Source: http://openjurist.org/128/f3d/573
Timestamp: 2013-05-21 17:04:32
Document Index: 578355769

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2001', '§ 2001', '§ 2001', '§ 2001', '§ 1612', '§ 2001', '§ 2001', '§ 2001']

128 F3d 573 Mahler v. United States Forest Service Mahler | OpenJurist
128 F. 3d 573 - Mahler v. United States Forest Service Mahler	Home128 f3d 573 mahler v. united states forest service mahler
128 F3d 573 Mahler v. United States Forest Service Mahler 128 F.3d 573
Andy MAHLER, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE, Kenneth Day, ForestSupervisor, Hoosier National Forest, et al.,Defendants-Appellees.Andy MAHLER, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE, Kenneth Day, ForestSupervisor, Hoosier National Forest, et al.,Defendants-Appellees.
Nos. 97-1117, 97-1253.
Argued Sept. 17, 1997.Decided Oct. 20, 1997.
1. The Rescissions Act.4 Signed into law on July 27, 1995, this Act was designed to provide a statutory matrix for the government's salvage timber sales on national forest lands. The statute provides for the expeditious removal of dead and dying trees from the national forests. The Act addresses, among many other matters, the obligation of the Secretary to develop a document that combines an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act and a biological evaluation under the Endangered Species Act. The statute gives significant discretion to the Secretary on the contents of this document.5 This statute contains no specific provision requiring public comment on the combined environmental and biological statement. Likewise, it provides for extremely limited judicial review of the decision of the Secretary: Unless the court determines that the decision of the Secretary is "arbitrary and capricious or otherwise not in accordance with applicable law," the decision of the Secretary must be sustained. See § 2001(f)(4) of the Act.
The full title for the Rescissions Act is The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Additional Disaster Assistance, for Anti-Terrorism Initiatives, for Assistance in the Recovery from the Tragedy that Occurred at Oklahoma City, and Rescissions Act of 1995, Pub.L. No. 104-19, § 2001, 109 Stat. 194, 240-47. The salvage timber sale provisions of the Rescissions Act expired on December 31, 1996. § 2001(j). Nevertheless, the terms and conditions of that section continue in effect until the completion of performance of the salvage timber sale contracts offered under § 2001(b). Id
Section 2001(c)(1)(A) (emphasis added). The Act also mandates:
Section 2001(c)(1)(C) (emphasis added).
The statute requires the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to establish a procedure for notice and comment concerning the Forest Service's proposed activities under the Forest Act. The Secretary must give notice of the proposed action and must "accept comments on the proposed action within 30 days after publication of the notice." 16 U.S.C. § 1612 Note (b)(2)
Id. at 24. The expedited procedures set forth in § 2001(c) and throughout the statute reflect that concern. The Salvage Act itself emphasizes the expeditious nature of "the removal of disease- or insect-infested trees" and streamlined procedures for selling off the salvage timber. In fact, the Act refers to "emergency salvage timber sales." § 2001(c). Under the reporting requirements of § 2001(c)(2), the Secretary is to report to Congress, by August 30, 1995, the salvage sales completed, and to submit reports every six months thereafter "until completion of all salvage timber sales conducted under subsection (b)."
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