WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement on the United States Forest Service decision to withdraw their proposed changes to the National Old Growth Amendment.
“I have long advocated for responsible forest management decisions to be made at the local level by the people who know the land and how to best handle it,” said Rep. Newhouse.
“I am pleased to see the Forest Service withdraw this top-down regulation that would have been a detrimental blow to proper and common-sense management. I am looking forward to working in the new Congress on ways we can better support the regional stewards of our national forests to reduce the frequency and damage caused by catastrophic wildfires.”
Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa said, “The Forest Service’s decision to withdraw the National Old Growth Amendment proposal is great news for proper forest management. Western Caucus members have been leading the opposition to this misguided plan that would have been detrimental to maintaining healthy forests and led to greater wildfire risks. There won’t be anything left to ‘conserve’ if the Forest Service doesn’t get to work thinning our forests and reducing fire risks. Year after year Congress gives them more money, less work gets done, and the fires get larger. They need to stop wasting time with more restrictive regulations and get to work. I’m happy they scrapped this plan.”
Background:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture initiated a scoping period for a proposed amendment to all 128 land management plans across the National Forest System in December 2023.
The draft Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2024.
On June 27, 2024, Rep. Newhouse, then-Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, introduced legislation to nullify President Biden’s Executive Order 14072 and prevent the U.S. Forest Service from finalizing the Old-Growth Amendment Plan’s draft Environmental Impact Statement.
On July 24, 2024, the House of Representatives passed the 2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act containing Rep. Newhouse’s amendment prohibiting funds from being used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the draft Environmental Impact Statement or any similar action.
On January 7, 2025, U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore announced his intent to withdraw the proposal.
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