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September 24, 2004
Lawsuit Garners Media Attention
Here are some quick links to various news articles about the lawsuit filed against the "Healthy Forests" Initiative yesterday.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Environmentalists Challenge Forest Service Loggings Projects in Court
Warren Times-Observer (registration required): ADP Files Lawsuit Over Logging Projects
The Bradford Era: ANF Logging Plans Challenged
more to come...
Posted by jkleissler at 08:42 AM | Comments (0)
September 23, 2004
ADP Sues over Illegal Logging in Allegheny National Forest
September 23, 2004
Lawsuit Challenges Application of Bush Administration Forest Policies
Conservation Group Says 4,600 Acre Salvage Logging Scheme in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny National Forest is Illegal
Pittsburgh, PA – A Clarion, PA, based conservation organization, the Allegheny Defense Project, represented by Wildlaw attorney Tammy Belinsky filed a lawsuit challenging 19 controversial logging projects in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny National Forest. The 19 projects approve 1,670 acres of logging as part of a 4,600-acre logging scheme given a high profile as part of a Bush Administration initiative that brought Secretary of Agriculture Anne Veneman to Pennsylvania for Earth Day.
“The Bush Administration added insult to injury by spinning this illegal salvage logging in the Allegheny National Forest as part of their Earth Day celebration,” explained Bill Belitskus, a homesteader from Kane, PA. “The commercial logging program, including this so-called ‘Healthy Forests’ logging, are having serious consequences for the health of the Allegheny National Forest.”
The salvage scheme stems from a storm in July 2003 that blew down 10,000 acres in the Allegheny National Forest. The Forest Service has proposed salvage logging on approximately half of the affected areas. In order to speed up the logging process, conservationists allege that the Forest Service broke the project into more than 20 piecemeal logging projects allowing the agency to avoid detailed environmental analysis and public comment. The lawsuit challenges this piecemeal approach as a violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
“The Forest Service segmented this scheme into numerous smaller logging projects in order to avoid doing any comprehensive environmental analysis or collecting substantive public input,” said Ryan Talbott, Forest Watch Coordinator for the ADP. “The Bush Administration spin of its own ‘Healthy Forests’ program into a boon for the timber industry comes not only at the expense of forest wildlife and soil, but also gives short shrift to public involvement – the heart of the environmental laws at issue.”
The Forest Service has proposed 19 salvage logging projects without an environmental analysis using the so-called “Healthy Forests Initiative” that the Bush Administration signed into law last year. In particular, the Forest Service is using Categorical Exclusion 13, which states that as long as a project is below 250 acres and has less than 1 mile of road construction, there is no need to do an environmental analysis. The 19 salvage projects using Categorical Exclusion 13 will result in 1,670-acres of logging of the 4,600-acres proposed for salvage logging.
“The Forest Service is using smoke & mirrors to make 1,700 acres of logging fit into a policy specifically designed only for projects smaller than 250 acres,” said Jim Kleissler, Forest Watch Director for the ADP. “This illegal logging project is the Bush Administration’s equivalent to seeing how many clowns can fit into a 2-person Volkswagon.”
"The new directive has been in place less than a year and the Forest Service is already violating it, despite a promise that project segmentation like this wouldn't happen. The Forest Service said it would not do this, and so it is no surprise that it has,” explained Wildlaw attorney Tammy Belinsky.
The lawsuit was filed this morning at the Federal Courthouse in Pittsburgh, PA.
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Posted by jkleissler at 05:22 PM | Comments (1)
Support the Seneca Indians
This year commemorates the 40th Anniversary of a watershed event that severely disrupted Seneca life and culture. The Kinzua Dam flooded native Seneca Indian lands resulting in a forced relocation. Tyler Heron graced the ADP with his presence at our Fall Gathering last Saturday.
Please return the favor by joining the Seneca Nation in a march to commemorate this unfortuante anniversary. Here is the announcement from the Seneca Nation.
Remember the Removal 2004
Saturday, September 25th, Salamanca, NY(see schedule of events below)
ALLEGANY TERRITORY — Forty years ago, the majority of families living on the Allegany Indian Reservation were facing one of many historic challenges and threats to its traditions, culture and homeland: the forced removal from fertile, cherished homeland to smaller tracts of land and a new and strange way of life. After years of fighting the specter of a Dam which was to flood much of their settlement area of their people, with all legal avenues exhausted, these people (and non-Senecas) in the “take area” had to move. The traumatic impact on the Senecas continues to be felt today.”
(From: The Salamanca Press, August 11, 2004)Schedule of Events
contact: Tribal Historic Preservation Office (716)945-9427 or Midge Stock (716)945-1281
Saturday, September 25th, Salamanca, NY
8:30 AM Old Red House Bridge—Jimtown Side
Opening Traditional Thanksgiving (Gan no:n yo:nk) Lehman “Dar” Dowdy
Opening Welcome and Address President Armstrong
Hymns in Seneca Seneca Hymn Singers
Honor those removed with Seneca Tribute and Wreath into the Allegany River
(wreath of pine and bittersweet) Lehman “Dar” Dowdy
Singers Lead Group and Flag Bearers on Walk to Jimmersontown
10:00 AM Haley Building (Cafeteria –Refreshments)
10:15 AM Haley Building Gymnasium
Opening: Purpose of Commemoration—Why is it important to remember?
Significance of Event on who we are and our future
Presenter: Ricky Armstrong: SNI President
10:20 AM Significance of 1794 Treaty and Historic Attempts at Removal
Including post-revolutionary Treaty Period, 1838 and 1842 treaties Kansas and Oklahoma attempts, Dawes Act
Presenter: Barry White
11:15 AM -12:00 PM 20th Century Challenges
Salamanca Lease, Flood Control Act, Evolution and Final execution of Kinzua Dam
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch
Social and Personal Impacts of Relocation
1:00 PM Fight for Compensation: Homes, Education and Social Welfare
Presenter: Former SNI President George Heron
1:40 PM Community and Personal Impact of Relocation/Removal
Presenters: Joy Bilharz and Panelists (George Heron, Duce Bowen, Rovena Abrams, Hazel Muehlenbruch, Steve Gordon, George Abrams)
2:45 PM Break
3:00 PM SNI Then and Now
Presenters: Barry Snyder, Tribal Councilor, Former President
3:20-4:00 PM Follow-Up: Community Healing, Education and its Importance
4:00-5:00 PM Exhibition Lacross Game—Peanuts vs. Masters
6:00 PM Social
8:00 PM Traditional Closing
For more information click here
Posted by jkleissler at 05:09 PM | Comments (0)
Another Fine Fall Gathering
The Ancient Forest Roadshow
Going Primitive with Spear Throwing
Thanks to our Great Cook Darren!
Posted by jkleissler at 04:34 PM | Comments (1)
September 15, 2004
The Last Wilderness
"It was strangely like war. They attacked the forest as if it were an enemy to be pushed back from the beachheads, driven into the hills, broken into patches, and wiped out. Many operators thought they were not only making lumber but liberating the land from the trees."
- Murray Morgan, 1995, The Last Wilderness
Posted by jkleissler at 06:57 PM | Comments (0)
September 14, 2004
ADP's Tenth Annual Fall Gathering - This Weekend!
10th Annual ADP Fall Gathering
Proposed Tionesta Wilderness Area
Allegheny National Forest
September 17-19, 2004
Join us for another fantastic time on the northern end of the proposed Tionesta Wilderness Area for the Allegheny Defense Project's 10th Annual Fall Gathering.
Keynote speakers
Lehman "Dar" Dowdy - Director, Seneca Indian Faith Keepers School.
Larry Beahan - Author of Allegany Hellbender Tales and North Country, Public Lands Advocate in Wester New York.
Slideshows: Allegheny Wild!, Zoar Valley's Ancient Forests (NY), and Pennsylvania Wildlands Project
Workshops: Wilderness, logging, fly fishing, spear throwing, sustainable forestry, wildlands, tree climbing, and non-violence.
Hikes and Field Tours: Tionesta old growth forest, North Country National Scenic Trail, clearcuts, and proposed Wilderness. Slideshows on Allegheny Wild!, Zoar Valley's ancient forest, and Pennsylvania Wildlands.
And this just in... The Ancient Forest Roadshow will be joining us!
Register Today!
Accomodations: Please come prepared to camp. The camp wil be primitive (no running water or electricity.) A very limited number of extra tents, sleeping bags, and such will be available. Please call or e-mail the ADP office as soon as possible if you will need to borrow equipment. For a list of nearby hotels and cabins, contact the ADP office.
Food: All meals are included in the registration donation. All meals are vegan/vegetarian. Call or e-mail the ADP office if you have special dietary needs.
Things to Bring: Tent, sleeping bag, water bottle, hiking boots, warm clothes, extra shoes and socks, rain gear, musical instruments, mug, bowl, and utensils. Be prepared for all types of weather!
Posted by jkleissler at 03:14 PM | Comments (0)
W is NOT for Wilderness
On September 4th, the Allegheny Defense Project held a successful rally in Erie, PA, to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act.
We also took the occassion to raise public awareness regarding current administration policies and how they effect Wilderness. Here is a capsule of current policies regarding wilderness (particularly in relation to the Allegheny National Forest):
1. Despite public objections, the Bush Administration has decided to arbitrarily narrow the areas that would be considered for Wilderness designation in the Allegheny National Forest - and has failed to make public the complete analysis that this decision was based on.2. Despite overwhelming public support for the designation of the Tionesta Wilderness Area in the Allegheny National Forest - the US Forest Service has approved logging as part of the Bush Administration's "Healthy Forests” Initiative and planned additional logging in timber sales such as the controversial Martin Run logging project.
3. Despite overwhelming support for the Roadless Area Protection Rule the Bush Administration has decided to scuttle those rules when they need to be expanded to protect smaller roadless areas in the eastern United States.
Posted by jkleissler at 03:07 PM | Comments (0)