[JURIST] In Friday's environmental law news, USDA Forest Service chief Dale Bosworth has affirmed the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SNFPA), a plan that regulates the 11 national forests that run along the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and Nevada. Originally proposed in 1994, the plan has undergone a few controversial changes since its original framing. These include allowing some early season grazing within the 11.5 million acres and permitting the harvest of trees up to 30 inches in diameter, up from the original 12 inches. The change in tree cutting was made in part to help manage forest fires. Bosworth's decision is here [PDF]. The Forest Service press release is here.

In other news, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Thursday in two cases involving disputed native Indian land use. The court held that the federal and provincial governments must consult with native groups when making plans or issuing permits that effect lands under dispute by native Indians. The government had held the position that consultation was only necessary after a dispute was settled in the native Indians' favor, not while the dispute was still unresolved. The cases are Haida Nation v. British Columbia(link to opinion) and Taku River Tlingit First Nation v. British Columbia(link to opinion). Reuters has more…. Canada's ministers of the Environment and Natural Resources have said they plan to implement legislation that would reduce emissions by vehicles sold in Canada by 25 percent by the end of the decade. Ministers Efford and Dion have been negotiating with Canadian vehicle manufacturers and expect to establish the new limits soon. The limits would be in line with the California's Low Emission Vehicle II standard currently used by seven northeastern US states. The New York Times has more…. The EPA seeks comments on a proposed rule that would revise two parts of California's State Implementation Plan (SIP) under the Clean Air Act. The sections of the SIP to be revised deal with the Great Basin Air Pollution Control District (GBAPCD) and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD). Comments can be made until December 20 here.