Agriculture chief upholds management plan for 11.5 million acres of Sierra

The Sierra Times ^ | 27 December, 2001 | JIM WASSERMAN Associated Press Writer

[brityank]

Agriculture chief upholds management plan
for 11.5 million acres of Sierra

By JIM WASSERMAN Associated Press Writer 12.27.01

SACRAMENTO (AP) - The Bush administration announced support Thursday for a Clinton-era management plan that giving a new environmental tilt to managing 11.5 million acres of national forest in the Sierra Nevada.

U.S. Agriculture Under Secretary Mark Rey, who oversees the U.S. Forest Service, upheld earlier agency decisions that rejected appeals by loggers, ski resorts and off-road groups hoping to kill the plan.

"The plan is a final agency decision which is now being implemented," Rey said.

The management plan, formally called the Sierra Nevada Framework, shifts the Forest Service's emphasis from logging old-growth forests to protecting them on 4 million acres. It also bans logging on most trees larger than 20 inches, while limiting logging in a 460-mile stretch of California and Nevada to levels one-tenth those reached during the Reagan administration in the 1980s.

California Forestry Association President David Bischel called Rey's ruling the "worst decision they could have made" and one that will "add to the risk of catastrophic wildfire."

His and other opposition groups may take their cases to court. More work remains on the plan, Rey said, and he asked supporters and opponents to delay legal action until they see the results.

Forest service officials, after nine years crafting a management vision that began aiming to protect the endangered spotted owl, are now working on revisions to better prevent destructive wildfires. Pacific Southwest Regional Forester Jack Blackwell will announce a so-called "action plan" early next week, officials said.

Environmentalists fear those might be a backdoor way to accomplish more logging in the nation's longest unbroken mountain range.

Rey, a former timber industry lobbyist, declined to offer details on the action plan, saying it will be announced soon.

But environmental spokesmen had nothing but praise for Rey's decision not to throw out the Sierra Nevada Framework.

"Today the sun is shining on California's Range of Light," said Jay Watson, regional director of the Wilderness Society.

Craig Thomas, spokesman for the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign, agreed, saying, "I think California is leading the way in terms of this agency bringing its credibility back."

Bob Roberts, director of California Snow, a group of Sierra Nevada ski resorts, said Rey should have scrapped the plan.

Ski resorts won't be able to add new lifts if they can't remove trees larger than 20 inches in diameter, Roberts said, which makes him "feel recreations has been a casualty of the process."

© 2002 SierraTimes.com

[brityank]

I received a book, Fire in Sierra Nevada Forests by George E. Gruell, and the massive changes that have occurred is striking. Failure to log out the smaller trees will enhance any fire danger, and is detrimental to the other fauna and flora that need open canopy to thrive. ESA will kill the forests!

[Go to Mountain Press Publishing Company for a copy; $20 +S/H]

[brityank]

And another take on the same story:

U.S. Agriculture Chief to announce
decision on Sierra forest plan

Published 5:40 p.m. PST Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2001

SACRAMENTO (AP) - A top U.S. Department of Agriculture official is expected to announce Thursday the Bush administration's position on a sweeping long-range management plan for 11.5 million acres in the Sierra Nevada, forest service officials said.

Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey, who oversees the U.S. Forest Service, scheduled a 1 p.m. briefing Thursday in Sacramento to outline his position on a plan proposed during the Clinton administration, which Bush has approved it so far.

The management plan, supported by environmentalists and opposed by forestry groups, took nine years and cost $12 million to prepare. Formally called the Sierra Nevada Framework, it covers the long-range future of 11 national forests stretching across 460 miles of California and western Nevada.

Last month,Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth rejected 234 appeals of the plan, which aims to protect water, wildlife and old growth forests, while allowing for recreation and other public uses. Most of the appeals came from the timber, ranching and off-road vehicle interests, who believe the plan is too restrictive. Bosworth's decision upheld an earlier thumbs-up on the management plan by Pacific Southwest regional forester Bradley Powell.

Rey has the last word in the long government effort.

"He has a wide range of options," said Vallejo-based forest service spokesman Matt Mathes. "They include affirming or upholding the chief's decision on the appeals. Or reversing the chief's decision." Mathes said Rey could also announce that he plans to give the plan and Bosworth's November decision upholding it a longer review.

Rey's final position will free advocates and opponents of the framework to take their case to court, officials said.

http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/1377153p-1446576c.html

© Sacramento Bee

[brityank]

Two more for the record.

Happy New Year, everyone.

[headsonpikes]

Happy New Year!

I regret to inform you that great drooling morons continue to wield the levers of governance in this new and still shiny year. ;^)

[farmfriend]

Isn't that a great book. Thanks for the link. It is one that needs to be pushed a little.

[farmfriend]

Isn't that a great book. Thanks for the link. It is one that needs to be pushed a little.

[farmfriend]

ok, I didn't post that twice so don't know what happened there.

[Time Traveller]

(headsonpikes)
"I regret to inform you that great drooling morons continue to wield the levers of governance in this new and still shiny year."

[brityank]

Combined with Natural Process by our own Carry_Okie it provides a damning indictment of the eco-terrorist movements.

[Aquamarine]

I always preferred morons over gorons.

[Itzlzha]

Of course the California Forestry Association doesn't like the plan. They are part of the lumber industry. If they get all they want they'll be clear cutting. I've worked in the lumber industry. What do I care if a bunch of drunken lumber guys run out of work. They should get an education and not rely of public land for a living. I'm sure the whole plan is very long, a short article is not going to give the whole picture.

May I please do some substituting here...italics are, of course, correct and mine.

Of course the Stupid EnviroMENTAList Whackos don't like the plan. They are part of the Socialist Workers Party. If they get all they want they'll be banning all cars and any hope for progress. I've worked in the EnviroMENTALis Movement. What do I care if a bunch of drunken unemployable, flea-ridden, maggot-infested, dope-smoking upper-class LOSERS complain. They should get an education or a JOB and not rely on public money for a living. I'm sure the whole plan is very long, a short article is not going to give the whole picture.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"U.S. Agriculture Under Secretary Mark Rey, who oversees the U.S. Forest Service, upheld earlier agency decisions
that rejected appeals by loggers, ski resorts and off-road groups hoping to kill the plan."

Well no question now, the current administration has been in office for almost one year now.
Be it a Democrat or Republican administration the Green Nazi agenda is what is being endorsed.

[Aquamarine]

Watermelon alert!!!

[Snow Bunny]

Thanks for bumping me to this.

HAPPY NEW YEARS

[Justanumba]

If you are actually a teenager, then you have been subjected to a barrage of propaganda, from your school, the media and numerous other sources. People that actually live in the areas that are affected and also harvest the resources of the land which we all use to survive realize that there is an environmental agenda out there which is anti-private property, anti-American and anti-development (read anti-prosperity).

If you have lived in the Rural West and seen the incredibly poor management of the forests by the Federal government which have resulted in wildfires which destroy the very environment that the environmentalists say they wish to protect, you would not take the stance you are taking.

I once belonged to the Sierra club when I was a teenager. When I studied up and researched (using my own brain and my own b.s. meter instead of believing regurgitated propaganda), looking at both sides of the issue, I rejected much of what the environmental movement purports.

Do your homework. Investigate. Read the other side. It's here on Free Republic. Go to Sierratimes.com and read. You have been hoodwinked and it's not your fault, unless, having been warned, you continue to wallow in ignorance.

[MissAmericanPie]

We elected a globalist, of that there is no doubt.

[Justanumba]

I am so disappointed in the Bush administration's handling of these matters, I could scream. He has conveniently forgotten the people that got him elected. Not that Gore would have been better, but still, it is sad.