The Walden Logging Bill

In 2006, the forest activist community is going to have to hold back forces in Congress and their timber industry allies from passing a bad "salvage" logging bill that will have devastating impacts on National Forests for generations.

Representative Walden (R-OR) and Representative Baird (D-OR) introduced the deceptively titled "Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act" (HR 4200) in early November 2005. The bill sweeps aside protections for forests, fish and wildlife in order to rush logging and roadbuilding after natural events that occur in National Forests, such as fires, insect outbreaks and windstorms. The bill specifically waives the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for logging and other potentially damaging actions, shortcuts the Endangered Species Act and cuts Americans out of decisions that would impact the public's forests.

The bill currently has 144 cosponsors and two Congressional hearings have been held. We have heard that the bill is expected to move as soon as Congress returns to D.C. in late January.

Walden Logging Bill Talking Points

1) The Walden logging bill sweeps aside protections for forests, fish and wildlife in order to rush logging after normal natural events (such as rainstorms, fires, and droughts) on National Forests.

2) The Walden logging bill eliminates meaningful environmental review and cuts the public out of decisions that would harm America’s public forests. The bill waives the National Environmental Policy Act for damaging logging activities after normal natural events on National Forests.

3) According to the best available science there is no ecological emergency to log forests after normal, natural events on National Forests.

4) Logging after natural disturbances is not restoration or recovery. Logging these sensitive recovering forests degrades aquatic habitat through sediment runoff into streams, spreads invasive weeds, causes the loss of biological legacies, which include large live and dead trees that are vital in the recovery process.

5) The Walden bill is not needed. After hurricane Katrina, one of the largest natural disturbance projects in forest service history, the Forest Service used existing authorities under the Healthy

6) Forest Restoration Act to quickly implement projects without controversy in 90 days.
Burned forests are not a “waste,” it is the US Forest Service’s “salvage” logging program that wastes tax dollars.

I encourage you to read this article “Keep Those District Phones Ringing: Walden Logging Bill Expected to Move in February” on the American Lands Alliance website asap!

It is urgent that Members of Congress hear at home that there is overwhelming opposition to Walden's attack on National Forests.

To find out how to contact your Members of Congress in their district/state and to find out town hall meeting schedules please go to their websites which can be found at:

HOUSE http://www.house.gov/, SENATE http://www.senate.gov/.


For a copy of the Walden/Baird logging bill go to: frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h4200ih.txt.pdf [.pdf]

Thank you American Lands Alliance for this information.


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