June 19, 2015
CapitalPress.com
13
Judge: Logging project won’t affect wolves
Judge says U.S. Forest Service suffi ciently studied wolf issue
Ore.
138
Area in
detail
By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI
Capital Press
230
The U.S. Forest Service
doesn’t have to study the
impact of logging on wolves
before proceeding with a
thinning project in Oregon’s
Rogue River-Siskiyou Na-
tional Forest, a federal judge
ruled.
The agency plans to treat
about 3,200 acres as part of
the Bybee project, which is
aimed at reducing the risk of
ZLOG¿UHLQRYHUVWRFNHGIRUHVW
stands.
Oregon Wild, an environ-
PHQWDO JURXS ¿OHG D OHJDO
complaint claiming the Forest
Service should have supple-
mented its environmental as-
CR
CRATER
R
LAKE
NAT’L
’
PARK
P R
UMPQUA
NATIONAL
FOREST
62
u
Rog
62
e
Bybee Project
planning area
ROGUE
RIVER 140
NAT’L FOR.
Medford
M
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
OR-7, the wolf that wandered to the Rogue River drainage from
QRUWKHDVWHUQ2UHJRQLVVHHQLQWKLV¿OHSKRWR$MXGJHKDVUHMHFWHG
an environmental group’s argument that a planned forest thinning
SURMHFWZRXOGLPSDFWWKHZROI
sessment of the project due to
the presence of wolves in the
area.
A male radio-collared wolf
originally from Northeast Or-
egon, known as OR-7, sired
two pups with a mate in the
area last year. Gray wolves
A
ROGUE
RIVER
NAT’L. FOR.
66
5
Ore.
Calif.
N
Alan Kenaga/Capital Press
are protected as an endan-
gered species in that part of
the state.
The Forest Service con-
ducted a “new information
review” to see if logging
would affect the wolves,
but concluded it would not
since their den was at least
15 miles away from the proj-
ect site.
U.S. District Judge Owen
Panner found that the agen-
cy took a sufficiently “hard
look” at the issue, given the
wolves’ distance and the
lack of designated critical
wolf habitat in the area.
Panner reached a simi-
lar conclusion in regard to
the northern spotted owl, a
threatened species, because
the Bybee project doesn’t re-
move any of critical habitat
or “take” any birds.
The Forest Service also
postponed thinning some
areas to preserve high value
wildlife habitat, he said.
Oregon Wild claimed that
the agency should have un-
dertaken a more comprehen-
sive “environmental impact
statement” of the project
because it contains poten-
tial federally designated ar-
eas and due to its proximity
to the Crater Lake National
Park.
The judge rejected these
arguments because the proj-
ect only has a small amount
of acreage eligible for wilder-
ness designation, the strictest
form of federal land protec-
tion.
Panner said the Forest Ser-
vice addressed concerns about
Crater Lake National Park by
scaling back the project near
the park’s border, and he
agreed that thinning will help
SURWHFWWKHDUHDIURP¿UH
25-2/#5
PROUD TO
SUPPORT FFA
’ S G R O W
L E T G
E T H E R !
T O
At Arbor Grove Nursery ,
we ’ ve learned the importance
of investing in the future.
That ’ s why we support local
FFA chapters and their work to
create a brighter future for
themselves and the agriculture
industry.
Find out more at
AGNursery.com
25-2/#T4D
Rated “Best Site to
Buy or Sell Merchandise”
25-2/#13
Easily search nation-wide
for equipment, livestock
and more using
onlyAG.com
Buy What You Want...
Sell What You Don’t!
Largest annual student leadership
conference in Fresno comes to a close
FRESNO, Calif. –– More than 5,300 FFA members
attended the 87th annual California State FFA
Leadership Conference where they were challenged
to “Reach Out” throughout the four-day conference.
Attendees were motivated by State FFA officers, as
well as guest speakers. The workshops at California
State University, Fresno intrigued students to
develop their professional skills. The career show
allowed students to see amusing antics from
prospective colleges, as well as entertaining new
ideas for their futures in the agricultural industry.
From public speaking to innovative production
practices, students showcased their techniques in
various competitions. Many contest winners will
advance to compete at the National FFA Convention
held in October.
The conference concluded with the election of the
2015–2016 State FFA officer team. Six officers will
begin preparing for the upcoming year. Elected
individuals were:
State FFA President – Joelle Lewis, San Luis Obispo
State FFA Vice President – Sydnie Sousa, Tulare
State FFA Secretary – Breanna Holbert, Lodi
State FFA Treasurer – Trevor Autry, Nipomo
State FFA Reporter – Danielle Diele,
Merced-Golden Valley State
FFA Sentinel – Tim Truax, Turlock-Pitman
25-2/#T4D
We also apply this thinking to
the work we do for our
growers. By investing in new
techniques and varieties, we
grow plants that will lead to
more successful futures for our
customers.
Wilbur-Ellis is proud
to support the
Future Farmers
of America.
ag.wilburellis.com
Ideas to Grow With ®
Proud
Sponsor
of FFA
25-2/#T2D
THE TRACTOR STORE
(541) 342-5464
5450 W. 11 th , Eugene, OR
www.capitalpress.biz/hosted/tractorstore
503-873-6498
877-FOR-IOKA
Silverton, Oregon
Proud Supporter
of FFA
P.O. Box 307 ¥ Canby, OR 97013
Proud
Supporter
of FFA
888-877-7665
25-2/#T4D
25-2/#T4D
iokamarketing.com
Proud Supporter of FFA
12333 Silver Falls Hwy SE
Aumsville, OR 97325
Phone: (503) 769-2205
Fax: (503) 769-9450
25-2/#T4D
The California FFA Association, founded in 1928, serves more than 76,000 California high school students and strives
to make a difference in their lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career
success through vocational education.
For full conference proceedings visit http://www.calaged.org/events/state-convention-home.
20179 Main St., St. Paul, OR 97137
W E C AN H ANDLE I T ...
Sales, installation and service of all your
Electrical, Pump and Irrigation needs.
CALL TODAY!
503-633-1111
Proud
Supporter of
www. ErnstIrrigation .com
25-2/#T2D
From left to right, the California FFA State officer team is Breanna Holbert, state secretary, Lodi; Sydnie Sousa, state vice
president, Tulare; Tim Truax, state sentinel, Turlock; Danielle Diele, state reporter, Merced; Joelle Lewis, state president, San
Luis Obispo; and Trevor Autry, state treasurer, Nipomo.
YOUR
AD HERE!
Legacy Ford Lincoln
of La Grande
541-963-2161
866-435-2965
25-2\#T4D
Classified Line Ads
25-2/#13
Proud
Supporters of
25-2/#T4D
Proud Supporter of FFA
25-2/#T2D
Proud
Sponsor
of FFA
Proudly providing FFA officers
with RAM Trucks this year.
MSRP $49,375
Rebate $2,500
Wilson Discount $3,188
PRICE $43,687
425 NW Buchanan • Corvallis, OR
503-999-1109
www.saveatwilson.com
Talk directly to the Commercial Sales Manager
garrett.businesslink@wilsonmotors.org
Garrett Lovejoy
Commercial/Fleet
Sales Manager
2015 RAM 5500 Reg. Cab
Chassis Diesel
RU6043/FG508622, Aisen HD
Transmission, 12’ platform bed upfit.
MSRP $49,185
Upfit $7,999
Discount $1,997
PRICE $55,187
25-2/#T4D
25-2/#13
2015 Ram 2500 Tradesman
Crew 4x4 Diesel
RU6069/FG529751, 6 spd. manual,
trailer tow mirrors and brake
control, UConnect with Bluetooth.