>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Date: Mon, 06 May 1996 07:09:50 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Western Ancient Forest Campaign <wafcdc at igc.apc.org>
>Subject: Rider Alert - Halt Tobe West Sale
>To: Recipients of conference <mlist.wafcdc at conf.igc.apc.org>
>Message-ID: <APC&1'0'7e3e1f37'272 at igc.apc.org>: 68
>
>To: All Forest Activists
>From: Jim Jontz and Steve Holmer
>Sunday, May 5, 1996
>
>
>CALL THE WHITE HOUSE TO URGE REPEAL OF THE RIDER
>AND A HALT TO THE TOBE WEST SALE
>
>An excellent "60 Minutes" segment earlier this evening reports that
>the Rescissions Act Timber Rider has reopened the "timber wars"
>over the clearcutting of our last Ancient Forests.
>
>The Ed Bradley piece included interviews with Scott Stouder, a
>former logger who was in the industry for 25 years but now
>supports protecting old growth, and footage of the protest at the
>Tobe West sale near Corvallis, OR.
>
>************************
>
>A flood of phone calls to the White House noting the "60 Minutes"
>coverage and urging the President to seek repeal of the rider is
>critical.
>
>The White House Public Comment line is: (202)456-1111.
>
>************************
>
>
>It is important also to request the President to stop the Tobe West
>sale because it is being cut RIGHT NOW. Monday morning, in just
>a few hours, forest defenders will converge on the Tobe West sale
>and some will be prepared for arrest as they cross into the federal
>closure area.
>
>Because of the closure, we do not know how much of the sale has
>been cut. I spoke to Tom Gilg earlier today and he said it is
>believed that cutting has been heavy in two of the units.
>
>The circumstances around this sale are alarming. It is anticipated
>that marbled murrelets will be returning the area any day. A crew
>was supposed to begin surveying for the murrelets last Wednesday,
>but logging was accelerated by the company (Hull-Oaks) cutting the
>sale and they moved into some of the most sensitive areas because
>of their fear that murrelets would be found.
>
>In Washington D.C., President Clinton and Secretary Babbitt say
>authority exists to prevent abuses. On the ground, the local BLM
>officials say "we're powerless to do anything." Why can't the
>survey be done first!
>
>WAFC wrote the Administration asking that the sale be cancelled
>but we have heard no response. The Tobe West sale does not
>comply with the Northwest Forest Plan and it is obvious that
>murrelets are at risk.
>
>There are a lot of terrible sales going on, but we have the benefit of
>national television exposure on Tobe West. We simply cannot let
>the White House get away with sitting on their hands while these
>sales devastate our Ancient Forests. Fax Katie McGinty at the
>President's CEQ at (202)456-2710 to urge the repeal of the rider, and
>cancellation of Tobe West. Thanks!
>

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416