Trees of all sizes would be removed along 12 miles of Tecuya Ridge and throughout Cuddy Valley.
Earlier this year, the Forest Service announced two massive commercial logging projects along Tecuya Ridge and in Cuddy Valley near Mt. Pinos within the Los Padres National Forest. The projects would remove trees of all sizes and up to 95% of sagebrush habitat across a combined 4.5 square miles of national forest land. The agency indicated that the projects would be exempted from environmental review despite dozens of endangered California condor roost sites, spotted owl territories, and other rare plants and animals in and around the project area.
ForestWatch recently analyzed comments submitted by members of the public and other organizations to the Forest Service during the 30 day public comment period in April. During the comment period, the Forest Service received 627 comments from the public. Of these, more than 99% either opposed the projects or requested that a full environmental assessment or environmental impact statement be conducted before continuing. Only five comments were supportive of the projects.
Up to 95% of sagebrush-scrub habitat would be cleared as part of the projects.
ForestWatch and our partners at the John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute and the Center for Biological Diversity submitted detailed comments on the proposed projects. Our letter highlighted the 38 California condor roost sites in and near the project area as well as known occurrences or habitat of other rare, sensitive, threatened, and endangered species. The letter also pointed out the project’s inconsistency with the 2001 Roadless Rule due to the project encroaching into 1,000 acres of the Antimony Roadless Area where logging is generally prohibited. We also submitted a shorter letter with the same points that was signed by six other local organizations.
The Forest Service will now consider whether to carry through with their plans to exempt the projects from environmental review or begin preparation on an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement to examine the potential impacts of these projects on the area’s wildlife and natural resources. We will provide more updates on these projects as they move forward.
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