Long Sale Draw Sale Withdrawn in Washington
11/24/97
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Headline: Long Sale Draw Sale Withdrawn in Washington
Source: Brian Vincent, Conservation Director
Northwest Ecosystem Alliance
bvincent@pacificrim.net
http://www.ecosystem.org/~nwea/
1421 Cornwall Avenue, Suite 201
Bellingham WA 98225
(360)671-9950 x 11 fax:671-8429
Date: 11/24/97
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 24, 1997
Contact: Brian Vincent, Conservation Director, NWEA, 360/671-9950 x 11
Evan Frost, Staff Ecologist, 509/997-9398
In Victory For Wildlife and Forests, Forest Service Backtracks On Long
Draw Timber Sale
Bellingham - Citizens in Washington breathed a sigh of relief when the
U.S. Forest Service announced this afternoon it was withdrawing the
Record of Decision (ROD) for the Long Draw Timber Sale. After reviewing
the sale on the Okanogan National Forest, the regional office pulled the
ROD and instructed the Okanogan to address a number of environmental
concerns raised about the sale and to issue a new decision. The new
decision is expected in the next few months.
The Long Draw sale, which would threaten numerous rare wildlife species
including grizzly bear, gray wolf, lynx, wolverine and redband trout,
has become a lightning rod of public opposition in Washington. While
conservation groups were clearly relieved by today's announcement, they
urged the Service to cancel the sale completely.
"Unless the Clinton Administration acts to cancel Long Draw, we know
this sale will raise its ugly head again. The Okanogan will say they've
'fixed' the problems and try to repackage it with ribbons and bows. But
this sale, which would cut into the heart of one of our nation's most
sacred places, should be stopped. Pure and simple," said Brian Vincent,
Conservation Director of the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance.
NWEA, along with the Sierra Club, Inland Empire Public Lands Council,
Methow Forest Watch, and Kettle Range Conservation Group had appealed
the Long Draw sale because it would push further roading and logging
into unprotected wilderness bordering the southeast edge of the Pasayten
Wilderness. Public outrage has been loud across the state. Earlier this
month, an aide to Governor Gary Locke wrote to the Service expressing
concern about Long Draw, questioning whether it complied with the Forest
Service Chief's directive to stay out of controversial roadless areas.
Most recently, President Clinton announced that the Forest Service was
developing a roadless area policy. Advocates for forest protection have
argued that logging of pristine areas like Long Draw would seriously
undermine any such policy.
"Deferral as opposed to cancellation of Long Draw makes passage of a
strong roadless area policy by the Administration more important than
ever. Places like this are just too valuable to turn into more stumps,"
said Evan Frost, Staff Ecologist of NWEA.
Brian Vincent, Conservation Director
Northwest Ecosystem Alliance
bvincent@pacificrim.net
http://www.ecosystem.org/~nwea/
1421 Cornwall Avenue, Suite 201
Bellingham WA 98225
(360)671-9950 x 11 fax:671-8429