PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge will allow Oregon ranchers who were convicted of intentionally setting fires on public land to graze cattle on parts of a federal allotment this season on a limited basis.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon issued the ruling Tuesday, granting a partial preliminary injunction as environmental advocacy groups continue to challenge the Hammond Ranches Inc.'s federal grazing permit.
The judge approved a U.S. Bureau of Land Management alternative grazing plan proposed last month which the Western Watersheds Project, the Center for Biological Diversity and Wildearth Guardians had rejected.
Simon ordered no grazing on the federal Mud Creek allotment but allowed for cattle to "trail through" that parcel to get to the federal Hardie Summer allotment, where cattle can graze at a 30% utilization standard, lower than the standard allowed in the ranchers' permit, on four of five pastures.