Judge tosses Bush era Forest planning rules

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Judge tosses Bush era Forest planning rules

"We hope it's the last gasp of the Forest Service under the Bush administration" - Marc Fink, attorney for Center for Biological Diversity

Judge Claudia Wilken of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the service failed to analyze the effects from removing requirements guaranteeing viable wildlife populations.
The planning rule determines how 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands develop individual forest plans, governing activities from timber harvests to recreation and protecting endangered plants and animals.
Wilken's decision (.pdf) marks the third time a court has rejected revisions of the regulations over the past decade.
Wilken said the 2008 rule violated both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act. The environmental impact statement prepared by the Forest Service for the 2008 rule, she wrote, "does not actually analyze the environmental effects of implementing the Rule."

More info: NYTimes.com - Link

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Thursday, July 2, 2009