Fort Huachuca decision raises the bar for Fort Irwin expansion

In: Federal facilities environmental journal, Band 13, Heft 4, S. 15-22

Abstract

AbstractA recent Ninth U.S. District Court decision on a biological opinion for Fort Huachuca in Arizona reinforces the
requirement that federal agencies are ultimately responsible for their obligations to conserve endangered and
threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. This decision has direct implications for the Army's
attempt to gain a favorable biological opinion for training activities on the recently acquired expansion lands at
Fort Irwin, California. Irrespective of whether or not the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues a favorable
biological opinion, the Army must independently demonstrate that it is undertaking specific, measurable mitigation
activities that will assure the recovery of the desert tortoise and other endangered or threatened species
affected by its expansion activities. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.