Opinion ID: 3052203
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Compaction, Displacement, Puddling,

Text: Severely Burned. .... (4) Detrimental Burned Soil. Soils are considered to be detrimentally burned when the mineral soil surface has been significantly changed in color, oxidized to a reddish color, and the next one-half inch blackened from organic matter charring by heat conducted through the top layer. The detrimentally burned soil standard applies to an area greater than 100 square feet, which is at least five feet in width. THE LANDS COUNCIL v. MARTIN 7403 The EIS interprets those provisions to apply only to management-induced burns, not forest fires. Its soil analysis therefore did not account for the burning effects of the forest fire. [8] Plaintiffs argue that the provisions should be read to include both artificially induced and naturally occurring effects. We are unpersuaded. Especially given the context of the provisions, aimed at “land management activities” and “activity areas,” it is plausible to read the quoted provision as limited to management-induced effects. In any event, we cannot say that the Forest Service’s interpretation is plainly erroneous or otherwise inconsistent. See Forest Guardians v. U.S. Forest Serv., 329 F.3d 1089, 1097 (9th Cir. 2003) (“[J]udicial review of an agency’s interpretation of its own regulations is limited to ensuring that the agency’s interpretation is not plainly erroneous or inconsistent with the regulation.”). Plaintiffs’ final argument is that the Forest Service impermissibly used the “long-term average annual prediction” method instead of Plaintiffs’ preferred “return period analysis for soil erosion” method. As stated above, “[w]e will not second-guess methodological choices made by an agency in its area of expertise.” Inland Empire, 992 F.2d at 981. In addition, Plaintiffs concede that Dr. Elliot is the premier expert in this area of soil analysis, and the record contains a declaration by Dr. Elliot that Plaintiffs’ preferred method is “seldom used” and tends to produce incorrectly high results. [9] In summary, we affirm the district court’s holding that the EIS’s soil analysis violates neither NEPA nor NFMA.