GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service says it's revising its planning rules to emphasize science over politics in managing national forests.
Hoping to break a logjam of legal battles that have stymied logging as well as ecosystem restoration, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday from Washington, D.C., that it's in everyone's best interest to have forests that stay healthy amid climate change and economic demands.
The old rules sought to mitigate environmental damage after it was caused by logging, grazing, mining and other natural resource development.
The revisions emphasize finding common ground between industry and conservation groups during the planning process to avoid lawsuits that stall projects.
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