Center For Biological diversity: Massive Logging Project Next to Yellowstone National Park Blocked by U.S. Court

In response to a lawsuit by conservation groups, a federal court today struck down a U.S. Forest Service plan to log more than 16,500 acres of pine forests just outside Yellowstone National Park, in the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The court found that the agency violated the National Environmental Policy Act, National Forest Management Act and Endangered Species Act. It halts the South Plateau project and requires the Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service to redo key analyses to protect threatened grizzly bears and Canada lynx. “This ruling makes it clear that agencies can’t just rubberstamp massive logging projects and promise to sort out the details later,” said Kristine Akland, Northern Rockies director at the Center for Biological Diversity. This is a great ruling for grizzlies, Canadian lynxes and the entire Yellowstone ecosystem.” Read more HERE.