Seven conservation groups filed suit in the Federal District Court today to prevent logging of an ecologically sensitive roadless area along the western border of the Trinity Alps Wilderness in Humboldt County, east of Eureka. The proposed logging is the first timber sale in a California roadless area since the January release of then President Clinton's national roadless area conservation policy.

The massive logging project, is designed to cut 1,050 acres and produce 20 million board feet of lumber (approximately 4,000 log-truck loads). The lands were burned in a 1999 wildfire.

Unfortunately, since this project is miles from any communities, it will do little to protect the public. "This is simply a large timber sale targeting ancient trees in a roadless area adjacent to wilderness. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth has stated that he believes that roadless areas should be protected. He should start with Orleans Mountain by rejecting this project." said Paul Spitler of the California Wilderness Coalition.

In addition to logging over 320 acres in a federally recognized roadless area adjacent to the Trinity Alps, the proposal also logs in a critical watershed that has received tens of millions of dollars in salmon restoration efforts over the past 20 years. "Unnecessary and environmentally destructive logging in an area that is one of the success stories for salmon restoration is foolish, both economically and environmentally. Horse-Linto Creek is one of our best restoration success stories, and we should be doing whatever possible to protect that investment." said Anthony Ambrose of EPIC.

Last year Congress appropriated an additional $120 million for fuels reduction projects in the urban-wildland interface zone, defined as the area "where combustible homes meet combustible vegetation." In testimony before Congress, however, the Forest Service admitted that only 25 percent of the acres treated were in urban-wildland interface areas. Instead of directing resources to protect communities, the agency is using emergency monies for commercial timber sales in areas far from homes and businesses.

"Rather than supporting logging in roadless areas, old growth habitat, and other sensitive areas, federal dollars would be better spent by providing homeowners living in the urban-wildland interface zone with the resources to protect their property" said Diane Beck of the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club. "Unfortunately, it looks like the Bush Administration is going to use fire as an excuse to log and assault roadless areas," said attorney Marc Fink of the Western Environmental Law Center. "The Forest Service's own studies recognize that logging big trees is not the way to protect communities from future fire."

Plaintiffs on the suit include the Sierra Club, Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), California Wilderness Coalition, Center for Biological Diversity, Klamath Forest Alliance, Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center and Forest Conservation Council. Plaintiffs are represented by Marc Fink of the Western Environmental Law Center.