Opinion ID: 2753690
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mootness and Section 7 of the ESA

Text: Alliance argues that Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA, 16 U.S.C. § 1536(A)(2), requires the federal defendants to reinitiate consultation on the effect of the Management Plan on Yellowstone grizzly bears due to the extended duration of helicopter hazing and increasing overlap between areas where helicopter hazing occurs and grizzly bear denning areas. The federal defendants argue that Alliance’s Section 7 claim is 18 ALLIANCE FOR THE WILD ROCKIES V. USDA moot because the federal defendants have already completed a second Biological Evaluation consultation addressing the impact of helicopter hazing on Yellowstone grizzly bears. We agree. Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA requires federal agencies to ensure, in consultation with the appropriate wildlife agency, that any action authorized or carried out by the agency “is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification” of designated critical habitat. 16 U.S.C. § 1536(a)(2). The ESA implementing regulations further require agencies to reinitiate consultation if “new information reveals effects of the action that may affect listed species or critical habitat in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.” 50 C.F.R. § 402.16(b). The Park Service and FWS conducted a Biological Evaluation in 2000 analyzing the potential effects of the Management Plan on Yellowstone grizzly bears and determined that the Management Plan was “not likely to adversely affect the grizzly bear.” In September 2012, the Park Service reinitiated consultation, focusing on the Management Plan’s expansion of helicopter hazing operations to the spring and early summer. In this new Biological Evaluation, it concluded that bison hazing operations “may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect listed grizzly bears.” The new Biological Evaluation was then forwarded to the FWS, which issued a re-concurrence stating “[w]e have reviewed your November 1 biological evaluation and concur with your determination that hazing operations conducted under the Management Plan may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect grizzly bears.” In conducting a second consultation and Biological Evaluation ALLIANCE FOR THE WILD ROCKIES V. USDA 19 on the impact of the Management Plan on Yellowstone grizzly bears, and obtaining a second concurrence from the FWS, the federal defendants completed the reinitiation of consultation required by the ESA. See 50 C.F.R. § 402.16(b). Reinitiation of consultation is the precise relief sought by Alliance. Accordingly, Alliance’s Section 7 claim is moot. See Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Bergland, 576 F.2d 1377, 1378–79 (9th Cir. 1978) (holding that a challenge to a mining plan was moot where the action sought to be enjoined had been completed).4