Opinion ID: 171698
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Clark Bench Allotment

Text: On June 29, 2000, Intervenors Grand Canyon Trust and Canyonlands Grazing Corporation (collectively Canyonlands) entered into an agreement with Brent Robinson, the then existing permit holder for the Clark Bench allotment, that he would either relinquish his grazing preference and permit to the BLM, or alternatively transfer his preference to Canyonlands, in exchange for compensation. Aplt.App. 829-31. Following a proposal by Canyonlands to relinquish grazing rights voluntarily on the Clark Bench allotment, the BLM initiated an environmental assessment of that allotment. Aplt.App. 1331; see also Stewart v. Kempthorne, 2:06CV209 TC, 2008 WL 80252, at  1 (D.Utah Jan.7, 2008); see also Aplt.App. 300, 404-05 (testimony of Mr. Willard Hedden representing Canyonlands) (referencing agreement between the BLM and Canyonlands to submit offers of relinquishment and noting that conditions applied to the agreement). On November 30, 2001, the BLM issued notice in the Federal Register that it intended to begin an environmental assessment of the Clark Bench allotment to determine whether it was appropriate to retire grazing on that land if Canyonlands voluntarily relinquished its AUMs to the BLM. Notice of Intent to Amend Plan for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, 66 Fed.Reg. 59,812, (Nov. 30, 2001); Aplt.App. 844-78. On April 15, 2002, Canyonlands sent a letter to the BLM formally withdrawing its offer to relinquish its grazing preference in response to the BLM's requirement that it do so prior to initiating a land-use plan amendment process. Aplt.App. 1092-93. The BLM acknowledged this withdrawal on May 24, 2002. Stewart, 2008 WL 80252, at . Canyonlands filed its grazing application with the BLM on January 29, 2003. Aplt.App. 1101-09. Finally, on March 6, 2003, the BLM issued a grazing permit for the Clark Bench allotment to Canyonlands. Aplt.App. 1117. Meanwhile, Plaintiffs Trevor Stewart, Worth Brown, James Brown, and William Alleman sought individual grazing permits on the Clark Bench allotment, and filed their respective applications with the BLM. Aplt.App. 884-89 (Mr. Trevor Stewart filed on January 22, 2002); Aplt.App. 1121-22 (Mr. Worth Brown filed on March 18, 2003); Aplt.App. 1123-24 (Mr. James Brown filed on April 7, 2003); Aplt.App. 1126-27 (Mr. William Alleman filed on May 19, 2003). On September 26, 2003, the BLM denied Mr. Stewart's grazing application because Canyonlands held the permit pursuant to its preference for the allotment, and no additional livestock forage was available on the Clark Bench Allotment. Aplt.App. 1128-30. On March 15, 2006, the BLM denied the remaining three grazing applications for the same reasons. Aplt.App. 152-56, 157-62, 163-67.