On October 13, the UEC filed an appeal of the proposed Trout Slope East Timber Project on the Ashley National Forest. The complete text of the 24 page appeal will be available on on website at www.uec-utah.org soon. Joining the UEC in its appeal is the Forest Conservation Council and the National Forest Protection Alliance.

The Trout Slope East Timber Project will cut 9 million board feet (approximately 1,800 logging trucks) worth of dead trees from the southeast slope of the Uintas. While some might argue that there is nothing wrong with taking dead trees, these trees create conditions that are ideal foraging and denning habitat for the threatened Canada lynx. The area has also historically been home to other species that are either declining or have disappeared from the Ashley such as the pine marten, wolverine, boreal owl, northern goshawk, and Colorado cutthroat trout.

The Trout Slope East area has already been heavily clearcut and the Forest Service has admitted it has violated its Forest Plan in the past in one area by clearcutting too much. The Forest Service also admits that the primary purpose of this sale has nothing to do with protecting the environment of the area and everything to do with provided the timber industry with cheap timber. We obviously question the Forest Service's priorities.

The Trout Slope East Timber Project is the UEC's seventh appeal this year.

Complete Text of Appeal