The scope of a tree-cutting ban across several national forests in the Southwest has been further narrowed to allow for Christmas tree permits and prescribed burns under a new order issued by a U.S. judge in an ongoing fight over a threatened owl.
The order was filed late Tuesday, a day after environmentalists and the U.S. Forest Service reached an agreement on what types of activities would be allowed to continue across thousands of square miles of forest in New Mexico and Arizona without harming the Mexican spotted owl or its habitat.
The activities permitted by the latest court order include the cutting of a tree in northern New Mexico that will be put on display for Christmas outside the U.S. Capitol.
FILE - In this Aug. 25, 2009, file photo, logging equipment cuts down a tree near Reserve, N.M. A federal judge has halted tree-cutting activities on all five national forests in New Mexico and one in Arizona until federal agencies can get a better handle on how to monitor the population of the threatened Mexican spotted owl. The order issued earlier Sept. 2019, out of the U.S. District Court in Tucson covers 18,750 square miles. The cutting of Christmas trees across several national forests in the Southwest will be allowed under an order issued by a U.S. district judge in the fight over a threatened owl. That includes a tree from the Carson National Forest that will be felled and displayed outside the U.S. Capitol. (AP PhotoChris Carlson, File)
Legal wrangling had threatened to stall the cutting of the tree and a statewide tour ahead of its trip to Washington, D.C.
The gathering of firewood by rural residents also was at issue as the Forest Service interpreted Judge Raner Collins' initial order to mean all timber management activities across five New Mexico forests and one in Arizona would be halted until forest and wildlife managers came up with a way to count the owls as part of a recovery plan.
Environmentalists argued that the Forest Service's interpretation was overly broad and asked the judge for clarification. They ended up reaching an agreement with federal officials, resulting in stipulations Collins included in his latest order.
FILE - In this July 11, 2002, file photo, Dr. Kathleen Ramsay gets the attention of "Manchado," a Mexican Spotted Owl at the Wildlife Center near Espanola, N.M. The cutting of Christmas trees across several national forests in the Southwest will be allowed under an order issued by a U.S. district judge in the fight over a threatened owl. That includes a tree from the Carson National Forest that will be felled and displayed outside the U.S. Capitol. The tree-cutting along with prescribed burns and other projects were put on hold following an earlier ruling in a case that alleged the U.S. Forest Service failed to consider the effects of thinning and logging on the Mexican spotted owl. (AP PhotoNeil Jacobs, File)
"None of these activities that we agreed to release from the injunction, whether cutting the Capitol Christmas tree or conducting trail maintenance, were ever a serious threat to the owl," said John Horning, executive director of WildEarth Guardians. "We hope the Forest Service reorients to the work of recovering the owl by adequately monitoring its population."
Still pending is a request by the Forest Service for the judge to reconsider his initial ruling that found federal officials fell short of their responsibility to monitor the owl. Arguments are set for Nov. 7.
The case started in 2013, when environmentalists alleged that the Forest Service failed to consider the effects of thinning and logging on Mexican spotted owls.
First listed as threatened in the U.S. in 1993, the Mexican spotted owl is found in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, parts of West Texas and Mexico.
The Forest Service has argued that moving ahead with prescribed burns and thinning projects will address wildfire threats and ultimately make for a healthier environment. The agency said in a statement Wednesday it would be transparent in the steps it takes to alleviate "stressors" that have resulted from the initial limits on timber management activities.
Projects within owl habitat still are off-limits, but the order made public Wednesday allows for commercial firewood gathering outside of protected zones to continue. Prescribed burns also can resume with some stipulations.
The order also permits the cutting of vigas and latillas — wooden beams and posts — for personal use along with the collection of forest products for tribal ceremonial purposes.
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SUPREME COURT-TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT — AP Explains the latest election subversion case before the Supreme Court: Whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Includes an AP reporter debrief from last week's hearing on whether federal prosecutors went too far in bringing obstruction charges against hundreds of participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Newsroom Ready and Consumer Ready edits sent on April 16.
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7 a.m. — Live US Network Pool Cameras and Live AP Cameras outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington where justices are hearing arguments on presidential immunity. Live cameras on protesters amid supporters outside, along with live reaction from lawyers. Audio livestream also booked.
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ELECTION 2024-PENNSYLVANIA-HALEY — When Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign, she refused to endorse Donald Trump as the last remaining major candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination — and so did some of her supporters in Pennsylvania. SENT: 480 words, photo.
BIDEN-FUNDRAISER — President Joe Biden is scheduled to attend a campaign fundraiser in Irvington, New York, on Thursday night. Hosts include Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. AP does not expect this event to be open to the media, but it will be traveling with the president and it will provide video edits and Live coverage if there is breaking news.
ELECTION 2024-DECISION NOTES-PUERTO RICO — Puerto Rico will hold a Democratic presidential primary Sunday, the only opportunity for Democrats on the island to officially weigh in on the race for the White House. Sent April 24: 970 words, photos.
SUPREME COURT-TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT — Supreme Court justices seem to agree on a basic truth about the American system of government: No one is above the law, not even the president. But former President Donald Trump and his legal team are putting that truth to the test when the high court takes up Trump’s bid to avoid prosecution over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. SENT: 780 words, photo. UPCOMING: 1,100 words after 10 a.m. arguments. With TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT-LISTENERS’ GUIDE — What to listen for during Supreme Court arguments on Trump and presidential immunity. Sent April 24.
TRUMP-HUSH MONEY — A judge is weighing whether to hold Donald Trump in contempt of court for what prosecutors say have been repeated violations of the gag order in his hush money criminal trial. Jurors are also expected to hear more testimony from David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, about the tabloid’s involvement in a scheme to benefit Trump. SENT: 650 words, photos. UPCOMING: 990 words after trial resumes at 9:30 a.m.
BIDEN — President Biden heads to upstate New York to tout his administration’s efforts to promote computer chip manufacturing in the U.S. SENT: 760 words, photos. UPCOMING: Speech at 2 p.m. Video edits and Live planned.
FAKE ELECTORS-INDICTMENT-ARIZONA — An Arizona grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump ’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and 16 others for their efforts to use so-called fake electors to try to overturn Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. SENT: 1,200 words, photos, audio. With ELECTION 2020-MICHIGAN-FAKE ELECTORS — Investigator said Trump, allies were uncharged co-conspirators in plot to overturn Michigan election.
ELECTION 2024-BIDEN-TIKTOK — President Joe Biden’s signing of legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. runs counter to his campaign’s embrace of the platform and outreach to influencers. The president is also facing criticism from some avid users of the app. SENT: 1,300 words, photos.
ELECTION-2024-BIDEN-UNION — President Joe Biden picked up the endorsement of North America’s Building Trades Unions where the president and his allies set out to dismantle Republican Donald Trump’s reputation as a successful real estate developer. SENT: 380 words, photos, audio.
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President Joe Biden speaks before signing a $95 billion Ukraine aid package that also includes support for Israel, Taiwan, and other allies, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
