Ashley Creek Phosphate Co. v. Norton
420 F.3d 934 (9th Cir. 2005)
Ashley Creek Phosphate Co. (Ashley Creek) appealed a district court's dismissal for lack of standing in its suit against Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton. Ashley Creek brought the claim under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), [1] alleging that the... {Continue reading}

Central Delta Water Agency v. Bureau of Reclamation
452 F.3d 1021 (9th Cir. 2006)
State agencies and local farmers (Delta parties) sued the United States Bureau of Reclamation and several administrative officials (the Bureau) challenging the Bureau's plan to release reservoir water in order to comply with federal fish habitat restoration requirements. They claimed... {Continue reading}

Cetacean Community v. Bush
386 F.3d 1169 (9th Cir. 2004)
The Cetacean Community (Cetaceans), through its self-appointed attorney, appealed dismissal of its complaint against the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense. Cetaceans alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA),[1] the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA),[2]... {Continue reading}

Churchill County v. Babbitt
150 F.3d 1072 (9th Cir.), as amended by 158 F.3d 491 (9th Cir. 1998)
In this case, local governments sought to prevent the federal government from implementing a water rights acquisition program without first following procedures mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).[1] The Ninth Circuit's opinion did not address the merits of... {Continue reading}

Desert Citizens Against Pollution v. Bisson
231 F.3d 1172 (9th Cir. 2000)
Desert Citizens Against Pollution, Sierra Club, and Desert Protective Council (collectively "Desert Citizens") challenged the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) decision to enter into a land exchange with Gold Fields Mining Corporation and its subsidiary, Arid Operations, Inc. (Gold Fields).... {Continue reading}

Hall v. Norton
266 F.3d 969 (9th Cir. 2001)
The Ninth Circuit ruled on requirements for standing under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)[1] in a case concerning an exchange of public land in the Las Vegas Valley. In 1996, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) entered into a... {Continue reading}

Natural Resources Defense Council v. Abraham
388 F.3d 701 (9th Cir. 2004)
The Department of Energy (DOE) appealed from a grant of summary judgment favoring Natural Resources Defense Council, who, along with several other environmental and tribal organizations (collectively NRDC), challenged a DOE order governing the disposal of radioactive waste generated at... {Continue reading}

Pritikin v. Department of Energy
254 F.3d 791 (9th Cir. 2001)
Pritikin appealed the district court's award of summary judgment to the Department of Energy (DOE). Pritkin had filed a citizen suit alleging that the DOE had violated provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)[1] and the... {Continue reading}