Groups Sue To Stop Logging Fishermen, Environmentalists Target Old-Growth Sales

Salmon fishermen and environmentalists have sued the U.S. Forest Service to stop logging of old-growth timber east of the Cascade Range.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction barring the Forest Service from selling timber or building roads in old-growth forests in eastern Oregon and Washington until it prepares a scientifically credible plan to assure the future survival of wildlife.

Filed in U.S. District Court on Friday, the lawsuit is reminiscent of the spotted owl litigation that forced the Forest Service to prepare the Northwest forest plan. The plan cut back logging by 80 percent on national forests west of the Cascades to protect fish and wildlife.

The new lawsuit was inspired by two actions by Congress:

Passing the so-called salvage rider, which suspended environmental laws to speed the harvest of timber killed by forest fires and insect infestations, as well as old timber sales held up over environmental concerns and new timber sales offered under the Northwest forest plan.

Amending the appropriations bill to kill funds for an environmental impact statement that was going to serve as the basis for future management of the east side of the Cascades. The bill has yet to be passed.

“A shortsighted Congress has taken away the laws that protect fish, and has booted the public out of public lands management,” said Glen Spain, Northwest director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, which represents salmon fishermen who have lost their jobs because of declining salmon runs.

“We cannot sit on the sidelines any longer,” said Tim Lillebo, Eastern Oregon coordinator for the Oregon Natural Resources Council.

Two and a half years ago, environmentalists stopped short of suing over eastside forests, filing a petition instead that led to a series of restrictions, or screens, on logging old growth to protect fish and wildlife such as the goshawk, pileated woodpecker and American marten.

Environmentalists contend that the survival of salmon and wildlife depend on mature forests, which have a mix of ages and species of trees up to hundreds of years old.