Judge finds Forest Service broke law by permitting off-road events in marten habitat
A federal judge ruled that the U.S. Forest Service illegally allowed commercial off-road vehicle events in the coastal marten’s protected habitat in Oregon and Northern California.
In a Sunday opinion, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken determined that the Forest Service violated federal law by granting permits for commercial off-road events in the dunes of the Siuslaw National Forest and Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, areas critical to the endangered coastal marten. The Center for Biological Diversity brought the case, asserting breaches of the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the agency’s own land-management plans.
Aiken described the agency’s actions as arbitrary, noting the lack of required consultation since the marten was listed as threatened in 2020. She nullified the permits, remanded the matter for proper analysis, and barred new off-road permits pending a thorough review. The ruling comes ahead of a scheduled UTV Takeover event in Winchester Bay, Oregon. Both parties have not responded to requests for comment.
Why it matters
The decision could halt off-road recreation that threatens a critically endangered species and set precedent for enforcing habitat protections.
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