Judge Dismisses Timber Lawsuit, Protects Tongass Forest

0:00Reporting from The Daily News, now, I'm Cory with the latest in Anchorage. A federal judge in Alaska has dismissed a lawsuit from timber companies pushing for more old-growth logging in the Tongas National Forest. The groups wanted the U.S. Forest Service to ramp up sales to keep their industry alive, but judge Sharon Gleason ruled they had no legal standing. She cited with the government, saying agencies have wide discretion and balancing logging with wildlife and recreation. The Tongas is America's biggest national forest and the world's largest temperate rainforest. The Sue challenged a 2021 strategy under the Biden administration that aimed to stop large-scale old-growth harvests while allowing small sales for local needs. Timber firms argued the Forest Service ignored market demand and old plans projecting around 46 million-board feet of timber each year. Environmental advocates celebrated the decision as a win for forests, wildlife, and communities. They called the lawsuit baseless

1:00and stressed the need to protect the area from heavy logging. Industry leaders, like those from Viking Lumber, say old-growth is key for their products and sustainable practices, claiming it helps carbon storage. Better than letting trees decay. In her ruling, the judge rejected claims that laws force the Forest Service to meet exact demand or stick to projections which she saw as goals, not mandates. She also said the strategy wasn't a new rule needing public input and didn't ban all old-growth sales outright. All claims were dismissed with prejudice, closing the case for now. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pushing to expand logging there, including reviving a sale near Ketchikan for about 60 million-board feet of. Old growth. The timber groups could still appeal to a higher court, so the fight over the Tongas might continue. Thanks to our sponsor for supporting today's coverage. You know what is better than earbuds and bed? No earbuds at all. S-O-L-L-I-SOLYPILLOW.COM