Important Hearing Regarding Headwaters Forest - 9/16 San Francisco


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Important Hearing Regarding Headwaters Forest
Friday September 16, 9:00 - 11:00 in San Francisco


In 1999 the state and federal government completed a deal with the Pacific Lumber Company to purchase roughly 7,500 acres of Headwaters Forest in Humboldt County near Eureka. This deal was contingent upon a complex framework of federal and state documents detailing how future logging would protect forests, endangered species and timber jobs over the next 50 years.


The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) and the Sierra Club were intimately involved in reviewing all of these long term management documents. Based on the review of our many experts, it became abundantly clear that in the rush to complete the acquisition of the controversial ancient forest, the quality of the long-term planning documents were completely inadequate. In March of 1999, EPIC and the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit challenging the adequacy of the state permits regarding endangered species, long-term logging plans, stream protections, and environmental review. In addition, the United Steelworkers of America filed a companion lawsuit challenging the impact of the deal on the stability of local timber jobs.


After many frustrating delays, the Humboldt County Superior Court ruled in our favor on all counts. Pacific Lumber appealed that decision to the California Court of Appeals. The case has been fully briefed, and oral arguments are THIS FRIDAY.


This is an incredibly important and complex case. Realizing that, the Court has scheduled a highly unusual two-hour hearing on the matter. We will be represented by Headwaters veteran Sharon Duggan (staff attorney for EPIC), Eric Wiessglass of the Sierra Club, and Brian Gaffney, another veteran of the Headwaters saga.


This hearing is the culmination of five and a half years of legal work on behalf of the forest, and we would like to have many of our supporters in the audience. This case has been a monumental struggle of public interest groups versus one of the largest law firms in the country and the state of California.


Please join us Friday morning for the hearing! If you can join us, please show up at 8:30 at the Court of Appeals building at 350 McAllister Street in San Francisco. I believe we are the only case having oral arguments on Friday, but you can ask for the EPIC vs Pacific Lumber case. We're probably on the 4th floor.


We would like to convey that this is a case of significant public interest, so please come and bring your friends. Of course, this is a formal court proceeding, so appropriate business attire is required.


Please direct further questions to Paul Mason at paul@wildcalifornia.org, or 916-214-1382. Thanks, and see you on Friday.
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