ENVIROS CHALLENGE OLD-GROWTH LOGGING: A coalition of conservation groups announced 1/28 they are suing the U.S. Forest Service to stop the logging of old-growth in Idaho's Clearwater National Forest. The groups claim the agency is violating the forest's management plan, which requires 10% of the forest be old-growth. They say only 7-9% of the forest is currently old-growth. The lawsuit seeks to stop logging until the actual levels can be verified. Larry McLaud of the Idaho Conservation League said, "[t]he importance of old-growth habitat cannot be overstated...we need to protect what's left, not continue to cut it down."

REPORT RECOMMENDS $51 BILLION IN GREEN BUDGET CUTS: The Environmental News Network 2/1 announced the release of the annual Green Scissors report. Published by Friends of the Earth, Taxpayers for Common Sense, and U.S. PIRG, the report recommends $51 billion in budget cuts to programs that harm the environment. The report recommends the 1872 Mining Law be repealed for a savings of over $1 billion, $50 million in funding for predator control programs be eliminated, and the U.S. Forest Service end subsidies for logging for a savings of $555 million. For a copy see http://www.foe.org/eco/scissors99/.

ORV GROUPS STALL ROAD CLOSURES: The 1/27 Salt Lake Tribune reported off-road vehicle groups are challenging plans to close over 200 miles of roads in Utah's Dixie National Forest. Forest Service officials proposed the closures to reduce the overall road density in the forest from almost 5 miles of road per square mile to 2 miles per square mile as mandated in the forest's management plan. The Service will convene working groups of ORV users and environmentalists to re-study the road closure plan.

AIR FORCE OUTBID IN OWYHEE CANYON: The Oregon Natural Desert Association 1/26 announced the Owyhee Canyons Coalition outbid the U.S. Air Force for the lease of almost 1000 acres of school trust lands in the Owyhee Canyon of Idaho. The Air Force bid $5 to use the land as a training ground, but lost when the OCC bid $5,000 in a public auction. The Air Force is expected to appeal the auction to the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners. Because Idaho law requires sales to increase the endowment of Idaho's school fund, the OCC hopes the sale will be upheld.

TAHOE AGENCY ENACTS PROTECTIONS: The 1/28 San Francisco Chronicle reported the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency announced a ban on most personal watercraft and tougher rules for livestock grazing in an effort to reduce pollution in Lake Tahoe. Beginning in June, the regulations will require ranchers to protect streams from erosion and manure, while heavily polluting two-stroke engines that power jet-skis and other small craft will be banned. The TRPA will consider exemptions to these rules in February.

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