Judge Dismisses Logging Lawsuit, Preserves Tongass Forest

0:00Reporting from the Daily News, now I'm Cory with the story with the latest in Anchorage. A federal judge in Alaska dismissed a lawsuit from logging companies pushing for a plan that would ramp up cutting in the Tongas National Forest, home to the world's largest temperate old-growth rainforest. This decision keeps the Obama-era management rules intact for the time being. The companies sued the U.S. Forest Service last year, arguing a 1990 law demands enough timber sales to match market needs. Judge Sharon Gleason ruled no such strict requirement exists, calling it a discretionary choice for the agency. Logging groups say the current approach has crushed their operations, and they worry a new plan won't fix things if the old one isn't even followed. They represent it by a legal foundation, insist the fight isn't over yet. On the other side, environmental, tribal, tourism, and fishing advocates who back the Forest Service cheer the outcome. They stressed, it proves federal rules don't force chasing market demand or favor old

1:02growth over younger trees. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is crafting a replacement plan that could boost logging. Plaintiffs have 30 days to appeal the ruling, leaving the future of the forest up in the air. DNA is brought to you by our sponsor. Some chase peace. I put my head in it, S-O-L-I-SOLIPILO.com. Made in AI.