[Susannah]

There's a group in Arizona that has a website attacking the radical enviroMENTALists:

http://www.azfire.org

lots of info and links there!

[forester]

In addition to the Healthy Forest Initiative, the administration is also making internal policy changes to the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management small timber sale policy. Specifically, the administration is providing the legal justification for exempting small projects from excessive environmental review. This complies with a court order from several years ago that invalidated the "categorical exemption" status that the agencies had been using to streamline the environmental review process. The court invalidated the agencies rationale and asked for more extensive documentation that these projects did not pose a significant adverse effect to the environment. Thankfully, the Bush administration has given the court what it asked for, and it appears that this exemption will be reinstated. Here is the link to this policy change: Forest Service Establishes New Timber Sale Rules

[azkathy]

I appreciate all help provided to pass the Healthy Forest Bill 1904. It is unfortunate that it took loss of life and devastation to bring about change. The evidence proving the case for thinning is amazing. Everyone should read the Process Predicament Report. It gives numerous examples of the forest problems. It is available through this link.
http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/documents/Process-Predicament.pdf It is long, but very informative.
I would also like to reccomend that the next destructive fires that occur be named after the following people.
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE))
Cantwell (D-WA))
Carper (D-DE))
Clinton (D-NY))Can't you just imagine the Clinton fire roaring through the Forest??
Dodd (D-CT))
Durbin (D-IL))
Harkin (D-IA))
Jeffords (I-VT))
Kennedy (D-MA))
Leahy (D-VT))
Reed (D-RI))
Rockefeller (D-WV))
Schumer (D-NY)
Also, I bet the favorite Halloween Costumes this year will include, Paul Bunyan or any Logger, along with the Fire Fighter costumes.
Thanks again for all your help! I am a licensed insurance agent in Arizona, I have a business called Help Has Arrived and I help people with a variety of projects, I handled my parents insurance claim after the Rodeo Chediski fire ate their home. I can offer assistance for people who have to deal with the loss of a home, send me an email if you are interested. I almost feel sorry for the insurance companies, (In addition to the homeowners), They will be devastated by this fire. I saw many people turn in bogus claims for smoke damage, trying to get their"share" of the bounty. The entitlement society we live in teaches people to avoid responsibility for themselves. I would encourage everyone to remember this, we won't have insurance to turn to in times of need if it is abused! Policies will pay based on the contract you are insured under, first step is to read your policy and then start an itemized list of lost/burned items.It is very time consuming, but necessary with most claims. I can be reached through hlphzarrived@aol.com
azkathy

[Irish Eyes]

Thanks for the link, it looks interesting, maybe after the fires in California the enviromentalists will not have such a strong voice...(enviroMENTALists...good one I never saw it like that before )