Saturday, May 4, 2013

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Indians v. U.S. Department of the Navy case brief

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Indians v. U.S. Department of the Navy case brief
898 F.2d 1410 (9th Cir. 1990))

CASE SYNOPSIS: Plaintiff Indian tribe appealed the judgment of United States District Court for the District of Nevada, which was rendered for defendants, the Department of the Navy and Secretary of the Navy, in plaintiff's action alleging violations of the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the federal government's fiduciary obligation to plaintiff.

FACTS: In their operation of an air station located within a reclamation project, defendants, the Department of the Navy and Secretary of the Navy, instituted an outlease program, pursuant to which they leased most of their project water right land to local farmers. The diversion of water in connection with the outlease program reduced the flow of water to a lake located on plaintiff' Indian tribe's reservation, which was the exclusive habitat of an endangered species of fish. Plaintiff filed suit, seeking to enjoin the outlease program and alleging violations of the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the federal government's fiduciary obligation to plaintiff. The district court entered judgment for defendants. The court affirmed, holding that defendants' reliance on biological opinions of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service was not arbitrary and capricious, defendants did not violate their affirmative duty to conserve endangered species, and defendants did not breach their fiduciary obligations to plaintiff.

CONCLUSION: The court affirmed the district court's judgment for defendants, the Department of the Navy and Secretary of the Navy. The court held, inter alia, that defendants did not breach their affirmative obligation to conserve endangered species or their fiduciary obligations to plaintiff.

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