February 23, 2006 - USFS Continues a Losing Methodology

On Tuesday, February 21, The Forest Service announced its decision to deny the appeal of various groups and citizens regarding the irresponsible Emerald Bay timber sale on the Cleveland Peninsula.

This is the losing mentality we have come to expect from the agency, stated Gregory Vickrey of the Tongass Conservation Society. They do not care how many tax dollars are lost on this or any sale. They do not care about standards and guidelines associated with loss of habitat for various species in the area. They do not care about the economic losses associated with the denial of protections for multiple use of Emerald Bay and the peninsula on the whole.

According to their own calculations, the Emerald Bay sale will cost tax payers over 1.5 million dollars. Even this exorbitant amount does not cover the true costs associated with the project and actual receipt losses on this sale alone will be well over $10 million.

With regards to wildlife habitat, the Forest Service will implement its own standards and guidelines for specific species based on the illegal Tongass Land Management Plan only during the harvesting process after critical habitat has already been compromised for the sake of a single industry.