Chat
(04-03-2014, 01:45 PM)Saph Wrote: Charlie, have you read the latest news on the Wool Growers lawsuit in Idaho? Unless you know something that I don't, this does not bode well. I posted a link in a another thread about the Shoshone closure.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/03/26...687/&ihp=1
http://www.idahocountyfreepress.com/news...eld-court/
A federal judge upheld the decision by the Payette National Forest to close 70 percent of the forest to domestic sheep grazing to protect wild bighorn sheep.
U.S. 9th Circuit Judge Wallace Tashima denied a motion by the Idaho Wool Growers Association to overturn the 2010 decision by Payette National Forest Supervisor Suzanne Rainville aimed at separating domestic and bighorn sheep. Tashima ruled the Forest Service had followed the preponderance of evidence that domestic sheep carry diseases to the wild sheep populations.
The dispute began in 2007 when District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ordered ranchers to move their sheep off of five allotments on the Payette National Forest in Hells Canyon. The Forest Service was ordered to complete an environmental impact statement on sheep grazing in bighorn habitat.
The Wool Growers had used all its political might to try to delay and head off the Forest Service’s decision to close off the domestic sheep habitat, which came out of the EIS. Under pressure from Gov. Butch Otter and lawmakers, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game clarified its policy to kill bighorns if necessary when they mix with domestic sheep.
Three sheep ranchers - the Shirts Brothers, Carlson Co. and the Soulens - were affected by the decision and participated in the lawsuit. The Colorado Wool Growers Association also joined in the lawsuit because it has the most overlap between wild bighorn habitat and domestic sheep.
The Forest Service’s policy of doing a risk assessment of possible contact between domestic and wild sheep is now supported in federal court, said Craig Gehrke, Wilderness Society Idaho representative, who fought for the ruling for years to protect bighorns in the Hells Canyon Recreation Area.
The other area where this could have an impact in Idaho is in the Palisades Mountains and Tetons in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. There, Idaho Republican Sen. Jeff Siddoway and his family have grazed sheep for generations.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. You're right, this does not bode well. This is good to know.
There is another lawsuit currently in the works, and there should be a verdict in the next month or so, which has to do with lack of credible "modeling" that the Forest Service used. Bill Myers of Holland & Hart is representing the Wool Growers. I will make a thread once I hear more.
For those who have not read Andy Irvine's objections here is the link
http://andrewirvinelaw.com/wp-content/up...hibits.pdf
Quote:I am good friends with John M., and he has decided to side with the Forest Service and the Game and Fish. i do not bring that up, as i want to remain friends with him. He and I have talked at length about the Selenium issue.
"I'll bet this carries a lot of weight with the Forest Service. If the founder of modern goat packing is against having goats in Bighorn territory, then they've got a pretty good hand they're playing. What's John's reasoning, do you know?"
Yes, I believe it does. I do not know John's reasoning. I can speculate, but I'd rather keep that to myself. I am sure that he feels right about the side he chose, and that is his prerogative.
Even though the Forest Service totally ignored our BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES where we proposed to use GPS Collars, highlining, health certs, etc., we feel that the chances of commingling with Bighorn Sheep are slim to none.