Obama administration inches away from 'time out' for roadless forest logging
Excerpts:
This month, the Agriculture Department returned to the Forest Service the authority to undertake certain projects in roadless forests without the secretary's approval.
Specifically, local land managers are now free to approve the "cutting, sale, or removal of generally small diameter timber when needed for one of the following purposes:
…That's according to a letter (PDF) from Joel Holtrop, deputy chief of the national forest system, to regional and local forest officials.
"I remind you that our intent is to protect and conserve roadless areas while permitting important restoration and management activities to go forward," wrote Holtrop.
It's unclear what practical impact the re-delegation of authority will have on forests in Oregon and elsewhere around the West.
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Sam Goldman
Sam has been with The Wilderness Society since Fall 2007. He came most recently from M+R Strategic Services in Washington, DC where he worked with national environmental groups to improve their online campaign work and field organizing capacity. Before that, Sam was the Assistant National Field Director for U.S. PIRG where he covered a variety of issues including the fight to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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