH Document 119 Filed 03/08/07 Page 1 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

 Defendant Intervenor Sierra Pacific Industries also joined 1

in Intervenors’ reconsideration request.

2

Through the present Motion for Reconsideration, Intervenor

Defendants Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and

Environment, Sierra Resource Management, Inc., Tuolumne County

Chamber of Commerce and California Forest Counties Schools

Coalition (hereinafter “Intervenors”) ask this Court to

reconsider, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) and Local

Rule 78-230(d), its prior November 20, 2006 order denying

Intervenors’ request for an increase in the surety bond in this

matter, previously set at $1,000.00 as to Plaintiffs Earth Island

Institute and the Center for Biological Diversity

(“Plaintiffs”).1

Intervenors’ argument in favor of reconsideration is twofold. First, by submitting the Declaration of Joy Urquhart, a

certified public accountant, Intervenors argue that an increased

bond would in fact pose no financial hardship to Plaintiff Earth

Island, despite Plaintiffs’ argument to the contrary as

articulated in their original response to Intervenors’ demand for

bond augmentation. Intervenors claim that in light of the

briefing scheduled imposed in connection with their initial

request they were not afforded an adequate opportunity to respond

to Plaintiffs’ position. Second, Intervenors assert that the

Court relied too heavily on Plaintiffs’ likelihood of success on

the merits in declining to order an increased bond.

///

///

///

Case 2:05-cv-01608-MCE-GGH Document 119 Filed 03/08/07 Page 2 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

Absent "highly unusual circumstances," reconsideration

pursuant to Rule 59(e) is appropriate only where 1) the court is

presented with newly discovered evidence; 2) the court committed

clear error or the initial decision was manifestly unjust; or 3)

there is an intervening change in controlling law. Sch. District

No. 1J, Multnomah County v. Acands, Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1263 (9th

Cir. 1993) (citations and quotations omitted). Mere

dissatisfaction with the court’s order, or a belief that the

court is wrong in its decision, are not grounds for relief under

Rule 59(e). A motion for relief under Rule 58 is addressed to

the sound discretion of the district court. See Turner v.

Burlington N. Santa Fe R.R., 338 F.3d 1058, 1063 (9th Cir. 2003).

While Intervenors attempt to style the revelations alleged

by Joy Urquahart in her declaration as newly-discovered evidence

coming within the purview of Rule 59(e), Plaintiffs have

responded with a declaration, from Earth Island’s own accountant,

Carl T. Ho, which disproves the basis for Ms. Urquahart’s

allegation that Earth Island has sizable reserves of unrestricted 

assets and available cash with which an additional bond could be

funded. The Court finds Mr. Ho’s position to be persuasive and

hence rejects the basis for Intervenors’ claim of newlydiscovered evidence.

///

///

///

///

///

///

Case 2:05-cv-01608-MCE-GGH Document 119 Filed 03/08/07 Page 3 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

 Because oral argument will not be of material assistance, 2

the Court ordered this matter submitted on the briefs. E.D. Cal.

Local Rule 78-230(h).

4

Moreover, with respect to Intervenors’ contention that the

Court placed undue reliance on Plaintiffs’ likelihood of success

in this matter, and consequently committed clear error, a proper

reading of the Court’s November 26, 2006 Order compels a

conclusion that the likelihood of success was just one factor

taken into consideration in denying Intervenors’ request for an

additional bond. The Court also considered evidence presented by

Plaintiffs’ financial officers regarding the availability of

funds and the hardship that would be endured if a sizable bond

was imposed, as well as authority rejecting substantial bonds in

NEPA cases if such bonds would have the effect of precluding

meaningful and effective judicial review.

For all these reasons, Intervenors’ Motion for

Reconsideration is DENIED. The amount of surety bond shall be 2

maintained as posted in the amount of $1,000.00. Additionally,

given the fact that intervention was granted as to Intervenors

Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and Environment, Sierra

Resource Management, Inc., Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce

and California Forest Counties Schools Coalition as to the issue

of the amount of the surety bond in this matter, only, and

inasmuch as that issue has been resolved, said Intervenors are

hereby dismissed as parties to this litigation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 8, 2007

_____________________________

MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:05-cv-01608-MCE-GGH Document 119 Filed 03/08/07 Page 4 of 4