"Enviros Fight Industry Lawsuit Over U.S. Forest Planning Rule"

"Two Pacific Northwest conservation organizations are seeking permission from a federal court in Washington to fight a lawsuit that aims to limit the use of science to help manage U.S. national forests."



"The Western Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center and Oregon Wild, filed a motion Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia asking to intervene on the side of the federal government in a challenge to the 2012 National Forest Management Act Planning Rule, brought by a coalition of industry groups and trade associations.
Tree marked for timber

This old growth tree in Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest is marked for cutting to clear the way for an liquified natural gas pipeline. (Photo by Margaret Killjoy)

The timber, livestock and off-road industry groups filed a lawsuit on August 13 against U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who has jurisdiction over the U.S. Forest Service.

They are challenging the new planning rule, which provides for sustainable management of 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands covering some 193 million acres across the country."

Environment News Service had the story September 11, 2012.
 

Source: ENS, 09/12/2012