Forest Conservation Organizations Sue U.S. Government for Steering $350 Million to Timber Industry-Dominated Forest Foundations
Suit Asks for Declaration of Illegal Action and Future Oversight
Remedies
SEATTLE--(Business Wire)--
A coalition of conservation organizations committed to promoting
sustainable forestry in the United States filed a lawsuit today
against the Bush Administration. The organizations are the Forest
Stewardship Council-US, Conservation Northwest, and the Center for
Biological Diversity. The suit alleges that the Administration
violated federal appropriations law when, in September of 2006,
without any public process or Congressional approval, the
Administration steered $350 million from Canadian lawsuit settlement
funds to Bush-selected timber industry-dominated forestry foundations.
The suit asks the Court to declare that the Bush Administration
violated the law and asks the court to take reasonable and fair steps
to ensure that the money is safeguarded until the Administration
follows the law.
"Once again the Bush Administration has made up its own rules.
Here, the Administration illegally gave away hundreds of millions of
public dollars to organizations whose programs are not clearly
established to advance the public interest," said Joe Scott,
International Programs Director of Washington-based Conservation
Northwest.
One of the co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit is the Forest Stewardship
Council - United States (FSC-US), which represents the most respected
forest certification system in the United States. Corey Brinkema,
FSC-US's President, explained why they joined the suit. "FSC-US and
our partners work tirelessly to develop and promote the highest
standards for forest management as well as provide the public the
opportunity to reward responsible forestry through choosing
FSC-labeled products. The Administration's action is a huge setback
that if left unchecked, could significantly lower the bar for what is
represented as sustainable forestry."
The suit says that money the Bush Administration earmarked to the
two timber industry dominated organizations, the U.S. Endowment for
Forest and Communities and the American Forest Foundation, should
instead have gone into the US Treasury. "How this money is spent
should have been up to Congress, not timber industry executives in a
backroom deal with the Administration," said Bill Snape, Senior
Attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity.
The Washington Forest Law Center, a Seattle-based public interest
law firm, is filing the suit on behalf of the plaintiffs in federal
court in Seattle. The defendants are the U.S. Trade Representative,
the Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection.
Washington Forest Law Center/Lead Counsel
Peter Goldman, Director,
206-223-4088 ext. 3
or
The Rogers Group for Forest Stewardship Council-US
Naomi Goldman, 310-552-4197
or
Conservation NW
Joe Scott, International Programs Director
360-671-9950 ext. 11
or
Center for Biological Diversity
Bill Snape, 202-536-9351
Copyright Business Wire 2008
