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addition, the plan would:
•
Eliminate the statutory right of citizens to appeal Forest Service
logging projects.
•
Restrict a core principle of our democracy– the right of Americans
to seek redress in the court for grievances involving the federal
government. The bill limits preliminary injunctive relief to 45
days, and forces any U.S court to render a final decision on the
merits of a case within 100 days.
• Not include any specific measures to protect homes or communities
from wildfire.
Last week, the agricultural committee expanded the areas where the
bill would allow logging to take place without environmental review.
One of the new provisions would allow timber companies to log anywhere
in national forests hit by an ice storm. The new bill also expands
the areas of prioritization for fuels reduction to all watersheds,
including all streams that flow into a watershed. This expansion
means that many more logging projects far from communities will
be exempted from important environmental
reviews.
TAKE ACTION
Call, write or fax Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara
Boxer (or your own senators if you are outside California) and ask
them to vote against any legislation implementing the "Healthy
Forests Initiative.”
Senator Dianne Feinstein
One Post Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone (415) 393-0707
Fax (415) 393-0710
Senator Barbara Boxer
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone (415) 403-0100
Fax (415) 956-6701
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear
Senator _______________________,
Please oppose any legislation which would encourage increased logging
in or weaken environmental protection for our national forests.
I do not believe that logging large trees– as President Bush's
"Healthy Forests Initiative" advocates– will prevent
forest fires. A study by Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project, commissioned
by Congress, concluded that "Timber harvest, through its effects
on forest structure, local microclimate and fuels accumulation,
has increased fire severity more than any other recent human activity."
I urge you to oppose any plan that suspends environmental laws or
limits public involvement in forest management decisions. In addition
please work to end any contracts that allow logging companies to
be paid with trees instead of cash for conducting fuels-reduction
logging on public lands.
Funds for fuels reduction should be concentrated on areas where
fires pose the greatest threat to human safety and property–
in the immediate vicinity of homes and communities. The percentage
of fuel-reduction budget the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management spend on the "Community Zone" should be increased
to 85 percent from its current level of 39 percent.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your address
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