Group files suit to halt Forest Service's herbicide use Dec 3, 2008
The Alliance for the Wild Rockies wants the project stopped ... The latter especially concerns the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. (Missoulian, MT)
Project would remove dead trees along forest roads Nov 28, 2008
Michael Garrity, executive director of the Helena-based Alliance for the Wild Rockies, keeps a close eye on proposed logging work, and he s not sure what to make of this recent proposal. Garrity notes that while he s in favor of removing hazard trees to a limited extent, he s got some concerns about the impacts of the proposal to wildlife. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Logging plans in FEMA’s hands Nov 21, 2008
Michael Garrity, director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, said the city should have waited and allowed the public more time to contemplate the proposal. The city, because they represent the public, they should want to have all of the information that s gathered in an EA, he said. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Divided on the Divide Nov 19, 2008
Next to Garrity, who is the executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, was author Jim Posewitz, representing the Helena Hunters and Anglers organization. As they moved from the aspens into a towering forest dominated by lodgepole pines, the men agree that they re an unusual pairing. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Montana biathlon course challenged Nov 19, 2008
The course on the eastern slope of the Continental Divide would severely diminish the area's value to lynx, wolverines, wolves, grizzly bears, elk and moose, says the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by the Helena Hunters and Anglers Association, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, American Wildlands and Native Ecosystems Council. The area provides wildlife a link to larger blocks of habitat to the north and south, says the suit against the Forest Service. (Montana Standard, MT)
Mechanized logging under consideration Nov 17, 2008
Michael Garrity, director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, said the response is misplaced. I think it s a waste of money and ecologically harmful, Garrity said. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Judge blocks federal loggingOct. 31 Nov 1, 2008
A group that challenged the logging, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, said the Gallatin National Forest s Smith Creek Timber Sale should be stopped indefinitely by the order that U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy issued this week in Missoula. The logging in the Crazy Mountains about 35 miles north of Livingston cannot take place because the Forest Service did not map key elk habitat adequately, Molloy ruled in a lawsuit filed by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, the Native Ecosystems Council... (Missoulian, MT)
Forest Service denies appeal against biathlon course Sep 17, 2008
Mike Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, said he s disappointed by the decision and isn t sure how they ll proceed ... Matthew Bishop with the Law Center said he s filed a notice of intent to sue under the Endangered Species Act on behalf of his clients, which include the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Helena Hunters rs, Margaret Regan, American Wildlands, Ken Wallace, Defenders of Wildlife, Diane Boyd, the Native Ecosystem Council, and the Montana Wilderness... (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Molloy pauses logging project Aug 2, 2008
The Alliance for the Wild Rockies filed its challenge to the Northeast Yaak timber sale in December 2007 ... Michael Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, praised Molloy's ruling. (Missoulian, MT)
Plum Creek's top officials detail intentions in state Jul 24, 2008
It's a propaganda strategy, said Michael Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, a nonprofit group based in Helena. The reason they go on these dog-and-pony shows is they have something to hide. (Missoulian, MT)
Judge restores wolf protections Jul 19, 2008
This injunction is necessary to prevent the states from implementing management schemes that have the primary purpose of eliminating, rather than conserving, wolves, said Michael Garrity, executive director of the Helena-based Alliance for the Wild Rockies. Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity in New Mexico added that the injunction will give wolves a fighting chance. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Forest supervisor approves biathlon course Jun 13, 2008
His decision clears the way for the Montana Army National Guard to begin work on the biathlon course, barring any protest which is promised by Michael Garrity, executive director for the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. We ll definitely appeal it, Garrity said. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
U.S. District Court: Groups ask to shield wolves May 30, 2008
Among the plaintiffs in the case are the Natural Resources Defense Counsel, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, Humane Society of the United States, Center for Biological Diversity, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Friends of the Clearwater and Alliance for the Wild Rockies. Gray wolves were among the first species to be listed by the secretary of the Interior as endangered when, alarmed by the pace of species' decline, Congress enacted the Endangered Species Act in 1973. (Missoulian, MT)
Effort to keep threatened trout off dinner table Apr 9, 2008
Bader, the co-founder and former executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, has been an environmental advocate for two decades ... Since resigning from the Alliance for the Wild Rockies in 2001, Bader has given public and classroom presentations on native trout recovery and watershed protection. (Missoulian, MT)
Baring Their Teeth Mar 28, 2008
Earth Justice, on behalf of the groups Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Center of Biological Diversity, The Humane Society of the United States, the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, the Friends of the Clearwater, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands Project and the Western Watersheds Project notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service Feb. 27 they believe the agency violated the Endangered Species Act by proposing delisted... (Rexburg Standard Journal, ID)
Groups sue over sagebrush Mar 22, 2008
The Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystems Council filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Boise on Wednesday, asking a judge to stop the prescribed burn of a mosaic pattern across 1,200 acres of sagebrush habitat near Dubois ... and the Alliance for the Wild Rockies is based in Helena, Mont. (Pocatello Idaho State Journal, ID)
Wolf advocates intend to sue Mar 5, 2008
Wood River Journal - Hailey, Idaho. Tuesday, March 04, 2008. (Wood River Journal, ID)
Wolf delisting announcement prompts enviro groups to sue Feb 28, 2008
The notice was sent on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, The Humane Society of the United States, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Friends of the Clearwater, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Oregon Wild, Cascadia and Western Watersheds Project. Untitled Document. (Montana Standard, MT)
Groups to challenge wolf delisting Feb 28, 2008
Earthjustice submitted the notice letter on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, the Humane Society of the United States, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Friends of the Clearwater, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands Project and Western Watersheds Project. . (Missoulian, MT)
Conservation groups file suit to stop logging in Crazy Mountains Feb 27, 2008
The Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystems Council contend the project would violate the Clean Water Act and Montana water quality laws by putting sediment into Big Timber Creek, which already is polluted and on the state's list of impaired water bodies ... Alliance for the Wild Rockies, http://www. (Montana Standard, MT)
Wolves to be delisted Feb 22, 2008
But Mike Garrity, executive director for the Helena-based Alliance for the Wild Rockies, argues that number is too low. His group is one of those involved in the lawsuit, along with the Sierra Club, NRDC, Defenders of Wildlife, the Humane Society, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance and Friends of the Clearwater. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
FS to reassess road decision (1) Feb 8, 2008
The Cabinet Resource Group, Great Bear Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Selkirk Conservation Alliance and Idaho Conservation League challenged the decision, as did two other conservation groups the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Lands Council. U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy ruled against the two groups, but in favor of the five conservation groups last December. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Letter: Forest partnership is no guarantee for logging Feb 3, 2008
Also in 2007, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Native Ecosystems Council filed suit in Federal Court in Helena asking for a temporary restraining order to halt logging on 241 acres in the Meridian Creek drainage in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and for it to be permanently abandoned. It is plain to see as long as the environmentalists can use the courts there will be no logging. (Montana Standard, MT)
Hard salvage: Going gets tough on wintertime project Feb 2, 2008
Two environmental organizations Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Friends of the Bitterroot appealed the proposal in an 81-page document. The agency upheld Ritter's decision. (Missoulian, MT)
Jimtown fuels reduction begins Jan 11, 2008
They may be well-intentioned, but Mike Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, still questions the usefulness of the work, which he believes is a money losing proposition for the Forest Service. The Forest Service s own fire experts reported forest fuel reductions can only be very effectively accomplished over relatively small areas tens of acres but is impractical and ecologically inappropriate for forests, Garrity said. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Proposed mine challenged Jan 9, 2008
They include the Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited, Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Great Old Broads for Wilderness. The 60-day notice is required before a lawsuit may be filed. (Pocatello Idaho State Journal, ID)
Cabinet Mountains / 11 groups threaten new suit over mine Jan 4, 2008
Those threatening suit include the Rock Creek Alliance, Clark Fork Coalition, Cabinet Resource Group, Montana Wilderness Association, Earthworks, Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Pacific Rivers Council, Great Old Broads for Wilderness and Natural Resources Defense Council. The 60-day notice of intent to sue required before bringing any Endangered Species Act complaints keys on two protected species: grizzly bears and bull trout. (Missoulian, MT)
Hauling timber: Logging company resumes harvest Dec 18, 2007
Tom Woodbury, a Missoula lawyer representing environmental groups Native Ecosystems Council, Wildwest Institute and Alliance for the Wild Rockies was not immediately available Monday for comment. The project includes clear cutting 1,100 acres and building 14 miles of new roads. (Montana Standard, MT)
Challenge of logging project rejected Dec 14, 2007
Molloy said in court records that the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Native Ecosystems Council, the groups challenging the project, had little chance of winning their case and therefore the project could proceed. Plaintiffs have not demonstrated a likelihood that they will succeed on the merits of their (National Environmental Policy Act) claim, he said. (Montana Standard, MT)
Ranger withdraws logging plan Nov 25, 2007
The Helena National Forest ranger isn t conceding that the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Native Ecosystems Council would have prevailed in court, but said that re-assessing the project will allow it to move ahead faster than letting it wind through the legal arena. What it boiled down to was whether we want to continue with the court process and have the process held up or whether we could withdraw the decision and do additional analysis to hit the issues addressed in the lawsuit, Harp... (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Hunters get say in griz case Nov 13, 2007
The groups that filed the lawsuit are the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Western Watersheds Project, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Center for Biological Diversity, and Great Bear Foundation. Earthjustice and Advocates for the West represent the conservation groups. (Pocatello Idaho State Journal, ID)
Massive wilderness bill up for hearing in Congress Oct 11, 2007
Proponents, including the Helena-based Alliance for the Wild Rockies, say the bill would create hundreds of jobs in habitat restoration and road decommissioning work. This won t be the first time around for NREPA, as the bill is known by supporters and opponents alike. (Montana Standard, MT)
Two groups file lawsuit against Helena Forest Aug 23, 2007
The decision by the Helena National Forest to do the so-called Elliston Face project was arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, and/or otherwise not in compliance with the law, according to the complaint filed by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystems Council. Michael Garrity, executive director for the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, said this isn t the first time they ve challenged the Helena National Forest on this project. (Helena Independent Record)
Logging moving ahead in Madison Valley Jul 26, 2007
The Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Native Ecosystems Council failed to file an appeal of a May court decision that threw out the groups challenge of the project. That means logging will proceed this summer in the drainage about six miles northwest of Ennis. (Montana Standard, MT)
Proposal would tame fire risk on the Frenchtown ‘Face' Jun 25, 2007
The agency's first attempt at the project was challenged by the Ecology Center (now the WildWest Institute) and the Alliance for the Wild Rockies in 2006 on grounds the Forest Service hadn't done sufficient analysis on soils ... Alliance for the Wild Rockies executive director Michael Garrity said the agency made the right adjustments to address that group's concerns. (Missoulian, MT)
Judges uphold logging Jun 20, 2007
Yet Woodbury, who represents Native Ecosystems Council, Wildwest Institute and Alliance for the Wild Rockies, thinks the project would be a bane to the environment. The project includes clearcutting 1,100 acres and building 14 miles of new roads. (Montana Standard, MT)
Conservation groups sue over grizzly delisting Jun 5, 2007
Scientific analyses have shown conclusively that the grizzly bear population in the greater Yellowstone area will not survive as an isolated population, said Michael Garrity, executive director of the Helena-based Alliance for the Wild Rockies. Removing (Endangered Species Act) protection from grizzly bears in Yellowstone amounts to a death sentence for these bears. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Yellowstone grizzly protections sought Jun 5, 2007
Plaintiffs in the case are the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project, Great Bear Foundation and the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. Several other conservation groups, including Defenders of Wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation, have supported the delisting of Yellowstone grizzlies. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Environmentalists appeal judge’s ruling on Basin Creek logging May 2, 2007
Native Ecosystems Council, Wildwest Institute and Alliance for the Wild Rockies recently appealed the ruling with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, according to Missoula lawyer Thomas Woodbury, who represents the groups. Woodbury has asked Judge Molloy to stop the logging project pending an outcome from the Ninth Circuit. (Montana Standard, MT)
Logging near Basin Creek watershed: Judge denies request to reconsider ruling Apr 25, 2007
Tom Woodbury, a Missoula attorney representing Native Ecosystems Council, Wildwest Institute and Alliance for the Wild Rockies, said the Tuesday ruling was expected. The groups now plan to ask Molloy for a temporary injunction on the timber harvest while they file an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. (Montana Standard, MT)
Bill would designate vast area wilderness Apr 23, 2007
The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act was written and has long been advocated by Missoula's Alliance for the Wild Rockies. . (Missoulian, MT)
Judge lifts logging injunction Apr 13, 2007
In 2005, the Ecology Center, Native Ecosystems Council and Alliance for the Wild Rockies sued the Forest Service over its Basin Creek Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project. The groups said they oppose the project because it includes clearcutting 1,100 acres and building 14 miles of new roads. (Montana Standard, MT)
Officials backing clearcut proposal Apr 6, 2007
Three environmental groups Native Ecosystems Council, the Ecology Center, and the Alliance for the Wild Rockies are fighting the Basin Creek Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project citing concerns about wildlife issues linked to the roads and clearcutting. The environmentalists have appealed the case before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. (Montana Standard, MT)
Road issue stalls subdivision in middle of woods Mar 27, 2007
Mike Garrity, executive director for the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, adds that he has concerns over the impacts to wildlife if the road is improved and traffic increases. We want them to look at the cumulative affects of all this, Garrity said. (Helena Independent Record)
Yellowstone-area grizzlies taken off protected list Mar 23, 2007
Michael Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, added that the grizzlies were listed as a population based on their entire numbers, and he doesn t think the protection should be removed until all the populations are connected through travel corridors. Conservation biologists have told us that to survive in the long-term, populations have to be connected to the other populations, Garrity said. (Helena Independent Record)
Equal access to injustice, more like it - Monday, March 19, 2007 Mar 20, 2007
The Sierra Club and Alliance for the Wild Rockies stole the momentum with a lawsuit objecting to harvesting trees in unroaded patches, and a subsequent lawsuit by a group now known as the WildWest Institute brought the whole thing to a halt. Based on the Equal Access to Justice Act, the Forest Service agreed to pay 75,000 in legal fees to the first two groups and is negotiating over the latter's demand for 110,660 in legal fees. (Missoulian, MT)
Forest Service struggles to finish restoration Mar 11, 2007
The Sierra Club and the Alliance for the Wild Rockies couldn't abide the amount of logging in areas without roads. The agency worked out a deal with those groups which allowed the restoration work to continue while dropping some of the controversial timber harvest. (Missoulian, MT)
Logging on forest land starts despite lawsuit Mar 5, 2007
The plan was appealed last April by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystems Council. A hearing on the appeal is April 19. (Helena Independent Record)
Beetle battle Feb 23, 2007
The threats to Butte s water supply and nearby homes don t seem to factor very prominently in the equation for the Native Ecosystems Council, the Ecology Center, and the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. As this project has bounced around the court system these past three years, their arguments have repeatedly focused on wildlife habitat concerns and the fact that 1,100 acres will be clearcut and 14 miles of new roads built. (Montana Standard, MT)
Cuts prompt Helena NF shakeup Feb 4, 2007
Mike Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies - which often squares off against the Helena forest on environmental issues - said the proposed cuts probably would make it easier for groups like his to prevail in court. "But we would rather they not give us opportunities to win lawsuits," Garrity said. (Helena Independent Record)
Legal fight continues over Basin Creek logging Jan 31, 2007
WildWest Institute and the Alliance for the Wild Rockies responded with a Jan. 18 motion defending its appeal. And Aaron Avilla, a lawyer with the Department of Justice s Environmental and Natural Resource Division, said he is preparing a second motion on behalf of the Forest Service. (Montana Standard, MT)
