Ground Truth Blog
Relict Dace Endangered Species Act Decision Expected by End of September
By Scott King Although it’s small in size, Nevada’s relict dace has become a big name in recent conservation efforts, as a petition and a lawsuit have been put forth to protect the fish under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The process began in 2014 when Forest...
Amid Widespread Opposition to California Logging Project, Forest Service Extends Comment Deadline
By Rebecca August — The Forest Service has extended the deadline, from June 30 to August 14, for the public to comment on its proposal to cut down trees and chaparral across 755 acres deep in the Ventura County, Calif., backcountry. The move follows a letter sent to...
Bighorn Fire: Questions raised about effectiveness of flame retardant used against wildfires
By Tony Davis in The Arizona Daily Star — From the stark, deeply incised rock face of Pusch Ridge to the spruce-lined top of Mount Lemmon, one color seems to have dominated the two-week battle of the Bighorn Fire: Flaming, searing red — maybe a cross between the hues...
A Setback at Boundary Waters
Federal District Judge Trevor McFadden, a recent Trump appointee, upheld the Trump administration’s decision to reissue two mineral leases for the Twin Metals Minnesota mine project, which risks polluting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Superior National...
Oil, Logging, Mining Ordered as Forest Service Focus
By Bobby Magill, Bloomberg Law — Oil, logging, mining, and grazing will be the priorities of national forests and grasslands, with expedited environmental oversight, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told the U.S. Forest Service Friday. Perdue‘s memo announced a...
Forest Service Solicits Comments on Proposed Dam Near Holy Cross Wilderness
By Grant Stringer, Aurora Sentinel Conservationists and development boosters alike can now weigh in on the next phase of a city government-backed plan to build a new reservoir and divert water to Aurora taps. The White River National Forest opened a public comment...
A Victory for the Tongass
U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason rejected the Trump administration’s plan to harvest timber in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Gleason ruled that project approval violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation...
Disgraceful Plans for Utah Monuments
The Trump administration has finalized management plans for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. Both plans make it easier to obtain rights of way for development. The plans also allow chaining, the practice of dragging chains between...
Updates from El Yunque
El Yunque National Forest encompasses much of Puerto Rico’s Sierra de Luquillo Mountains and is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest system. Even though it is one of the smallest National Forests, its hundreds of animal and plant species make it...
Protecting America’s Wilderness Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2546 by a vote of 231-183, sending the bill to the Senate in mid February. The Protecting America’s Wilderness Act would designate more than 1.3 million acres as wilderness at dozens of locations in Washington, Colorado...
Forest Service Takes FSEEE’s Advice
Last winter, the Forest Service proposed that people pay a fee to hike or camp in central Oregon’s undeveloped wilderness areas. The agency argued that wilderness areas are “special” places in which Congress has authorized hiking and camping fees. FSEEE pointed out...
FSEEE Weighs in on Wilderness User Fees
Last month, the Forest Service proposed levying fees for entering three wilderness areas the agency oversees in Oregon, even for hikers and campers. FSEEE opposes the move. Here’s a letter Executive Director Andy Stahl wrote to the agency this week outlining our...