Opinion ID: 6332151
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Ranchers

Text: The Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association and Otero County Cattleman’s Association advocate on behalf of the livestock industry in New Mexico. Many of the associations’ members (the Ranchers) have grazed cattle in New Mexico for generations. Some members can trace their ranching roots as far back as Spanish conquistador Don Juan de Oñate’s colonization of the area in 1598. The Ranchers graze cattle on federal land in New Mexico pursuant to renewable federal permits issued by the U.S. Forest Service. Several areas designated as critical habitat for the Jumping Mouse overlap with the Ranchers’ grazing allotments. Stockman’s Association members graze cattle in the Santa Fe National Forest, which is where Unit 3 of the critical habitat is located. Members of the Cattleman’s Association graze their livestock in the Lincoln National Forest, which contains Unit 4 of the Jumping Mouse’s critical habitat. Although the Ranchers do not own any private land in the designated habitat areas, their 9 Appellate Case: 21-2019 Document: 010110671606 Date Filed: 04/15/2022 Page: 10 federal ranching permits are tied to their private land or livestock, such that a sale of land or livestock may include the transfer of the associated grazing permit. See 36 C.F.R. § 222.3(c)(1). The Ranchers fear that the designation of critical habitat for the Jumping Mouse will threaten their livelihoods through increased costs, changes that affect the health of their cattle, and lower property values. The Ranchers raised these concerns during the Service’s public comment periods and questioned the Service’s analysis of the potential economic impacts on ranching activities. The Service addressed ranching impacts in the final rule but decided not to exclude any of the Ranchers’ allotments from the critical habitat designation. In December 2018, the Ranchers filed a petition for review and complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief against the Service. 5 The Ranchers argued 5 WildEarth Guardians and the Center for Biological Diversity later intervened in the case. 10 Appellate Case: 21-2019 Document: 010110671606 Date Filed: 04/15/2022 Page: 11 that the district court should vacate the critical habitat designation because the Service’s economic analysis failed to comply with the ESA, the Service did not consider the impact of designation on the Ranchers’ water rights, and the Service abused its discretion by not excluding Units 3 or 4 from the Jumping Mouse’s critical habitat designation. The district court rejected the Ranchers’ claims and denied their petition for review.