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Sun May 21 2006 (Updated 06/12/06)
Logging to Resume in Freshwater Creek, Elk River
Following a nearly year-long reprieve in the Freshwater Creek and Elk River areas of Humboldt County, Maxxam/Pacific Lumber will soon resume logging operations in the two fragile areas just east of Eureka. The logging will mark the first time the controversial logging outfit has been allowed to cut trees in these neighboring watersheds since June 16, 2005. Logging stopped when Maxxam/PL stalled the process for creating special waste discharge permits which would address the high levels of dirt and mud deposited in these watercourses from excessive recent and historical logging.
Forest activists are concerned that Maxxam/PL will “cherry-pick” the old-growth trees based on the new restrictions that disallow any additional sediment to be delivered into Freshwater Creek and Elk River by the logging operations.
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Forest activists are concerned that Maxxam/PL will “cherry-pick” the old-growth trees based on the new restrictions that disallow any additional sediment to be delivered into Freshwater Creek and Elk River by the logging operations.
READ MORE.
Tue May 2 2006 (Updated 06/12/06)
May Day Draws Big Crowd in Eureka
Hundreds of people - made up of children and parents, Hispanics and Caucasians, students and workers - gathered on the steps of the Humboldt County Courthouse, marched and expressed support for the rights of immigrants and workers. The rally and march was marked by a peaceful display of flags, signs and a celebratory mood.
A separate march from Arcata to Eureka along the Highway 101 corridor resulted in three arrests and a scuffle between police and a photographer of a local daily newspaper. The May Day march marks the second time a physical altercation broke out between police and activists on the 101 corridor in the last six months.
Activists crowded into the office of Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos to demand the release of the three arrestees and to air concerns of what many perceive as escalating heavy-handed tactics by police. The amount of force used by police is a hot topic in Humboldt since the April 14, 2006 killing of a mentally distressed Eureka woman who was shot nine times by a SWAT team after a two-hour stand-off with police.
READ MORE.
A separate march from Arcata to Eureka along the Highway 101 corridor resulted in three arrests and a scuffle between police and a photographer of a local daily newspaper. The May Day march marks the second time a physical altercation broke out between police and activists on the 101 corridor in the last six months.
Activists crowded into the office of Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos to demand the release of the three arrestees and to air concerns of what many perceive as escalating heavy-handed tactics by police. The amount of force used by police is a hot topic in Humboldt since the April 14, 2006 killing of a mentally distressed Eureka woman who was shot nine times by a SWAT team after a two-hour stand-off with police.
READ MORE.
Fri Apr 7 2006 (Updated 06/12/06)
Pacific Lumber Accused of Toxic Cover-Up
A former Pacific Lumber (PL) official has filed a wrongful-termination suit alleging he was ordered to conceal waste including asbestos and oil residue from Water Quality officials when seeking environmental permits for the company’s new $30 million sawmill. According to the suit, former business and community development director Jimmy Dan Cook was told "to not report the contamination and to keep the information in-house."
The lawsuit alleges Mr. Cook suffered "repeated verbal abuse and threats from (PL CEO Robert) Manne because of (Mr. Cook’s) resistance to follow orders he believed to be unlawful," and that a runoff-retention pond was built on the contaminated site which has "resulted in dangerously polluted water leaching and/or overflowing into the Eel River."
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The lawsuit alleges Mr. Cook suffered "repeated verbal abuse and threats from (PL CEO Robert) Manne because of (Mr. Cook’s) resistance to follow orders he believed to be unlawful," and that a runoff-retention pond was built on the contaminated site which has "resulted in dangerously polluted water leaching and/or overflowing into the Eel River."
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Sat Mar 18 2006 (Updated 06/12/06)
Habitat of Newly Discovered Salamander Slated for Logging
The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild), and Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed suit today against the California Departments of Forestry and Fish and Game for approving logging of crucial habitat for the newly discovered Scott Bar salamander. The species was first described in May of 2005 and has one of the smallest ranges of any salamander.
“In Arkansas, hundreds of volunteers and scientists are combing the woods trying to confirm the location of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, which was driven to near extinction by careless logging of its habitat,” states Noah Greenwald, conservation biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Meanwhile, in California, the Departments of Forestry and Fish and Game are putting the newly discovered Scott Bar salamander on the road to extinction by approving logging of its habitat.”
The Scott Bar salamander was previously considered the same species as the Siskiyou Mountains salamander, but was recently discovered to be a separate species by researchers who published their findings last May in the journal Herpetologica. The Siskiyou Mountains salamander is listed as “threatened” under California’s Endangered Species Act, giving it a measure of protection from logging.
READ MORE.
“In Arkansas, hundreds of volunteers and scientists are combing the woods trying to confirm the location of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, which was driven to near extinction by careless logging of its habitat,” states Noah Greenwald, conservation biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Meanwhile, in California, the Departments of Forestry and Fish and Game are putting the newly discovered Scott Bar salamander on the road to extinction by approving logging of its habitat.”
The Scott Bar salamander was previously considered the same species as the Siskiyou Mountains salamander, but was recently discovered to be a separate species by researchers who published their findings last May in the journal Herpetologica. The Siskiyou Mountains salamander is listed as “threatened” under California’s Endangered Species Act, giving it a measure of protection from logging.
READ MORE.
Sat Mar 18 2006 (Updated 06/12/06)
Habitat of Newly Discovered Salamander Slated for Logging
The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild), and Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed suit today against the California Departments of Forestry and Fish and Game for approving logging of crucial habitat for the newly discovered Scott Bar salamander. The species was first described in May of 2005 and has one of the smallest ranges of any salamander.
“In Arkansas, hundreds of volunteers and scientists are combing the woods trying to confirm the location of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, which was driven to near extinction by careless logging of its habitat,” states Noah Greenwald, conservation biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Meanwhile, in California, the Departments of Forestry and Fish and Game are putting the newly discovered Scott Bar salamander on the road to extinction by approving logging of its habitat.”
The Scott Bar salamander was previously considered the same species as the Siskiyou Mountains salamander, but was recently discovered to be a separate species by researchers who published their findings last May in the journal Herpetologica. The Siskiyou Mountains salamander is listed as “threatened” under California’s Endangered Species Act, giving it a measure of protection from logging.
READ MORE.
“In Arkansas, hundreds of volunteers and scientists are combing the woods trying to confirm the location of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, which was driven to near extinction by careless logging of its habitat,” states Noah Greenwald, conservation biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Meanwhile, in California, the Departments of Forestry and Fish and Game are putting the newly discovered Scott Bar salamander on the road to extinction by approving logging of its habitat.”
The Scott Bar salamander was previously considered the same species as the Siskiyou Mountains salamander, but was recently discovered to be a separate species by researchers who published their findings last May in the journal Herpetologica. The Siskiyou Mountains salamander is listed as “threatened” under California’s Endangered Species Act, giving it a measure of protection from logging.
READ MORE.
In a unanimous and unambiguous decision, the California State Supreme Court has ruled against the Pacific Lumber Company, determining that the Forest Practices Act in no way limits the authority of the State and Regional Water Boards to impose additional requirements on approved Timber Harvest Plans. The decision upholds a previous ruling against Palco by the State Court of Appeals.
According to the decision, "Pacific Lumber's position boils down to the view that the Forest Practice Act implicitly precludes the Water Boards from exercising their authority under the Porter-Cologne Act to impose monitoring requirements (on an approved THP.) Section 4514, subdivision (c) expressly provides that the contrary is true, that the Forest Practice Act in no way limits the Water Board's authority in this respect."
Remarking on some of Palco's arguments, the ruling states "This interpretation makes no sense." The ruling goes on to say "Pacific Lumber's construction also ignores the obvious meaning of the directive that "[n]o provision of this chapter" will limit the power of a state agency. We take the phrase "no provision" to mean what it says, that nothing within the Forest Practice Act. implicitly bars the Water Boards from fulfilling their independent obligations."
READ MORE.
According to the decision, "Pacific Lumber's position boils down to the view that the Forest Practice Act implicitly precludes the Water Boards from exercising their authority under the Porter-Cologne Act to impose monitoring requirements (on an approved THP.) Section 4514, subdivision (c) expressly provides that the contrary is true, that the Forest Practice Act in no way limits the Water Board's authority in this respect."
Remarking on some of Palco's arguments, the ruling states "This interpretation makes no sense." The ruling goes on to say "Pacific Lumber's construction also ignores the obvious meaning of the directive that "[n]o provision of this chapter" will limit the power of a state agency. We take the phrase "no provision" to mean what it says, that nothing within the Forest Practice Act. implicitly bars the Water Boards from fulfilling their independent obligations."
READ MORE.
Thu Nov 10 2005
Recent High School Grad Wins Seat on School Board
An eight-way race for three seats on the Northern Humboldt Union High School District Board resulted in the election of recent high school graduate Shane Brinton. Running on a progressive platform of “Education not Indoctrination,” Brinton opposes military recruiters in schools. “We need to be educating the future doctors and teachers of America, not sending them to die in Iraq or some future quagmire,” said Brinton.
Brinton is a life-long resident of Humboldt County, and has volunteered with many local groups, including Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County, Humboldt Senior Resource Center, Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee, the Redwood Peace & Justice Center, the Placebo, Tenants Union of Humboldt County, Food Not Bombs, and as an assistant soccer coach for the Humboldt Youth Soccer League. Brinton recently represented the US as a delegate to the World Festival of Youth and Students in Venezuela, with 15,000 other young people.
See voteshane.org
Brinton is a life-long resident of Humboldt County, and has volunteered with many local groups, including Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County, Humboldt Senior Resource Center, Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee, the Redwood Peace & Justice Center, the Placebo, Tenants Union of Humboldt County, Food Not Bombs, and as an assistant soccer coach for the Humboldt Youth Soccer League. Brinton recently represented the US as a delegate to the World Festival of Youth and Students in Venezuela, with 15,000 other young people.
See voteshane.org
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