Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Maxxam/PL racks up 325 violations
New Report Details Maxxam/PL's Wholesale Noncompliance with Environmental Protection Standards.
Company Racks Up Over 300 Violations in Five Years
Company Racks Up Over 300 Violations in Five Years
Garberville, CA - The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) today released a report analyzing Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Company's (PL's) compliance record under its controversial "Habitat Conservation Plan," documenting more 325 violations issued to the company since 1999. EPIC's report, compiled from documents obtained from federal and state regulators, chronicles a continuing pattern of violations of conservation laws and regulations from Maxxam/PL's logging operations, which are conducted on over 200,000 acres of forest in Humboldt County, California. These violations present a stark contrast to the rhetoric Maxxam/PL has claimed in a recent media blitzkrieg, which has inundated local residents with its claims of a "new image" and "sustainable" practices.
In a staggering number of cases, Maxxam/PL has been caught illegally cutting trees in riparian management zones (RMZs) by "misclassifying" streams or simply cutting over the boundary line. And by no coincidence, several of these violations involved logging of very large, old growth redwood trees, including trees up to nearly nine feet in diameter. These and other violations that degraded water quality are the most commonplace by far, totaling 241 of the 325 violations, or about 75%. Maxxam/PL's other violations include 26 for illegal logging operations within marbled murrelet habitat and 14 for violations that harmed the northern spotted owl. Thirteen of the violations involved damage to protected plant species, 10 involved illegal cutting outside the riparian areas, and 21 were issued for various other transgressions, including unlawful herbicide spraying and failing to meet post-logging stocking requirements.
In 1997, another investigation by EPIC revealed that CDF issued to Maxxam /PL at least 250 violations of the California Forest Practice Act between 1995 and 1997. These violations continued to accumulate in 1998, and in November of that year, it became the first logging company ever to lose its license to operate in California. Prior to this, Maxxam/PL was found guilty of violating the federal Endangered Species Act after carrying out illegal logging operations in the ancient redwood grove known as Owl Creek.
"While Maxxam/PL may claim it has changed its unlawful ways, these violations demonstrate its "extreme makeover" attempt is only cosmetic in appearance," Cynthia Elkins, Program Director for EPIC, said. "EPIC is demanding that actions be taken to ensure these egregious violations are stopped."
In a staggering number of cases, Maxxam/PL has been caught illegally cutting trees in riparian management zones (RMZs) by "misclassifying" streams or simply cutting over the boundary line. And by no coincidence, several of these violations involved logging of very large, old growth redwood trees, including trees up to nearly nine feet in diameter. These and other violations that degraded water quality are the most commonplace by far, totaling 241 of the 325 violations, or about 75%. Maxxam/PL's other violations include 26 for illegal logging operations within marbled murrelet habitat and 14 for violations that harmed the northern spotted owl. Thirteen of the violations involved damage to protected plant species, 10 involved illegal cutting outside the riparian areas, and 21 were issued for various other transgressions, including unlawful herbicide spraying and failing to meet post-logging stocking requirements.
In 1997, another investigation by EPIC revealed that CDF issued to Maxxam /PL at least 250 violations of the California Forest Practice Act between 1995 and 1997. These violations continued to accumulate in 1998, and in November of that year, it became the first logging company ever to lose its license to operate in California. Prior to this, Maxxam/PL was found guilty of violating the federal Endangered Species Act after carrying out illegal logging operations in the ancient redwood grove known as Owl Creek.
"While Maxxam/PL may claim it has changed its unlawful ways, these violations demonstrate its "extreme makeover" attempt is only cosmetic in appearance," Cynthia Elkins, Program Director for EPIC, said. "EPIC is demanding that actions be taken to ensure these egregious violations are stopped."
For more information:
http://www.wildcalifornia.org
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
Hey, look at what the activist in Humboldt have taught the loggers.
Loggers Hire Strippers to Get Wood
MANILA (dpa) - Illegal loggers in a northern Philippine province have been hiring women to strip
naked to prevent forest rangers from seizing their stolen logs, a provincial environment official said in
a newspaper report Thursday.
Rafael Otic, provincial officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said the
unusual tactic was being employed by illegal loggers in the town of General Tinio in Nueva Ecija province,
90 kilometres north of Manila.
Otic told the Manila Standard newspaper that the hired women bare their breasts and sometimes even go naked
at the sight of apprehending officers, who then shy away from their tasks in fear of being accused of
abuse and exploitation.
“DENR personnel are finding it hard to make arrests because they are afraid of being accused of rape,” he
was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
General Tinio is considered the centre of illegal logging in the Philippines, where most of the
country’s primary forests have already been denuded.
A big Thanks to La Tegra, whereever she is.
Loggers Hire Strippers to Get Wood
MANILA (dpa) - Illegal loggers in a northern Philippine province have been hiring women to strip
naked to prevent forest rangers from seizing their stolen logs, a provincial environment official said in
a newspaper report Thursday.
Rafael Otic, provincial officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said the
unusual tactic was being employed by illegal loggers in the town of General Tinio in Nueva Ecija province,
90 kilometres north of Manila.
Otic told the Manila Standard newspaper that the hired women bare their breasts and sometimes even go naked
at the sight of apprehending officers, who then shy away from their tasks in fear of being accused of
abuse and exploitation.
“DENR personnel are finding it hard to make arrests because they are afraid of being accused of rape,” he
was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
General Tinio is considered the centre of illegal logging in the Philippines, where most of the
country’s primary forests have already been denuded.
A big Thanks to La Tegra, whereever she is.
way to go phillipines
is there any way to get these girls into the u.s. so that they can work for us!!? love to hear from u oceanncef [at] yahoo.com
is there any way to get these girls into the u.s. so that they can work for us!!? love to hear from u oceanncef [at] yahoo.com
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$115.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network