Judges buys Idaho Fish and Game argument that agency only wants valuable data-
It’s a high bar to get a judge to rule against an agency that claims expertise and say “this is ridiculous.” That is my first take.
I think, the U.S. Forest Service needs to be told to revise their general regulations for Wilderness Areas. The last revision was a Bush update giving more leeway for machines for this kind of thing.
helicopters-wilderness-court-order
The judge did warn the Forest Service to make sure Idaho Fish and Game does not run amuck.
“The Forest Service must proceed very cautiously here because the law is not on their side if they intend to proceed with further helicopter projects in the Frank Church Wilderness. The Court is free to examine the cumulative impacts of the projects, and the context of the use. Given that this project is allowed to proceed, the next project will be extraordinarily difficult to justify.”