Forests

Legal Cases related to forests

Preventing the Resurrection of WOPR

Members of the timber industry are seeking to resurrect WOPR, despite the fact that the Obama administration withdrew the plan as legally indefensible. PRC moved to intervene in this case to ensure that the aquatic protections of the Northwest Forest Plan remain in place on BLM forests in Western Oregon.

Reinstating the Roadless Rule

The Forest Service's repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule was illegal. Through both this case, and through our intervention in the case brought by Wyoming, PRC is working to continue to protect roadless areas, and the sensitive species that depend on them through the Roadless Rule.

Protecting Bull Trout from Rock Creek Mine

PRC brought this lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act to ensure that the Rock Creek Mine in Montana will not jeopardize bull trout and that any adverse impacts will be avoided or mitigated.

Defending the Public's Right to Comment and Appeal

In 2003, the Bush Administration adopted regulations that limited the rights of the public to comment on and to appeal Forest Service projects. PRC stepped in to ensure that the public is given a voice in Forest Service decisions. Public notice and comment opportunities allow the public to influence projects happening on public lands.

Defending the 2001 Roadless Rule

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, adopted in 2001 with unprecedented public support, put severe limits on new road construction and logging in nearly 60 million acres of currently roadless forestlands. The State of Wyoming, however, is seeking to overturn the rule nationwide to allow more roadbuilding in our National Forests.

Protecting Sierra Nevada’s Fragile Watersheds

For many years the Pacific Rivers Council has worked diligently with the Forest Service, independent scientists, and fellow conservationists to ensure that watersheds in the Sierra Nevada are managed in an ecologically sound manner.