Environmentalists sue over operation of Wayne National Forest

(Note: Recreationists and timber harvesters, heads up! As the quote goes, "You'll know it's true when it happens to you.")

 

April 14, 2004

Associated Press

Cincinnati, Ohio - An environmental organization is suing two federal agencies to challenge the government's approval of timber sales in the Wayne National Forest in southeastern Ohio.

The Buckeye Forest Council's lawsuit also challenges the government's overall management plan for the forest.

 

The organization's suit, filed Tuesday in Cincinnati federal court, alleges that the U.S. Forest Service and the [U.S.] Fish and Wildlife Service gave approvals for the projects without the environmental impact assessments (EISs) that federal law requires.

The environmental group contends that the government, by allowing logging projects in the forest, is putting an endangered Indiana bat species at risk.

The lawsuit asks U.S. District Judge Herman Weber for an order to stop the challenged programs until appropriate environmental assessments are done.

Mary Reddan, forest supervisor of the Wayne National Forest who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, said Wednesday that she had not seen the lawsuit.

A telephone message requesting comment was left Wednesday afternoon with the Columbus office of the [U.S.] Fish and Wildlife Service.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/8432136.htm?1c