TROY L. NUNLEY, District Judge.
The matter is before the Court on cross-motions for summary judgment by Plaintiffs Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center and Klamath Forest Alliance ("Plaintiffs") and Defendants United States Forest Service, District Ranger David Hays, and Forest Service Chief Tom Sidwell ("Defendants"). At issue is Defendants' review and approval of the High Bar Mining Project (the "Project"), a gold mining operation located in the Salmon River watershed in northern California. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants' review and approval violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), the 1872 Mining Law, and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Plaintiffs request that the Court vacate the decision documents for the Project, declare that Defendants' approval is in non-compliance with the applicable statutes, and enjoin the Project from proceeding. Defendants respond that their approval of the Project complies with the applicable statutes. For the reasons discussed below, Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 53) is DENIED. Defendants' motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 68) is GRANTED.
Under 30 U.S.C. § 22, "all valuable mineral deposits in land belonging to the United States . . . shall be free and open to exploration and purchase, and the lands in which they are found to occupation and purchase, by citizens of the United States . . . ." Under 30 U.S.C. § 26, the "locators of all mining locations . . . situated on the public domain . . . shall have the exclusive right of possession and enjoyment of all the surface included within the lines of their locations. . . ." The related statutory framework for U.S. mining laws is contained in 30 U.S.C. §§ 21-54. The provisions of 36 C.F.R. § 228 et al. regulate the "use of the surface of National Forest System lands in connection with operations authorized by the United States Mining laws (30 U.S.C. 21-54)" such that this use "minimize[s] adverse impacts on National Forest system surface resources. It is not the purpose of these regulations to provide for the management of mineral resources; the responsibility for managing such resources is in the Secretary of the Interior." 36 C.F.R. § 228.1
The NFMA and its implementing regulations provide for forest planning and management by the Forest Service at two levels: the forest level and the site-specific project level. 16 U.S.C. § 1604; Ohio Forestry Ass'n v. Sierra Club, 523 U.S. 726, 729-30, 118 S.Ct. 1665, 140 L.Ed.2d 921 (1998). On the forest level, the Forest Service develops a Land and Resource Management Plan ("LRMP") which consists of broad, long-term plans and objectives for the entire forest. In this case the applicable LRMP is the Klamath LRMP, which is part of the Northwest Forest Plan ("NFP"). At the project level, the project must be consistent with LRMP and NFP standards. 16 U.S.C. § 1604(i).
The NEPA has twin aims: first, it requires federal agencies "to consider every significant aspect of the environmental impact of a proposed action," and second, "it ensures that the agency will inform the public that it has indeed considered environmental concerns in its decision making process." Kern v. BLM, 284 F.3d 1062, 1066 (9th Cir.2002) (quoting Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. v. Natural Res. Def. Council, 462 U.S. 87, 97, 103 S.Ct. 2246, 76 L.Ed.2d 437 (1983)). NEPA requires federal agencies to take a "hard look" at the environmental effects of their proposed action, even after the proposal has received initial approval. Marsh v. Oregon Nat. Res. Council, 490 U.S. 360, 374, 109 S.Ct. 1851, 104 L.Ed.2d 377 (1989).
As part of the required "hard look," NEPA and its implementing regulations require federal agencies to prepare a "detailed statement" concerning "every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment." 42 U.S.C. § 4332(2)(C). The statement must consider the impact of the proposed action, any adverse environmental effects, alternatives to the proposed action, the relationship between short-term uses and the "maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity," and any irreversible commitments of sources which would result from implementing the action. Id. This statement may take the form of an environmental assessment ("EA"), or a longer and more thorough environmental impact statement ("EIS"), which includes a longer public comment period. See 40 C.F.R. §§ 1508.9, 1508.11.
In determining whether to prepare an EIS, the agency shall determine: 1) whether the proposed project normally requires an EIS, or 2) if the project is categorically excluded from the preparation of both an EA and an EIS because the action does not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. 40 C.F.R. § 1501.4; 40 C.F.R. § 1508.4. In making this determination, absent a categorical exclusion of an EA and an EIS, the agency shall prepare an EA to determine whether an additional EIS is needed.
The agency must also consider the "cumulative impacts" of a proposed project, which the federal regulations define as the result of "the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. . ." 40 C.F.R. § 1508.7. Cumulative impacts may result from "individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time." Id. In determining whether a project will have a "significant" impact on the environment, an agency must consider "[w]hether the action is related to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively significant impacts." 40 C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(7); see Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project v. Blackwood, 161 F.3d 1208, 1214 (9th Cir.1998)
On May 17, 2008, the High Bar Place Mine Phase 1 Project Decision Memo was signed by District Ranger Ray Haupt. In August 2008, the excavation of a sampling trench was completed. In October 2008, Wabuska Mining, LLC (the "Proponent") submitted a plan of operations for the development of the High Bar Mining Project. Initially, SHN Consulting Engineers & Geologists, Inc. prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Proponent, which was distributed for comment by the Forest Service in August 2009. On December 17, 2009, the Forest Service issued a Decision Notice for the August 2009 EA along with a FONSI. In March 2010, following the receipt of two appeals, the Forest Service rescinded the 2009 EA. In April 2010, the Forest Service issued a decision notice for a revised EA along with a FONSI. In July 2010, following receipt of another appeal, the Forest Service rescinded that EA. In April 2011, the Forest Service issued a third EA. On January 30, 2012, the Forest Service issued a revised EA (the "EA"), which incorporated comments and revisions from the previous EAs.
The Project, which includes separate mining and milling locations, is located in the Salmon River watershed near the Forks of Salmon Community in Siskiyou County, California. (ECF No. 51 ¶ 1; ECF No. 70 ¶ 1.) The Salmon River watershed includes South Fork ("SF") Salmon River and McNeal Creek, and is a Northwest Forest Plan designated "Key Watershed" for salmon recovery that includes areas designated as essential habitat and critical habitat. (ECF No. 51 ¶ 6; ECF No. 70 ¶ 6.) Specifically, the Salmon River watershed provides critical habitat for threatened Southern Oregon and Northern California Coast ("SONCC") coho salmon and essential habitat for Chinook and coho salmon. (ECF No. 51 ¶ 8; ECF No. 70 ¶ 8.)
McNeal Creek flows northeast and delivers cold water into the South Fork Salmon River. (ECF No. 51 ¶ 4; ECF No. 70 ¶ 4.) Surveys show that SONCC coho salmon, Chinook salmon, steel head (winter and summer), and rainbow trout use the thermal refugia that exists at the site of McNeal Creek's outflow into Salmon River. (ECF No. 51 ¶ 9; ECF No. 70 ¶ 9; HBAR 3400, 3434.)
The Project Design Features ("PDFs") for the Project, as described in the EA, provide that water for mining operations will be withdrawn from McNeal Creek through the use of an electric pump and hoses. (HBAR 2552.) The Proponent may withdraw water only for 30 minutes per day, no more than 200 gallons per minute (thus no more than 6,000 gallons per day), and only between midnight and 8:00 AM. (HBAR 2552.) Water may be diverted only when the stream flow is at or above 4.5 cfs. (HBAR 2552.)
The Court views the parties' respective statements of undisputed facts to state that the Proponent will extract a total of 43,500 cubic yards of material from the mine site, of which approximately 19,000 cubic yards will be topsoil and overburden soil, and approximately 24,500 cubic yards will be milled for valuable minerals.
The Proponent initially proposed an on-site mill location. (HBAR 2543.) In August 2012, the Proponent verbally informed the Forest Service of proposed modifications to the Project, including moving the milling operations to a private site approximately one mile from the mine site. (HBAR 15051.) In February 2013, the Forest Service completed a Supplemental Information Report (the "SIR") regarding the proposed modifications. (HBAR 15051-52.) The SIR concluded: "the [Forest Service] interdisciplinary
Hauling of ore material will be done on a temporary road as analyzed in the EA (HBAR 2546) and a National Forest Transportation System Maintenance Level 2 road (road 10N04). (HBAR 15053-54.) A 12 cubic yard truck was proposed to haul a maximum of fifteen loads a day (or 3,750 loads over a three year period) between the mine and mill sites. (HBAR 15054.) A maximum of two 1,500 gallon above-ground water tanks will be placed on the lower portion of the mining claim to facilitate the storage of water for dust abatement; tanks will be located 345 feet from McNeal Creek and will require a 12-foot wide by 24-foot long area to be leveled for tank placement. (HBAR 15054.)
The Proponent intends to complete the project within three years. The EA limits the Proponent's operating season to the 14-week period between July 10 and October 15. If surveys for northern spotted owl show that no spotted owls are detected in the area, the Proponent may begin operations on May 15.
On June 2, 2012, the complaint was filed in this Court, alleging violations of NEPA and the NFMA. The complaint also alleged a violation of the 1872 Mining Act, which the Court construes to allege a violation of the marketability test, as set forth in 30 U.S.C. § 22 and U.S. v. Coleman, 390 U.S. 599, 88 S.Ct. 1327, 20 L.Ed.2d 170 (1968). (ECF No. 1.) On August 13, 2012, the Proponent notified Defendants of an intent to modify the Project, the primary modification being the change in the location of milling operations to a site on private land. (HBAR 15051.) Defendants completed a Supplemental Information Report (the "SIR"), concluding that the modifications "will not result in any significant or uncertain effects that were not previously analyzed." (HBAR 15064.) On April 11, 2013, Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint ("FAC"), which alleged new violations of NEPA, the NFMA, and the marketability test, resulting from the proposed modifications. (ECF No. 36.) On August 2, 2013, Plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment, a supporting memorandum, and a statement of undisputed facts. (ECF Nos. 53, 48, 51.) On December 18, 2013, Defendants filed a cross-motion for summary judgment, a supporting memorandum, and a statement of undisputed facts and response to Plaintiffs' statement of undisputed facts. (ECF Nos. 68, 69, 70.) On January 15, 2014, Plaintiffs filed a reply and a response (ECF Nos. 73, 74) in support of summary judgment. On February 5, 2014, Defendants filed a reply in support of summary judgment. (ECF No. 76.)
Summary judgment is appropriate when the pleadings and the record demonstrate that "there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(c). In this case, the Court's review of Plaintiff's NFMA, NEPA, and 30
The Court construes the FAC, the parties' respective summary judgment motions, and the parties' responsive pleadings, to implicate issues regarding: the SIR, milling operations and the Salmon River, contamination of processed ore, withdrawals from McNeal Creek, the thermal refugia at the confluence of McNeal Creek and SF Salmon River, hauling between the mine and mill sites, Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives, LRMP standards MA10-34 and MA1035, and the marketability of the extracted minerals.
The NEPA Forest Service Handbook 1909.15 § 18.1 (HBAR 4610) describes the function of a SIR:
SIRs "are the Forest Service's formal instruments for documenting whether new information is sufficiently significant to trigger the need for a [supplemental EIS]." Friends of the Clearwater v. Dombeck, 222 F.3d 552, 555 (9th Cir.2000); see also Idaho Sporting Cong. Inc. v. Alexander, 222 F.3d 562, 566 n. 2 (9th Cir.2000) (citing 40 C.F.R. § 1502.9(c)(1)(ii) (under NEPA, federal agencies have a continuing duty to supplement existing NEPA documents in response to "significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action or its impacts.")).
In the instant case, the Forest Service prepared a SIR due to the proposed movement of the milling site from Forest Service land to a private site located approximately one mile away. (HBAR 15053.) Based on the analysis detailed in the SIR, the Forest Service concluded that "[a] correction, supplement, or revision to the EA or DN/FONSI is not necessary because the effects are within the scope and range of effects as originally analyzed in the January 2012 EA and do not result in any new or significant impacts." (HBAR 15064.) The SIR assessed that the following modifications would result:
(HBAR 15053-54.)
Plaintiffs argue that the proposed modifications are substantial and thus warrant analysis in a new EA, a supplemental EA, or an EIS. (ECF No. 36 ¶ 110-120.) Plaintiffs cite Dubois v. U.S. Dept. of Ag., et al., 102 F.3d 1273 (1st Cir.1996) in support. In Dubois, the plaintiff sued the Forest Service under NEPA, alleging that
The modifications detailed in the SIR in the instant case are not analogous to those in Dubois. The SIR also details the following steps taken by the Forest Service to review the effects of the proposed modifications. The minerals administrator visited the site on October 1, 2012 and November 26, 2012 and determined that relocating the mill would result in less ground disturbance on federal land than was considered in the EA analysis. The Forest Service conducted analysis in consultation with specialists, with respect to public safety, air quality, hydrology and soils, fisheries, vegetation, wildlife, cultural and heritage resources, and recreation (HBAR 15055-64). The Forest Service determined that the only new effects associated with the modified project were related to the use of road 10N04 to haul material to the new mill site. (HBAR 15067.) However, according to the SIR, road 10N 04 is in the National Forest Transportation System, is open to the public, and has been previously used for hauling logs and other material. (HBAR 15055.) The plan of operations includes a required bond, which the SIR states will serve as a precaution that the Proponent share financial responsibility for maintenance of the portion of the road used. (HBAR 15056; see also 36 C.F.R. § 212.7.) With respect to issues raised by increased dust cause by use of the road, the project modifications include a water withdrawal allowance for dust abatement. (HBAR 15056.) Based on this analysis, Defendants determined that additional environmental analysis was not required.
Plaintiffs do not raise sufficient concerns regarding the adequacy of the SIR to warrant setting aside Defendant's approval of the Project under NEPA. The Project's consultation history consists of three draft EAs, issued prior to the completion of the operative 2012 EA. (HBAR 2542.) This lawsuit was brought prior to the proposed modifications and the issuance of the SIR. The proposed modifications, according to Forest Service analysis, reduce the Project's footprint on Forest Service lands because milling operations have been relocated. Therefore, the argument is not persuasive that the modifications are sufficiently
To the extent Plaintiffs claim that Defendants' approval of the Project must be set aside on these grounds (FAC, claim 1), the Court DENIES Plaintiffs' summary judgment motion and GRANTS Defendants' summary judgment motion.
Plaintiffs argue that Defendants' review of the Project's milling operations, relocated to the private site, was inadequate under N EPA. Plaintiffs argue that the impact on the Salmon River, due to the new milling location, will be detrimental to fish species and fish habitat in the Salmon River. Defendants respond that Forest Service jurisdiction does not extend to private lands and that their review was adequate under NEPA. (See ECF No. 36 ¶¶ 121-131; ECF No. 48 at 22-25; ECF No. 69 at 11-19.)
The SIR details Defendant's analysis and conclusions regarding milling operations at the private site (see HBAR 15061-62) as follows.
(HBAR 15061-62; HBAR 15076-77.)
The primary issue in the dispute between Plaintiffs and Defendants is the extent of the analysis necessary under NEPA, given that the milling operations take place on a private site. Plaintiffs argue that relocating the mill site should have prompted Defendants to address the
The SIR contains a minimal discussion of aspects of the local permitting process. However, Plaintiffs do not provide persuasive authority mandating that additional EA or EIS analysis is required. The authority cited by Defendants, Dept. of Transp. v. Public Citizen, 541 U.S. 752, 124 S.Ct. 2204, 159 L.Ed.2d 60 (2004), is also inapposite, as the issue in that case was the authority of the U.S. Motor Carrier Safety Administration to regulate the operation of Mexican trucks in the U.S. Plaintiffs do not bring suit here against the Proponent, and Plaintiffs do not advise the Court of the adequacy of a state action to address regulation by county and state entities. After reviewing the analysis detailed in the SIR regarding local regulation, the Court does not find that Defendants' analysis was arbitrary, capricious, unlawful, or constitutes an abuse of discretion.
Plaintiffs also argue that water withdrawals from the Salmon River at the new mill site, which formerly were to come from McNeal Creek, may be detrimental to fish species at the mill site. Plaintiffs argue that aspects of these withdrawals should have been addressed in a supplemental EA or EIS. (ECF No. 48 at 22-24; ECF No. 73 at 12-17.) Plaintiffs do not produce evidence that these detrimental effects will occur. Plaintiffs reference Siskiyou Regional Educ. Proj. v. Rose, 87 F.Supp.2d 1074, 1086 (D.Or.1999) for the fact that the Forest Service may reject an unreasonable plan and impose mitigation measures. In Rose, the Forest Service received notices of intent to proceed on three suction dredge and two panning operations in Silver Creek, located in the Siskiyou National Forest. The court held it was a violation of NEPA for the Forest Service to decline to prepare an EA for any of the individual suction dredge operations, or an EA to assess the cumulative impacts from all the operations. (Id. at
Plaintiffs reference Neighbors of Cuddy Mountain v. U.S. Forest Service, 137 F.3d 1372, 1379 (1998) to argue that Defendants should have undertaken a cumulative effects analysis in an EA or EIS. (ECF No. 48 at 22.) As a reference point, however, Cuddy Mountain involved Forest Service approval of a timber harvest and sale; three other timber sales were proposed in the area, which the court found the Forest Service had inadequately analyzed. The Court notes that a February 14, 2011, Minerals Report found record of four claims in current ownership status within the McNeal Creek drainage, but none with a current Notice of Intent or approved Plan of Operations. The same report found record of twelve claims filed between 1891 and 2009, which were abandoned between the 1980s and 2010. (HBAR 3316.) Plaintiffs do not otherwise advise the Court of past, present, or future actions that would require Defendant to address the Project's cumulative effects in an additional EA or EIS.
To the extent Plaintiffs seek summary judgment on these claims (FAC, claims 1 and 4), Plaintiffs' summary judgment motion is DENIED and Defendants' summary judgment motion is GRANTED.
In the FAC, Plaintiffs argued that the EA and the SIR do not adequately assess whether the ore milled at the private site could be contaminated before being transported back to refill the mining trench during the reclamation process. (ECF No. 36 ¶¶ 132-146.) Plaintiffs direct the Court to the fact that, prior to the proposed modifications detailed in the SIR, the EA had contemplated an alternative that called for milling on private land. However, this alternative was eliminated because "soils moved to and processed on private property can become infested with an assortment of noxious and invasive plant species and could, therefore, infect NFS land when returned to the site for reclamation . . . there can be no assurances that the materials have not become infested with noxious weeds, or that toxic chemicals have not been utilized in the gold recovery process." (HBAR 2554.) Plaintiffs argue that the proposed modifications essentially readopt this alternative without assessing the environmental impact of returning contaminated material to the mine site. (See ECF No. 36 ¶¶ 132-146.) Plaintiffs also raised concerns regarding contamination in their April 10, 2013, letter to Patricia Grantham, in which they stated it is "extremely likely" that the processed material at the new mill site will be contaminated with noxious weeds and invasive plants. (HBAR 15094.)
Plaintiffs do not pursue this argument in their summary judgment motion and supporting briefing, and Defendants do not respond to this argument. The relevant PDFs designed to mitigate effects from contamination, as stated in the EA, appear to be BOTANY-1 through BOTANY-5, which address equipment use, noxious weed surveys, parking, the stockpiling of material for mill processing and re-filling the mining trench, and re-seeding and replanting
The Court reads the EA and the SIR to permit water withdrawals from McNeal Creek as necessary for mining operations, and to abate dust on road 10N 04 given the new hauling route. To evaluate the effect of withdrawals, Defendants considered previous stream flow measurements (EA, Table 3.1; HBAR 2560), which are as follows. Flow measurements in McNeal Creek at the fish passage (the upper bridge on road 10N 04) were taken in August of 2008, 2009, and 2010. The mean flow rate for this period was 0.94 cfs.
The EA determined that "the only negative direct effects on water quality [in McNeal Creek] would be from water transmission." (See HBAR 2560.) The relevant PD Fs include limiting withdrawals to 30 minutes per day and between midnight and 8:00 AM; limiting withdrawals to a maximum of 200 gallons per minute (thus 6000 gallons per day); and permitting withdrawals only when the stream flow is at or above 4.5 cfs. (HBAR 2560.) Therefore, Defendant assessed that an indirect effect of withdrawals would be the reduction in downstream pool volumes by an estimated 10 percent, for a duration of up to 30 minutes while withdrawal occurred. (HBAR 2561.)
Plaintiffs argue that Defendant's analysis of the flow rate in McNeal Creek did not establish an adequate baseline from which to assess the impact of the Project. (ECF No. 48 at 7-11.) See Northern Plains Resource Counc., Inc. v. Surface Transp. Bd., 668 F.3d 1067, 1083 (9th Cir. 2011) ("NEPA requires that the agency provide the data on which it bases its environmental analysis."). However without more, the Court does not find that the
Plaintiffs also argue that the Project cannot be accomplished within its three-year time frame and still comply with its plan of operations. See 36 C.F.R. § 228.4 (providing for the submission of a plan of operations for approval by an agency officer); 36 C.F.R. § 228.7 (providing for inspection by the agency officer and recourse in the event of non-compliance). As Plaintiffs argue, the operating season will run from July 10 to October 15, unless surveys show no northern spotted owls in the area, in which case the Proponent can begin operations on May 15. (ECF Nos. 51 ¶¶ 23, 24; ECF No. 70 ¶¶ 23, 24.) The Proponent may only withdraw water when the stream flow is at or above 4.5 cfs. However, the stream flow data from between July and October indicates that the flow rate may be below 4.5 cfs for that entire period. (EA, Table 3.1; HBAR 2560.) Therefore, for the duration of the normal operating season, July to October, the Proponent may not be able to withdraw any water. Plaintiffs argue that the analysis in the EA is deficient because it fails to disclose the extent to which the 4.5 cfs flow requirement limits operations during the operating season, and may render the Project incapable of being accomplished.
However the primary concern regarding water withdrawals from McNeal Creek, as stated in the EA prior to the proposed modifications, pertained to milling. Because milling operations have been moved to a private site, withdrawals for this purpose are no longer needed. The SIR considers the amount of water withdrawal for the Project to be unchanged, but attributes these withdrawals to be used for dust abatement. No more than two 1,500 gallon above-ground water tanks will be temporarily placed on the lower portion of the mining claim to store water for dust abatement. (HBAR 15054.) There is not sufficient indication at this point that the Proponent will fail to comply with the PDFs, including the limitation on withdrawals when stream flow is below 4.5 cfs. See 36 C.F.R. § 228.7 (providing for inspection by the agency officer and recourse in the event of non-compliance). If the Proponent is not able to draw water from McNeal Creek between July and October, then that is the consequence of the PD Fs established in the EA and the SIR. However without more, the Court will not presume that the Project cannot comply with its plan of operations, and that Defendants' approval was therefore arbitrary, capricious, unlawful, or resulted from an abuse of discretion.
To the extent that the parties seek summary judgment on these grounds (FAC, claims 1 and 6), Plaintiffs' summary judgment motion is DENIED and Defendants' summary judgment motion is GRANTED.
Plaintiffs allege that the EA and other consultation documents fail to disclose sufficient baseline information about the Project's effects on water temperature in McNeal Creek. (ECF No. 48 at 7-11.) Plaintiff's primary concern regards the thermal refugia created at the confluence of McNeal Creek and the SF Salmon River, which provides critical and essential fish habitat. (ECF No. 48 at 7-11; No. 36 ¶¶ 202-11.)
The Fisheries Report states:
(HBAR 3400; the same analysis appears in the EA, HBAR 2565.)
With respect to flow contribution of McNeal Creek to SF Salmon River, the Court views the EA to rely upon a 0.94 mean cfs flow rate for McNeal Creek, compared to 134 cfs measured at the Salmon River gauge, and 253 cfs measured at the Salmon River scale (HBAR 2559), which would equate to McNeal Creek contributing flows of 1 to 2 percent to SF Salmon River flow. Plaintiffs state that, with respect to the 134 cfs rate measured at the Salmon River gauge, this measurement was taken at the mouth of the Salmon River near Somes Bar, California, 19 river miles downstream of the mouth of the SF Salmon River; therefore this measurement does not provide accurate baseline information. (ECF No. 73 at 4, n. 2.) While the Court acknowledges this point, Plaintiffs do not provide indication that the flow contribution to the SF Salmon River is different than the 1 to 2 percent figure stated in the EA.
Plaintiffs make reference to comments made by Don Flickinger, a representative from the NFMA and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), following Mr. Flickinger's visit to the site on October 2, 2009. Mr. Flickinger wrote in November, 2009:
Mr. Flickinger made these comments prior to the Forest Service's development of the PDFs designed to mitigate withdrawals. According to the BA, following Mr. Flickinger's initial site visit on October 2, 2009, draft BA documents were sent to Mr. Flickinger on February 1, 2011, and March 21, 2011. (HBAR 3438.) Additional "technical assistance" occurred on June 7, 2011, to "develop resource protection measures for water use—amount and timing of diversion—from McNeal Creek to avoid incidental take of coho salmon or adverse modification of their critical habitat." (HBAR 3438.) The BA was finalized and approved on June 10, 2011. Therefore, the Court does not view these comments, made prior to the establishment of PD Fs designed to address concerns regarding impacts to the flow rate and temperature of McNeal Creek, to demonstrate that Defendants' analysis was inadequate.
To the extent that the parties seek summary judgment on these grounds (FAC, claim 5), Plaintiffs' summary judgment motion is DENIED and Defendants' summary judgment motion is GRANTED.
Plaintiffs make two claims regarding hauling. In claim 2 of the FAC, Plaintiffs argue that Defendants did not adequately analyze and disclose the effect of hauling on McNeal Creek. Plaintiffs argue that sediment generated from hauling may reach McNeal Creek and cause its sediment levels to rise, which violates the Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS) objectives contained in the Klamath LRMP. The Court construes this claim, because it references the ACS objectives in the Klamath LRMP, to allege a violation of the NFMA. (ECF No. 36 ¶¶ 147-54.) Plaintiffs also bring this claim as a violation of NEPA on grounds that it represents a potentially significant impact that Defendants failed to properly disclose or consider. See 40 C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(10). In claim 3 of the FAC, Plaintiffs allege that the Project, due to the number of loads scheduled per day to be hauled between the mill site and the mine site, cannot be accomplished within the three-year time frame contemplated by the plan of operations. Plaintiffs claim that this violates NEPA. (ECF No. 36 ¶¶ 155-180.)
ACS Objective 5, contained in Appendix B to the Fisheries Report, states that Defendants shall "Maintain and restore the sediment regime under which aquatic ecosystems evolved. Elements of the regime include the timing, volume, rate, and character of sediment input, storage, and transport." (HBAR 3422.) The Fisheries report made a finding of "No effect" and concluded: "This Project will not alter the sediment regime, and therefore it will not affect aspects of sediment input, storage, and transportation." (HBAR 3422.) Defendants also respond that road 10N04 has in-board ditches to collect sediment run off and cross drains to convey excess water and sediment away from the road, and that there is vegetation between road 10N04 and McNeal Creek which will serve as a buffer to prevent sediment from reaching the creek. (ECF No. 69 at 26; HBAR 15051.) Plaintiffs do not provide further support that the use of 0.60 miles of road 10N 04 for hauling, a road that apparently is open to the public and is currently being used, will cause sediment levels in McNeal Creek to rise. Thus, the Court does not find that Defendants have violated ACS objectives regarding sediment, based on the arguments put forth by Plaintiffs.
With respect to the second claim, both parties provide calculations regarding the number of loads hauled per day, which
To the extent the Parties seek summary judgment on these grounds (FAC, claims 2 and 3), the Court DENIES Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment and GRANTS Defendants' motion for summary judgment.
In addition to arguments regarding hauling and non-compliance with ACS objective 5, Plaintiffs argue that the Project does not demonstrate consistency with ACS objectives regarding water quality and in-stream flows, for McNeal Creek and Salmon River. (ECF No. 36 ¶¶ 233-38.) The Court construes this argument to allege non-compliance with ACS objectives 4 and 6.
Objective 4 states that the Forest Service shall "[m]aintain and restore water quality necessary to support healthy riparian, aquatic, and wetland ecosystems." (HBAR 3421.) The Forest Service made a finding of "No effect" and concluded: "Rate and amount of water withdrawn during diversion/drafting operations will be insufficient to alter in-stream temperatures. There will be no effect to stream shading. Water quality related BMPS
Objective 6 states that the Forest Service shall "[m]aintain and restore in-stream flows sufficient to create and sustain riparian, aquatic, and wetland habitats, and to retain patterns of sediment, nutrient, and wood routing. The timing, magnitude, duration, and spatial distribution of peak, high, and low flows must be protected." (HBAR 3422.) The Forest Service made a finding of "May effect" and concluded: "In-stream flows will be affected due to diversion or drafting activities. However, restrictions which include flow threshold, rate of diversion/drafting, timing, and duration will minimize effects and protect peak and baseflows." (HBAR 3422.)
Plaintiffs do not provide further indication that non-compliance with objectives 4 and 6 should overturn Defendant's approval, beyond the concerns the Court has addressed regarding water withdrawals from McNeal Creek for which PD Fs were designed, and regulation of the private mill site. Plaintiffs cite ONRC v. Goodman, 505 F.3d 884, 895 (9th Cir.2007) for the proposition that regardless of the degree of impact resulting from a proposed action, the NFMA and ACS "contain[ ] no de minimis exceptions." However, this proposition in Goodman referred to the Forest Service's decision (found to violate the NFMA) to exempt "potentially unstable" lands from designation as riparian reserve, in contravention of this requirement in the ACS. See Goodman, 505 F.3d at 894-95. Without more, the Court does not extrapolate the Goodman concern to stand for the proposition that the Forest Service must bar any aspect of a plan of operations that impacts water flow or water quality. Therefore, the Court does not set aside Defendant's approval of the Project on these grounds.
Per standard MA 10-34, the Forest Service shall:
Plaintiffs argue the EA does not comply with MA10-34 because it fails to disclose a specific reclamation plan, because it fails to explain how revegetation or erosion control measures will be accomplished, and because it does not disclose or analyze the costs of reclamation. (ECF No. 36 ¶¶ 216-23.) Defendants respond generally that the Proponent must have the required state, county, and federal permits before the Forest Service issues an approved final Plan of Operations, and that the Proponent must submit a reclamation plan and bond to Siskiyou County. (ECF No. 69 at 28.)
The Plan of Operations (prior to the SIR) is contained in Appendix B to the EA. (HBAR 2590.) With respect to vegetation removal, the EA states that vegetation
The Reclamation Plan included in Appendix B to the EA is cursory, and states the following. Reclamation will occur as identified in the Overburden Soil Removal section of the plan of operations. After soil is replaced and graded, the site will be revegetated as directed by the Forest Service. The access road to the mine site will be graded to provide drainage off the roadway. Erosion control measures will be installed where necessary and water constructed (if needed) at locations approved by the Forest Service. Material will be removed from stockpile locations for use in reclamation.
BMP 2.13 describes the Erosion Control Plan considered by the Forest Service. (HBAR 2603.) The EA states that the Water Board governs the permits and plans required to meet the objectives of the Erosion Control Plan.
Without more, the Court does not view Defendant's assessment of the Project's compliance with MA 10-34 to constitute grounds for setting aside approval of the Project. To the extent the parties seek summary judgment on these grounds (FAC, claim 7), Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is DENIED, and Defendants' motion for summary judgment is GRANTED.
Per Forest Plan standard MA 10-35, the Forest Service shall:
Under the ACS, riparian reserves are essentially buffer zones along streams, lakes, wetlands, and mudslide-risk areas. Oregon Nat. Res. Counc. Fund. v. Goodman, 505 F.3d 884, 893-94 (9th Cir.2007). ACS standards and objectives "prohibit or regulate activities in [r]iparian [r]eserves that retard or prevent attainment of the [ACS] objectives." Id. Plaintiffs argue that Defendants violated MA10-35 because Defendants failed to determine in the EA whether there existed a viable way to complete the Project, without siting it in riparian reserves. Plaintiffs state that the access road, water line, and the haul route are all sited within 350 feet of McNeal Creek, which Plaintiffs consider to be designated riparian reserve.
The Court's examination of the EA, Appendix B, Figure B-2 (HBAR 2597) does not show clearly that the access road, water line, and haul route are within riparian reserves, but presuming that this is an accurate statement, it appears that HYDRO-8 partially addresses Plaintiffs' concerns regarding ground-disturbing activities within riparian reserves. The Court acknowledges Plaintiffs' concerns that an alternative to locating all components of the Project outside of riparian reserves was not specifically contemplated, to the Court's knowledge, in the EA. The alternatives considered in the EA were alternative 2 (the no action alternative) and alternative 3 (the difference between the Project and alternative 3 was alternative 3's decrease in the size of the water transmission line connecting operations to McNeal Creek). (HBAR 2550.) However, without more, the Court will not set aside Defendants' approval of the Project on these grounds. To the extent the parties seek summary judgment on this issue (FAC, claim 8), Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is DENIED, and Defendants' motion for summary judgment is GRANTED.
The Court construes the FAC to argue that the EA and SIR fail to demonstrate that the Project passes the "marketability test", per 30 U.S.C. §§ 22 and U.S. v. Coleman, 390 U.S. 599, 88 S.Ct. 1327, 20 L.Ed.2d 170 (1968). (ECF No. 36 ¶¶ 239-245.) Under 30 U.S.C. § 22, "all valuable mineral deposits in land belonging to the United States . . . shall be free and open to exploration and purchase, and the lands in which they are found to occupation and purchase, by citizens of the United
Plaintiffs do not pursue this claim in their motion for summary judgment. The Court presumes that the completion of Phase 1 of the Project resulted in a determination by the Proponent and Defendants that there were sufficient mineral deposits in the claim to warrant further development. (See Feb. 14, 2011 Minerals Report, HBAR 3313.) Because there is no evidence at this time that the minerals to be extracted will not be profitable, the Court declines to set aside Defendant's approval of the Project on these grounds. To the extent the parties seek summary judgment on this issue (FAC, claim 10), Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is DENIED, and Defendant's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED.
For the reasons stated above, Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 53) is DENIED. Defendants' motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 68) is GRANTED. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close the case.
(HBAR 15097.)
