For Immediate Release
Jim Kleissler, Allegheny Defense Project, (814) 223-4996

Allegheny National Forest Roadless Areas Threatened

U.S. Forest Service Plans Logging, Road Construction in Roadless Forest Areas

Allegheny National Forest, PA – The US Forest Service has revived plans to construct roads and conduct clearcut logging activities within three Allegheny National Forest roadless areas. The roadless forest scheduled for clearcutting and road building is considered important by conservationists because of its contribution to the high water quality of the biologically diverse Millstone Creek watershed.

The US Forest Service’s planned Brush Creek Timber Sale proposes 1,241 acres of logging, including 702 acres of clearcutting, 960 acres of herbicide spray, and 4.5 miles of road construction within the Millstone Creek watershed. Three high value roadless forest areas will be impacted by a total of 250 acres of logging and 1.25 miles of road construction. The US Forest Service removed legal protections for these national forest roadless areas when they excluded them from a formal roadless inventory in the Allegheny National Forest.

“ The clearcut logging and road building threaten this ecologically important national forest watershed,” explained Megan Rulli, an Erie Organizer for the Allegheny Defense Project. “When the Bush Administration circumvented policy in completing its formal roadless inventory in the Allegheny National Forest, they undermined local and national support for protection of our remaining wild forests.”

The Millstone Creek watershed has been recommended for protection due to its high conservation value. The Millstone Creek watershed has been recognized for its high value aquatic biodiversity as well as its great recreation including the Loleta Family Campground. The conservationists say that the value of the Millstone Creek watershed for recreation, wildlife, and stream biodiversity is related to its unusually high density of roadless forest. Three roadless forest areas covering 2,960 acres of the Allegheny National Forest will be impacted by the logging proposal. At least 800 acres of roadless forest would be lost as a result of the road building.

“ The Millstone Creek watershed is one of the most wild and biologically important areas within Pennsylvania,” said Bill Belitskus, a local resident and President of the Allegheny Defense Project. “It is important to protect the little wild forest we have left at Millstone Creek and other areas of the Allegheny National Forest from short-sighted subsidies for the private timber companies.”

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