Portland, Ore. – Travis Joseph, President of the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC), issued the following statement regarding media reports about Secretary of the Interior Zinke’s review of national monuments, including the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument: “We simply don’t know if this leaked document accurately reflects the findings and recommendations in the final report to the President. However, reconsideration of the illegal Cascade-Siskiyou Monument expansion would be a positive step. Congress already set aside these lands eighty years ago for the specific purpose of sustainable timber production in the O&C Act, and the President– regardless of party– doesn’t have the authority to rewrite the law. We filed suit against the monument expansion because President Obama’s proclamation violated the O&C Act and exceeded his Antiquities Act authority. We encourage Secretary Zinke and President Trump to take action to follow the law.”
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About the American Forest Resource Council AFRC is a regional trade association whose purpose is to advocate for sustained yield timber harvests on public timberlands throughout the West to enhance forest health and resistance to fire, insects, and disease. AFRC does this by promoting active management to attain productive public forests, protect adjoining private forests, and assure community stability. It works to improve federal and state laws, regulations, policies and decisions regarding access to and management of public forest lands and protection of all forest lands. The ultimate goal of AFRC’s programs and initiatives is to advance its members’ ability to practice socially and scientifically responsible forestry on both public and private forest lands.