Supreme Court Signal On Forest Roads Case Expected By Summer

Attorneys and other authorities following an Oregon federal appeals court ruling involving environmental regulation of forest roads think the U.S. Supreme Court will announce by early summer if will consider an appeal of the case. The Oregon decision, if not overturned by the nation’s highest court, would treat water run-off from forest roads as potential point-source pollution and subject to permit requirements by the Environmental Protection Agency or state agencies under its oversight.

As it now stands, the Oregon decision would apply initially to the Northwestern states and Alaska. But it is a source of enormous concern to forestland owners and the forest industry throughout the U.S. There is no assurance that the Supreme Court will consider the appeal and is expected to make known its intention in the case by early summer.

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