Trial Date Set For Lawsuit Over Machinery Damage Environmentalists Plan Blockade At Cove-Mallard

A trial date has been set for a Grangeville construction company that claims its road-building machinery in the Cove-Mallard area of the Nez Perce National Forest was vandalized by environmental activists two years ago.

Meanwhile, a “symbolic blockade” of the Noble Creek timber sale road is planned today by activists to protest further logging in the Cove-Mallard.

Don Blewett, owner of Highland Enterprises of Grangeville, has filed a lawsuit to recoup more than $60,000 in damage he claims was caused by members of Earth First! and other activists during summer 1993. Highland Enterprises was building logging roads at the time into the Noble Creek and Grouse Creek timber sale areas.

A trial date was set for Jan. 8, 1996.

Jake Kreilick, a spokesman for the Missoula-based Native Forest Network, one of the activist groups, said 40 to 60 people are expected to join in the blockade Wednesday.

Kreilick said the Forest Service is continuing to ignore requirements of the Endangered Species Act by allowing the logging. The Forest Service denies breaking the law, and the matter is in litigation.

An order to stop mining, grazing and logging activities to protect salmon habitat has been stayed until March 15 to allow negotiations with the National Marine Fisheries Service to be concluded.