Court bars Bush administration's logging plans for Sierra

[Newsjock]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

A federal appeals court blocked the Bush administration's plans today for logging three tracts in the northern Sierra and said the government has failed to justify a critical element in its plan for the forests - selling trees to lumber companies to pay for removing brush that increases the threat of fire.

Preventing fires is important, "but are there no alternative ways of getting money to do the clearing?" asked the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The court said the U.S. Forest Service has not explored the obvious alternatives: finding the money elsewhere in its budget or asking Congress for more.

The tracts covered in today's ruling were included in the Forest Service's management plan for 11 million acres of Sierra forests, which the agency announced in 2004. The plan overhauled regulations that the Clinton administration issued in January 2001 but were never implemented.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/14/BAMH10MC04.DTL&tsp=1

[Gman]

1. Nice try, Bush

giving the logging companies access to forests under the excuse of fire protection. Pretty lame. I'm glad the 9th sees through it.

[mtf80123]

2. Kinda like the "Clear Sky's initiative.

That one gave us an increase of Sulfer Dioxide output by 40% over these last 7 years.

[natrat]

3. or help america vote act

[meow2u3]

6. That was known as the "Healthy Forests" initiative

Bush's other Orwellian gem.

[krkaufman]

9. Yep. Prevent forest fires by cutting-down the forests. Brilliant! n/t

[crimsonblue]

10. Clear Skies was never made into law...

fyi. But the EPA did implement many of the act's proposals.

[liberal N proud]

4. One less thing they can turn to shit

Is there anything they don't have a plan to destroy?

[mike_c]

5. excellent news....

Recommended!

[frebrd]

7. That's Great! Recommended

[seafan]

8. A friend in the building industry told me ...

...that so many of America's raw materials are being sent to China, that the prices of wood, steel and concrete for our domestic use are skyrocketing.


That is why all of that steel from the World Trade Center crime scene was grabbed in the wink of an eye and shipped to China before anyone who noticed could protest.

That is why Bush wants to log out our national forests.

That is why Jeb Bush has very close friends in the cement business.



Bu$hCo is selling us out.



Finally, some good news today:


Court bars Bush administration's logging plans for Sierra,May 14, 2008

[Pastiche423]

11. That's startling news!

The little man was actually denied something.

Hip hip hooray for the Ninth!

[proud patriot]

12. Thank You Jesus for saving my church

High Sierra is where I camp .. It's my church ..

I camp at the base of that mountain for 10 days every summer





greedy republicans need to their hands off this treasure

[Earth Bound Misfit]

13. K & R n/t

[proud patriot]

14. here's a picture from my campsite

[FirstLight]

15. What peak is that? It looks very familiar!

Is this Desolation Wilderness, by any chance? I live in Tahoe, so I'm just curious...

I, too, love these trees for sure!