Environmental groups had objected to proposals for exchanging it to Plum Creek. Instead, the Forest Service will acquire additional lands in the area. Environmentalists want all of the Kelly Butte area put into public ownership. They and some federal officials complain that the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, which already bears the brunt of logging in Western Washington, gives up mature forest and gets nothing in return. All of the newly acquired recreation lands and wildlife habitat will be near I-90 instead.
Some groups object to trading away any old-growth or mature forests on public land.
They want Plum Creek to sell more lands directly to the government. But Plum Creek says its first goal is to acquire more timberland, not cash.