TIMBER COMPANIES SUE FOREST SERVICE, BLM OVER LOGGING SHUTDOWN

Western timber companies have gone to court to lift the logging ban on national forests due to the government shutdown, arguing the government has no authority under timber sale contracts to force loggers to stop working. Three wood products companies and a timber industry association filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Medford against the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order lifting the logging shutdown, arguing direction from the (Read more...)