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June 16, 2004
Is someone stealing Forest Service signs and using them to cover up timber theft?
It is the question for the ages. A few weeks ago forest defenders with the Allegheny Defense Project came across what appeared to be an illegal logging project conducted without NEPA review and comment. In order to find out if we were correct we filed a Freedom of Information Act request on May 17th asking for documents related to the planning, approval, and implementation of the logging marked by the sign pictured below (as always click to enlarge image).
The above sign and following picture of a steep eroding skid trail were attached to the request which asked for documents "including but not limited to documents related to the site shown in the attached photographs." (click to enlarge image)
The FOIA provides the Forest Service 20 working days to respond. If they are unclear about the request they are supposed to ask for clarification within those 20 working days. Given the specificity of this request this should not have taken the full 20 working days. Nevertheless it did and after 20 working days we got the following cryptic response.
"We do not recognize this project you describe as being administered by the Allegheny National Forest."
Huh? While we had given the project an arbitrary project name in our FOIA the photo of the cutting unit sign should have clarified any questions the Forest Service might have had. As mentioned above we received no clarifying questions about the project.
So I ask: Is someone stealing Forest Service signs and using them to cover up timber theft?
The question is obviously rhetorical, but what is the truth behind this obvious obstruction? Please put on your tinfoil hats and add your theories to the comments thread below.
Posted by jkleissler at June 16, 2004 05:11 PM
Comments
Would the Forest Service be so bold as to illegally log in remote areas in the hopes that no one would ever find out?? The whole notion that they "do not recognize this project you describe as being administered by the Allegheny National Forest" is so obviously false. I wonder if they lost the project file on East Side?
Posted by: Ryan Talbott at June 16, 2004 05:45 PM
... places tin foil hat on
I think its obvious. The United Nations is clearly conspiring to create openings that can be quickly converted to black helicopter landing pads for the pending invasion. Hence the fishy covert operative use of Forest Service signs without the knowledge of the US Forest Service. Knowing that the Forest Service is planning a massive 6,000-acre blowdown salvage they thought they could slip this in without notice.
.... looks around.... notices UN troops approaching... hears whirl of helicopters... runs... forgets to remove tin foil hat...
Posted by: Jim Kleissler at June 16, 2004 05:52 PM
My theory is that a lawyer carefully crafted the response and told the truth.
The response says "We do not recognize this project you describe as being administered by the Allegheny National Forest."
Although technocrats manage the Forest, the Forest does not manage itself. It pretty much lets itsef be. Because a forest cannot "administer" anything at all, the Forest Service told the truth when it said that the Forest was not administering this poject.
The response begs the question, however, of whether the Forest Service is administering the project.
You might file another request clarifying that you want to know whether the Forest Service, not the Forest, has any documents relating to the project.
Posted by: Jon Clark at June 18, 2004 01:50 PM
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