The Utah Environmental Congress on Friday filed a federal lawsuit to stop timber sales in the Fishlake National Forest.
According to the lawsuit, the Thousand Lakes Timber Sale Project area covers 15,000 acres and is home to many rare and endangered species, including the bald eagle, Mexican spotted owl, peregrine falcon, black bear, mountain lion and bobcat.
"(UEC) members are personally concerned about the plight of the Fishlake National Forest and the destruction of any part of it through improper and illegal timber cutting decisions that destroy native forests," the suit states.
The suit accuses officials at the U.S. Forest Service and the Fishlake National Forest of violating numerous federal laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act and the Wildlife Act.
"The cutting of this forest without compliance with the law causes and will cause substantial injury to (UEC) members' use and enjoyment of the Fishlake and will significantly harm their aesthetic enjoyment and recreational use of the Fishlake," the suit states.
The lawsuit points out factual errors in the project's environmental assessment, as well as the use of decades-old surveys to form a final opinion about the impact the project would have on wildlife and plant growth in the area.
The suit asks for a determination that the defendants violated the acts and requests an injunction to prevent the timber sales.