Judge refuses to stop gravel mining near Roosevelt ranch

A federal judge says he won't stop a gravel mine operation near Theodore Roosevelt's historic western North Dakota ranch. The U.S. Forest Service a year ago said it had found no significant impact with the project in western North Dakota and issued a permit to Montana businessman and mineral rights holder Roger Lothspeich. He'd been trying to get permission to mine gravel at the site for more than six years. The National Parks Conservation Association in December asked for an injunction while it sues the Forest Service for allegedly failing to conduct a proper environmental assessment. The Bismarck Tribune reports that U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta declined, saying he couldn't find irreparable harm in allowing the first 5 acres of gravel to be mined.