KENNEWICK— A federal judge says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should have consulted with tribes before expanding wildflowers tours to Rattlesnake Mountain within the Hanford Reach National Monument.

U.S. Judge Thomas Rice in Spokane ruled in favor of the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation on Friday. He told the federal agency to not conduct wildflower tours until it meets requirements.

The mountain, known as Laliik, is a tribal religious and cultural area.

Fish and Wildlife’s Charlie Stenvall told the Tri-City Herald newspaper (http://is.gd/tFWz8s) that the agency will work with the tribe and others to provide access to Rattlesnake Mountain.

The judge said the agency’s original plan for two tours a year to the mountain increased substantially and that change should have prompted additional discussions with the tribes.