Forestry
National Park Wilderness Expansions, Including
Guadalupe Mountains, Put in Deep Freeze
In a move reminiscent of President Ronald Reagan’s anti-environmental
Secretary of the Interior, James Watt, Gail Norton, Watt’s protégé and current
Secretary of the Interior, has administratively frozen processing of almost 250,000 acres
of National Park System wilderness proposals. In addition to Big Cypress National
Preserve, Channel Islands National Park, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, 38,000
acres of potential wilderness in Guadalupe Mountains National Park (GMNP) is stuck in
bureaucratic limbo. (Dec 03)
U.S. House, Senate, and President Bush Approve
Unhealthy Forest Bill: Tree Massacre Expected
The U.S. Congress approved the so-called Healthy Forests Restoration Act of
2003 (the Unhealthy Forest Initiative – UFI or HR 1904) and President George Bush
signed this bill into law on December 3, 2003. This law is the greatest attack on the
National Forest System since it was created in the early 1900’s. In addition, this
law weakens protections found in many landmark environmental protection laws like the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and reduces public participation. (Dec 03)
Red-cockaded Woodpecker Lawsuit Ends
On July 25, 2003, after more than 15 years in court, the Sierra Club, Texas
Committee on Natural Resource (TCONR), and The Wilderness Society (TWS) lawsuit to protect
the federally endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) came to end. Federal district
court Judge Richard A. Schell dissolved the 1988 and 1999 injunctions that were part of
the RCW lawsuit when the U.S. Forest Service (FS) presented a management plan that they
said will prevent the RCW from going extinct and will recovery the bird’s
populations. (Sep 03)
Unhealthy Forest Bill Set for Passage in the U.S.
Senate: Your Help Needed Now!!!
On July 24, 2003, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the so-called Healthy
Forests and Restoration Act of 2003 (HR 1904). The bill is part of the Bush
Administration’s so far successful attempt to capitalize on the fear that has been
stirred up in the West over forest fires. (Sep 03)
Sierra Club and Others Sue the U.S. Forest Service Over
Timber Sales in Texas and Three Other States
In May 2003, the Sierra Club, along with eight other groups, sued the U.S. Forest
Service (FS) over 27 timber sales in four states in the South. The states are Texas,
Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. (Sep 03)
Red Alert!!! Comments Needed About Unhealthy Forest
Initiative (UFI) in Sam Houston National Forest
The Problem: President Bush has created the Healthy Forests Initiative (a
more appropriate name is the UFI) to reduce fire risk to people and insect risk to trees
in National Forests. The UFI is an excuse to allow timber industry logging on and over
burning on your National Forests. One of the UFI pilot projects is the Boswell Creek
Watershed (BCW) in SHNF. (Jul 03)
House Passes Fire Bill; Bush Approves Weakened Forest
Regulations; Timber Beasts Salivate
On May 20, 2003, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1904, the
so-called, “Healthy Forests and Restoration Act of 2003. If this bill passes the U.S.
Senate the National Forests will be open to massive logging by timber companies under the
guise of fire control. At nearly the same time the Bush Administration approved new forest
regulations that weaken protection for National Forests and make logging easier. (Jul 03)
Forestry Notes
Updates on several Forestry items (May 03)
Forestry Notes
Updates on several Forestry items (Apr 03)
Forestry Notes
Updates on several Forestry items (Mar 03)
Stop the Bush Assault on National Forests Via Forest
Plan Rules
The Forest Planning Rules are supposed to implement the National Forest
Management Act's mandate to protect a diversity of forest resources from destructive
timber practices like clear-cutting. Instead, the Bush Administration has proposed
rules that will cut protection for National Forests, reduce public input, and increase
logging. (Mar 03)
Forestry Notes
Updates on several Forestry items (Feb 03)
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Clean Air
Diesel Exhaust Creates Health Problems
The information in this article was taken from the May 2002 U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency “Health Assessment Document for Diesel Engine Exhaust.” The
health assessment (HA) characterizes diesel exhaust (DE), the health effects that are
currently known, and was peer reviewed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee. The
EPA used the HA as part of the scientific basis for regulating heavy-duty highway engines
to reduce DE air pollution. (Oct 03)
Houston Sierra Club Starts Up New Air Quality Committee
On July 24th, 2003, the Houston Sierra Club Executive Committee approved the
creation of an Air Quality Committee (AQC) that will function under the Conservation
Committee. The chair and spokesperson of the new AQC is Brandt Mannchen. (Sep 03)
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