Posted on Sep 1, 2023
Judge: Trump-era rule change allowing the logging of old-growth forests violates laws
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https://www.npr.org/2023/08/31/ [login to see] /judge-trump-era-rule-change-allowing-the-logging-of-old-growth-forests-violates-
A federal judge has found that a Trump-era rule change that allowed for the logging of old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest violates several laws.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Hallman on Thursday found that the U.S. Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act and the Endangered Species Act when it amended a protection that had been in place since 1994.
The findings came in response to a lawsuit filed by multiple environmental groups over the change.
A federal judge has found that a Trump-era rule change that allowed for the logging of old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest violates several laws.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Hallman on Thursday found that the U.S. Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act and the Endangered Species Act when it amended a protection that had been in place since 1994.
The findings came in response to a lawsuit filed by multiple environmental groups over the change.
Judge: Trump-era rule change allowing the logging of old-growth forests violates laws
Posted from npr.org
Donald Trump
Environment
Rules
Law
Lawsuit
Posted 8 mo ago
Responses: 2
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The findings came in response to a lawsuit filed by multiple environmental groups over the change.
Climate Change And Deforestation Mean Earth's Trees Are Younger And Shorter
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COLLABORATIVE
Climate Change And Deforestation Mean Earth's Trees Are Younger And Shorter
Hallman recommended that the Forest Service's environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact should be vacated and that the agency should be required to prepare a full environmental impact statement related to the change.
"The highly uncertain effects of this project, when considered in light of its massive scope and setting, raise substantial questions about whether this project will have a significant effect on the environment," Hallman wrote.
The Forest Service didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The agency has two weeks to object to the judge's findings and recommendations.
The protection changed by the Trump administration banned the harvesting of trees 21 inches (53 centimeters) or greater in diameter and instead emphasized maintaining a mix of trees, with trees at least 150 years old prioritized for protection and favoring fire-tolerant species.
The area impacted by the rule is at least 7 million acres (2.8 million hectares), approximately the size of the state of Maryland, on six national forests in eastern Oregon and southeast Washington state.
The Trump administration said the change, which went into effect in 2021, would make forests "more resistant and resilient to disturbances like wildfire.""...
..."The findings came in response to a lawsuit filed by multiple environmental groups over the change.
Climate Change And Deforestation Mean Earth's Trees Are Younger And Shorter
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COLLABORATIVE
Climate Change And Deforestation Mean Earth's Trees Are Younger And Shorter
Hallman recommended that the Forest Service's environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact should be vacated and that the agency should be required to prepare a full environmental impact statement related to the change.
"The highly uncertain effects of this project, when considered in light of its massive scope and setting, raise substantial questions about whether this project will have a significant effect on the environment," Hallman wrote.
The Forest Service didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The agency has two weeks to object to the judge's findings and recommendations.
The protection changed by the Trump administration banned the harvesting of trees 21 inches (53 centimeters) or greater in diameter and instead emphasized maintaining a mix of trees, with trees at least 150 years old prioritized for protection and favoring fire-tolerant species.
The area impacted by the rule is at least 7 million acres (2.8 million hectares), approximately the size of the state of Maryland, on six national forests in eastern Oregon and southeast Washington state.
The Trump administration said the change, which went into effect in 2021, would make forests "more resistant and resilient to disturbances like wildfire.""...
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How sad when a proper environmental assessment was completed and now is in question because of special interest groups. From what was written here I can tell you it appears the assessment was performed by the book, while the challenge to it quotes no specific facts. How sad politics has injected itself into this situation.
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