Lawsuit challenging a BLM land use plan for Steens Mountain and surrounding areas, focusing on BLM's failure to inventory for or properly evaluate impacts to wilderness values, refusal to assess reasonable grazing alternatives, and failure to prepare a Congressionally-required transportation plan for Steens Mountain.

July 18, '08 - ONDA asks court to amend its judgment concerning wilderness-related claims, based on Ninth Circuit's decision in ONDA's favor in the Southeastern Oregon RMP appeal. See also chart summarizing 400,000+ acres of roadless areas BLM admits exist on and around Steens Mountain, outside of existing WSAs and Wilderness.

July 8, '08 - Court issues opinion and judgment ordering BLM to prepare a new transportation plan for Steens Mountain, and denying ONDA's motion asking court to reconsider wilderness rulings.

May 20, '08 - ONDA files reply brief in support of its motion asking Court to reconsider wilderness-related rulings.

Apr. 10, '08 - ONDA asks Court to reconsider its wilderness rulings, based on BLM's 2007 wilderness inventory in Louse Canyon area, in which BLM actually performed field inventory work to support its findings and agreed with more than 80% of ONDA's 138,000-acre wilderness proposal for that area.

Mar. 4, '08 - ONDA files reply brief on the issue of remedy.

Jan. 22, '08 - ONDA files opening brief regarding remedy, asking court to set aside unlawful transportation plan and order BLM to prepare new, comprehensive plan as required by Steens Act.

Nov. 14, '07 - ONDA files proposed form of judgment, including proposed relief for successful transportation plan claim.

Oct. 13, '07 - Court denies ONDA's request for reconsideration of the wilderness issue.

Sept. 14, '07 - ONDA files reply in support of motion for reconsideration.

July 20, '07 - ONDA asks Court to reconsider its wilderness rulings, based on recent wilderness victories enjoining BLM from constructing range projects without properly considering impacts to wilderness values on Beatys Butte and Juniper Mountain.

June 13, '07 - BLM rescinds its Travel Management Plan decision, based on Court's ruling in ONDA's favor.

June 8, '07 - Court rules BLM's Transportation Plan violates the Steens Act because it is not "comprehensive" or "integral"; rules against ONDA on other wilderness and grazing claims.
    See press release.

May 21, '07 - ONDA submits comments on BLM's Travel Management Plan EA, focusing on impacts to Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas, and on EA's failure to consider non-motorized recreation and uses on Steens Mountain. ONDA's TMP route closures report, submitted to BLM at the Steens Mountain Advisory Council meeting, recommends that BLM close hundreds of miles of overgrown, obsolete, redundant, impassable, and resource-damaging routes on Steens Mountain.

May 18, '07 - ONDA submits notice of factual development relevant to claims concerning Steens Transportation Plan, drawing Court's attention to BLM's Travel Management Plan EA, which still does not address non-motorized travel and uses within the Cooperative Management and Protection Area.

Jan. 19, '07 - ONDA submits scoping comments and map on BLM's "Travel Management Plan" EA for Steens Mountain.

Jan. 19, '07 - ONDA files reply brief in Andrews-Steens RMP case, focusing on analysis of wilderness values and grazing allocation issues.

Oct. 20, '06 - ONDA files summary judgment motion in Andrews-Steens RMP case, targeting wilderness, grazing, and road closures issues. Read Craig Miller's declaration in support of ONDA's motion, examining the BLM's flawed analysis of ONDA's wilderness inventory report.
    View the maps: (large pdf files, between 385-670KB)
    Proposed WSAs in Andrews Management Area
    Table Mountain Proposed WSA
    Peaks, Ridges, and Valleys in Table Mountain Proposed WSA
    Blitzen photos
    Blitzen River South Proposed WSA
    Peaks, Ridges, and Valleys in Blitzen River South Proposed WSA

Aug. 11, '06 - ONDA files reply in support of summary judgment motion concerning BLM failure to prepare Steens Act-mandated Transportation Plan; also files brief in support of consolidation motion.

May 25, '06 - ONDA asks court to consolidate before a single judge the Andrews-Steens RMP and Lakeview RMP/Beaty Butte AMP cases, maintaining separate records and briefing but consolidating hearings. Motion was supported.

May 16 & 25, '06 - ONDA responds to Harney County and "Steens Mountain Landowner Group" motions to intervene.

Apr. 13, '06 - ONDA seeks ruling (PDF* 100K) on claim concerning overdue Transportation Plan for Steens Mountain.

Feb. 21, '06 - ONDA files suit (PDF* 670K) challenging Andrews-Steens management plan; allegations include failure to consider wilderness inventory information and failure to complete Steens transportation plan. Read press release.