Plum Creek drops forest-road request

A controversial U.S. Forest Service plan that would have made it easier to build houses in Western mountain forests was dropped Monday when the nation's largest private landowner — Seattle-based Plum Creek Timber — abruptly backed off the request that sparked the issue.
Plum Creek, which owns 8 million acres nationwide, withdrew its request for an explicit legal understanding that it has the right to use roads across Forest Service lands for residential development, not just for logging.
The firm cited widespread opposition to the proposal it negotiated behind closed doors over two years with Forest Service chief Mark Rey.
"When we heard about the concern for further input we said, 'Well, that makes sense,' and we apologized and set up some [public] meetings," said Kathy Budinick, a spokeswoman for Plum Creek.

Timber company drops road deal with Forest Service

Associated Press

Mon Jan 5

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