Robertson

Appellants (collectively, “SRCC”) 1 challenge the vegetation management policy for the Pacific Southwest Region adopted by the Chief Forester for the United States Forest Service (“Forest Service” or “Service”). In particular, SRCC challenges the environmental impact statement underlying the policy and issued under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 4332 . The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the Forest Service. SRCC appeals, arguing that the impact statement is inadequate under NEPA. The Forest Service counters that SRCC lacks standing to press its action, and that its claims lack merit. We find that SRCC has standing, but affirm the district court’s summary judgment in favor of the Forest Service.

BACKGROUND

SRCC filed this action against the Forest Service on February 21, 1991, challenging both the Service’s Region 5 Vegetation Management for Reforestation Final Environmental Impact Statement (“FEIS” or “Impact Statement”) and Record of Decision (“ROD”) of February 27, 1989. Pursuant to these documents, district foresters are authorized to use herbicides on National Forest lands in Northern California and portions…