The Bureau of Land Management’s plan to open more of its land at Rogue River in Oregon to logging worries environmentalists.
GALICE, Ore. — A 1990s’ truce that quieted the bitter wars between loggers and environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest is in danger of collapse.
With that truce, made final in 1994 by the Clinton administration, the northern spotted owl, a threatened species, seemed to be getting the breathing space it needed to regroup. While some land was opened to loggers, nearly twice as much was set aside for owls’ hunting grounds. But more than a decade later, their numbers continue to decline faster than expected.
Now the truce, the Northwest Forest Plan, is in jeopardy as one of the parties to it, the Bureau of Land Management, is rethinking its participation. It is proposing a threefold increase in logging on its 2.2 million acres in western Oregon, with greater increases in the old-growth stands that are the owls’ preferred territory. The land agency’s action would reduce by 10 percent the territory covered by the Northwest Forest Plan....
Now the truce, the Northwest Forest Plan, is in jeopardy as one of the parties to it, the Bureau of Land Management, is rethinking its participation. It is proposing a threefold increase in logging on its 2.2 million acres in western Oregon, with greater increases in the old-growth stands that are the owls’ preferred territory. The land agency’s action would reduce by 10 percent the territory covered by the Northwest Forest Plan....
The current administration is raping the resources of this country; natural or otherwise. This is some of the most precious protected lands in the nation including ANWR. The Bush Administration has deliberately undermined 'good science' at the Bureau of Land Management while playing footsie with Abramoff under the direction of Former Secretary Gale Norton. There has been assault against the Endangered Species Act and a complete disregard for it's directives, including, delisting the Bald Eagle with remaining concerns by most that have watched it's progression to larger numbers.
This is an administration that is out of control, circumvents the legislature and considers the executive branch his personal playground.
