Lawsuit challenging Forest Service timber operations in White Mountains dismissed by judge

The White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire is set to witness logging activities, as a recent court ruling has rejected an environmental challenge to the Forest Service's plans. The lawsuit, filed against the Forest Service, sought to halt the Tarleton and Peabody West projects until a thorough review could be conducted.

The lawsuit was brought forward by Standing Trees, an organization focused on protecting and restoring New England's forests. They argued that the Forest Service bypassed a required environmental review and that the logging projects would permit logging of 3,000 acres, resulting in the construction of over 11 miles of permanent roads in the national forest.

The Tarleton and Peabody West projects are two logging initiatives developed by the Forest Service within the White Mountain National Forest. The lawsuit, filed by the Vermont Law and Graduate School Environmental Advocacy Clinic in May 2024, asked the court to halt these projects until a comprehensive environmental review was carried out.

However, Judge Joseph Laplante of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire ruled last week that the Forest Service had met its legal obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act when it developed these two logging plans. The judge's decision comes after he recused himself in 2024 due to a potential conflict of interest involving his connections to parties related to the Forest Service's logging activities in the White Mountain National Forest.

Despite the court's decision, Standing Trees remains concerned about the impact of these logging projects on the environment and the forest ecosystem. They continue to advocate for responsible forest management and the preservation of the White Mountain National Forest's natural beauty.