Resolution
To the President of the United States, US Senate, US House of Representatives, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior:
We, the Oregon Logging Conference, respectfully represent and request action as follows:
Whereas, it has been documented; that seven federal and state biologists planted lynx fur samples on rubbing posts in two national forests in the State of Washington; that the “doctored” samples could have set in motion new restrictions on public activities in the national forests throughout the Northwest, further restricting sustainable commodity production; that this is a serious breach of public trust; and by doing so, the biologists have undercut not only the lynx study, but many other wildlife and land management decisions impacting on the environmental, social and economic fabric of the Pacific Northwest, and
Whereas, a report of the National Academy of Scientists concludes that government scientists did not have enough evidence to issue the biological opinions that cut off irrigation water to Klamath Basin farmers last summer to protect endangered and threatened fish; that Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton was “concerned by the weaknesses” and “flaws with respect to critical components of the analysis” by federal agencies and that the Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Commissioner of Reclamation submit corrective recommendations to her within two weeks, and
Whereas, the Northwest Regional Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reported to the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management that impacts to spotted owl habitat during the first seven years of implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan has impacted less than one (1) percent of forest land suitable for spotted owl nesting, roosting and foraging,
Be It Resolved by the Oregon Logging Conference:
Requests the President, honorable members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to undertake a thorough review of the Endangered Species Act, and amend the act to factor in human, social, and economic considerations.
That copies of this resolution be sent to the President, honorable members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, appropriate committee chairman, the Oregon and Washington Congressional delegations, and the Governors of the states of Washington and Oregon.