Political Solutions
CNNF litigation and advocacy
The Environmental Law & Policy Center is working to get the U.S. Forest Service to protect this treasured resource through negotiations and lawsuits in Federal Court. Here’s a summary of the action to date:
Temporary success & continued litigation – Cayuga, McCaslin and Northwest Howell
ELPC succeeded in three related lawsuits against these timber sales in March and August 2005, when the federal court held that the Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act, granted injunctions and remanded to the agency to go back and do it right. Unfortunately, the Forest Service papered over the record and issued “same old, same old” supplemental environmental impact statements on the McCaslin and Northwest Howell timber sales. We are back before the federal court on those two cases. On the Cayuga timber sale, based on ELPC’s written comments and new scientific information, the Forest Service is considering changes.
Favorable negotiated settlements – Boulder and Long Rail
In March and May 2007, we negotiated favorable settlements with the Forest Service to protect key waterways, biodiversity and wildlife habitat that were prioritized by our scientists in the Long Rail and Boulder timber sales. The Forest Service agreed to: (a) not cut designated large old northern hardwood and aspen stands in areas important for threatened species protection and clean water; (b) create experimental 124-acre buffer areas to protect northern goshawk nests; and (c) discuss ways of improving the overall process of evaluating cumulative environmental impacts. ELPC must now help implement and monitor the settlements.
New federal court lawsuits – Twentymile and Fishbone
Following ELPC’s extensive written legal and scientific comments and negotiations, the Forest Service nonetheless approved these two destructive timber sales. ELPC has filed new lawsuits in federal district court in Milwaukee challenging these timber sales as violating federal environmental laws.
Administrative proceedings – Fishel, Medford Aspen and Camp Four
ELPC is filing detailed legal and scientific comments in the administrative proceedings on these timber sales. ELPC hopes to persuade the Forest Service to proceed differently on these new sales, but we are prepared to challenge them in court if necessary.
« Return to Political Solutions.
