BOISE - A Washington state businessman and environmentalist who in 2006 was the high bidder on six state grazing leases can proceed with his federal civil rights lawsuit against Idaho officials including Lt. Gov. Jim Risch after they awarded the leases instead to ranchers who had offered less money in a competitive auction.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Gordon Younger, a Seattle packaging business owner and head of Lazy Y Ranch Ltd., against the Idaho Land Board members.

Younger is a contributor to the Western Watersheds Project, a group seeking to end grazing on public land in the Rocky Mountains on grounds it damages the environment. Western Watersheds Project has long challenged the Land Board in court to secure competitive state grazing leases.

Laird Lucas, an attorney for Younger, said, "Conservationists can come and bid more money, then improve state land. But of course, we've had political bias against conservationists."

Risch said he acted out of concern for the cost of Younger's proposal, not out of bias.

With the federal appeals court decision, the case now moves toward a trial.