In a letter to Kentucky Heartwood, District Ranger Kyle Edmonds announced the withdrawal of the draft “Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Jellico Vegetation Management Project” on the Daniel Boone National Forest.
FSEEE, along with Kentucky Heartwood and others, opposed the Jellico Mountains project, which proposed to log mature and old-growth white oak trees to satiate the whiskey industry’s demand for timber to make bourbon barrels. White oak trees in Kentucky and neighboring states are already in decline from multiple factors, and logging healthy stands would be irresponsible.
Edmonds’ letter reads, “I believe there is new information warranting further review, assessment, and consideration of applicability to the project area. With this letter,
I am withdrawing the draft ‘Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact’ for the Jellico Project.”
As stated by Dr. Johanna Delgado-Acevedo, director of Kentucky Heartwood, “This withdrawal is a testament to the power of science-based advocacy and community engagement. The Forest Service’s decision to pause and conduct further review is exactly what responsible public land management looks like.”
Photo: Mature and old-growth Jellico Mountains forests are targeted for logging in Daniel Boone National Forest (photo by Jim Scheff).
