Plaintiffs Question ASI's Request for Intervenor Status

October 19, 2007 - In September, the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) filed a motion with the Ninth Circuit Court in Idaho requesting intervention status in the litigation filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and Western Watersheds Project against the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho.

The plaintiffs in the case disagreed with ASI's motion to intervene and responded by filing a limited opposition to ASI's motion. They asked that ASI be eliminated from the case until the court rules on whether the law was broken. This would keep the court from hearing from ASI and the association would not have an opportunity to protect its interests.

Since denial of intervention will significantly affect ASI's interests in the continued work of the sheep station, the legal council for ASI has submitted arguments seeking full intervention. The industry has significant, protectable interests related to the resulting actions of this case, and the resolution has the potential to impair the industry's ability to continue the vital research and analysis this facility provides.

"The U.S. Sheep Experiment Station is the only U.S. Department of Agriculture range facility solely dedicated to the research needs of sheep, and it is the belief of the ASI executive board that it should be protected against actions imposed by anti-livestock groups," commented Burdell Johnson, ASI president.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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