Maricopa Audubon Society v. United States Forest Service and Jack Ward Thomas

REINHARDT, Circuit Judge: The Maricopa Audubon Society and one of its members, Dr. Robin Silver (collectively referred to as ""Audubon""), appeal the denial of a request they filed pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552. The request sought material that identifies the nest sites of northern goshawks on national forest land. The United States Forest Service denied the request on the ground that the information fell within exemption 2 of FOIA, which exempts from disclosure matters that are ""related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency."" 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(2). The district court agreed and ruled, in the alternative, that it would exercise its equitable discretion to deny the request. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we reverse.