[5]By Rex Storm
Associated Oregon Loggers
Too Little Murrelet Habitat Contested: On January 19th, three environmental groups filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the state of Oregon for alleged federal violations of the Endangered Species Act. The notice claims that logging in the Elliott, Tillamook and Clatsop state forests would harm the marbled murrelet sea bird, and are calling for more stringent protections by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry. The murrelet’s old-growth forest nesting for a couple months annually is central to lawsuit.
Too Much Murrelet Habitat Challenged: On January 24th, three business and local government groups filed a notice of intent to sue, challenging the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s violation of the Endangered Species Act. American Forest Resources Council (AOL is a member), Douglas County, and Carpenters Industrial Council Union, assert that the agency improperly listed and designated excessive critical habitat for the marbled murrelet. USFWS cannot legally designate millions of forest acres as “critical” because all areas are not needed, nor were they occupied at the 1992 listing.