An HCP is a land holdings management plan that allows the massive killing of endangered species in exchange for a small set aside, always biologically inadequate to preserve much of anything. Without the HCP, according to federal law, the Headwaters Forest deal can t go through and Hurwitz cannot get his half a billion bucks. In an historical alliance between labor unionists and environmentalists, common ground was found. Neither side must adopt the other s values. Steelworkers don t have to become eco-freaks.
Environmentalists don t have to put on hard hats.
But together they can recognize that they must fight corporate greed to improve our collective standard of living. Hurwitz and company are currently facing an administrative court proceeding in which billions of dollars are at stake. Environmentalists want Hurwitz to lose the big bucks so he can consider trading his debt for nature. Steelworkers don t want Hurwitz to be let off the hook in a pennies on the dollar out of court settlement because that will let Hurwitz off the economic hook. Additionally, both groups are taxpayers who don t appreciate having to subsidize Hurwitz s takeovers of both Pacific Lumber and Kaiser.