BAKERSFIELD, CA – The Eastern District of California Federal Court recently ruled that the consensus forest health and fire hazard reduction plan developed by the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group (HFQLG) was a sound plan and rejected the lawsuit filed by environmental groups intended to block the plan. This group was formed in the early 90's by a county supervisor, a timber forester, and an environmental attorney to try to develop a plan that would protect the environment, promote rural community stability, and reduce fire danger for local communities in the northern Sierra's. The plan they came up with was then adopted by local Republican Congressman Wally Herger and Senator Diane Feinstein. The plan included thinning overstocked National Forests to improve forest health as well as reducing the potential for catastrophic fires adjacent to rural communities.
Even though the HFQLG plan was endorsed by environmentalists that participated in developing the plan, major national environmental groups challenged the plan in the federal court system and have blocked projects to reduce fire danger, protect the California Spotted Owl, and improve forest health. The Quincy Library Group intervened in the lawsuit on behalf of the Forest Service, along with several other groups. HFQLG member Linda Blum responded "After the recent fires, the spotted owls and old growth trees will always be near to our hearts, because now little pieces of them are lodged in our lungs. Losing habitat to wildfires is very dangerous to all species. It's just wrong because it could have been prevented."
Bill Dart, ORBA's Director of Land Use, was heavily involved in the Sierra Nevada Conservation Framework in the mid 90's that included the HFGLG plan as an element. Dart stated, "The Forest Service was needlessly delayed from moving forward to protect old growth forests and all of the species that live there, as well as local communities. Short sighted environmental groups were willing to sacrifice habitat, plants, animals, and fish that live there, endangering lives and property while denying residents the chance for good jobs that would have protected all of these things. The Forest Service can now get back to doing the job they are chartered to do, managing National Forests based upon sound science instead of misguided emotions."
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