collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Why Implementation Procedures Of Federal Environmental Laws Must Be Reformed  (Read 1414 times)

Offline KillBilly

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 3667
  • Location: OLY, WA.
  • I kill therefore I Am
More from Dr. Charles Kay

Forest Service retiree, Barry Wynsma, has written yet another spectacular and quite revealing essay for www.evergreenmagazine.com. In it, he explains the need—dare we say the necessity—for reforming the Forest Service's public comment process. The process, which is infested with environmental appellants and litigators, lost credibility in the rural West's timber communities many years ago.
After you've read Wynsma's essay and the 50-plus-page comment letter  from the Inland Lands Council and the Alliance for the Wild Rockies you will understand why many rural Americans believe the congressionally mandated public comment process—however well intended—is too cumbersome and time consuming.
The oft-heard complaint is that only professional environmentalists can afford to participate. There is some truth to this assertion, as Wynsma's essay suggests. More revealing though is the complete lack of professional expertise among those who are complaining most loudly about Forest Service projects.
While reading Wynsma's essay, bear in mind the fact that the taxpayer-funded Equal Access to Justice Act has become a major source of funding for environmental litigants. Another reason why Wynsma's recommendations ought to be required reading for members of Congress who profess an interest in the health and safety of the nation's federal forests.
 Barry Wynsma worked for the Forest Service for 33 years, from 1978 to 1988 on the Lost River Ranger District, Challis NF in Region 4 and from 1988 to 2011 at the Bonners Ferry Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National Forest in Region 1. He retired in September 2011 and plans to build a home near Idaho's fabled Salmon River.
« Last Edit: November 30, 2011, 11:25:09 AM by KillBilly »
Some people spend their entire life wondering if they made a difference. Marines don't have that problem.
He who shed blood with me shall forever be my brother.

Offline WAcoyotehunter

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 4457
  • Location: Pend Oreille County
These groups are smart and well funded.  There needs to be safeguards, but the lawsuits and red tape are a nightmare for any project, even if it's an environmental restoration or some other "good" (not extraction) project.   

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Youth Cow Tag by jhouckwsu
[Today at 07:16:57 AM]


Cowiche Quality Buck by buglebuster
[Today at 05:58:49 AM]


People on Cams by hunter399
[Today at 05:56:38 AM]


Norway pass Elk by furbearer365
[Today at 05:46:12 AM]


Norway Pass Bull by High Climber
[Yesterday at 09:23:10 PM]


Drew Quality by blindluck
[Yesterday at 08:45:49 PM]


Greenriver quality Elk permit by IDWAHunt
[Yesterday at 07:54:08 PM]


Steel Targets??? by bowman
[Yesterday at 07:41:07 PM]


Is FS70 open? by CarbonHunter
[Yesterday at 06:08:08 PM]


Fun little Winchester 1890 project by Dan-o
[Yesterday at 04:24:08 PM]


Idaho unit 76 cow elk Oct 25 to Nov 15 by bornhunter
[Yesterday at 02:11:35 PM]


Selkirk bull moose. by lewy
[Yesterday at 10:34:16 AM]


No trespassing, hunting, fishing signs posted along Skykomish river by jackelope
[Yesterday at 10:11:26 AM]


Sheep Ewe - Whitestone Sheep Unit 20 by geauxtigers
[Yesterday at 09:55:59 AM]


2025 OILS! by geauxtigers
[Yesterday at 09:14:25 AM]


Looking for English Pointer pup (Elhew and/or Guard Rail lines) by Tafinder
[Yesterday at 07:22:10 AM]


Buying pheasants for training by trapp01
[June 14, 2025, 08:44:40 PM]


Mt. Spokane North Moose by Farmer72
[June 14, 2025, 08:12:24 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal