Federal Judge Nixes Rule That Enabled Clearcutting in the Name of Taming Wildfires

The Forest Service didn’t make a “reasoned decision” in exempting timber harvests from environmental review.

After thousands of acres were logged without any environmental impact statement on Forest Service land in Oregon, a lawsuit was filed to stop the use of CE-6, a categorical exclusion to reduce wildfire danger intended for small areas. A Federal Judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, because there was never an acreage cap and after so many sales that took advantage of CE-6, , more complaints and studies led to the judge’s decision. Read entire article