Opinion ID: 1359302
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to Consider and Disclose Cumulative Effects

Text: WildWest next argues the Forest Service has failed to adequately consider and disclose the cumulative effect on water quality and fish resulting from chronic failure to implement BMPs. NEPA requires the Forest Service to perform a cumulative impact analysis in approving projects. Kern v. BLM, 284 F.3d 1062, 1075-76 (9th Cir.2002). This analysis requires the EIS to analyze the impact of a proposed project in light of that project's interaction with the effects of past, current, and reasonably foreseeable future projects. 40 C.F.R. § 1508.7; see Lands Council I, 395 F.3d at 1027. WildWest complains the cumulative impact statements do not contain discussion of prior projects on an individual basis. [T]he general rule under NEPA is that, in assessing cumulative effects, the Environmental Impact Statement must give a sufficiently detailed catalogue of past, present, and future projects, and provide adequate analysis about how these projects, and differences between the projects, are thought to have impacted the environment. Lands Council I, 395 F.3d at 1028. In Lands Council I, we found an EIS insufficient because the prior harvests from different projects were not separately discussed, neither as to their method of harvest, nor as to the consequences of each. Id. We have repeatedly held that general statements about prior projects affecting environmental conditions are insufficient; quantified or detailed data about the effects of specific projects is necessary. Or. Natural Res. Council Fund v. Brong, 492 F.3d 1120, 1134 (9th Cir.2007); see also Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Ctr. v. BLM, 387 F.3d 989, 993 (9th Cir.2004). However, in League of Wilderness DefendersBlue Mountains Biodiversity Project v. United States Forest Service, 549 F.3d 1211 (9th Cir.2008), we provided two important clarifications of this standard. First, we held that the Forest Service may aggregate its cumulative effects analysis pursuant to 40 C.F.R. § 1508.7, the regulation defining cumulative impact. Id. at 1218; see, e.g., WildWest Inst. v. Bull, 547 F.3d 1162, 1173 (9th Cir.2008) (holding Forest Service's analysis of cumulative impacts of past timber harvests and other historical events satisfied hard look standard). Second, we noted that Lands Council I merely reaffirms the general rule that NEPA requires adequate cataloguing of relevant past projects in the area. Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). The Forest Service need not catalogue events that are not truly significant to the action in question. See id. ; 40 C.F.R. § 1500.1(b); NW Envt'l Advocates v. Nat'l Marine Fisheries Serv., 460 F.3d 1125, 1140 (9th Cir.2006) (noting Lands Council I required a detailed catalogue of projects in order to inform analysis, and concluding that cataloguing is not required where other projects would have no related effects). We reiterate that an aggregated cumulative effects analysis that includes relevant past projects is sufficient. The Forest Service met this standard here. Generally, the Forest Service explained in each EIS what the effects of the project would be, including the existing condition of each area along several variables. The Pipestone EIS explicitly notes there have been no previous timber harvests in this area, and there will therefore be no cumulative impacts. Although the cumulative effects section of the West Troy EIS merely refers generally to past and proposed activities, without listing details about those activities, other parts of the EIS give extensive history about past actions in the area, dating all the way back to the early 1900s. Bristow's EIS provides data on the cumulative effects with other pending proposals and mitigation in areas with previous harvests. The South McSwede EIS discusses past management practices and specific details of planned projects. Lower Big Creek's EIS refers to a table of Current and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions, and states past actions were considered in the Existing Conditions section; it also notes two related plans and concludes there would be no cumulative effects. The McSutten EIS concludes there would be no cumulative effects from past actions or when coupled with current and reasonably foreseeable actions. The Fortine EIS contains a detailed aggregated discussion of existing conditions. We conclude the Forest Service adequately considered and disclosed the cumulative effects for purposes of NEPA. The record includes extensive evidence that the Forest Service considered the relevant prior and related actions and took the requisite hard look before approving the challenged projects.