The U.S. Forest Service is recommending increased logging across 2.4 million acres of national forest in Northern California. In a draft environmental impact statement to be released today, the USFS offers two potential logging alternatives for the area, both of which national enviros say would harm sensitive wildlife species, double the amount of logging now permitted, and damage old-growth groves. The agency is working to implement the so-called “Quincy Library Group” bill signed last year by Pres. Clinton, which adopted a logging plan that resulted from years of negotiations between local environmentalists, loggers, and businesses. Public comments will be accepted on the plans and a final decision is expected in August.
