Trump-era Logging Rule Violates Laws, Judge Rules
A federal judge has ruled that a Trump-era rule change allowing the logging of old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest violates multiple laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, and the Endangered Species Act. The judge recommended that the U.S. Forest Service's environmental assessment be vacated and that a full environmental impact statement be prepared. The rule change, which went into effect in 2021, aimed to prioritize fire-tolerant species and make forests more resistant to disturbances like wildfires. However, environmental groups argued that the change did not adequately address scientific uncertainty and could increase fire severity. The Forest Service has two weeks to object to the judge's findings and recommendations.