The Ketchikan Indian Community of Alaska says the U.S. Forest Service ignored the public by approving a major logging project in a roadless area of the Tongass National Forest.

The logging will take place on Gravina Island, which was in tribal ownership until it was taken by the federal government. Elmer Makua, a tribal council member, said more than 7,000 people commented on the proposal.

The sale would yield 38 million board feet of timber from 1,800 acres. The Bush administration has allowed logging on roadless areas of national forests, overturning a rule supported by the Clinton administration.

Get the Story:
Forest Service OKs logging 1,800 formerly roadless acres on Gravina Island (The Anchorage Daily News 8/18)
pwpwd

UDSA Documents:
Press Release | Proposed Rule

Relevant Links:
Roadless Area Conservation - http://roadless.fs.fed.us

Related Stories:
Washington tribes rally against Bush's roadless plan (08/11)
Bush administration to drop roadless forest rule (07/13)
USDA allowing exemptions to roadless forest rule (6/10)
Court overturns tribe's injunction on rules (12/13)
Decisions affect national forests (5/17)
Court voids Alaska logging permits (2/14)
Agreement reached on timber sale (2/8)
Judge stops Bush-ordered timber sale (1/9)
Suit filed to stop timber sale (12/19)
Roadless forest rules back in court (10/16)
Tsimshian Tribe opposes timber sale (8/15)
Judge blocks controversial forest rules (5/11)
Decision on forest rules is big news (5/7)
Controversial forest plan delayed (2/6)
Roadless forest plan draws fire (1/8)