News in brief

Logging plan challenged

Six conservation organizations have filed suit in federal court challenging the U.S. Forest Service plan to increase logging in Giant Sequoia National Monument in the southern Sierra.

The national monument east of Porterville contains more than half of the world's sequoia trees. Their huge size, beauty and long life led to a drive to protect them, and President Clinton in 2000 gave them permanent protection by designating 328,000 acres, about one-third of Sequoia National Forest, a national monument under the Antiquities Act.

But the Forest Service, which administers the area, produced a management plan that would allow for logging 7.5 million board feet of timber a year (enough to fill more than 1,500 logging trucks), including trees up to 30 inches in diameter, in the name of fire prevention and ecosystem restoration.

Six groups filed suit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco on Jan. 27. They include the Sierra Club, Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign, Earth Island Institute, Tule River Conservancy, Sequoia Forest Keeper, and Center for Biological Diversity. Their suit contends that the Forest Service plan is inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the monument designation that prohibits logging, violates national environmental laws, and would harm rare wildlife.

Metro to halt bus lines in Valley

Metro has proposed canceling and reducing a number of bus lines in the San Fernando Valley. The Angeles Chapter Transportation Committee is opposed to the changes.

Transportation Committee member Bart Reed said the cut in service will increase pollution. 'Removal of these commuter and lifeline services will leave huge voids in the bus service grid in the Valley,' said Reed. 'Some working poor will be forced to buy old smog-polluting cars to maintain their work trips.'

Metro, the L.A. County transportation agency, is facing a $43 million shortfall this year, and expects that figure to double next year. 'We don't want to cut any lines,' said Metro spokesman Mark Littman, 'but we're not a cash cow.' Overall bus hours will not decrease, said Littman, but service all over the county is being thinned in part to make room for new lines, such as the Orange Line. The Orange Line will run on a dedicated transit way and will connect the North Hollywood subway to the Valley. The proposed changes include removal Roscoe Boulevard and Sherman Way express buses, along with changes to local lines.

The Metro San Fernando Valley Governance Council is holding a public hearing on March 2, 6:30pm, Marvin Braude Center, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys. For more information: 818-367-1661; transitcoalition@earthlink.net.

NRA takes aim at Club

The National Rifle Association has withdrawn its support from the Outdoor Writers Association of America, citing the Sierra Club's affiliation with the OWAA as the reason. In a recent statement explaining his organization's opposition to Sierra Club policies, NRA executive vice-president Wayne LaPierre said, "If the Sierra Club's endorsed candidates had their way, private ownership of firearms would be banned." Bart Semcer, Sierra Club representative for fish and wildlife issues, found it unfortunate that the NRA chose to politicize the OWAA by using 'divisive tactics and misleading statements' and pointed out that nearly 20 percent of Sierra Club members reported buying hunting and/or fishing licenses in the past year. Semcer made it clear that Sierra Club explicitly recognizes sport-hunting and fishing as valuable wildlife management tools, and 'does not have a position on the right to own guns and does not seek to prohibit private ownership of firearms.' Contrary to the NRA's claims, the 2004 election cycle saw Sierra Club endorse 40 members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and 19 candidates with an A rating or better from the NRA, which is seven more than in the previous election cycle. Sierra Club will maintain its association with OWAA, and will be sponsoring a new OWAA Excellence in Craft Award.

-Ryan Drake

Chantry Flat remains closed

Chantry Flat, closed since last June for road and picnic ground repairs, may remain closed until next June because of landslides covering the only road to the popular trail head and picnic area in Angeles National Forest north of Arcadia.