Preparing For Rim Fire Logging Litigation
Sonora, CA — Stanislaus National Forest officials are preparing for the possibility that lawsuits will be filed against the Rim Fire Recovery Record of Decision.
It was signed last week, and calls for salvage logging on approximately 15,000 acres within the Rim Fire footprint. Contractors will be able to start bidding on the work as early as Wednesday. It is in addition to the 17,000 acres of hazard trees also being removed along roads and highly used facilities.
Deputy Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Scott Tangenberg spoke before the Tuolumne County Supervisors this morning, and said the Forest Service has been contacted by several individuals, or groups, that will likely file litigation later this week.
“I’m coming before you today to request a letter of support from the county, for our efforts,” said Tangenberg. “Since we are preparing for that litigation, we expect this level of support to be exceptionally helpful, in defense of that litigation.”
The Supervisors all expressed a willingness to support a letter, but Supervisors Karl Rodefer and Sherri Brennan took exception to the notion of approving of the project “without caveat,” as requested by the Stanislaus National Forest. The Supervisors directed County Staff to prepare a letter this afternoon, which the Supervisors will review prior to formally approving.
