April 25, 2003

P R E S S   R E L E A S E

For more information -
Andy Stahl, FSEEE (541) 484-2692

Today Congressman Scott McInnis (R-CO), chairman of the Forest and Forest Health Subcommittee, introduced a bill that eliminates environmental safeguards for clearcuts and other destructive practices up to 1,000 acres in size.

"Under the guise of fighting insects, this bill will devastate our forests by allowing 1,000-acre clearcuts without any public oversight or accountability," said Andy Stahl, executive director of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE). "Insects are a natural part of the forest - clearcuts and pesticides are not," Stahl, a forester, explained.

The bill, deceptively titled the "Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003" will be the subject of a mark-up session in the House Resources Committee on April 30.

"This bill would reverse 30 years of forest conservation successes," continued Stahl. "It would open up our national forests to exploitation on a scale not seen since the cut-and-run days of the last century. And it would shut the public out of decisions made on their own forests," Stahl concluded.

FSEEE is a non-profit conservation organization directed by current and former Forest Service employees. Its 12,000 active members work to conserve our national forests for future generations.

Click here for a copy of the "Healthy Forests Restoration Act"