National Cattlemen’s Beef Association criticizes new Proposed Forest Planning Rule which Weakens Environmental Protections

by KEN COLE on JANUARY 28, 2012 · 30 COMMENTS

NCBA complains about the use of “best available science” and the mandate to protect sensitive species.

In a news release published yesterday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) complained that the new proposed US Forest Planning Rule is too onerous to public lands ranching. In their press release they imply that science does not support such activities on public lands by expressing concerns that “best available science” be used when making decisions about those activities conducted on US Forest Service lands.

They go on to complain that the rule retains requirements that the USFS “maintain viable populations of species of conservation concern” even though the rule dilutes those requirements and dilutes many other environmental protections.

Frankly, the rule is bad and eliminates the ability of many people to participate in the decision making process for certain actions on USFS lands. It seems unseemly that the NCBA and the other public lands livestock industry groups complain about a rule that will benefit their industry while the they lobby congress and the agencies to eliminate the ability of the public to participate. Not surprisingly, they seem to want it all.