Federal Forests might have a chance after all– if it isn’t too late.
The NY Times just reported that a Federal Judge has struck down the Bush Admin’s changes to the Forest Management Rules, the ones that strip away pretty much all environmental protections and allow rampant deforestation on Federal land and the replacement of trees with cellphone towers (probably with fake branches to make them look like their predecessors. Yeah, right.) “The rules, issued in early 2005, cut back on requirements for environmental reviews and safeguards for wildlife, and limited public participation in the development of management plans for individual forests . . . Instead, they broadened the power of forest managers to decide whether mines, logging operations, cellphone towers or other development would be appropriate uses of forest land.”
It’s about time that Bush’s moves to fatten the pockets of corporations who are Republican Supporters are headed off at the pass.
Maybe next we’ll have the EPA library restored instead of consigned to some warehouse in East Jibippy. It would be nice if lawyers prosecuting polluters could find the stuff they’re looking for to make their cases.
Maybe next we’ll have the people who actually took OVERSIGHT seriously on companies who were supposed to be paying royalties for oil pulled out of Federal land called back to their jobs instead of languishing on the unemployment line.
And maybe next we’ll have the honest lawyers restored to the DOJ.
Dubya, you have a LOT to answer for.
Technorati Tags: Federal Forest, environment, endangered species, environmental impact
