Public Lands

  • Preserving our natural heritage

    Earthrise Law Center helps its clients monitor how government agencies manage and protect public lands. Public lands, including National Forests and the vast areas in eastern Oregon managed by the Bureau of Land Management, play an important role in the environment. They provide essential habitat for many wildlife species, contain watersheds that are critical for threatened salmonids and guarantee clean drinking water for many municipalities, and give people unique and unspoiled places to recreate and reconnect with nature.

    Earthrise’s work includes submitting comments on proposed actions on public lands and drafting administrative appeals of agency decisions that our clients believe will adversely impact their use of public lands or the resources found there. When necessary, Earthrise also files lawsuits challenging agency decisions that could irreparably harm our public lands and the life that depends on it.

public-lands-issues
Lydia, Tom, and clients in Arkansas

Earthrise legal fellow argues before the Western District of Arkansas

Lydia’s argument to protect stretches of the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests is a culmination of her work as a summer clerk, clinic student, and now a fellow.

public-lands-issues
A canoer exploring the Buffalo National River and the unique karst geology of the area.

Earthrise Filed Motion for Summary Judgment in Ozarks Logging Case

Earthrise’s team filed its Motion for Summary Judgment on behalf of its client, the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) to halt the Robert’s Gap Project, a large logging project, in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests of Arkansas.

public-lands-issues, water-issues
Haley at the Edward T. Gignoux U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Maine.

Earthrise Legal Fellow’s first “live” court appearance

Our senior legal fellow, Haley Nicholson ’22, made her first live court appearance in federal district court in Maine to argue for more transparency in government decision-making. She presented oral argument in a case in which Earthrise represents several public interest environmental organizations opposing an electrical transmission line cutting across fragile and ecologically important habitat in western Maine.

public-lands-issues
Tom and Drew in SF at the Ninth Circuit Courthouse

Earthrise student argues before the Ninth Circuit

Drew Baloga, who took the Earthrise clinic last year and then worked with us as a summer clerk, argued in front of the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco last week. Drew presented oral argument on behalf of our clients Earth Island Institute and the Center for Biological Diversity in support of their challenge to the Three Creeks logging Project in the Inyo National Forest.

public-lands-issues

Earthrise Travels to San Francisco in May to Argue the Yosemite Logging case before the Ninth Circuit

Earthrise Clinical Professor Tom Buchele, representing the Earth Island Institute, will argue before the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco on May 9th, urging them to impose a preliminary injunction on the National Park Service’s decision to log extensively within Yosemite National Park as part of its misguided effort to reduce the severity of future wildfires by logging large trees. 

public-lands-issues

Earthrise Alum Jesse Buss Makes Our Arguments to Save Walton Lake’s Old Growth Forest Before the Ninth Circuit

On March 30th Jesse Buss (2012 Earthrise alum) presented oral argument before the Ninth Circuit in Seattle, urging the court to leave in place an injunction preventing the Forest Service from logging hundreds of old-growth firs surrounding the popular Walton Lake area in Oregon’s Ochoco National Forest. Jesse’s co-counsel Earthrise Clinical Professor Tom Buchele and Bridgett Chevallier (2020 Earthrise alum and former legal fellow) were at counsel’s table for the argument.

education-issues, education, newsletter, public-lands-issues-feature, public-lands-issues, sustainability

Rising Issues #18

Our latest newsletter detailing opposition to mining near Mount St. Helens, another summer of the “Tomorrow’s Advocates” program, information about upcoming events, and welcoming our new legal fellow.
public-lands-issues
Map of the Project Area

Forest Service Approves Drilling Near Mount St. Helens

Opposition from Cascade Forest Conservancy among other conservation and recreation groups, objection submitted.

accomplishments, public-lands-issues, sustainability
Peggy getting a drink from Walton Lake with many of the targeted firs in the background.

Walton Lake Logging Stopped

Earthrise victory over Walton Lake logging once again prevents the Forest Service from clearcutting.
accomplishments, public-lands-issues-feature, public-lands-issues
The ridgeline where the fragile chaparral habitat was scheduled to be clear cut, 150 feet on either side of the trail (the length of a fo...

Forest Service Withdraws Controversial Vegetation Clearance Project in California

In response to a lawsuit filed by Earthrise on behalf of the California Chaparral Institute and Los Padres ForestWatch, the U.S. Forest Service has withdrawn a harmful fuel break project that would have damaged fragile habitat and threatened rare species in Los Padres National Forest along California’s Central Coast.  On Monday, the conservation groups agreed to drop their pending legal action against the project, which they filed last December in U.S. District Court.
accomplishments, public-lands-issues

Earthrise Works to Protect Quiet Recreation in Olympic National Park

Earthrise Law Center filed an objection to the USFS regarding their finding of No Significant Impact for the Navy’s Pacific Northwest Electronic Warfare Range above Olympic National Park.
accomplishments, public-lands-issues-feature, public-lands-issues
Refugio manzanita

Fuel Break Would Destroy Rare Plants that Exist Nowhere Else on Earth

On behalf of two California conservation organizations, Los Padres ForestWatch and the California Chaparral Institute, Earthrise filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Tuesday to protect rare and sensitive species that live in the path of a massive, remote fuel break recently approved in the Los Padres National Forest.
accomplishments, public-lands-issues
Walton Lake is a popular recreation site. Here Earthrise attorney Tom Buchele and his dog Peggy enjoy the view.

Walton Lake Win! Forest Service Withdraws Plans to Clearcut Ochoco

After obtaining a preliminary injunction to halt logging in the Ochoco National Forest that was scheduled to begin on October 17th, Earthrise is pleased to announce the Forest Service has withdrawn it decision authorizing the logging of hundreds of large and old growth Douglas-fir and Grand fir in the Walton Lake area of the Ochoco. This area is one of the most popular recreation sites in the Ochoco as well as a location of magnificent old growth and significant wildlife habitat.