CA: Sierra national forest plan approved with minor changes

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 11/18/04 | Don Thompson - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO (AP) - The head of the U.S. Forest Service on Thursday approved a sweeping plan to manage 11.5 million acres of national forest land across the Sierra Nevada range, renewing debate over how best to prevent wildfires like those that devastated Southern California a year ago.

Chief Dale Bosworth rejected appeals by environmental groups, prompting immediate promises of lawsuits as the administrative process grinds to an end. Regional Forester Jack Blackwell said the plan he approved in January will improve wildlife habitat while reducing fire danger particularly around mountain communities.

Environmental critics called it a veiled effort to triple logging across 11 national forests, while a timber industry leader said it doesn't go far enough to thin crowded, fire-prone forests.

"How many more wake up calls do we need from these catastrophic fires?" Blackwell asked, repeating the theme of a much-criticized publicity campaign the service has used to promote its management plan.

California Forestry Association President Dave Bischel said the plan is "barely scratching the surface" of what needs to be done, requiring decades before forests are safer from wildfires.

"I don't know that the targets they have are going to make significant progress," Bischel said, adding that the plan doesn't recognize that a management goal "should be a continuous and sustainable supply of forest products."

But Craig Thomas of the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign called the plan "a train wreck" that leaves environmental groups no choice but to sue. "It's the only choice we have left after 10 years of trying to work collaboratively."

U.S. House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, praised Bosworth's decision as consistent with President Bush's Healthy Forest Restoration Act, although he called the plan "not as aggressive as it needs to be."

Blackwell contended his plan balances timber and environmental concerns, and rued the promised lawsuits that might bring further delay.

The service will cut or burn just a fifth of each year's new forest growth, but direct much of the remaining 80 percent into old tree stands that promote species like spotted owls, Blackwell argued. And cutting valuable trees up to 30 inches in diameter is necessary to pay for trimming smaller, more fire-prone trees and brush that have little market value.

Critics contend the plan emphasizes logging larger, naturally fire-resistant trees in remote areas, which they say actually increases fire danger around communities.

They also said the service sidestepped environmental review laws by revising a Clinton-era management plan that drew widespread support but was never implemented. And they allege the plan ignores problems raised by the service's own scientific review team.

Bosworth ruled that the revised plan complied with all laws, regulations and policies, and the service's Pacific Southwest Research Station approved the science behind the plan's decisions. Blackwell said he is satisfied the plan will survive legal challenges.

Bosworth required only that regional officials do a better job of monitoring the results of their plan and make appropriate changes as it proceeds.

The service said it fielded more than 6,200 appeals to the plan announced in January, but all but 27 were form letters.

U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey has 15 days to decide whether to review Bosworth's decision before it becomes final.

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On the Net:

Read the decision at http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/applit/nhappdec.htm

Read about the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/snfpa

[pointsal]

NO BY GOLLY THAT AIN'T POLLUTION........IT IS JUST A SIMPLE

USFS SANCTIONED FOREST FIRE!!!!!!!!!!

[glock rocks]

Environmental critics called it a veiled effort to triple logging across 11 national forests

The spotted owls are dying due to the wildfires, so they'll stay on the endangered list.

[tubebender]

Ping...

[crz]

Triple? Thats all? They should increase it by six times! There is no way the USFS should be asking for budget monies. It should be self sustaining or shut down and the land given to local counties to manage.

[SierraWasp]

"But Craig Thomas of the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign called the plan "a train wreck" that leaves environmental groups no choice but to sue. "It's the only choice we have left after 10 years of trying to work collaboratively."

This idiot is one of the most militant EnvironMental cases in the whole state of CA! He sues everybody, over everything... all the damn time!!! He's caused more "train wrecks" than all of the EnvironMental Monkeywrench Gang-Green idiots in El Dorado County put together!!!

He thinks he's the holiest carpenter of all time up in his little Communutty of Kelsey, CA. Funny thing is... a fast moving forest fire in the early 90's nearly wiped him and his "significant other" out. But they keep pushing their leftist agenda!!!

He's another one that inspired the Robert Kennedy, Jr. crowd to push Arnold to lock up the whole Sierra-Nevada Range with an ill-advised CONservacancy. Check out the American River Land Trust (now named "American River Conservancy) and the Schwarzenegger free whitewater rafting trip, etc., etc.,

[farmfriend]

Environmental critics called it a veiled effort to triple logging across 11 national forests

And your point?

Rights, farms, environment ping.
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[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!!!