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MAY 1998 ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION (Region 2): Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming
Agencies Release Crested Butte Land Exchange Analysis: An environmental assessment concerning a land exchange between the Forest Service, the Colorado State Land Board, and Crested Butte Mountain Resort (Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests) was released March 24 for comment. The comment period closes May 4. Crested Butte Mountain Resort would acquire approximately 800 acres of National Forest System land currently within their ski area permit boundary, enabling development of ski-in, ski-out real estate. If completed, this would represent the first successful exchange involving the Forest Service and the land board. Due in part to a controversial previous exchange proposal in the Telluride area, appraised values associated with the lands in this exchange have drawn public attention. The exchange is expected to be controversial. (FS) Group Urges Vail Category III Supplement: Land and Water Fund, a conservation organization headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, called for another supplement to the environmental impact statement on the Vail Category III Expansion, citing significant new information on the expansion and its impact. The request is the latest in a series of actions challenging expanding the Vail Ski Area in Category III lands, about 800 undeveloped acres inside the permit boundary (White River National Forest). The Land and Water Fund is concerned about the effect of the expansion on local infrastructure (transportation and housing), wildlife protection (lynx in particular), and air quality. No new decision exists against which the group can lodge its appeal. (FS) See also a related story from the Denver Post 5/8/98 Telluride Skiers Arrested in Altercation with Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer: Local media, a town marshall, and all Telluride county commissioners have reacted strongly to the April 10 arrest of two residents, who became unruly when a Forest Service law enforcement officer stopped them in the Bear Creek drainage outside Telluride (near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests). The officer used pepper gas to gain control of the situation. "My understanding is he was not on national forest, but that doesn't mean he can't inquire as to what people were doing there,'' agency spokesman Lynn Young said from his Lakewood office. The two men were subsequently taken into custody and arraigned in the Magistrate's Court in Grand Junction. Both were released under $5,000 personal recognizance bonds pending court appearance on charges of threatening, resisting, intimidating, or interfering with a forest officer. (FS) Denver Post 4/25/98 Colorado Ducks Disaster: Colorado developers can breathe easier
after the
Preble's meadow jumping mouse was listed as threatened
rather than endangered. The threatened status allows local and state officials
to take the lead in protecting the habitat of the mouse instead of complying
with Federal mandates under the Endangered Species Act. Interior Secretary
Bruce Babbitt made the announcement in Douglas County, the nation's fastest-growing
county. The Washington Times 5/13/98 (FS)
SOUTHWESTERN REGION (Region 3): Arizona and New Mexico
Diamond Bar Ranchers Push for Grazing Trial: The owner of the Diamond Bar Ranch has asked the court for a trial in his case against the Forest Service. He is arguing that the ranch's 115-year-old cattle-grazing rights supersede the agency's authority over the range. The 226-square-mile ranch is spread over two wilderness areas of the Gila National Forest. Eighty-five percent of the ranch is public land. The Forest Service contends that Kit Laney failed to apply for a grazing permit and trespassed on public land by grazing cattle without a permit. The lawsuit, which began two years ago against the Forest Service, was thrown out of court in December 1996, but appealed this year. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver is likely to hear arguments between August and November of this year. The Albuquerque Journal 5/1/98 (FS) Canyon Developers Vow to Save Springs: The Forest Service will decide in June on a plan for developing land bordering the Grand Canyon. The latest plan for Canyon Forest Village is praised by some and condemned by others. One environmental group believes it could be a model for the future. Competing developers cite the plan as "a commercial land grab." The threat to the canyon's waters has been a major stumbling block to any planned development outside the park. The new plan proposes to obtain water from as far away as Flagstaff. Seven other plans would have required additional pumping of underground water supplies along the canyon's South Rim. One group, 'No on Canyon Forest Village', is openly critical of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt's support of the plan. Babbitt once worked as a consultant to Canyon Forest Village before his appointment as Interior Secretary. The Arizona Republic 5/12/98 (FS) See also: Kaibab NF has New Alternatives to Broaden the Range of Options for Tusayan Growth EIS Rivals Seek Accord On Environment: Things have changed in Reserve, NM, since the Mexican spotted owl was placed on the threatened species list (1993) causing timber sales to dwindle, and the Catron County Commission passed a nonbinding resolution that said every resident living in the county in the heart of Gila National Forest should have a gun (1994). Out of the concern of a local doctor who turned for help to the New Mexico Center for Dispute Resolution, the Catron County Citizens Group was born to help change a siege mentality and find common ground through monthly potluck suppers and formal meetings among ranchers, loggers, forest rangers, and environmentalists. The citizens group is also discussing initiatives to salvage jobs from the once prosperous timber industry. The Los Angeles Times 5/3/98 (FS) Prescott NF Considers Change of Wildfire Policy: Personnel at Prescott National Forest are currently studying four wilderness areas (Woodchute, Juniper Mesa, Apache Creek, and Castle Creek) to determine whether to allow fires started by natural occurrences to continue to burn under the right weather conditions. Prescott has one of the highest risks in the Southwest for out-of-control wildfires spreading into other communities compared with other forests in the Southwest, according to one fire planner. Of the seven wilderness areas entirely in this forest, firefighters put out natural fires in all but one, the Granite Mountain Wilderness. This past history of wildfire suppression contributes to the problem because in many parts of the forest trees have crowded too closely together creating conditions for huge uncontrolled fires. A draft study and preliminary recommendation are anticipated by the end of September. The Daily Courier 4/30/98 (FS) Conservationists Criticize Feds in Killing of Arizona Wolf: Conservationists are criticizing federal wildlife officials for letting people camp with dogs near the area where endangered Mexican gray wolves were released in a national forest. Southwest Center for Biological Diversity biologist Peter Galvin said the shooting of a wolf by a camper whose dog had been attacked by the wolf amounted to "a lack of management priority for the wolf." Other environmentalists urged caution until more information is known. The Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the incident. The Salt Lake Tribune 5/1/98 (FS) Gray Wolf Run-Ins Centered on Pets: In at least three instances the Mexican wolves released last month have come into relatively close contact with people, even though the wolves chosen for release were selected in part because of their tendency to avoid humans. The common factor appears to be dogs. Wendy Brown, wolf biologist, said, "The wolves are behaving in a territorial manner toward dogs - not humans." The Albuquerque Journal 5/1/98 (FS) And More...
INTERMOUNTAIN REGION (Region 4): Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming
Utah and US Swap Lots of Land: Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and Utah Governor Mike Leavitt Friday signed off on what Leavitt called the biggest land swap ever. The federal government will get 376,739 acres of Utah school lands scattered through national forests, park and monuments, and mineral rights to other lands. Utah schools get $50 million in cash and minerals and lands outside the parks and proposed wilderness areas. Utah is also dropping two lawsuits against the federal government, one challenging President Clinton's 1996 creation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and one seeking a ruling on the value of 240,000 acres of state trust land within federal boundaries. Rep. Merrill Cook said the swap means Clinton kept his promise that school trust lands would not be made worthless by creation of the monument. Clinton and Congress must still approve the deal. The Associated Press 5/8/98 (FS), The Salt Lake Tribune 5/7/98 Management Plan for the Deadwood Roadless Area: On April 20, the Boise National Forest (ID) released its latest plan for restoring the health of the 52,000-acre Deadwood roadless area. The plan calls for thinning, logging, and burning 38,000 acres of overgrown ponderosa pine forest in the area. Environmentalists, made up of 17 environmental and sporting groups, have rejected a new plan and written Chief Dombeck a letter urging him to reject the proposed plan. The public will be able to comment until June 1. (FS) Idaho Post-Register 4/22/98, and Spokane Daily Spokesman 4/21/98 Developer Scales Back Resort Planed For West Mountain: Public concern may have contributed Westrock Inc.'s scaling back of plans for a huge four-season resort on West Mountain in Valley County, Idaho. A revised application was filed with county officials on Monday. It reduces the number of units from 6,000 to 3,460 and downsizes the marina planned for Cascade Reservoir. WestRock Inc., is also working with the Bureau of Reclamation on a reservoir management plan to determine location and size of proposed resort facilities. The Idaho Statesman 5/5/98 (FS) Congress Clears Way for Trappers Loop Road to Snowbasin: Action taken by the U.S. Senate and House paves the way for construction of Trappers Loop Road to Snowbasin ski resort. Resort officials believe the road is critical to the success of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Both houses gave final passage to a huge compromise supplemental appropriations bill. The bill includes definition changes sought by Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) that preclude delays as environmental groups appeal the road project. Conflict centers around whether or not the public should pay for a road that will benefit a private owner after the Olympics are over, and whether or not this road should be built without NEPA. AP 5/1/98 and The Deseret News 5/1/98 (FS), The Salt Lake Tribune 5/2/98 And More...
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST (Region 5): California
LP Sells Timberlands in Northern California: Louisiana-Pacific Corp. announced Monday that it is selling over 300,000 acres of timberland and five sawmills in Northern California for $615 million. The sale is L-P's largest step toward rebuilding itself as a company specializing in manufacturing high-tech lumber products. The Portland-based company is trying to gain ground after a series of setbacks in the early 1990s. The buyers of the California properties are Simpson Investment Co., in Seattle, and Sansome Partners L.P., a San Francisco-based investment firm. (FS) The Oregonian
Wilson: Use Cash For Forests: The $400 million in excess state budget surplus dollars should be directed toward a variety of environmental needs, according to California Governor Pete Wilson. He has recommended using $130 million to pay for the State's share of the cost of buying and preserving the 7,500-acre Headwaters Forest, the largest tract of old-growth redwoods not owned by the government. Another $172 million in surplus should be used for flood-control projects to improve various river and stream systems, especially the Santa Ana River system in southern California. He also proposed spending for maintaining state parks, establishing an anti-pollution incentive program, earmarking money for water-clarity work at Lake Tahoe, and starting public-access projects along the coast. Wilson and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt announced they would give the public another month to review the draft reports of CalFed. CalFed is weighing three plans to stabilize the state's water supplies. The Sacramento Bee 5/12/98 and The Los Angeles Times 5/12/98 (FS) FWS Must Decide on Endangered Species Listings: A federal judge has ordered the Fish and Wildlife Service to decide whether to add 43 plants and a lizard, all native to California, to the endangered species list. U.S. District Judge Judith Keep last week ordered a decision on the species by September 30. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed in February by the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity. Keep said the government failed to keep with the timetable imposed by the Endangered Species Act. FWS argued it was unable to comply because of Congressional action in 1995 and funding cuts for endangered species determination work. Los Angeles Times 5/8/98 (FS) Regional Forester Visits Editorial Board: On April 17, Pacific Southwest Regional Forester Lynn Sprague and Pacific Southwest Research Station Director Hal Salwasser met with the editorial board of the Sacramento Bee newspaper to talk about the Forest Service's Natural Resource Agenda and the Sierra Nevada Conservation Framework. The meeting is part of the agency's ongoing effort to regularly meet with editorial boards of various newspapers to keep them informed of Forest Service issues. (FS) Snowpack Nearly Double: While higher-than normal snowpack means Californians will enjoy abundant water, Forest Service officials are preparing to have a busy fire season. The end-of-the season survey of the Sierra Nevada snowpack shows that snow levels are nearly double the seasonal average. El Nino-spawned storms have left the snowpack at 183 percent of normal. Despite the bulging snowpack, water experts do not expect flooding from spring runoff; however, extra moisture will cause an abundance of new vegetation. Fire protection officials are issuing unusually early warnings, encouraging property owners to clear brush and vegetation and are also recommending small, controlled fires to burn piles of trashy vegetation so it won't become firestorm kindling later. In the higher elevations of the national forests, which cover a fifth of California, the fire season may be delayed until August because of the heavy snowpack. The San Francisco Chronicle 5/1/98 and the Oakland Tribune 5/1/98 (FS) Calif. tree-sitter makes 6 months, featured in Time magazine: Earth First! is holding a celebration and drum-in for Julia Butterfly's sixth month aloft in Luna, the Stafford, Calif., Giant Redwood. Butterfly climbed 180 feet up the ancient giant redwood known as Luna in January and has not touched ground since. She has weathered every El Nino storm on her 4'x8' platform. Luna overlooks a giant mudslide touched off by logging that destroyed seven homes in Stafford. She is calling for preservation of the remaining trees in the redwood grove where she sits, preservation of the entire 60,000 acre Headwaters Forest, and an end to logging of any more old growth trees anywhere. Drums, instruments, costumes, hiking boots, water bottles, food, and "peaceful vibes," welcome, says Darryl Cherney, organizer of the June 10 event. ENN, 5/24/98And More...
PACIFIC NORTHWEST (Region 6): Oregon and Washington Federal Judge Blocks Timber Sales in Oregon: Federal Judge Barbara Rothstein has blocked two dozen timber sales in southern Oregon, a move that environmentalists said could lead to greater protection of fish habitat throughout the West. Rothstein said the National Marine Fisheries Service failed to ensure that the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management were complying with Endangered Species Act requirements to protect habitat for endangered fish in the Umpqua River Basin. Evidence showed that there were harmful impacts from logging, and no evidence of any efforts made to limit the damage, Rothstein said. She said the fisheries service could not have rationally concluded that agencies were following mandates to protect habitat. Ken Rait, conservation director of the Oregon Natural Resources Council, said the ruling shows that the Northwest Forest Plan, created by the Clinton administration in 1994, is inadequate to protect salmon and trout. However, the timber industry also was encouraged by the ruling. Chris West of the Northwest Forestry Association said it was a victory because the judge left the forest plan intact. Associated Press and Oregonian, 4/30/98 (FS), and Umpqua Watersheds News Summaries 4/29/98 Huckleberry Land Exchange; The Forest Service, Weyerhaeuser Company, and the public celebrated the Huckleberry Land exchange in April. On March 6, the Forest Service and the Weyerhaeuser Company exchanged deeds for the Huckleberry Land Exchange in western Washington. In the exchange, Weyerhaeuser received 4,362 acres of public land managed by the Forest Service on the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests (WA) for 30,253 acres of Weyerhaeuser-owned lands. Weyerhaeuser also donated 2,000 acres of forest land, half of which were added to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. As a result, 246 miles of rivers and streams, 7,900 acres of riparian reserves, and 225 acres of wetlands were added to the public domain under national forest management. Acting Director of Lands Jack Craven will represent Chief Mike Dombeck. Washington State Governor Gary Locke, Pacific Northwest Regional Forester Robert Williams, Weyerhaeuser executive vice president Bill Corbin, Mountains to Sound Greenway president Jim Ellis, and Sierra Club Checkerboard Project representative Charles Raines. (FS), Hanley-Wood News Service Klamath Indians Negotiate Rights with Forest Service: The Klamath Indians, who lost their reservation under a federal decree that "terminated" their tribe in 1954, have won back rights to camp, hunt, and fish on their ancestral territory. Tribal leaders now set their own hunting seasons and fishing regulations on the land, most of which is on the Winema National Forest. A proposed memorandum of agreement between the tribal government and the Forest Service outlines consultation on cultural resources, planning, and recreational development. It also sets guidelines for land exchanges, firewood gathering, and road management and provides an annual meeting between the tribal leader and the Pacific Northwest regional forester. Past conflicts have stalled major projects on the Chiloquin Ranger District of the Winema. Both sides hope the agreement will improve communication. The Eugene Register-Guard 5/8/98 (FS) NW Governors Head Off Gridlock in Columbia Rish Recovery Effort: Governors of Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho met privately in Olympia, WA, recently to resolve conflicts over the Three Sovereigns process, a strategy for salmon recovery. Called Three Sovereigns because it involves state, federal, and tribal governments, the collaborative effort has put together a proposal that would allow the governments to coordinate and oversee salmon recovery measures that are now largely dictated by the federal government. Governor Phil Batt (ID) had condemned a section of the proposal that would allow a mediator to resolve disputes, which he said would compromise state control over its water. Governor John Kitzhaber (OR) said the governor's meeting clarified that the proposal does not change any sovereignty or the legal relationship of any of the governments involved. Oregonian 4/29/98 (FS) Preserving Culture May Be Important to Saving Salmon: Preserving four distinct cultures (Indian tribes, irrigation farmers, commercial fishermen and a corporate culture represented by thousands of industries) is as important as science, economics, and law to preserving salmon: This was the dominant message at a recent American Bar Association Conference in Boise. Center for the Rocky Mountain West director Dan Kemmis told the lawyers attending the conference that "the Columbia Basin has a fundamental choice of whether it figures out its destiny itself or has it imposed on by others." "Genuine and respectful accommodation among various cultures" is the only way it can happen, he concludes. The Idaho Statesman 5/1/98 (FS) Washington Board Plans Logging Restrictions: The Washington Forest Practices Board is expected Wednesday to adopt restrictive logging measures in response to new endangered listings of salmon and steelhead trout. New proposed rules would reduce the amount of wood that can be cut in the lower Columbia River at Portland, the upper Columbia in central Washington, and the Snake River in eastern Washington. The rules would require timber companies seeking to cut trees within 100 feet of streams to do an analysis that shows that logging, pesticides, and road construction would not hurt the streams. The action is first in an anticipated wave of logging rules changing timber practices along the Northwest coast to benefit wild salmon runs. The Oregonian 5/9/98 (FS) Oregon Reopens Spring Chinook Sport Fishing: Surprised by a stronger than expected spring chinook salmon run, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife decided last week to reopen sport fishing Sunday on the Willamette River from St. Helens to Eugene, seven days a week. Anglers will be restricted to one springer per day. The salmon forecast was revised from 33,700 up to 42,000 adults. Fish managers had shut down fishing below Willamette Falls on April 8 and closed the rest of the river April 29--the third year of early closures. This is the first time, however, that the State DFW has reopened fishing in the same season after a closure. A spokesman for Oregon Trout said the decision to reopen was shortsighted. The Oregonian 5/8/98 (FS) H. J. Andrews Golden Anniversary: One of the world's premier forest-research sites is turning 50 this year, and the Forest Service is gearing up for a big celebration. The 16,000-acre H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest in the Oregon's Willamette National Forest is the site of much of the pioneering work about old-growth forests. Major studies about ancient forests, northern spotted owls, and how older forests help slow the rate of global warming have been done at the experimental forest. The work provided the scientific basis for major changes in federal forest policies in the 1990s. Events to honor the anniversary include a presentation about old-growth forests at the University of Oregon on May 15, a tour of the forest for the public on May 16, and a celebration of the forests formation on June 26. Register-Guard 3/5/98 (FS) Steelhead Listing Shakes Up Portland: The addition of Portland-area steelhead trout to the list of federally protected species reveals that a city with a national reputation for environmental initiatives has fallen short, Portland's top political leaders agreed at an unusual meeting Tuesday. The crash of steelhead populations by an estimated 90 percent in 10 years shows a failure to protect the region's waterways, commissioners said. City, state, and federal officials delivered a clear message to assembled commissioners: restoring healthy populations of steelhead to Portland's rivers and streams will require enormous effort. Oregonian 5/6/98 (FS) See also Oregonian 3/22/98 Pelican Butte Ski Area Report Released: On April 30, the Winema National Forest released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the proposed Pelican Butte Ski Area. Pelican Butte is located 25 miles northwest of Klamath Falls. The Pelican Butte Corporation, located in Klamath Falls, Oregon, is proposing todevelop the Pelican Butte Ski Area on 600 acres of a roadless area that includes Northern spotted owl and bald eagle habitat. This area is managed under the President's Northwest Forest Plan. The DEIS release opens a 60-day public comment period. A decision is expected later this year. (FS) See also Oregonian 5/27/98 Warehouse Fire on the Mt. Baker- Snoqualmie: On April 18, an automotive shop-warehouse on the Darrington Ranger District of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (WA) was destroyed by fire. Two Forest Service vehicles parked in the structure were destroyed. There were no fatalities. An investigation is being conducted by Forest Service law enforcement and the Snohomish County Sheriff. Estimated replacement costs for the building, contents, vehicles and cleanup are between $800,000 to $1 million. The core part of the structure was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The additions had been standing since 1938. (FS) And More...
SOUTHERN REGION (Region 8): Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Timber Companies Reject Texas Big Thicket Land Exchange: The Louisiana Pacific Company and the Temple-Inland Forest Products Corporation rejected formal offers from the Forest Service and the National Park Service on the Big Thicket Land Exchange. A third corporate partner, Champion International Corporation, has not officially accepted or rejected the proposal. The rejections are due to disagreements over the appraisals and estimated values of the lands involved. The land exchange was authorized by the Big Thicket National Preserve Addition Act of 1993, which expires June 30, 1998. The National Parks and Conservation Association has written a letter to Natural Resources and Environment Under Secretary Jim Lyons urging negotiations between the parties. The President of the Big Thicket Association has also signed the letter. The organizations have asked Rep. Jim Turner to convene a meeting of partners in an attempt to resolve the conflict. The Forest Service has agreed to reconsider the appraisals (which are now a year old) to see if an adjustment in values is warranted. (FS) Texas Windstorm Damage: Since agreeing on alternative arrangements with the Council on Environmental Quality on March 10, the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas have proceeded with emergency restoration and public safety activities. The National Forests are continuously coordinating planned activities such as red-cockaded woodpecker tree cavity replacement, tree removal, and bald eagle and red-cockaded woodpecker monitoring with the Fish and Wildlife Service under the emergency procedures of the Endangered Species Act. The replacement tree cavity inserts in active red-cockaded woodpecker clusters have been installed. The Forests opened the bidding for helicopter salvage sales April 9 and 16, and helicopter tree removal operations began on the Sabine National Forests during the week of April 20-24. (FS) Daniel Boone National Forest Announced Policy on Off-Highway Vehicles: After nearly 3 years of public involvement, the Daniel Boone National Forest (KY) announced a change in the off-highway vehicle policy (OHV) aimed at protecting natural resources and endangered species. Currently, OHV use is allowed throughout the Forest, except where restricted for resource protection. The alternative selected from the final environmental impact statement would restrict OHV use to designated trails. The Forest received approximately 4,500 comments on this issue. OHV groups are expected to oppose this policy. (FS) Read the proposed OHV policy at the Boone NF website
EASTERN REGION (Region 9): Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
Bat Halts Logging: The discovery that endangered Indiana bats may lodge in the type of pine trees growing in the Bell Springs area (Shawnee National Forest) has temporarily put a halt to hotly contested logging activities there. Before any timber harvesting can take place, the Forest Services has to get a concurrence from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that the operation will not adversely affect the survival of the endangered Indiana bats. Fish and Wildlife Assistant Field Supervisor Joyce Collins said, "There's nothing illegal about the timber harvest, and the Endangered Species Act is not designed to prohibit otherwise legal activities. The only way we could actually say 'you can't do that' is if we would determine the logging operations would endanger the existence of the Indiana bats overall." The Southern Illinoisan 5/2/98 (FS) See also what the "Shawnee Natural Forest" has to say about the history of this "hotly contested logging activity". Forest User Fee No Longer Optional: Starting in May, as the White Mountain National Forest enters the second year of the three-year recreation user-fee pilot program, a forest visitor must pay fees for parking permits or risk facing a $50 fine if they fail to purchase a parking permit within 14 days of being cited. Until now, violators only received an "invitation to pay" the user fee. The first year of the program has yielded $460,000 from forest visitors. The money raised so far will begin to deal with $6 million backlog of trail maintenance and sanitation repair. Local residents are still hoping for an exemption from the fees, arguing they provide police, fire, and rescue services that are not reimbursed. The Conway Daily Sun 4/27/98 and New Hampshire News 4/28/98 (FS) And More...
ALASKA REGION (Region 10): Alaska
Collaborative Stewardship: The Alaska Region is sponsoring collaborative symposiums in Ketchikan, Alaska, to help the agency and communities work together on decisions that affect the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. The first symposium was held April 22-24, and a second on April 27-29. The symposiums are part of a number of meetings and projects organized to reshape the Forest's relationship with its communities and community leaders. (FS) Draft Alaska Log Export Procedures: A Notice of Availability for Draft Alaska Log Export Procedures, advising the public that most of the cedar exported from northeast lands in Alaska, will be offered to the lower 48 States before being offered to foreign markets, was published in the Federal Register on March 31. The comment period is open until May 4. (FS) Environmental Groups Filed Suit for Listing of the Queen Charlotte Goshawk: On April 16, a coalition of environmental groups filed suit against the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Queen Charlotte goshawk as an endangered species in southeast Alaska (Tongass National Forest). The groups said the revised Tongass Land Management Plan, released in May 1997, continues large-scale removal of high-volume, old-growth forests. FWS ruled last August that listing the goshawk was not warranted because the Forest Service would ensure long-term viability of the species in its revised Tongass plan. (FS)
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