March 30, 2001

The Utah Environmental Congress (UEC) and the Forest Guardians have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah against the Manti La Sal National Forest over the South Manti Timber Sale.

The Utah Environmental Congress and Forest Guardians allege numerous environmental law violations by the Forest Service, which has authority over Utah's National Forests. The South Manti Timber Sale will log three roadless areas that are home to numerous sensitive species; increase the risk of wildfire; and will lose hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money. "The Manti La Sal National Forest is long overdue for a lawsuit," said Denise Boggs, Executive Director of the Utah Environmental Congress. "Their unwillingness over the years to obey the laws meant to protect the environment must be challenged," she said.

The timber sale will log between 21 and 27 million board feet of timber and construct or reconstruct 10.3 miles of road. About 64% of the logging project is in roadless areas. The three roadless areas are home to the flammulated owl, northern goshawk, three-toed woodpecker, deer, elk, black bear, mountain lion, and two sensitive plant species. "The Manti La Sal National Forest has clearly violated its monitoring obligations under the National Forest Management Act," stated Bernard Zaleha, lead attorney in the lawsuit. "There is good case law in this area and the Manti La Sal is not even close to compliance," he said.

The South Manti timber sale is another below cost sale that will ultimately be paid for by the taxpayer. The United States is the only country in the world that allows its citizens to pay for the destruction of their own public land. Sam Hitt, Founder of Forest Guardians said, "This is a tragic and destructive affront to public lands. Wilderness values are of far more value than short- term logging. We want this area immediately protected and that's the purpose of the lawsuit."

"The Manti La Sal National Forest has never been sued before and is used to doing what it wants without accountability," said Denise Boggs. "It is time for the Forest Service to protect our natural resources instead of protecting the interests of the timber industry," she said. Troy Barsky, with the firm of Manning, Curtis, Bradshaw & Bednar, is handling Utah local counsel for the lawsuit.