The Forest Service today released the Draft Forest Plan as part of the revision of its forest management plan. The US Forest Service is required to have a forest management plan for every national forest. This document must be revised every 10 to 15 years. The current plan for the Allegheny National Forest was adopted in April, 1986. That plan clearly stated that the assumptions therein were null and void after 10 years of implementation. That plan has now been implemented for 20 years without significant updating for our increasing knowledge of forest science and economics. Therefore, its revision is a vital part of improving Allegheny National Forest conservation.

There are a lot of issues with the forest plan revision process being used. But the most important is the need for the American public to be involved. Overwhelming, the American public supports the original mission of the ALlegheny National Forest - watershed protection. Americans support Wilderness designation, wildlife habitat preservation, and smart, environmentally sensitive recreation. These are, after all, public lands. But the US Forest Service has a long history of managing for timber and oil production.

The situation is extremely dire. The Bush Administration has pushed so that oil & gas drilling will not be considered a significant issue in forest plan revision - despite the fact that the Allegheny hosts more oil & gas wells than the other 154 national forests combined. This is an urgent issue with nearly 700 oil & gas wells being drilled in 2005.

You can get involved today by reviewing the forest plan revision documents. Unfortunately, as of this time, the documents have not been posted. I will update this message when this happens.

Next, you can attend a public meeting and demand that public hearings be held. The public meeting schedule is as follows:

5/22 Bradford - University of Pittsburgh-Bradford in the University Room of the Frame-Westerberg Commons Building
5/23 Warren - Holiday Inn, off Business U.S. 6 west, 210 Ludlow Street
5/24 Marienville - Marienville Area Civic Association Building, off State Route 66 South, Pine Street
5/25 Ridgway - Office of North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission,
651 Montmorenci Road, State Route 948 North
5/31 State College - Ramada Inn of State College, 1450 Atherton Street
6/1 Harrisburg - Four Points Sheraton, 800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, exit 48 off I-83
6/5 Mars (north of Pittsburgh) - Four Points Sheraton in Pittsburgh North, 910 Sheraton Drive, Mars, PA
6/6 Erie - Quality Inn and Suites at intersection of I-90 and State Route 97, 8040 Perry Highway

While this increase is not good to see, it is still well below what the Forest Service (and the timber industry) would like to see. Here's some pics from recent clearcutting and oil & gas drilling in the Little Salmon Creek watershed.

But this is new. Check it out. Commenting is BACK! But you have to register with Typekey. Typekey is an entirely free, anonymous (unless you don't want to be) system. It allows us to block spam and you to post without worrying about retribution!

Seriously, register now by going to Typekey and do not forget to verify your registration (Typekey will send you an e-mail). Then just click on a thread to comment. It is easy and we'll startup brand new content this week as a reward!

It shouldn't have taken that long to deal with this issue but it is dealt with now so we'll just have to live with it. And remember, we never stop moving to make the Allegheny forever wild and free for all good Americans!

Update: Oh, and if it appears that the blog is changing before your very eyes, you aren't losing it. It is.

The proposed Tionesta Wilderness Area
Wednesday, January 12, 2005

The Tionesta Wilderness features the Tionesta National Natural Landmark (the largest old growth forest in Pennsylvania), thousands of acres of proposed old growth management corridors, the North Country National Scenic Trail, the East Fork Roadless Area, Twin Lakes Hiking Trail, the proposed Tionesta Wilderness Trail, Crane Run Wilderness Trout Stream and other wild features.

Background: The Tionesta Wilderness proposal first appeared in 1996 when the Allegheny Defense Project was first responding to logging threats in the surrounding forest. The East Side (then known as Mortality II), Eagle Mills, James Mills, and Six Pipes timber sales all threatened the integrity of the Tionesta old growth and surrounding recovering forest lands. In 1997 the ADP started formalizing its proposal and in 1999 the proposal for a Tionesta Wilderness Area was introduced in a research paper in the Natural Areas Journal. In spring of 2004, the Allegheny Defense Project formally included the proposed Tionesta Wilderness Area in our Allegheny Wild! proposed management plan for the Allegheny National Forest. The proposal was detailed in a 66-page fully cited report. The Tionesta Wilderness Area was incorporated as a Special Area in the Act to Save America's Forests. By the end of 2005, over 1,000 businesses, organizations, and individuals had endorsed the Allegheny Wild! proposal.

Status: Today, this area remains largely unprotected. The Martin Run Timber Sale threatens logging in the heart of the proposed Tionesta Wilderness Area. The mineral rights underneath the Wilderness, and even the Tionesta National Natural Landmark, are largely held by private corporations such as National Fuel.

Description: The Tionesta Wilderness Areas centers around the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas, an old growth northern hardwood forest compromised of 300 to 500 year old trees, and its restoration values to neighboring second growth forests. The Tionesta old growth forest was designated a National Natural Landmark and is home to all kinds of wildlife including the Northern Goshawk, the Indiana bat, the state endangered Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and a variety of songbirds that prefer old growth habitat. The old growth has incredible value as a source for restoration of wildlife and plant diversity to surrounding forest lands that are still recovering from past logging and drilling operations.

Photos of the Tionesta Wilderness Area

Backpacking in the Tionesta Wilderness

Exploring the Tionesta Wilderness

What you can do!
• Join the Allegheny Defense Project at tonights Forest Protection Meetups!

Buffalo, NY
Erie, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA

What is at risk? (the details)

The Martin Run Timber Sale is one of the most damaging proposals ever to come out of the US Forest Service offices in the Allegheny National Forest. This timber sale would allow more than 1,900 acres of primarily even-aged logging with major ramifications for wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and national treasures.

Read more about Martin Run

This is evidenced by his own website, which among other claims, asserts that, "In the Allegheny National Forest you can hike under a canopy of virgin pines in Cook Forest State Park, one of the largest true primeval forests east of the Mississippi." We're not kidding. Look for yourself. Do you want to know what is wrong with this statement? Cook Forest State Park is NOT "In the Allegheny National Forest." Near, sure. But not in it.

The truth of it is that much of that text on Peterson's website is simply borrowed text from DCNR literature referencing the "Allegheny National Forest Region" which is a DCNR region that is not completely synonymous with the national forest. The fact that Peterson's staff doesn't know the difference is far from surprising. But it is unfortunate nonetheless.

Peterson could do himself a big favor by visiting the Allegheny National Forest with the ADP - you know, people who know the forest. He disgraces our region with his gross misrepresentations.

Update: It is hard to be 100% clear, but I believe that this photo on top of Peterson's website is a view from the Minister Creek overlook. This is part of the Minsiter Creek Roadless Area which would be protected if it weren't for the Congressman's outright objections to protecting America's roadless areas. Too bad the Congressman is such a hypocrit.