Environmental groups plan lawsuit over spotted owl (Once is never enough with a man like "W")

Sacramento Business Journal ^ | today | staff

[SierraWasp]

LATEST NEWS 10:34 AM PDT Wednesday

Environmental groups plan lawsuit over spotted owl

A coalition of environmental groups have signaled their intention to sue the federal government for denying the California spotted owl protected status under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign and six other groups on Wednesday filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its decision in February to deny a petition filed by the groups seeking federal protection for the owl.

Environmental groups say the owl, which inhabits old-growth forests in the Sierra Nevada, is threatened by logging.

The Fish and Wildlife Service's decision not to list the owl under the Endangered Species Act was based on the assumption that the owl's habitat in the Sierra Nevada would be largely protected by the Clinton administration's Sierra Nevada Framework, a plan that restricted logging to protect the owl's habitat.

Environmental groups contend that the Bush administration, as part of its Healthy Forests Initiative, has proposed a substantially weaker plan that would triple logging of national forests in the Sierra Nevada.

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service relied on the (Clinton) framework to deny protection for the owl, even though they knew these protections were on the Bush administration's chopping block," said Noah Greenwald, a conservation biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. "This decision flies in the face of common sense."

Unlike the northern and Mexican subspecies, the California spotted owl has never been listed under the Endangered Species Act. Like its cousins, however, the California spotted owl is closely associated with old-growth forests. Listing proponents say that more than a decade of studies have determined that the owl's population is declining and is cause for significant concern.

[SierraWasp]

In the same Issue of this paper (Sacramento BUSINESS JOURNAL) which has been overly friendly with the local "EnvironMental CommuNutty," there is an editorial crying crockodile tears over the closing of the last family owned sawmill in Northern California's Gold Country!!! I'll link it in a minute. It's the epitome of irony that this paper could have helped avoid, but obviously is now bemoaning belatedly!!!

[SierraWasp]

Link to inane editorial

[Tamzee]

:-)

[sasquatch]

WTH,
Torch the forests; it won't hurt the furry little critters.

[bicycle thug]

ping

[SierraWasp]

This article and the linked editorial describe the dichotomy and the destruction of liberal policies and politics that are trying to destroy the people's paradise called California!

[chachacha]

I'd like to get that spotted owl. Remove it's feathers by dipping it in scalding hot water then bake it at 360 degrees for two hours. Wrap it in aluminum foil take it on the highway and place in a position that would make it easier for cars to turn it into well done road kill.

[LouD]

I loved this sign I saw hanging in a little mom-and-pop convenience store in Oregon's Coastal Range:

Sorry - No toilet paper. Wipe your *ss on a spotted owl.

[sasquatch]

Wipe your *ss on a spotted owl.

Always wondered what feathered boas were made of.

[Defiant]

Owls well that ends well.

[wbill]

Ummmm....to quote 'capitol steps'

".....the spotted owl, in a cream sauce, is a tasty little fowl."

[farmfriend]

Interesting that as logging declined, owl populations declined. Eco nuts can't see the forest for the trees.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[tbpiper]

That's disgusting! If you put with some of the filleted manatee I've got in the freezer, I've found the combo to be quite tasty.

[yankeedame]

Environmental groups say the owl, which inhabits old-growth forests in the Sierra Nevada, is threatened by logging.

What the....?? What is this? Rewind, replay?

[SierraWasp]

"If you put with some of the filleted manatee I've got in the freezer, I've found the combo to be quite tasty."

Did'ja see what "tbpiper" just said? (grin)

[microgood]

I guess they failed to mention that the northern spotted owl thrives in new growth forests. Its alot easier to see those endangered mice that the owls love to munch on.

[Iscool]

Hey, they can ship a pair of those little critters to my place...They will live happily ever after and solve the big problem at the same time...

[pabianice]

"Owl... it's what's for dinner!"