ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Editor/Senior Reporter
SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
Lawsuit is
a failure on
both sides
A
recent move by a coali-
tion of conservation groups
to file a lawsuit to topple
a decision made by the Trump
administration that negated a
rule that banned logging of large
trees on national forests east of
the Cascades is ultimately a sad
reminder that little progress has
been made regarding non-legal solu-
tions to environmental challenges.
At the heart of the issue is
what is known as the 21-inch
rule — an edict that restricted
logging of live trees larger than
21 inches in diameter measured
four and half feet off the ground
— dating back to the mid-1990s.
The rule was created to address
concerns from environmen-
tal groups about the safety and
viability of old growth timber in
national forests across our region.
The environmental groups assert
the Trump administration move
to lift the ban violates federal
law — specifically the National
Environmental Policy Act and
the National Forest Management
Act — and officials should have
crafted an environmental impact
statement to review the impacts
of a decision to lift the ban.
Proponents of lifting the ban
contend abolishing the rule gives
agencies such as the Forest Service
more flexibility in its effort to manage
forests to diminish wildfire risk.
The suit — filed in the U.S.
District Court in Pendleton —
is yet another example of fail-
ure for both the conservationists
and the U.S. Government.
Most — but not all — environ-
mental lawsuits over flashpoint issues
should never end up in a courtroom.
That’s because both sides of any
such issue not only carry the capac-
ity to work these challenges out but
also hold a responsibility to do so.
That responsibility isn’t to
a long-held belief in a specific
dogma or blind obedience to a
new edict delivered in the waning
days of an administration.
No, the responsibility should be to
those who live and work and play in
areas such as eastern Oregon. The
voters of our region deserve better
than yet another long legal battle
that consumes time and money.
Opposing sides of any issue can sit
down and work out a compromise.
There is no better example of such a
circumstance than the effort spear-
headed by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
regarding the Owyhee Canyonlands
in southeastern Oregon. There, for
years, environmentalists, ranch-
ers and others squared off on how
best to preserve pristine canyon-
land. In the end, Wyden led the effort
to work out a compromise between
the two groups. Was everyone satis-
fied? No. Did everyone get what
they wanted? No. Yet that’s how
democracy is supposed to work.
Compromise and the goal of work-
ing toward a viable solution should
be the focus, not going to court.
YOUR VIEWS
Make changes to reduce
gun violence
The Second Amendment is, of
course, in our Constitution and the law,
but as an amendment…. And thus, it
was clearly an “afterthought.” It was
added when we were a frontier nation
and needed self-defense. Do we still
need that level of defense, or has gun
violence invoked a different prospective
on the subject?
I’m unable to grasp the hysteria
surrounding resistance to impose even
the most basic regulations. As for those
supporting gun control, there seems
to be two fronts, and should help.
One position is to impose more regu-
lations, such as, age considerations,
waiting period, background checks,
magazine size, and automatic capabil-
ities; I believe these are very tangible
approaches, which could be quickly
implemented. However, the other posi-
tion is through mental health/counsel-
ing and, I believe, this would be much
less tangible and take much longer to
see the effect. In the long run there
could merits in both positions, but there
is a priority.
I’d sure like to hear from anyone
who has rational opposing views on this
subject.
Lloyd D. Corliss
Bend
Fox News viewers should
change the channel
Every major TV network in the U.S.
has chosen to carry the proceedings of
the Jan. 6th congressional committee
except for Fox News. They continue
to treat their viewers like mushrooms;
keep them in the dark and feed them
cow manure.
What is Fox News so afraid of?
The obvious answer is any facts that
run contrary to their narrative. That
pampered man-child Tucker Carlson’s
broadcast during the hearing time slot
was commercial free. Was he scared
that viewers might flip the channel
during a commercial and get infected
with a dose of reality?
The bipartisan committee has done
an extensive job of gathering evidence
based on eyewitness testimony. It
would serve every citizen of this coun-
try to inform themselves of the events
that happened up to and including the
day of the violent attempt to overthrow
our democracy or risk losing every-
thing we’ve struggled for.
Don Miller
Bend
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
GOVERNOR
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande office: 541-962-7691
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton office: 541-278-1129
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Cliff Bentz
2185 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
Medford office: 541-776-4646
REPRESENTATIVES
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
SENATOR
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
EDITORIALS
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial
board. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express
the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East
Oregonian.
letters that address concerns about individual services and products
or letters that infringe on the rights of private citizens. Letters must be
signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime
phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned
letters will not be published.
LETTERS
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less
on public issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper
and on our website. The newspaper reserves the right to withhold
SEND LETTERS TO:
editor@eastoregonian.com,
or via mail to Andrew Cutler,
211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801