Western Watersheds Project v. Ken Salazar

ORDER

“A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.” Winter v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 , 129 S.Ct. 365 , 172 L.Ed.2d 249 (2008). We subject a district court decision denying a preliminary injunction to “limited and deferential” review; we will reverse only where the district court abused its discretion. Sw. Voter Registration Educ. Project v. Shelley, 344 F.3d 914 , 918 (9th Cir.2003) (en banc) (per curiam). We have reviewed the briefs and the excerpts of record, heard oral argument, and considered the matter thoroughly. We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Appellants’ motion for a preliminary injunction.

The district court did not abuse its discretion in its application of the Winter factors. In particular, the court properly analyzed the balance of equities and the public interest, and did not abuse its discretion in finding that these factors weighed against issuing a…