Michael McShane

A federal judge allowed a Southern Oregon logging project to proceed after rejecting a lawsuit by two conservation groups. The Bureau of Land Management defended the project as necessary to reduce wildfire risks, while the groups argued it violated environmental laws by deviating from its original plan. The judge ruled the agency complied with environmental regulations and did not improperly analyze the impacts of logging hardwood trees.

Conservation groups Applegate Siskiyou Alliance and Klamath Forest Alliance sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for allegedly expanding a logging project in southern Oregon without proper environmental review. The groups claim the BLM violated federal law by removing more hardwood trees than originally planned, contradicting assurances of limited environmental impact. The BLM defends the project as necessary to address fire risks from dead and dying conifers.