Kettle Range Conservation Group v. United States Forest Service

MEMORANDUM *

Plaintiffs Kettle Range Conservation Group (“Kettle Range”) and Leavenworth Audubon Adop1>-A-Forest (“LAAF”) filed this action against the United States For *731 est Service, Harv Forsgren, Acting Regional Forester, Region Six, and Rolando Ortega, Acting Forest Supervisor, Colville National Forest (“CNF”), 1 under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321-4370 , challenging the Forest Service’s selection of one of several ecosystem restoration plans proposed in response to a serious Douglas-fir beetle outbreak in northern Idaho and northeastern Washington.

At the hearing on the parties’ motions for summary judgment, the district court expressed concern that Plaintiffs had not adequately demonstrated their standing. The district court allowed the parties to file supplemental memoranda on standing. Plaintiffs complied with the district court’s order and simultaneously filed a motion under Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(b) to enlarge time for filing four additional declarations, which they attached to the motion. The district court found that Plaintiffs’ reason for their delay was not “excusable neglect” and denied the motion to enlarge time. Concluding that…