Press Release

Timber Sale Rejected by Forest Service Harvest was modeled after controversial Quincy Library Group Plan

Judie Tartaglia, the Acting Forest Supervisor for the Tahoe National forest announced she is rejecting the 3000 acre timber sale in the Tahoe National Forest. The sale, opposed by conservation organizations, scientists, and the regional water quality control board in South Lake Tahoe emulated a style of cutting created by the controversial Quincy Library Group. The Quincy Group is a coalition of industry representatives and local residents that have marketed themselves in the past as environmentally conscious.

Al thought the reason given for abandoning the so-called "Liberty Project" was vague, the project conflicts with federal environmental standards and would cause significant erosion and water quality problems. According to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, the project would not meet standards set by the state and Forest Service.

The Quincy Library Group provided initial input in the Liberty Projt, and expressed no disagreement with the proposed sale even as it became evident that the project would severely damage water quality. "This demonstrates the true motivations of the Quincy Library Group as Sierra Pacific Industry lapdogs, not forest health defenders." said Craig Thomas of the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign. "Although the Forest Service has moved in the right direction by pulling this destructive sale, the Quincy Logging Bill still looms over the fate of the Sierra Forests like an anvil," continued Craig Thomas.

The Liberty Project would have included 241 acres of clear cuts. The Quincy Library proposal would cover over 100 times the acreage of this single sale (2.5 million acres of public forest lands in the northern Sierra Nevada) and would require logging on at least 245,000 acres of public forest, doubling the volume of logging in that area.

The Quincy Logging Bill is currently being considered by the United States Senate. The legislation is opposed by over 140 local, state and regional conservation organizations.

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