Posted on 01/01/2002 2:36:39 PM PST by brityank
Agriculture chief upholds management plan
for 11.5 million acres of Sierra
By JIM WASSERMAN Associated Press Writer 12.27.01SACRAMENTO (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
Gosh, that was never intended, howum I gonna gits a PhD iffn it makes scents?
I thot det too geds dud vanced diggereee I wuz supphose two confuscate everbody en tell dazed neffer wannad mitt zat dey din get it sews day gifts it too mee?
How will we pay to fix it?"
Once the forests are burned to a crisp by the inferno such as happened two summers ago, there's no salvaging them. It could take 100 years for the soil to return to normal.
Now that was hard to read.
Starting out the new year here with a police shooting in front of the house.
I was referring raising the money to fix it BEFORE it burns catastrophically, and implying that the only way it could be somewhat self-financing is to sell what usable timber might be derived (I know, it isn't as much as people think). One other way to offset the cost is to start selling the land itself, seeing as they took it from the states illegally in the first place.
This has been happening for years now. I am another thats hadenuf and am looking for an alternative. There is little difference left between the Republicans and Democrats. One need only look as far as our immigration policies and our borders.
I'll try...AND add this, as well!
U.S. Backs UN Plan to Control Land
"Private control has failed to use wisely its control of the land," he concluded. "We are preparing a land program not merely for the benefit of those who held title to it but for the greater welfare of all the citizens of the country."
I don't usually swear, but THIS brings on the exceptions without fail!
T, Typical BIG business and BIG government point of view. "Screw the little man." They've trained you well. Or maybe indoctrinated is a better word. Peace and love, George.
{G}
Now that was as funny as it was true.
Nice piece of juxtapositioning to reality.
...you don't need any glasses to see; that's for sure.
You have made this assertion twice already. Take a careful and considered look around you and imagine your current world without the benefit of wood products.
Are you suggesting only the "small" mills disappear, or are you suggesting that the U.S. timber industry as a whole disappear?
g
They ain't DONE nothin yet."
Unfortunately, you're right C_O, we've had our hopes up before.
On a brighter note, it seems yer a powitt an don't know it! :-)
Leave no child behind act of 2001. #42 Here's another one that brought out the Navy in me.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.