Forest Service in the News©
NATIONAL NEWS
Forest Mismanagement Contributes to Severity of Wildfires, Environment News Service
Timber Sale "Fundraiser" Will Lose Millions - To Boost Corporate Welfare Giveaways, U.S. Forest Service Tells Lies, Progress Report
The Biscuit report, by ECONorthwest, Taxpayers for Common Sense
Andrus Center releases new report on wildfire policy - Little progress seen in reducing fire threat, Idaho Mountain Express
Forest Service clarifies ban on ads, Denver Post
U.S. Senate deals setback to fee demo program, Summit Daily News
To Fee or Not to Fee, by Andy Stahl - Forest Magazine
Forest Service admits flaws in job competition effort, Gov. Exec. magazine
Bush administration touts savings from job competitions, Government Executive
Rec industry joins fight for wild lands - Group challenges Bush administration, Ithaca Journal - Gannett News
Scientists See Forests Fading - Drought, insects may be permanently killing forests, SF Chronicle AP
Folly of tanker decision already clear - New Mexico's already been burned by bad decision, Missoulian editorial
Forest Service stands firm on grounding of air tankers, Billings Gazette
Government Not Truthful on Air Tankers?, KPHO Phoenix
Neptune takes air tanker fight to U.S. Senate, Missoulian
Local experts decry loss of aerial tankers, Ravalli Republic
Forestry department will use grounded air tankers - State of Oregon says the planes, which federal officials have deemed unsafe, are needed to prepare for the upcoming fire season, Oregonian
Diving for Dead Wood - Submarine with a chain saw for eco-friendly logging, Scientific American
The Paper Chase - The paperless office is still a distant dream. In the interim, recycle more and develop alternatives to wood-based paper, E Magazine
On-call services cost $4 million - "Severity" money funds people and equipment not actually fighting fires, but poised to fight immediately if needed, Helena Independent Record
Out-of-state crews eat up fire funds, Missoulian
Not a big splash - Despite its multimillion-dollar price tag, studies show that firefighting doesn't have a significant impact on Montana's economy, Helena Independent Record
Firefighters use state money for tips, despite ban, Helena Independent Record
Some firefighters go gourmet at public's expense, Helena Independent Record
Officials defend $15 lunches, Missoulian
State eyes ways to trim fire bill, Missoulian
Changes on the horizon?, Helena Independent Record
Senate puts nail in fee demo coffin, Aspen Times News
Red Rock Pass on the rocks, Arizona Daily Sun
Forest Service's $90,000 PR contract proper, officials rule, Bakersfield Californian - Thompson AP
Forest roadless rule appeal still alive, Casper Star-Tribune
Save federal Roadless Rule in national forests, Bay City Times editorial
U.S. touts forestry law success in court - Law speeds tree-cutting - Goal is anti-fire; enviros worry about old trees, Post-Intelligencer AP
Lawmakers file bill to boost money for firefighting $500 million, SF Chronicle AP
Jumbo 747 tankers could be used to fight forest fires, Coos Bay World
McCain calls hearing on air-tanker grounding, Arizona Republic
Get tankers back into the air quick, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake editorial
To fly again, Arizona Daily Star editorial
Wildfire forecast for the West goes from bad to worse, SF Chronicle AP
National survey on oak disease planned, Arizona Republic AP
EPA Relied on Industry for Plywood Plant Pollution Rule, Yahoo! News - LA Times
Elect a Congress to protect public land, Post-Intelligencer editorial
Silencing Greenpeace - Justice Dept. loses round of intimidation, News-Journal editorial
Rewilding America, AlterNet
Low on Funds, Forest Service Neglects Biodiversity, Environment News Service
Fund Firefighting - West may be facing catastrophic fire season, Register Guard editorial
OIA Testimony re Recreation Fee Demonstration Program, Outdoor Industry Association
End of fee program could ring sour for Maroon Bells, Aspen Times
Pitco, feds mull Bells' future, Aspen Times
The corporate takeover of our great outdoors, News-Press op-ed
Tree-killing beetles more deadly than wildfires, Billings Gazette
Congress set to vote on firefighting funding - Budget also includes fully Healthy Forest funding, Bend Bugle
Groups air radio spots to promote timber-sale alternative, Mail Tribune
Conservationists Propose 400 Jobs on Biscuit Fire Restoration, Environment News Service
Siskiyou Restoration Plan will create over 400 new jobs in Southern Oregon - Plan focuses on watershed restoration activities and commercial logging in Biscuit Fire area, Siskiyou Wild Rivers
Firefighters Welcome Supertanker - Large aircraft can drop thousands of gallons more retardant than other tankers used in the past, Victorville Daily Press
747 converted for firefighting, Oregonian
Lawmakers examine air tanker decision, Cody Enterprise News
Canceled air tanker contract forces layoffs, Coos Bay World
If air tankers are safe, let them fly - The planes so crucial to fighting the West's forest fires should be grounded by real safety concerns, not red tape, Oregonian editorial
FAA to speed grounded air-tanker inspections - Congressmen push for return to air as wildfire season arrives, Bend Bugle
Lawmakers say some air tankers could fight fires this summer, North County Times - Daly AP
Air tanker loss a big blow - Worry among region's fire bosses rises as moisture levels in fuels drop, Spokesman-Review
Redmond facility hard hit by plane grounding, Bend Bulletin
Cubin wants money for firefighter pilot insurance, Casper Star Tribune
Environmental group challenges Forest Service job inventories - FSEEE, a nonprofit group in Oregon has added complaints about the Forest Service's method of compiling FAIR Act inventories to a lawsuit disputing an agency decision to outsource analyst positions, Government Executive magazine
Federal Agencies To Reward Volunteers With A "Fee-Free" Day, PNNOnline
Conservation Groups Release Primer to Help Homeowners and Communities Protect Themselves from Wildfire - Primer presents proven methods based on Forest Service research, Unified Forest Defense Campaign
Collateral Damage: The Environmental Effects of Firefighting; The 2002 Biscuit Fire Suppression Actions and Impacts, Western Fire Ecology Center
Burning a forest to save it, San Francisco Chronicle op-ed
Panel presses administration to hire 3,000 temporary firefighters, Government Executive magazine
U.S. May Send Fewer Workers to the Fire Lines - Congressmen urge a funding boost to bump up crews for fighting blazes in the West, LA Times
Fire officials will keep jobs for now - Some could be fired for actions during deadly Cramer fire, Idaho Statesman
Forest Service owes us a debt of accountability, Idaho Statesman editorial
Interior Department looks at involving FAA in tanker inspections, Helena Independent Record AP
Aerial firefighting companies mull options after federal government cancels tanker contracts, Casper Star-Tribune
Now's not the time to ground air tankers, Santa Fe New Mexican editorial
Air tanker decision makes sense, The Coloradoan editorial
Aerial tanker decision isn't well-grounded, Missoulian editorial
Burning issue - Grounding air tankers on the brink of fire season is folly, Arizona Republic
Forest Service made a knee jerk decision this week to drop the use of most aerial tankers to fight wildfires, Cody Enterprise editorial
Lawmakers vow to get tankers back in air to fight fires, Union Tribune
Lawmakers try to pull FAA into tanker fight, Arizona Republic
Lawmakers Rethink Decision to Ground Firefighting Planes - House members say removing 33 tankers would cripple efforts during wildfire season, Los Angeles TImes
Forest Service Criticized for Grounding Tankers, Los Angeles Times
Gov. Richardson wants federal officials to reconsider tanker ban, Santa Fe New Mexican
Wildfire official downplays impact of tanker decision, Missoulian
State planning to do without air tankers, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake
Tanker edict could hinder local firefighting efforts, Rapid City Journal
Air Tractor's AT-802 Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) Poised to Play Key Role in Fighting Wildfires For Feds & States in 2004 as Fire Season Begins and Heavy Air Tankers Grounded, PR Newswire
SEATS contracted for fire suppression efforts, Black Hills Pioneer
Airtanker 22 among those grounded, Durango Herald
Forest Service, Renzi get firefighting aircraft, Arizona Daily Sun
Small planes will cover Coconino N.F., Arizona Daily Sun
Answer to air tanker crisis may be sitting at Falcon Field, Arizona Republic
Tanker move puts company out of business, Visalia Times-Delta
WORLD NEWS
Chihuahua: Indigenous Eco-Activists Await Honours, or Punishment, Inter Press Service News
Butterfly group calls for Mexico to protect Michoacan forest, Oakland Tribune
Uruguay - Can Planting Trees Be Harmful? - Plantations are not forests, IPS-Inter Press Service
Highways Paving Over Brazil's Amazon Rainforest, Environment News Service
Environmentalists Rally to Protect Canada's Boreal Forest, E/The Environmental Magazine
Environmentalists slam timber-harvest plan, CBC News
Forest-Friendly Paper for Baby's First Animal Magazine, Environment News Service
Govt unveils new Otways park, The Australian
National park to preserve Otways 'for all time', The Age
Minister condemns anti-forestry rally, ABC News
Miner's fury at tour by Forestry, The Mercury
Battle to save 'noblest of fliers' in Philippines rainforests, Agence France-Presse - Terra Daily
Illegal settlers at La Mesa stopped, The Manila Times
Without Protection Indonesian Forests To Disappear Within 25 Years: President, Antara News
UN advises region to plant more trees - Afforestation can improve water quality, increase food production, Lebanon Daily Star
Baobab disease puzzles scientists, BBC News
Central African rainforests conference opens in Yaounde, Cameroon, Angola Press
Gabonese President's White House Visit and the Future of Central Africa's Forests: Media Availability May 25-26, World Wildlife Fund
Leading Global Forestry Firms Raided, Reuters
Jamaica: Forests to benefit from debt swap deal with US, Jamaica Observer
Orchard Project Plants a Seed of Hope in Cameroon, Albuquerque Journal
Indonesia Mining Cos Must Give Govt New Forest Land, Dow Jones
Community-based national park to curb illegal logging in Sumatra, Jakarta Post
Extensive failings found in PNG forestry review, ABC News
Greens target U.S. firms over pulp, write to 500 consumer companies in effort to help protect Canada's boreal forests, The Globe and Mail
Boycott boreal wood, environmentalists urge, Canadian Press
Environmentalists Target Canada's Boreal Forest, Yahoo! News - Reuters
Environmental groups launch international campaign targeting paper and lumber products from Canada's Boreal Forest, Canada NewsWire
Canada cautiously eyes new softwood talks with US, Forbes - Reuters
Canada to renew talks on U.S. lumber duties, Bloomberg News - Seattle PI
Mitsubishi Corporation to cease buying Tasmanian Ancient Forest Woodchips, Greenpeace - Common Dreams
Mitsubishi Sets Lead Latham & Howard Should Follow, Scoop News
Japanese signal shift on old-growth woodchips, The Examiner
Japan's chip at Tassie logging, The Mercury
RAN Moves Bank of America To Set New Industry Best Practices for Climate Change and Forest Policies, Rainforest Action Network
BofA expands clean-air, forest policies, San Francisco Business Times
Bank of America Sets New Industry Best Practices for Climate Change and Forest Policies, PR Newswire - Bank of America
Bank of America Maps New Climate Change, Forest Policies, Environment News Service
Tree DNA marker may curb illegal logging, Jakarta Post
Siberut's medicinal plants face extinction - "The disappearance of forest areas because of logging means our death", Jakarta Post
Tree replanting encouraged for Canberra water supply, ABC News
Shrimp farms 'harm poor nations', mangrove forests, BBC News
Late Friday News #137, Mangrove Action Project
Fighting global warming, the First Nations way - Manitoba bands control land use, Toronto Star
Acacia Tree That Supported Sudan Becomes a War's Latest Victim - 'Gum Arabic' tree sap in short supply, New York Times
EC Accused of Using Illegally Logged Timber, Tenders Direct News
EU forest crime scene exposed, Greenpeace
Gold mining threatens Tanzania's protected forests, WWF Newsroom
Two species of beetle bug Okinawa environmentalist, Stars and Stripes
Asean timber trade not fully exploited, Daily Express, Sabah, Malaysia
Finding solutions to wildfires - Wildfires are one of the biggest threats to forests today, WWF Newsroom
Myanmar mired in a deforestation crisis - China's appetite for foreign timber has the country's forests disappearing at an alarming rate, The Globe and Mail
Waiting for the EcoCultural Tourists, The Tyee
UN alert on threat to wild bamboo, BBC News
CONGRESS & WASHINGTON
U.S. Senate deals setback to fee demo program, Summit Daily News
To Fee or Not to Fee, by Andy Stahl - Forest Magazine
Bush administration touts savings from job competitions, Government Executive
Endangered Forests Rally at the White House May 27, Unified Forest Defense Campaign
EPA Rules on Boilers, Plywood Favor Industry, Environment News Service
Group says Bush muzzling U.S. park officials, Post-Intelligencer AP
Senate puts nail in fee demo coffin, Aspen Times News
Lawmakers file bill to boost money for firefighting $500 million, SF Chronicle AP
McCain calls hearing on air-tanker grounding, Arizona Republic
National Forest Organizational Camp Fee Improvement Act Fee assessment policy; correction, Federal Register
EPA Relied on Industry for Plywood Plant Pollution Rule, Yahoo! News - LA Times
Whistleblower Leaves National Fisheries Service - Biologist Cites Misuse of Science, Peer News
US Fish & Wildlife Indoctrination Proclaims Its "Scientific Excellence" - All Staff Required to Watch Video and "Dialogue", Peer News
U.S. District Court Keeps No-Spray Pesticide Buffers in Place to Protect Salmon - Judge issues strong order supporting the ESA, Earthjustice Newsroom
Activists win right to view records in RS2477 rural road claims, Salt Lake Tribune
Elect a Congress to protect public land, Post-Intelligencer editorial
Silencing Greenpeace - Justice Dept. loses round of intimidation, News-Journal editorial
Long-awaited job competition appeals rights measure introduced, Government Executive magazine
AMA Urges Action On Federal Legislation To Protect Public Land, Dirt Bike News
H.R. 3247, the Trail Responsibility and Accountability for the Improvement of Lands (TRAIL) Act, Library of Congress
Working-forest bill clears Senate, Everett Daily Herald
Congress set to vote on firefighting funding - Budget also includes fully Healthy Forest funding, Bend Bugle
Cubin wants money for firefighter pilot insurance, Casper Star Tribune
Forest Service Gets Fire Aid, Los Angeles Times
De-listing of salmon species denied, Columbian
West Coast salmon likely to remain protected, Seattle Times
Feds back protecting wild runs of salmon - An NOAA spokesman says counting hatchery fish will not lead to wholesale de-listing of endangered fish, Oregonian
Hatching salmon naturally - Clear Creek Hatchery boosts count by learning from wild coho cousins, Spokesman-Review
Greenpeace Cleared in U.S. Ship-Boarding Case, Yahoo! News - Reuters
Greenpeace insists ship boarding didn't break federal law, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Greenpeace in Court for Sailor Mongering, Environment News Service
Greenpeace, U.S. Square Off in Dissent Battle - Prosecutors using 1872 law against environmental group, The Ledger AP
Rep. Renzi Proposes $1.2 Million Giveaway to Grand Canyon Motor Outfitters, Arizona Wilderness Coalition
Domenici Committee: Fire priorities questioned, Albuquerque Tribune
Domenici presses Forest Service to ramp up thinning efforts, New Mexico Business Weekly
Panel presses administration to hire 3,000 temporary firefighters, Government Executive magazine
Interior Department looks at involving FAA in tanker inspections, Helena Independent Record AP
Rehberg, lawmakers hope to reverse air tanker ban, Helena Independent Record
Lawmakers vow to get tankers back in air to fight fires, Union Tribune
Lawmakers try to pull FAA into tanker fight, Arizona Republic
Lawmakers Rethink Decision to Ground Firefighting Planes - House members say removing 33 tankers would cripple efforts during wildfire season, Los Angeles TImes
HR 1904 has hidden meanings, Colorado Daily op-ed
Gone wild - Celebrating 40 years of the Wilderness Act, Missoula Independent - Writers on the Range
Pine Nursery bill advances to House vote - Action comes 3 1/2 years after initial bill became law, Bend Bugle
Ashcroft Fishes Out 1872 Law in a Bid to Scuttle Protester Rights - Sailor-mongering act rises from history as the feds try to cripple Greenpeace, Los Angeles Times
U.S. takes Greenpeace to court in unusual trial, Reuters ENN
Tell Bush and Ashcroft to Prosecute Illegal Loggers, Not Greenpeace, GreenpeaceUSA
Bush takes Greenpeace to court, Greenpeace
Condors, Salmon and the Land - Permanent life support is no substitute for a native land, Writers on the Range - Tidepool
Stocks of wild salmon retain legal protection - Endangered Species Act provisions to remain in place, Post Intelligencer
Frogs' friend could face federal rap, Arizona Daily Star
Park Service Officials Must Stick to Bush Talking Points, Environment News Service
Forget Atkins -- a Big Land Grab Will Cut Your Flab - CARA now GO, Los Angeles Times op-ed
NEW! - Bill Summary & Status for all House & Senate Bills about National Forests 2003-2004, Library of Congress
National Forest Protection and Restoration Act: H.R.2169, Library of Congress
NORTHERN REGION (Region 1):
Montana and Northern Idaho
Folly of tanker decision already clear - New Mexico's already been burned by bad decision, Missoulian editorial
Local experts decry loss of aerial tankers, Ravalli Republic
Neptune takes air tanker fight to U.S. Senate, Missoulian
Airtanker firm says grounding of tankers will cause layoffs, SF Chronicle AP
Thinning project aims to reduce fire danger at popular recreation area, Missoulian
On-call services cost $4 million - "Severity" money funds people and equipment not actually fighting fires, but poised to fight immediately if needed, Helena Independent Record
Out-of-state crews eat up fire funds, Missoulian
Not a big splash - Despite its multimillion-dollar price tag, studies show that firefighting doesn't have a significant impact on Montana's economy, Helena Independent Record
Firefighters use state money for tips, despite ban, Helena Independent Record
Some firefighters go gourmet at public's expense, Helena Independent Record
Officials defend $15 lunches, Missoulian
State eyes ways to trim fire bill, Missoulian
Changes on the horizon?, Helena Independent Record
Company plans mining cleanup, submits plans to U.S. Forest Service, Great Falls Tribune
Family forestry: Conservation, hard work pay off, Billings Gazette
Hunter mistakenly kills grizzly bear, Independent Record AP
Burning through the cash - Firefighting free-for-all - Money is no object when wildfires burn, Helena Independent Record
Lawmakers say they've yet to see a breakdown of firefighting costs - State Forester unaware of individual costs of fires, Helena Independent Record
Governor says she agrees with how DNRC spends fire money, Helena Independent Record
Wildfire cost controls needed, Helena Independent Record
Some assail military's plan for Mont. biathlon course, Az. Republic AP
Raney testifies against the experimental fee program, calling the concept of requiring people to pay to access their own lands "reprehensible", Bozeman Daily Chronicle letter
Burned areas avoid severe erosion so far, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake
Massive bear study ready to start, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake
Grizzly bears clawing their way back in West, Salt Lake Tribune
Tribes gain say in bison debate, Casper Star-Tribune
Tree-killing beetles more deadly than wildfires, Billings Gazette
Group stresses respect in forest plan discussion - Community meetings integral part of Forest Service plan revision, Ravalli Republic
Deal reached in Rock Creek logging dispute, Missoulian
Air tanker loss a big blow - Worry among region's fire bosses rises as moisture levels in fuels drop, Spokesman-Review
Tribal cultural experts travel to the Badger-Two Medicine area, Golden Triangle News
Blackfoot group secures second land buy, Missoulian
Tree plan begins for Coulee Dam, The Star of Grand Coulee
Saving Montana's Rocky Mountain Front - again, Billings Gazette editorial
Federal official affirms Dakota Prairie Grasslands management plan, Grand Forks Herald
Bitterroot NF: 'Chief's Review process' comes to Region One, Ravalli Republic
Bitterroot NF: Rewards offered for conviction of gate vandals: - Smith Creek Road gate destroyed, Forest Service, FWA seeking info, Ravalli Republic
Forest Service prohibits ATVs in parts of West Pioneers, Montana Standard
Forest Service rescinds travel plan - Lawsuit contends roads opened without proper environmental assessments, Coeur d'Alene Press
Jerry Johnson Campground Cleared of Trees, Missoula Independent
Flathead NF: Fire tours begin, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake
Martz says healthy forest work highlight of her administration, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake
Governor Martz thanks timber workers, Missoulian
Interior Department looks at involving FAA in tanker inspections, Helena Independent Record AP
State planning to do without air tankers, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake
Wildfire official downplays impact of tanker decision - State making contingency plans for loss of slurry bombers, Missoulian
Airport officials say tanker decision could hurt, Helena Independent Record
Rehberg aims to reverse Monday tanker decision, Ravalli Republic
Flathead NF: Ranger station will be open Saturday for morel permits, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake
Three in park accused of mushroom rustling, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake
Two Commercial Morel Collectors Caught in Glacier National Park, Missoulian
Fire and other dangers threaten city water supply, report finds, Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Students excel in Forestry Contest, Spokesman-Review
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness - Idaho bear hunt is a test, Indiana Star
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION (Region 2):
Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming
U.S. Senate deals setback to fee demo program, Summit Daily News
Forest Service clarifies ban on ads, Denver Post
Group says all Americans have stake in uses of western lands - National wildlife group says drilling must not overwhelm nature, Casper Star-Tribune AP
Swan Mountain wildfire caused by kids playing with fireworks, Summit Daily News
Feds pledge a decision on prairie dog by August, Rapid City Journal
Senate puts nail in fee demo coffin, Aspen Times News
Roosevelt NF: Residents challenge renegade drivers, Coloradoan
Books about burns - Free FEMA book helps homeowners, Rocky Mountain News
Fire mitigation could impact sightlines more than homes, Summit Daily News
Logging project near Vail evolving before work starts, Vail Daily News
'Friends' to help clean national forest Saturday, Summit Daily News
Dercum dash gets thumbs down, Summit Daily News
Bighorn Forest toughens off-road policy, Casper Star-Tribune
County to consider effect of Shoshone NF grazing, Billing Gazette
Ranchers fired up about prairie dog plan, KOTA News
Black Hills NF: The garbage is gone at Jenney Gulch, KOTA News
Little Big War - A band of armed Sioux warriors have seized 134,000 acres of Badlands National Park to protect what they say is a sacred burial ground, Backpacker magazine
Pitco, feds mull Bells' future, Aspen Times
End of fee program could ring sour for Maroon Bells, Aspen Times
Agency may assign management to private company, SF Chronicle AP brief
GMUG NF: Local forests rank 13th in nation for recreational use, Montrose Daily Press
Forest Service eyes plan for midvalley housing, offices, Aspen Times
Berthoud lodge is still needed, Denver Post editorial
Forest Service battling beaver population, Summit Daily News
Ruling affects water supplies of cities, farmers, The Fence Post
Flag may be comin' down the mountain - The U.S. Forest Service would prefer a permanent home in a more accessible area for the 9/11 tribute near Frisco, Denver Post
Think again before eating bland trail food, Aspen Times
New grasslands plan upheld - Bush official rejects appeals of management changes for prairie dogs, grazing on federal grasslands, Rapid City Journal
Ag upholds grasslands decision, Casper Star-Tribune
Wilderness areas remain in grassland plan, Rapid City Journal
Forest board member criticized for Daschle ad, Rapid City Journal
Burned-out forest serves as classroom, Billings Gazette
Forest Service made a knee jerk decision this week to drop the use of most aerial tankers to fight wildfires, Cody Enterprise editorial
Air tanker decision makes sense, The Coloradoan
Large tankers won't fight fires anymore - Jeffco base to remain in operation, The Daily Camera
Tanker edict could hinder local firefighting efforts, Rapid City Journal
Airtanker 22 among those grounded, Durango Herald
Big beetle year expected, Rapid City Journal
Forest Service releases water quality action plan for Pole Mountain, Laramie Boomerang
Routt NF: Winter rec plan to debut in June, The Steamboat Pilot
Paintball damage in Frisco cleaned up, Summit Daily News
More Coloradans take ATV trails, Rocky Mountain News
OHVs raise ire of outdoorsmen - Vehicles hurt habitats, scare game away, Denver Post
Major valley land trade may be back on track, Vail Daily News
Forest officials say no to ski area - Berthoud Pass lodge must go, Denver Post
Environmentalists make final bid to block energy leases, Vail Daily News
The price of gas drilling on the Roan, The Vail Trail
Wildfire preparedness heightens, Telluride Daily Planet
Wildfire: Beyond defensible space, Colorado Daily editorial
SOUTHWESTERN REGION (Region 3):
Arizona and New Mexico
Pro-logging bill gets final legislative OK, Arizona Daily Star
Bill would give tax breaks to remove trees, shrubs from dry forests, Arizona Republic
2 megatankers deploy in Mesa to fight wildfires, Tucson Citizen
Paragon granted discovery in suit, Alamogordo News
Murphey takes a stand for Gila ranchers, Alamogordo News
Concert benefits rancher's defense fund, KRQE News
Folly of tanker decision already clear - New Mexico's already been burned by bad decision, Missoulian editorial
Peppin Fire grows to more than 23,000 acres and destroys a dozen cabins, Santa Fe New Mexican AP 5-27-04
12 Cabins Destroyed by Fire, Albuquerque Journal 5-27-04
Peppin Fire Chars 23,000 Acres in Lincoln Forest, Albuquerque Journal 5-26-04
Wildfires grow to thousands of acres - Governor appeals to federal government for help, CNN AP 5-26-04
N.M. Governor Seeks Help With Wildfire, Mercury AP 5-26-04
Fire in N.M. Grows to 23,000 Acres, Sun Herald AP
New Mexico governor declares state of emergency in one county due to wildfires, SF Chronicle AP 5-25-04
Wildfires in New Mexico fueled by wind, dry conditions, beetles, SF Chronicle AP
Forests, Preserve To Impose Fire Restrictions, Albuquerque Journal
Governor 'Worried' After Peppin Fire Helicopter Tour - Bill Richardson To Seek Federal Help for Lincoln NF, TheNewMexicoChannel
Peppin fire expands overnight to 10,000 acres, Santa Fe New Mexican 5-24-04
Officials preparing for busy fire season, Silver City Daily Press
Species spicer - A little honey sweet news for protecting environment, Arizona Republic
On The Edge Of Common Sense: Windbreaks can be tricky in unregulated New Mexico, Amarillo Globe
Cibola NF: Fire thought to be contained triples in size, Santa Fe New Mexican
Lincoln NF: Drought worries forest officials, El Paso Times
Scientists Drill Valles Caldera in Search for Climate Clues, Albuquerque Journal
Red Rock Pass on the rocks, Arizona Daily Sun
Walnut Canyon expansion-study bills introduced, Arizona Daily Sun
U.S. Forest Service buys buffer for cliff ruins, Arizona Republic
Tucson Earth First! Shuts Down Fish and Game Office, Infoshop News
Coronado NF: Sabino rules unaffected by lion incident, Arizona Daily Star
Coronado NF: Additional cougar contacts expected - That could lead to more public land closures, Tucson Citizen
Lemmon lion second killed by Game & Fish this year, Arizona Daily Star
Are mountain lions in danger of disappearing? - The West's mountain lions are being hunted right out of their habitat, The Vail Trail
Recalling fires on Coronado NF Mt. Lemmon - Lessons learned about prevention, preparedness, after Bullock & Aspen fires burned off most of Mt. Lemmon, Tucson Citizen
Coronado NF: Arizona man receives probation for lying to investigators probing devastating wildfire, SF Chronicle AP
Use of controlled burns defended - Experts say planned fires useful even if a few get out of hand, Arizona Republic
Three forest wildfires are burning in Apache-Sitgreaves Forest, Eastern Arizona Courier
A-S NF: Wildfire season heats up, White Mountain Independent
Tree thinning work along Highway 260 to start next week, White Mountain Independent
Forest-thinning bill clears Arizona Senate, Arizona Republic
Compromise aims at forest-thinning, Arizona Daily Star
Sessions on Ironwood Forest National Monument resources, Tucson Citizen
Shooting of dog-walker called justified - Grant Kuenzli was killed May 11 on a forest trail north of Payson, Arizona Republic
The will to preserve - More voters inclined to pay for saving open space, Arizona Republic
Coronado NF: 'Stalking' mountain lion slain - Wildlife officers shoot cougar a day after bicyclists report being threatened on Mount Lemmon, Arizona Daily Star
Grounding of airtankers will result in lost revenue for Grant County, Silver City Daily Press
Coconino NF: Nimble helicopter crew poised for start of fire season, Arizona Daily Sun
Klump Country Blues, Tucson Weekly
Forest Service just doing its job by removing trespassing livestock, Silver City Daily Press letter
Forest Service made a fiasco out of the Kit Laney situation, Silver City Daily Press letter
Environmental movement isn't based on science, but on religion, Silver City Daily Press letter
Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay the "fed" to baby-sit wolves, Silver City Daily Press letter
Domenici presses Forest Service to ramp up thinning efforts, New Mexico Business Weekly
Kirtland Citing Otero Users - Armed military police enforcing closure of popular forest biking area in 'withdrawn' Cibola NF, Mountain View Telegraph
Tamarisk: Thirsty Shrub Is a Target as the West Fights Drought, New York Times
Santa Fe Pinon Initiative Steering Group, website
Gov. Richardson wants federal officials to reconsider tanker ban, Santa Fe New Mexican
Now's not the time to ground air tankers, Santa Fe New Mexican editorial
Forest Service, Renzi get firefighting aircraft, Arizona Daily Sun
Small planes will cover Coconino N.F., Arizona Daily Sun
Answer to air tanker crisis may be sitting at Falcon Field, Arizona Republic
Apache-Sitgreaves NF: Large scale stewardship contracts designed to make forest health profitable, White Mountain Independent
Local group readies bid for forest contract, White Mountain Independent
Wood products association to present first local Wood Products Showcase, White Mountain Independent
Heavy wildfire weapons grounded by safety concerns, White Mountain Independent
Refusing to evacuate could be deadly, White Mountain Independent
Who's responsible for forest health? , White Mountain Independent
Scientists take pulse of desert's sky islands, Arizona Daily Star
Coronado NF: Madera trailhead's reopening welcome, Arizona Daily Star
Restrictions in place for Tonto national forest, Globe, Arizona Silver Belt
Prescribed burn scheduled in Prescott National Forest, Casa Grande Valley News
Rancher jailed over grazing cattle gains freedom, Arizona Republic
Still stumped, Arizona Daily Sun
Hiker shoots alleged attacker on remote trail, The Payson Roundup
Well plan prompts protest, The Payson Roundup
INTERMOUNTAIN REGION (Region 4):
Southern Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and SW Wyoming
Rangers crack down on rogue trail - 'Citizen trails' becoming a growing public lands problem, Idaho Mountain Express
Grazing Resolution - Rancher, Forest Service reach agreement, Elko Daily Free Press
Andrus Center releases new report on wildfire policy - Little progress seen in reducing fire threat, Idaho Mountain Express
Nevada agencies to double use of single-engine air tankers, SF Chronicle AP
Carson River's East Fork too low for some recreation - Forest Service warns rafters of low Carson River flows, Reno Gazette Journal
Trees on the Trail, Elko Daily Free Press
BLM's drug, alcohol rule, FS grazing & noxious weeds on agenda, Elko Daily Free Press
Forest Service calls Tahoe snowmobile regulations a success, Reno Gazette Journal
USFS accused of failing to enforce snowmobile ban near Lake Tahoe, SF Chronicle AP
Bridger-Teton NF: Officials finding abandoned fires, Billings Gazette
Activists win right to view records in RS2477 rural road claims, Salt Lake Tribune
RS2477: Rural road war heats up again, Salt Lake Tribune
New wilderness area gets committee's nod, Salt Lake Tribune
Forest Service calls Tahoe area snowmobile regulations a success, Reno Gazette Journal
New trails' impact focus of meeting - BLM working with USFS to develop a trail plan/environmental assessment, Reno Gazette Journal
Experts discuss Tahoe research, Reno Gazette Journal
White House backs aqueduct sign-over, Deseret Morning News
Fire officials will keep jobs for now - Some could be fired for actions during deadly fire, Idaho Statesman
Forest Service owes us a debt of accountability, Idaho Statesman editorial
Firefighter's mother wants names released - Agency withholding names of workers disciplined for deaths, Spokesman-Review
Salmon-Challis NF workers to be disciplined for fire deaths - Six face termination for lives lost in Cramer fire, Spokesman-Review
Cemetery Point gets booze ban, Salt Lake Tribune
Bridger Teton NF: Value nearly equal in proposed federal land swap, Casper Star-Tribune
Forest Service Oversees Most Of Tahoe Basin, KOLO News
Old Growth Forests Vital To Basin Health, KOLO News
ECVA to get $10,000 from Forest Service, Elko Daily Free Press
Wasatch-Cache NF: Ditches set to help guard against floods, Deseret Morning News
Firefighters deal with tanker loss, Salt Lake Tribune
Wasatch-Cache NF: Comment period on heli-skiing extended, Salt Lake Tribune
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST (Region 5): California
Scientists See Forests Fading - Drought, insects may be permanently killing forests, SF Chronicle AP
That walk in the park soon won't be free, Los Angeles Times
Preserving California's Wild Things - Land use is key in saving big cats, San Francisco Chronicle
Demise of California wildlife a legacy of this generation, San Francisco Chronicle
New Report Details Maxxam/PL's Wholesale Noncompliance with Environmental Protection Standards Company Racks Up Over 300 Violations in Five Years, Environmental Protection Information Center
Forest Service's $90,000 PR contract proper, officials rule, Bakersfield Californian - Thompson AP
Protected toad's hopping grounds may be changed, L.A. Daily News
Lawsuit challenges Calif. power plants in area tribes consider sacred, Arizona Republic
Shasta-Trinity NF: Canyon Creek gold mining dredges up nuggets of concern, Eureka Times-Standard
Angeles National Forest: On the Lookout, Pasadena Star-News
A Disservice to Forests, Los Angeles Times letter
Answers are sought to airborne firefighting - Grounding of the nation's tanker fleet has fire officials looking for replacements, Press-Enterprise
Retardant holds hope for San Bernardino forest - Crews will spread the substance in vulnerable areas to buy time for firefighters, Press-Enterprise
Firefighters Welcome Supertanker - Large aircraft can drop thousands of gallons more retardant than other tankers used in the past, Victorville Daily Press
Air tanker grounding unfair, dangerous, California firm says, SF Chronicle AP
The corporate takeover of our great outdoors, News-Press op-ed
Activists sue over Medicine Lake power projects, Redding Record Searchlight
Speak Up for the Forest, Los Angeles Times editorial
Los Padres management plan introduced, The Lompoc Record
Think ahead, fire experts tell West, USA Today
Grant to pay for clearing dead trees, North County Times
Private sector can make necessary forest management affordable, Pasadena Star-News op-ed
Optimism and warning flags raised for timber reforms, Eureka Times-Standard
Governor Proposes Fee Hike, Less Regulations For Timber Companies, The Eureka Reporter
Toxic pot plot underscores growing problem, Eureka Times-Standard
Agents uproot garden of pot in Stanislaus NF, The Union Democrat
Old mining law lets some grab valuable land - Foreign firms and others have scooped up public property for dirt-cheap prices, Sacramento Bee
Storm debris fuels fire threat, Redding Record Searchlight
Sierra owl deserves protection, suit claims, Stockton Record
In the Heights of Sierra, It's Hard to Give an Inch, LA Times
New tourism program promotes outdoor recreation - "The idea is to present some of our best public lands as though they are theme parks", Eureka Times-Standard
Conservation Fund to Harvest Newly Acquired Timber Tract in California, VOA News
Mendocino Forest to open new tract, Red Bluff Daily News
Trail of 100 Giants may be closed for months - Snags might fall, Kern Valley Sun
Fire risk reduction efforts suffer from slow federal funding process, Imperial Valley Press
Q&A with Art Gaffrey, Tulare Advance-Register
Pengilly retires after 42 years with U.S. Forest Service, Porterville Recorder
Forest Service grounds area air tankers, Porterville Recorder
Local air tankers to fight fires, Tahoe Union
Tanker move puts company out of business, Visalia Times-Delta
Restrictions placed on forest, Big Bear Grizzly
Wrightwood eyes wildfire awareness - Saturday meeting to focus on need for tree removal, Victorville Daily Press
Volunteers protect saplings from sun, San Bernardino County Sun
San Bernardino NF: Volunteers do their part to help the forest, Press-Enterprise
Feinstein secures waiver, Big Bear Grizzly
Correction: Spotted owl status story , SF Chronicle
Local USFS division chief wins national award, Kern Valley Sun
New BLM leader named - Roxie Trost, Desert Dispatch
Groups decry Schwarzenegger timber plan, Post-Intelligencer AP
Governor wants to cut red-tape for logging plans - Environmentalists say proposal is far too lax, Marin Independent Journal
Yosemite plan outlines how to reduce wildfires, Stockton Record
The People v. Corporate Greed - Hippies Best MAXXAM on the North Coast, Counterpunch
Pacific Lumber fraud case ruling should be the last excessive delay, Eureka Times-Standard editorial
PG&E sued over 1999 fire, Appeal-Democrat
PACIFIC NORTHWEST (Region 6):
Oregon and Washington
Timber Sale "Fundraiser" Will Lose Millions - To Boost Corporate Welfare Giveaways, U.S. Forest Service Tells Lies, Progress Report
The Biscuit report, by ECONorthwest, Taxpayers for Common Sense
Groups challenge dam relicensing, Oregonian
North Umpqua Hydropower License Illegal - Forest Service ignored its own scientists, Earthjustice Newsroom
Lawsuit stalls hydro project relicensing - Conservationists sue Forest Service, saying agency didn't listen to its scientists regarding habitat, The News-Review
Forest industry remains a boon for Oregon, Register-Guard op-ed
Roadless rule benefits taxpayers, environment - The government can't afford upkeep on the roads already built, Statesman Journal editorial
Oregon seeks air tankers to fill gap, Albany Democrat-Herald
Region's wildfire forecast worsens, Seattle Times
Forestry department will use grounded air tankers - State of Oregon says the planes, which federal officials have deemed unsafe, are needed to prepare for the upcoming fire season, Oregonian
State will use local air tankers, Bend Bulletin
War of words - Springfield company faces barrage of letters, faxes, phone calls over Alaska logging, Register-Guard
Gorge panel allows more activities - Proposals that need further approval would permit weddings and fish processing in the scenic area, Oregonian
Unhappy Trails - The Northwest's backcountry offers a grim preview of what's to come thanks to global warming, Seattle Weekly
Forest advocates launch petition drive - The group hopes to change the way state forests are managed, Statesman Journal
Forest Service allows Ashland time to develop watershed thinning plan, Ashland Daily Tidings
Senator's block of nursery bill may be payback - Murray needed Waldens support for Wild Sky bill, Bend Bulletin
Biscuit fire salvage pared down, Mail Tribune
Deschutes NF: Helicopter logging is gentler, Bend Bulletin
Deschutes Forest offers plans for Davis Fire area - Only dead trees to be commercially harvested; no logging near water, Bend Bugle
Wild Rogue, but with rules Tighter restrictions are in the works as federal custodians try to reduce conflicts between disparate groups, Oregonian
New push for preservation - Mount Baker restrictions sought, Bellingham Herald
Elect a Congress to protect public land, Post-Intelligencer editorial
Weyerhaeuser guilty of illegal alder monopoly - A jury awards millions to a Washington mill that accused the timber giant of hoarding alder logs, Oregonian
Commissioners set county forest project grants, The News-Review
Groups air radio spots to promote timber-sale alternative, Mail Tribune
What to do with all those trees? - Timber industry and environmentalists lock horns on possible largest timber sale in state history, Daily Vanguard
Conservationists Propose 400 Jobs on Biscuit Fire Restoration, Environment News Service
Siskiyou Restoration Plan will create over 400 new jobs in Southern Oregon - Plan focuses on watershed restoration activities and commercial logging in Biscuit Fire area, Siskiyou Wild Rivers
The Siskiyou Restoration Plan - Creating jobs in southern Oregon without damaging the environment, Plan Summary: Siskiyou Wild Rivers
Details of Plan, Siskiyou Wild Rivers
Chronology of Biscuit Fire Recovery Project, Siskiyou Wild Rivers
Biscuit Project Frequently Asked Questions, Siskiyou Wild Rivers
Public Opposes Biscuit Fire Logging Project, Environment News Service
House approves transfer of Bend Pine Nursery, Corvallis Gazette-Times AP
Canceled air tanker contract forces layoffs, Coos Bay World
Redmond facility hard hit by plane grounding, Bend Bulletin
If air tankers are safe, let them fly - The planes so crucial to fighting the West's forest fires should be grounded by real safety concerns, not red tape, Oregonian editorial
Fremont-Winema NF: Gold prospectors return to the hills near Bly, Klamath Falls Herald and News
No letup in the fight to keep our wilderness wild - Is compromise worth the costs?, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Working-forest bill clears Senate, Everett Daily Herald
Standing up for roadless rule, Oregonian op-ed
Logging pushes murrelets out, Oregonian letter
Timber salvage from 2002 fire sold, Mail Tribune
County's new forestry specialist knows fire's fury, Bend Bugle
City tells state it wants trees with its highways, Tacoma News Tribune
Forest advisory members sought, Statesman Journal
Collateral Damage: The Environmental Effects of Firefighting; The 2002 Biscuit Fire Suppression Actions and Impacts, Western Fire Ecology Center
Biscuit Fire Efforts 'Poorly Coordinated', Oregon Pubic Broadcasting
Depleted resources helped fuel Biscuit Fire, Register-Guard - Barnard AP
Public comments on Biscuit salvage heavily favor less logging, Register Guard
Report Shows Public Overwhelmingly Opposes Plan to Log in Siskiyou Wild Rivers Area, The Wilderness Society
Public Views on the Biscuit Fire Recovery Project: An Analysis of Comments on the U.S. Forest Service's Draft EIS, The Wilderness Society
Firest Servcie Planning To Allow Salvage Logging This Summer, Curry Coastal Pilot
Walden, panel to urge FAA to review fire-tanker safety, Bend Bulletin
Air tanker gets nod for Medford, Mail Tribune
The prospects of having an air tanker stationed in Medford this summer remain uncertain, Albany Democrat-Herald
Pine Nursery bill advances to House vote - Action comes 3 1/2 years after initial bill became law, Bend Bugle
Searching for middle ground - We need to conserve and restore our national forests, Albany Democrat-Herald op-ed
Retired professor revisits spotted owl issue, Albany Democrat-Herald
Forest Service again considers ban on gas-powered boats at Waldo Lake, The Register-Guard
No place for gas engines: Protect Waldo Lake's serenity, purity, Register-Guard editorial
Lower-cost Diamond Lake fish restocking option sought - Restocking: Alternative 3 least affects lake's water quality, The News-Review
State to revisit plover habitat plan, Coos Bay World
Environmental law alliance blossoms, Register-Guard
Powers students create forestry niche, Coos Bay World
Take action today to protect the Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness!, Oregon Natural Resources
Mt. Hood NF Bear Knoll Timber Management Project EIS Cancelled, Federal Register
Port-Orford-Cedar in Southwest Oregon: Record of Decision for the Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for Management available, Federal Register
Deschutes-Ochoco advisory panel seeks members, Bend Bugle
Stocks of wild salmon retain legal protection - Endangered Species Act provisions to remain in place, Post Intelligencer
One Salmon Species May be De-Listed, Oregon Pubic Broadcasting
Mosier man appeals Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area plan, Hood River News
Some hope to ax rules on cutting large trees, Bremerton Sun
Timber is state windfall - Agencies hope to benefit from trees, Everett Herald
Nethercutt endorses Wild Sky wilderness, Post Intelligencer
Lecture to outline lumber company history, Gazette-Journal
SOUTHERN REGION (Region 8):
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Environmental groups want to appeal Daniel Boone forest plan, Lexington Herald-Leader
Groups Cite Boone Plan Reliance On Logging, Burning, Lexington Herald-Leader
Trees leave trail, lead to charge, Kentucky Post
Trees come down, then go up in helicopter swamp logging - Some say method saves forest floor, Times-Picayune
Fort Polk, Forest Service sign lease for Kisatchie NF use, DeRidder Beauregard Daily News
Seeing the forest - Tudor Forestry Consulting Inc., Lexington Herald-Leader
Forest Service officials continue investigation into fatal ATV wreck, Lufkin Daily News
Angelina NF: USFS Employee Killed in ATV Accident, KTRE News
Davy Crockett NF: Canoeists converge for the Neches River Rendezvous, Lufkin Daily News
Silencing Greenpeace - Justice Dept. loses round of intimidation, News-Journal editorial
Fate of Storm-Damaged Trees in Ky. Unknown, The State
Meetings about USFS Red River Gorge scheduled today in Lexington, Herald-Leader
More soldiers, money en route to Fort Polk - EIS includes long-term military training use of Kisatchie National Forest Lands, The Town Talk
George Washington NF: Waterfall with a view, Times Dispatch
Law to remove burned trees sparks area fight - U.S. Forest Service plans to log more than a 1,000 scorched acres from Osceola NF, The Gainesville Sun
Osceola NF: Impassible Salvage Project, Wildlaw
Firefighter dies battling blaze in Osceola National Forest, Tallahassee Democrat
Park or forest, national lands not for exploitation, Decatur Daily op-ed
Daniel Boone NF: Tours highlight fight over logging in storm-damaged forest - Agency favors cutting trees in Boone forest, Louisville Courier-Journal
Boone NF: Logging plan protested, Lexington Herald-Leader
County Opposes City, Forest Service Land Swap, The Times Record - Fort Smith, Arkansas
Cherokee NF: Alcoa Dam License Deal Would Save 10,000 Acres, Environment News Service
Croatan NF: Pettiford Creek conservation effort trumpeted - U.S. Forest Legacy Program gave $1.5 million, The Daily News, Jacksonville NC
Using science to restore habitat for declining species, News leads from the USDA FS Southern Research Station
Congress' '74 action preserves Chattooga, The Sun News
EASTERN REGION (Region 9):
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
Shawnee NF: Pounds Hollow Recreation Area Set To Reopen, The Southern Illinoisan