NEWS RELEASE 5/30/97
BURLEY DISTRICT RANGER REVERSED ON APPEAL
Idaho Watersheds Project and the Committee for Idaho's High Desert announced today the reversal of Burley District Ranger “Pete” Peterson's decision to authorize the Sublett Division “Forest Health Treatment Project” which involved logging up to 80% of the remaining timber stands on the Sublett Division of the Sawtooth National Forest by the Region 4 Acting Deputy Regional Forester, Jack W. McDonald. of Ogden, Utah.
Idaho Watersheds Project (IWP) and the Committee for Idaho’s High Desert (CIHD) had appealed the decision on numerous grounds including violations of the Endangered Species Act, the Sawtooth National Forest Land & Resource Management Plan, and the National Environmental Policy Act.
In reversing District Ranger Peterson's decision, Forester McDonald stated that the Biological Assessment for threatened or endangered species did not “ follow established Regional and national direction”; there was “no documentation in the project record of concurrence on the BA/BE from the US Fish and Wildlife Service before the decision was made. This is contrary to Forest Service policy”; Surveys for sensitive species on the Sawtooth Forest were not carried out 1 year prior to issuing a decision contrary to Regional direction; and “four sensitive fish species which occur on the Forest were left out of the BA/BE.”
IWP and CIHD note that in order to comply with the reversal of this decision a probable minimum of two years will be required to complete all legally mandated surveys of sensitive and threatened species on the Sublett Division of the Sawtooth Forest. In addition, the National Environmental Policy Act appeal points were not fully explored by the Deputy Regional Forester in his reversal and remain outstanding.
Jon Marvel, President of Idaho Watersheds Project, stated: “IWP and CIHD are ready to work with Ranger Peterson to help prepare a reasonable and legal proposal to restore ecological health for the Sublett Division of the Burley Ranger District; however, it is clear that the current proposal does not meet current legal mandates and may never do so. IWP looks forward to a new proposal from Ranger Peterson which will not result in a plan to log up to 80% of the remaining merchantable timber in the Sublett Division under the guise of a 'Forest Health Treatment' as this decision tried to do”
Contact: Idaho Watersheds Project (208) 788-2290