Protect Our Heritage Forests

Heritage Forests Campaign News Release

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2002

CONTACT: Le Evans, NET, 202-887-1342 or 202-487-7465 (cell)

Statement of Jane Danowitz, Director of the Heritage Forests Campaign, In Response to Release of USDA Forest Service "Process Predicament" Report

Chief Dale Bosworth said today that 'the Forest Service is operating with Stone Age rules in a dot.com world.'

We doubt that Americans believe that it's old fashioned to protect public lands through strong environmental laws and public participation. Certainly, none of us wants our national forests to go the way of the dot.com here today and gone tomorrow.

This report from the Bush administration harkens back to the Newt Gingrich era when corporate special interests tried unsuccessfully to use red-tape arguments and so-called regulatory reform as an excuse to rollback critical environmental and food safety protections. It's a report that has the timber industry's fingerprints all over it.

For more information, please contact Le Evans at (202) 887-1342

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The Heritage Forests Campaign is an alliance of conservationists, wildlife advocates, clergy, educators, scientists, and other Americans working together to uphold protection of our National Forests. Heritage Forests Campaign's partners include Alaska Rainforest Coalition, American Hiking Society, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, National Environmental Trust, National Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, US PIRG, and The Wilderness Society.