From the Ironwood Daily Globe
PARK FALLS, Wis. -- Forest Supervisor Anne Archie has announced that the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest will conduct additional studies in response to rulings by Federal District Judge Lynn Adelman earlier this year.
The rulings involve two vegetation management projects in Florence, Forest, and Oconto counties in Northeastern Wisconsin: the 43,600-acre Northwest Howell Project and the 36,000-acre McCaslin Project.
The rulings halt all project activities including plans for 16,000 acres of commercial timber harvest to improve the quality, growth and structure of the forest, wildlife habitat management, archeological evaluations, and tree planting, until the studies are complete.
Habitat Education Center Inc., a national environmental group based in Madison, Wis., challenged the projects in Federal District Court.
The plaintiffs alleged that the projects violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, and claimed that the forest's environmental analyses were inadequate.
Judge Adelman ruled in favor of the Forest Service on all points except the cumulative effects analysis.
HEC specifically claimed that the initial environmental studies:
--Failed to consider sound, high quality scientific information that indicated that the project would harm several species which are already in decline.
--Were based on an outdated 1986 Forest Plan.
--Failed to collect data indicating the effect of the project on management indicator species.
--Violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to consult with them about affects on Canada lynx.
--Allowed greater road density than the 1986 plan directed.
--Failed to consider the cumulative impacts on the environment of past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future logging projects.
Archie said: "After reviewing the court's decision, and applicable laws and regulations, I have decided that the court's order and the public will be best served by conducting supplemental environmental impact studies. The additional analyses will clarify and add more detail to the cumulative impact concerns and the effects on sensitive species."
Public comments on the scope of the analyses will be accepted through June 27. The Forest Service will document findings in draft supplemental environmental impact statements.
These documents will be available for public review and comment upon their completion which is slated for the end of July. A final decision is expected later this year.
Written comments can be sent to Archie at 1170 4th Ave. S., Park Falls.
