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Rush to Log Biscuit Unfounded
Document Actions
Public Exclusion and Weakened Environmental Protections Unfounded
For Immediate Release: August 25, 2004
Contact: Joseph Vaile, KS Wild, 541-488-5789 C: 541-621-7808
This week marks the end of the 45-day public appeal period of the Biscuit Salvage Logging Project Records of Decision. Those Forest Service decisions on Biscuit included eleven sales granted special "emergency" status exempting them from the standard public appeal period. Five of the eleven "emergency" sales (Lazy, Briggs 6, Chetco, Flat Top and Cedar) remain unpurchased. No logging has commenced on any of the eleven "emergency" sales.
"Economic emergency timber sales are just a way the Bush Administration eliminates public input and protection on the land,” said Joseph Vaile of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center. Why did the Forest Service declare an emergency and take away the public right of appeal when it hasn't even gotten around to auctioning these supposed emergency sales?" asks Vaile "The evidence now shows that no such emergency exists."
Prior to the Bush administration taking office, emergencies could only be declared in instances of public safety and other extreme circumstances. The Bush administration broadened the emergency exemption rules to include economics in many administrative rule changes.
The emergency timber sales named Lazy and Chetco are set to be auctioned Wednesday, outside the 45-day standard appeal period. Flat Top and Cedar were offered for auction but found to be unprofitable for any company. The sales that have been purchased have gone for as little as $250 per acre in ancient forest reserves (LSR) at sales like Hobson.
An earlier attempt to auction several sales was suspended after bidders were caught in an illegal discussion during the bidding. A Biscuit-related Federal investigation has uncovered more than 100 illegally cut trees at the Flat Top Hazard sale. This is the area where Silver Creek Logging Company, owned by John West of Merlin had operations suspended for illegally cutting within the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Silver Creek has been the high bidder on two of the Biscuit "emergency" timber sales.
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Contact: Joseph Vaile, KS Wild, 541-488-5789 C: 541-621-7808
This week marks the end of the 45-day public appeal period of the Biscuit Salvage Logging Project Records of Decision. Those Forest Service decisions on Biscuit included eleven sales granted special "emergency" status exempting them from the standard public appeal period. Five of the eleven "emergency" sales (Lazy, Briggs 6, Chetco, Flat Top and Cedar) remain unpurchased. No logging has commenced on any of the eleven "emergency" sales.
"Economic emergency timber sales are just a way the Bush Administration eliminates public input and protection on the land,” said Joseph Vaile of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center. Why did the Forest Service declare an emergency and take away the public right of appeal when it hasn't even gotten around to auctioning these supposed emergency sales?" asks Vaile "The evidence now shows that no such emergency exists."
Prior to the Bush administration taking office, emergencies could only be declared in instances of public safety and other extreme circumstances. The Bush administration broadened the emergency exemption rules to include economics in many administrative rule changes.
The emergency timber sales named Lazy and Chetco are set to be auctioned Wednesday, outside the 45-day standard appeal period. Flat Top and Cedar were offered for auction but found to be unprofitable for any company. The sales that have been purchased have gone for as little as $250 per acre in ancient forest reserves (LSR) at sales like Hobson.
An earlier attempt to auction several sales was suspended after bidders were caught in an illegal discussion during the bidding. A Biscuit-related Federal investigation has uncovered more than 100 illegally cut trees at the Flat Top Hazard sale. This is the area where Silver Creek Logging Company, owned by John West of Merlin had operations suspended for illegally cutting within the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Silver Creek has been the high bidder on two of the Biscuit "emergency" timber sales.
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