12/17/09

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) _ The U.S. Forest Service is rewriting
the basic planning rule that balances logging against wildlife,
clean water, and other benefits of the national forests.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced from Washington,
D.C., on Thursday that work is starting on an environmental impact
statement to take the place of one produced by the Bush
administration that was struck down by a federal judge.

Vilsack says this is a chance to adopt a modern rule that takes
into account factors like clean water and climate change.

Intent on boosting logging, the Bush administration had scrapped
the old rule requiring national forests to maintain viable
populations of so-called indicator species, such as the spotted
owl.


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