Today, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado. This case presents a crucial opportunity to address the extensive and often overreaching applications of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which have significant implications for infrastructure and environmental law. Seven County Infrastructure Coalition […]
Press Releases
Proposed Sáttítla National Monument Would Increase Wildfire Risks in Northern California
California forest sector leaders today cautioned President Joe Biden that using Antiquities Act authorities to create a new Sáttítla National Monument will significantly complicate efforts to mitigate severe wildfires, protect communities, and restore forest health in northern California. The monument proposal spans over 200,000 acres of federal land within the Klamath, Modoc, and Shasta-Trinity National […]
Forest Health Projects on Fremont-Winema National Forest Can Proceed After Ninth Circuit Decision
Today the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) announced a significant legal victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit concerning three critical forest management projects—Baby Bear, Bear Wallow, and South Warner—on the Fremont-Winema National Forest. The Ninth Circuit upheld the U.S. Forest Service’s use of the timber stand and/or wildlife habitat categorical […]
AFRC Comments Raise Concerns Over National Old-Growth Amendment and U.S. Forest Service’s Ability to Reduce Wildfire Risks
On Friday, the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) will formally submit comments to the Forest Service highlighting how the proposed National Old-Growth Amendment undermines the agency’s ability to address the primary threats to old-growth forests including severe wildfires that have already devastated nearly 700,000 acres of old-growth forests on federal lands over the past two […]
Brief for SCOTUS Railway Case Filed by Forestry, Oil and Natural Gas Associations
Today, the American Forestry Resource Council (AFRC) and Western Energy Alliance (Alliance) submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of the petitioners in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition and Uinta Basin Railway, LLC v. Eagle County, Colorado et al. Mountain States Legal Foundation, led by counsel Ivan London and Grady J. Block, prepared […]
Over $100M in Climate Funds Spent on Forestry Projects That Don’t Reduce Net Carbon Emissions – Explainer
The fate of Washington’s cap-and-trade law, the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), will be decided by voters this November. Proponents of the law often claim that repealing the CCA would eliminate critical funding to improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and make forests more resilient to climate change. However, these claims don’t square up with how […]
Pacific County Judge Rejects Anti-Forestry Lawsuit Targeting Washington DNR Timber Sale
Pacific County Superior Court Judge Donald J. Richter last week rejected a lawsuit by anti-forestry groups claiming the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) violated state laws in approving a timber sale in mature forest stands, also politically labeled as “legacy forests,” on public working forests known as state trust lands. This case on the […]
Federal Judge Allows Pintler Face Project on Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest to Proceed
The Pintler Face Project on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest can proceed with commercial timber harvest activities after U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen today denied, in part, a motion for a preliminary injunction sought by anti-forestry groups. The American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) became involved in the litigation due to its potential impacts on AFRC […]
Proposed Closure of 77,000 Acres of Public Working Forests Threatens Critical Washington State Services and Jobs
Washington faces significant social and economic risks if anti-forestry groups are successful in pushing the Board of Natural Resources and candidates for Commissioner of Public Lands to close an additional 77,000 acres of public working forests in western Washington, known as Department of Natural Resources (DNR) state trust lands. These public working forests also provide […]
Supreme Court To Hear Critical Case On NEPA’s Scope And Application
On a matter of vital importance, the Supreme Court of the United States today granted certiorari in the case of Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado. This case presents a crucial opportunity to address the extensive and often overreaching applications of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which have significant implications for infrastructure […]