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Appeal of Decision to Renew Grazing Permits in Fishlake N.F. On March 9 the Utah Environmental Congress (UEC) filed an appeal of the January 26 decision by Forest Supervisor Rob Mrowka to reauthorize sheep and cattle grazing on 42 allotments within the Fishlake National Forest. The allotments in question cover more than 690,000 acres and include 36 cattle allotments and 6 sheep allotments. The UEC is appealing on the grounds numerous environmental laws were violated by the Fishlake National Forest in its effort to quickly renew grazing permits on the verge of expiring. In the appeal the UEC demonstrates the failure of the Fishlake National Forest to adequately monitor wildlife, vegetation, water quality and fisheries within the 42 allotments impacted by the decision to continue grazing. The lack of attention given to sensitive and threatened and endangered species is especially troubling. The Fishlake National Forest failed to even conduct a biological evaluation of the species impacted by its decision as required by law. Across the more than 690,000 acres affected by this action there are numerous streams and lakes listed on the state’s list of impaired waters. The Fishlake National Forest has done little monitoring within these streams and lakes, and where it has done monitoring only two streams were found to be above Forest Plan standards. Because the Forest Service is proposing no changes to the number of livestock allowed to graze or season dates, it has failed to demonstrate how their proposed action would improve watershed quality as required by the Clean Water Act. As a result of these and other violations of federal laws and regulations, the UEC is asking the Regional Forester to immediately remand the decision and remove all livestock from the allotments until the Fishlake National Forest has adequately analyzed the impacts of grazing and developed a plan that will begin to restore vegetation, fisheries and water quality on the Forest. "It is extremely disturbing to see the Fishlake National Forest put out a proposal to continue grazing at current levels across 690,000 acres for the next 10 years with so little data in their analysis to support the decision" states Craig Axford, Program Director for the UEC. "What data they do have clearly shows that serious damage has and is being done to watersheds, soils, vegetation and wildlife within these allotments." |