⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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Western Watersheds Project, et al. v. U.S. Department of the Interior, et al. — 9th Cir. (argued August 13, 2026)

No. 25-2985 Argued August 13, 2026 Published August 13, 2026; updated August 18, 2026

Western Watersheds Project and the Center for Biological Diversity ask the Ninth Circuit to reverse a ruling that upheld the Bureau of Land Management's vegetation plan for Nevada's South Spring and Hamlin Valleys. The groups say the environmental assessment is too vague about which treatments will occur where and when. Interior says the plan identifies preferred treatments and preserves flexibility as conditions change. The court must decide whether the plan complies with the National Environmental Policy Act and federal land-management law in light of the Supreme Court's Seven County decision.

Western Watersheds Project, et al. v. U.S. Department of the Interior, et al. (No. 25-2985) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 13, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/13/25-2985.mp3
Argument record — Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-2985&hearingDate=2026-08-13
Project record — Bureau of Land Management:https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=ea0d08bf-a7f2-f011-8407-001dd806295a
Project documents — Bureau of Land Management:https://eplanning.blm.gov/Documents/?id=ea0d08bf-a7f2-f011-8407-001dd806295a&spid=096c137d-a8f2-f011-8407-001dd80c29f3
Notice of appeal — filed district-court record:https://biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/pdfs/Notice-of-Appeal---Ninth-Circuit---FINAL.pdf
Summary-judgment decision — Google Scholar:https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=5949166516646237776&hl=en
Environmental-assessment rule — eCFR:https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-V/subchapter-A/part-1501/section-1501.5
Seven County — U.S. Supreme Court:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-975_m648.pdf
Cascadia Wildlands — Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2025/08/27/24-4542.pdf
Ruhs — Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2017/07/18/15-17031.pdf
Opinion search — Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/decisions/opinions/
Memorandum search — Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/decisions/memoranda/

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