The Hellbender Chronicles

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June 08, 2004

Laying it on Thick...

The things they'll say to defend the commercial logging program can range from the outrageous to complete nonsense. Here are a couple of claims made in this morning's Warren Times-Observer that deserve at least a quick rebuttal.

Sue Swanson, executive director of AHUG (Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group), Kane, said, the legal process has "gone on too long." The original legal appeal to the East Side project is "pushing eight years," she said. "That's eight years that nothing has been done in that area of the forest that's badly in need of treatment."

Not exactly. Litigation against East Side has been active for three years, not eight years. The original case against this project when it was Mortality II was filed seven years ago and lasted only six months. Unfortunately, "treatment" has begun on some 1,500 acres. Of course, we don't agree that the forest is "badly in need" of clearcutting.

She said the federal judge found that the Forest Service "did a thorough analysis and came to the right conclusion" about the salvage operation. But the Forest Service has not been able to follow through with its management plans because of legal challenges, she said.

Not exactly. The Federal Judge found that the Forest Service abused its discretion in approving even-aged logging on Group III soils and enjoined logging on 400 acres. The Federal Judge also found the emphasis on black cherry tree management "troubling" even without ruling in our favor in the end.

During a recent tour of the forest, Forest Service personnel said the forest is overmature, resulting in a higher susceptibility to insect infestation and blow down.

Without intervention, "It will continue to happen," Swanson said.

I don't recall the Forest Service saying this. And in their defense I believe that when this was alleged during the Bosworth tour Forest Service researcher Susan Stout did not endorse this position. What was documented on the tour was that insect infestations and blowdown are both a direct result of black cherry tree farming. Insect outbreaks in the Allegheny National Forest are directly related to black cherry (and in some cases oak) concentrations. Similarly, black cherry is the tree most susceptible to windthrow and most affected by the July 2003 Windstorm for example.

Hedlund, executive director of the Allegheny Forest Alliance, said the court process "rapes the taxpayer for the expenses."

Can we say that now without getting critized? If ADP used that kind of language the timber industry would be all over us. The court process may cost a few hundred thousand dollars in the end. But the East Side Timber Sale is costing tax-payers millions of dollars (revenues are NOT returned to the tax-payers despite what common sense would tell us). The taxpayer will lose most if East Side is implemented with millions to be spent on logging road construction and "reforestation" costs such as herbicides and fencing. Revenue accrued from timber sales do not usually return to the US Treasury and therefore taxpayers never see that benefit. So it must be official, the timber industry must believe that the East Side Timber Sale is raping the taxpayer for millions! Right? no? Or do they just not care about the truth?

Update: Despite their protestations in this morning's article that they cannot afford to pay their attorney (something that is unbelievable on its face), the timber industry's attorney has filed his appearance on the appeal already. oops!

Posted by jkleissler at June 8, 2004 07:52 AM

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