‘Setback’ for Alaska? Federal Court Blocks Logging in Largest National Forest

A federal appeals court has locked down America’s largest national forest from logging, in a tight decision that reverses a Bush-era bid to open up the Alaska land and has state officials fuming.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in the 6-5 decision, on Wednesday lifted Tongass National Forest’s longstanding exemption from a 2001 federal mandate called the “Roadless Rule.” That rule prohibits road construction and timber harvesting across millions of acres of America’s national forests.

The George W. Bush administration gave a special exemption to the Tongass forest in 2003, but conservationists fought the move — and won.

Alaska officials, who had been hoping to use the land for limited timber harvesting and other projects, are weighing their options [but environmentalists are celebrating].

“Today’s decision is great news for the Tongass National Forest and for all of those who rely on its roadless areas,” Earthjustice official Tom Waldo in a statement. “The remaining wild and undeveloped parts of the Tongass are important fish and wildlife habitat and vital to residents and visitors alike for hunting, fishing, recreation, and tourism, the driving forces of the regional economy.” (Read more from “‘Setback’ for Alaska? Federal Court Blocks Logging in Largest National Forest” HERE)

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