Northern California Timber Sale Blocked in Environmental Suit

Environmental groups temporarily blocked a logging project in California’s Shasta-Trinity National Forest after raising “serious questions” on the US Forest Service’s assessment of risks to a threatened owl species.

The US District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a preliminary injunction for the South Fork Sacramento Public Safety and Forest Restoration Project after groups said the timber harvesting plan cuts through critical habitat for the northern spotted owl and violates Endangered Species Act protections.

The groups proved irreparable harm to the owls without a court order, and the injunction halted timber sales under two contracts.

Judge Dena Coggins ...