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Industry Sues over "Survey & Manage" Rule In January it was reported that the American Forest Resource Council is suing the U.S. Forest Service to withdraw the "survey and manage" requirement from the Northwest Forest Plan, on the grounds that the requirement to undertake detailed studies of species not under federal protection in harvest project areas effectively prevents harvest and "creates reserves" without legal authorization. The lawsuit comes in the midst of well publicized statements from federal land management officials decrying "analysis paralysis"--most recently from Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey, who, on January 12 told the Associated Oregon Loggers that he would like to "redeem the commitments made in the Plan and achieve all of its objectives" and indicated the Forest Service is reviewing its internal regulations with respect to the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and other environmental laws. In 1999, the Forest Service set a harvest target of 566 million board feet under the terms of the Northwest Forest Plan but due to administrative or court challenges was only able to offer 164 million board feet. Return to Public Policy Archive Forest Resources Association
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