Following the announcement last month that the U.S. Forest Service may allow commercial logging companies into the Los Padres National Forest to remove “hazard trees” burnt by the 2006 Day Fire that could potentially imperil hikers, members of the environmental watchdog organization Los Padres ForestWatch have objected on grounds that the trees are in sensitive areas that still need to recover from the blaze. While such actions would normally require an Environmental Impact Statement, the Forest Service claims the tree removal is considered road maintenance and should bypass this measure.
