Red-legged Frog Critical Habitat Designation Vacated
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP successfully represented the Home Builders Association of Northern California (HBA), the California Building Industry Association, the California Building Industry Defense Fund, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Alliance for Jobs, and El Dorado County, California, in litigation against the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In the widely-followed case in Washington D.C., federal district court Judge Richard J. Leon approved and entered a Consent Decree vacating approximately 4 million acres of land which had been erroneously designated as critical habitat for the California red-legged frog.
HBA filed suit to challenge the rule-making on the basis that it designated large swaths of land that are not "critical habitat" under the federal Endangered Species Act. "Critical habitat" refers to specific geographic areas that are "essential for the conservation" of a threatened or endangered species and may require special management considerations.
HBA also alleged that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had failed to prepare a proper economic analysis to evaluate whether certain lands should be excluded because they are of marginal value to the frog, but are important economically, e.g., they include areas that have a critical need for housing. This economic inquiry is mandatory under the Endangered Species Act.
The Court concluded that taking additional time to conduct a proper economic analysis will not harm the Frog. Judge Leon noted that federal law already has numerous other provisions, including civil and criminal protections, that protect the Frog and where it currently lives.
Commented Robert Uram, partner in the Real Estate, Land Use, Natural Resources & Environment Practice Group in San Francisco , and plaintiffs' counsel, "We are pleased that the Court approved the Consent Decree. Judge Leon's decision supports our view that the designation of critical habitat was flawed and should be redone. While the red-legged frog will continue to be protected under other provisions of the ESA, landowners, homebuilders and property developers will not have to suffer financially from the flawed designation ."
Tom Roth , special counsel the Real Estate, Land Use, Natural Resources & Environment Practice Group in San Francisco, and also plaintiffs' counsel, added, "Judge Leon's decision helps bring back some rationality to the critical habitat debate. With this decision, the Fish & Wildlife decision can now take the time necessary to evaluate how much of the 4 million acres is really needed to protect the Frog."
Judge Leon's decision and the consent decree can be viewed here.
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