The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's summary judgment ruling in favor of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in a case challenging the agency's approval of a contract for a large wild horse holding facility in Nevada. The court issued its opinion Tuesday in *Friends of Animals v. Burgum*, rejecting arguments from the animal rights organization that sought to block the off-range corral project.

The case centered on BLM's decision to approve a contract with JS Livestock for a new off-range corral on private land in Winnemucca, Nevada, designed to hold and feed up to 4,000 wild horses and burros. Friends of Animals challenged the contract approval under both the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

Judge Richard Tallman wrote the opinion for the three-judge panel, which also included Circuit Judges Bridget Bade and Kenneth Lee. The case originated in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, where BLM prevailed on summary judgment. The appeals court found that while Friends of Animals had standing to challenge the contract, the organization failed to demonstrate that BLM violated federal law in its approval process.