Posted on 06/05/2002 6:32:51 AM PDT by George Frm Br00klyn Park
Elko Daily FREE Press
Forest Service fails to complete internal report {Report on Service "gridlock". L.O.L.}
By JEFFRY MULLINS, Associate Editor
6/5/2002
WASHINGTON -- Thursday's House subcommittee hearing on U.S. Forest Service "gridlock" -- the agency's impaired ability to manage the land because of burdensome regulations and litigation -- has been canceled because the agency hasn't been able to complete an internal report on the problem.
The hearing had been scheduled by the House Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
"Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth would have released the findings of an internal report highlighting the extent to which the Forest Service's legal and regulatory decision-making framework impairs the agency's capacity to achieve its charge of sustaining the health, productivity and diversity of the National Forests to meet the needs of current and future generations," reported Tracey Lynn Shifflett, deputy director of communications for the House Committee on Resources.
Bosworth and his boss, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, appeared before the committee last month to discuss the problem.
They said managing national forests is getting more difficult because of excessive litigation and regulations. That is contributing to an increased risk of catastrophic wildfires, they added.
Veneman said many timber sales that could thin forests have been stopped by lawsuits filed by environmental groups.
She reported 73 million acres of forest are at moderate to high risk from wildfire.
"Management by doing nothing is not an option," she said.
Environmentalists responded that the Bush administration doesn't care about the environment.
"Their focus on timber as a commodity is just one more example overall of the Bush administration's total embrace of the big corporate agenda," said Jane Danowitz, director of the Heritage Forests Campaign.
Bosworth originally expected to present his report on what he called "analysis paralysis" to Congress May 16.
The internal report has not been completed, Shifflett said, so the hearing was canceled.
THIS article at the Elko Daily FREE Press
Guys, Ah-yup. A few homes and other man made structures also. Peace and love, George.
Environmentalists responded that the Bush administration doesn't care about the environment.
"Their focus on timber as a commodity is just one more example overall of the Bush administration's total embrace of the big corporate agenda," said Jane Danowitz, director of the Heritage Forests Campaign.
The Bush administraton wants to stop the country from torching itself.
The eco-freaks call Bush names.
To them, homes, animals, and people being burnt alive is beauty.
If they don't get their human misery fix, they just aren't happy and it hurts their self esteem.
1. Buy or seize the forests
2. Let them rot
3. Let them burn
Do you think she's been reading a certain book ?
I'm reminded of a quote attributed to Eisenhower, to one of his activist cabinet members:
All things considered, I'd rather have these wannabe outdoorsmen cowering in their cubicles than find them out in the forest locking gates. I do hate bouncing the hot wrench around in the back of the Jeep, although those gates make excellent road drags.
I wonder how much increase the Forest Service got this Budget? Whatever it is, it's not enough, Triple it!! The Education Dept., the FBI, CIA, HUD, NASA, DOD, ad infinitum too!
It's the American Way! Spend our way out of problems. What the heck, the FedRes can just Print some more money! That ought to work!
Those Hot Wrenches can do a LOT of Good! :-)
The other 40% must go for new airconditioned, deluxe, KingCab, trucks to ride around in all day.
Molon Labe !!
They said managing national forests is getting more difficult because of excessive litigation and regulations. That is contributing to an increased risk of catastrophic wildfires, they added.
Veneman said many timber sales that could thin forests have been stopped by lawsuits filed by environmental groups.
She reported 73 million acres of forest are at moderate to high risk from wildfire.
"Management by doing nothing is not an option," she said.
Not once does the idea of privatizing forest land (like it used to be) come up. Can't have those eeeevil capitalists taking care of natural resources.
Ijits.
HT, Nah. The bureaucrats couldn't ask for MORE money that way. But, they ARE encouraging a bit of "privatizing". The National Conservancy is on their list of privateers {once{?} known as government sponsored pirates}. Peace and love, George.
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