Lawsuit challenging BLM's travel plan for Steens Mountain, seeking to protect the unique solitude and unfragmented sagebrush habitat of this iconic desert mountain.

Aug. 25, '11 - Court issues injunction barring BLM from mechanically maintaining 37 routes (26 mi.), limiting to spot maintenance another 76 routes (64 mi.), and confirming no maintenance on another 22 mi. of Wilderness Study Area ways and closed routes.

July 1, '11 - ONDA files reply in support of motions for reconsideration and permanent injunction.

June 6, '11 - ONDA asks Court to clarify scope of vacatur order and to issue permanent injunction barring road "maintenance" until Interior has completed a lawful environmental analysis and travel plan for Steens Mountain.

Apr. 28, '11 - Court agrees with ONDA that Department of the Interior violated Steens Act, FLPMA, Wilderness Act, and NEPA, in approving the Steens Mountain Travel Management Plan, and vacates the unlawful decision.

Mar. 11, '11 - ONDA files supplemental response brief further addressing Interior's arguments on summary judgment.

Jan. 14, '11 - Court agrees with ONDA and rules that ONDA properly notified the Department of the Interior of its concerns during the administrative appeal process, rejecting BLM's attempt to impose a hyper-technical pleading requirement into administrative proceedings.

Dec. 30, '10 - ONDA files supplemental reply brief on issue exhaustion.

Dec. 9, '10 - ONDA files supplemental brief on issue exhaustion.

Sept. 17, '10 - ONDA files reply brief in support of its motion for summary judgment.

Aug. 13, '10 - ONDA opposes BLM's motion to strike expert declarations.

July 23, '10 - ONDA files papers seeking summary judgment on its claims under the Steens Act, FLPMA, Wilderness Act and NEPA. See the opening brief and the declarations discussing (1) BLM's flawed route inventory for Steens Mountain and failure to properly consider the ONDA reports, (2) the impacts to quiet recreation of BLM's 519-mile labyrinth of roads, and (3) the likely impacts of widespread weed invasion threatening Steens Mountain's ecological integrity.

Mar. 1, '10 - Court denies Harney County's motion to intervene in ONDA's case.

Sept. 16, '09 - Magistrate judge issues order recommending that Harney County's motion to intervene be denied. 

Apr. 10, '09 - ONDA files suit challenging BLM's travel plan for Steens Mountain. The complaint argues the new plan will permanently establish illegal off-road driving routes that threaten proposed wilderness areas, fragment critical wildlife habitat and leave the mountain vulnerable to weed infestations. See press release.

Route 8244-0-KA, Blitzen River Wilderness Study Area. This "route" is designated as open to public driving under the Steens TMP. ONDA recommended closing it, as it has been largely naturally reclaimed.

Feb. 19, '09 - IBLA reverses BLM decision to open Obscure Routes on Steens Mountain. BLM's decision violates Steens Act prohibitions on off-road vehicle use and construction of new roads, and FLPMA's non-impairment standard for Wilderness Study Areas. Board affirms BLM decision in all other respects.

July 28, '08 - ONDA asks IBLA to fully enjoin BLM's Steens TMP, following the Ninth Circuit's ruling in our favor in the SEORMP case.

Apr. 2, '08 - IBLA grants partial stay of BLM's Steens TMP decision, agreeing with ONDA that agency's decision to allow motorized use on "Obscure Routes" on Steens Mountain is likely illegal and would cause irreparable harm to the environment. The stay order helps ensure against the threat of cross-country travel in Wilderness Study Areas.

Jan. 30, '08 - ONDA files notice of factual correction in response to BLM's answering brief on appeal. See also related ONDA scoping comments on Steens Mountain "Comprehensive Recreation Plan."

Jan. 4, '08 - ONDA appeals BLM's final decision adopting Steens Travel Management Plan EA, arguing TMP violates Steens Act, FLPMA and NEPA because it:  (1) fails to include or analyze non-motorized travel and recreation opportunities; (2) designates new routes in existing WSAs; (3) fails to reconsider closures on routes on Steens Mountain shown to be obsolete, redundant or causing resource damage; and (4) leaves open to motorized use more than 500 miles of motorized vehicle routes on Steens Mountain. See also Marlett Declaration & Miller Declaration, and an example of an ONDA route closure recommendation for a BLM-designated "Obscure Route" that should not be opened to motorized vehicles. 

View ONDA's full route inventory and closure recommendations. (The username is ondaftp and the password is desert (all lowercase)).

See press release.

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

June 8, '07 - Court rules in ONDA v. Shuford that 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.

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

Feb. 21, '06 - ONDA files suit challenging Andrews-Steens RMP; allegations include failure to consider wilderness inventory information and failure to complete Steens transportation plan. See ONDA v. Shuford on Cases page.

Jan. 22, '03 - ONDA submits route closure recommendations to BLM for Steens Mountain transportation plan being prepared as part of the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area Resource Management Plan.