Idaho vs USFS

Where the USeless Forest Service gets it's funding

2012-01-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

Where the USFS gets their funding to burn down people's homes:

Court blocks EPA rule in last-minute order

2012-01-02T01:36:00.002-07:00

Court blocks EPA rule in last-minute order

(Reuters) - Efforts by U.S. regulators to cut air pollution from coal-fired power plants faced a setback on Friday when a federal appeals court issued a last-minute order delaying their January 1 implementation.

The U.S. District Court of Appeals granted a request to stay the Environmental Protection Agency's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) pending further court review.
The EPA finalized the rule in July, setting much stricter limits on sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants in 27 states to protect the health of residents in states downwind from the emissions.
"The underlying rule was the subject of hasty process, poor technical support, unequal application, and substantial threat to jobs, power bills and reliability," said Scott Segal, director of the Electric Reliability Coordinating Council.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/30/us-utilities-epa-idUSTRE7BT17420111230

Southern Oregon Miner Defeats United States Forest Service in Court

2011-12-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

Southern Oregon Miner Defeats United States Forest Service in Court

Nov 14, 2011
Mining

In a recent decision issued on November 9th, 2011, United States District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that the United States Forest Service, and particularly Cottage Grove District Ranger Deborah Schmidt, violated the constitutional rights of 83 year old Oregon miner, James Edgar.

Edgar, of Eugene, Oregon, alleged that the United States Forest Service and especially District Ranger Deborah Schmidt, had violated his rights when Schmidt ordered USFS Law Enforcement to impound structures on his mining claim in November of 2008 and declared them to be “government property”. Climaxing nearly fifteen years of conflict with the United States Forest Service, in early June of 2009, agents of USFS dismantled the structures on Edgar’s mineral property with a backhoe and then destroyed the remnants by use of fire. The Bone of Contention between Schmidt and Edgar lied in Edgar’s unwillingness to post what he believed was an unfair bond. On November 25th, 2009, Edgar filed suit against the United States, as well as District Ranger Deborah Schmidt.

USFS maintained that the “plaintiff had no legitimate property interest in his structures after they became property of the government through the impoundment process, and therefore the destruction of the structures did not interfere with plaintiff’s right to control them“.

http://pienpolitics.com/?p=6557

New Mexico Law and Local Sheriff Trump the Feds in Agenda 21 Land Grab

2011-12-04T07:48:00.002-07:00

New Mexico Law and Local Sheriff Trump the Feds in Agenda 21 Land Grab

Posted on Nov 08, 2011 in Police, Military & War, Political Issues

Kevin Hayden – TruthisTreason.net

Source: Cassandra Anderson

New Mexico just proved that State law trumps unconstitutional federal regulations and that the power of the sheriff is superior over federal agencies. This is the power of the Tenth Amendment!

Ten years ago, when Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson was Governor of New Mexico, he signed into law a bill authorizing New Mexico to cut trees and thin overgrown forests that can prevent uncontrollable wildfires. This law applies to federal lands when federal agencies neglect or mismanage forests and put lives at risk.

The US Forest Service, under the USDA, allowed the Lincoln National Forest in Otero County to become dense and overgrown and it was a life-threatening hazard. The agency refused to remediate the problem.

Federal agencies are party to a sinister plot for total control and depopulation through the United Nations, called Agenda 21 Sustainable Development. Many federal employees who enforce bad environmental policies may not realize they are really enforcing UN Agenda 21. Part of this plot is the Wildlands Project designed to remove humans from rural lands and allowing forests to grow out of control, even when forest fires threaten human life.

Obama's guidelines to the EPA give them power to steal your land!

2011-10-12T23:22:00.000-06:00

Mike and Chantell Sackett take EPA to the Supreme Court

They’re defending everyone’s right to a day in court if government tramples your property rights

Sackett v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Contact: Damien M. Schiff
Status: U.S. Supreme Court granted petitioners' certiorari petition on June 28, 2011. Petitioners' opening brief on the merits filed Sept. 23, 2011. Respondents' merits brief is due November 23, 2011.

10/10/11 Release
The Sacketts to recount EPA abuses at forum hosted by Sen. Rand Paul

Story continues: http://www.pacificlegal.org/page.aspx?pid=616

Forest Service Blames "Global Warming" for Lack of Management Skill

2011-07-11T12:44:00.001-06:00

Whenever I run across forest service employees, it is often the case our discussion turns to burned up, destroyed or bark-beetle infested forests.

Four years later, and the record wildfires of 2007 are still destroying forests, streams and county roads.

Usually, the cultic, stereo-typical response is "global warming" is causing the forest to be destroyed. As shown and parroted by Tom Tidwell, USFS Chief, who says it's really "climate change" destroying our nation's forest, and not his incompetent list of buffoons he calls "forest supervisors".

So, here's an interesting question I have: If the forest is indeed failing due to "climate change" then WHY has the earth's average temperature gone DOWN by 0.74 degrees over the last 15 years?

Here's that "climate change" we're all hearing about, which caused the worst FREEZE and largest crop losses in more than 50 years: http://www.usmessageboard.com/general/154648-mexicos-big-freeze-crop-devastation-worst-in-50-years.html

According to the USFS, this should be a GOOD thing for our nation's forests, but yet we STILL are having the worst wildfires in the history of the earth, according to the geologic record? And trees which have survived for more than 10,000 years are now being destroyed by disease and record wildfires?

Mudslide Caused by Forest Fires

2011-06-13T00:36:00.002-06:00

Wildfires and their devastating effects on the landscape are INCREASING!

That's according to the Associated Press article:

"Arizona blaze part of new era — more big wildfires"

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer Randolph E. Schmid, Ap Science Writer– Wed Jun 15, 3:33 am ET

WASHINGTON – The fires searing parts of the West are an eerie echo of the past, a frightening reminder of a once terrible danger that had been held largely at bay for decades.
The number of large wildfires has been rising for roughly the past 25 years, and they are lasting longer amid fire seasons that also last longer.
Is it global warming? Experts won't say that, pointing instead to a variety of factors ranging from local weather to insect infestations to more people living and camping out in the woods."

Story continues: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110615/ap_on_sc/us_sci_fire_science

Four years later, and the 850,000 acre forest fire the Payette Nation Forest let run unabated is still wreaking havoc on county roads, at the cost of MILLIONS of dollars per year!

The fire damaged hillside, unable to handle the accelerated melting snow, caused by the blackened hillside, gave way this spring.

It turned Profile Creek into a gooey-mud-filled mess, with the hundreds of cubic yards, thousands of tons of ash, sludge and muck it deposited in prime fish spawning beds.

Blackened hillside gave way four years after the slope stabilizing trees and vegetation

were destroyed by fire. Note: Blackened hillsides accelerate snow melt, as compared

to healthy green hillsides, which further inflicts damage to areas devastated by

wildfire.

Seen here, mud and filth ran all the way across the road, down the slope,
and into Profile Creek

Mud running off from burned area, heading toward Profile Creek

Merger of Profile Creek (left) with the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon
River (right). Mud from the recent slides is easily distinguishable in the left fork contributed by
Profile Creek.

National Forest System Land Management Planning Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Draft Programmatic EIS

2011-04-28T01:37:00.001-06:00

National Forest System Land Management Planning Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Draft Programmatic EIS

Out of Control Wildfire in the Payette National Forest.
Our atv ride got cut short by an 850,000 acre wildfire
which destroyed trees as old as 2,000 years
and as large as 8 feet in diameter.

In the Northwest, as the USFS is more than aware, hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost in direct association with the Northwest Forest Management Ruling.

Up until this time, the USFS had a net surplus budget of almost $87 million per year. Today, the USFS must make payments to county, cities, and states which were promised that logging or mining jobs would be replaced by more lucrative recreation jobs.

The recreational jobs were just a pipe dream, or they would have materialized in the last 20 years that have gone by since destroying a vital part of the west's livelihood by the USFS.

Not only has this created a financial crisis, this has created a national security crisis. I would like to submit the following link along with it's entire contents into my comments, as it shows how USFS actions directly impact and have created a national security crisis involving rare earth elements.

On October 21, 2010, the Chinese government stopped shipments of rare earth elements to the western world, including Europe, Japan, America, Mexico.......but continues shipping them to Russia, Venezuela, and Iran.

Which is sad: There are NO producing mines for rare earth minerals in the free world. Not in Europe, Japan, Canada, or even America. Even though the largest deposits of said minerals (more than $5 TRILLION total, a 450 year supply) are right here in the north west, and are off limits to development via the USFS Northwest Management Policies.
Story continues: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/2010/10/rare-look-at-common-sense-thrown-to.html
Note: Follow links to New York Times verifying China controls 98% of all active deposits on earth.
What happened to the USFS that could be reasoned with? Or that acted in America's best interest? When did the USFS turn into a single-use-management agency and a permanent branch of the National Park Service? Please follow your charter and founding principles: To enhance the prosperity, wealth and overall well-being of the American people, not locking all their land away from them for your personal uses.
Part two of my complaint against the USFS: When the Northwest Forest Management act came into being, all it did was accelerate the rate of spread of the bark beetle infestations and the intensity of wildfires.

My personal observations. Especially the Payette National Forest, which has been 82% destroyed by wildfires, including trees as old as 2,000 years and more than 8 feet in diameter.

More than 850,000 acres burned during the 2007 wildfires alone, and caused/is causing major damage to roads, bridges, rivers, lakes, streams, and wildlife habitat. I noticed the USFS has come into the Payette with an "active agenda" of destroying all roads, including county owned RS-2477 roadways (like the only access road to my private property!!!!).

Yet, while the USFS wastes millions of dollars per year, to spread new gravel on an old road (estimated by the USFS to put 12 tons of year of sediments into the river), they do NOTHING when entire mountain sides destroyed by fire slough off into the river inundating endangered salmon spawning beds with MILLIONS of tons of arsenic, mercury laden sediments.

Not even seedlings or grass seed was spread across MUCH of the burned area, while the USFS tells me I can't drive to my property anymore because my 1/2 mile long driveway is to blame for putting filth into the river? What the hell are you people smoking, besides endangered wildlife carcasses smoldering from fires you have no clue how to manage?

Scott Amos

USFS Ranger Unlawfully Attacks Citizen at His Home

2011-03-17T23:23:00.001-06:00

Many progressives who work for the USFS do NOT think Americans have the right to "own" property. Nor do they respect you, your property, or the rights afforded to you by the US Constitution. This comes as no surprise, since the USFS is in and of itself an unconstitutional entity not sanctioned by WE THE PEOPLE or the Constitution of The United States of America.

As noted in other parts of this blog, USFS rangers often come onto private property, unlawfully, intending to commit crimes against the landowners. Usually it is arson, burning down private residences and bullying the land owner into selling their property to the USFS.

In this case, it is outright senseless violence against an elderly gentleman at his home, even during a diabetic seizure.

According to the ChicoER.com (http://www.chicoer.com/fromthenewspaper/ci_17631552):

"A Chico man who unlawfully posted a flier in Lassen National Forest last winter offering services was acquitted by a federal magistrate March 9 on a charge of interfering with the ranger who confronted him about it.

On Feb. 4, 2010, U.S. Forest Service officer Paul Zohovetz showed up, allegedly unannounced, at the Chico home of Jeffrey M. Newman, 54.

Zohovetz was in full uniform and reportedly asked Newman for his identification. Newman said he recalled that Zohovetz had called him the day before about a flier posted on a Forest Service bulletin board offering cross-country ski tune-ups, but didn't identify himself. "

And
"In the decision, U.S. District Court Magistrate Craig M. Kellison stated that at the time of the initial encounter, Zohovetz "had no right to remain on Newman's property once he was ordered to leave."

Similar story: USFS unlawfully burns down elderly couple's home on private property!

How America Made the World a Better and More Prosperous Place

2011-03-06T00:54:00.008-07:00

It has been known by those of us who work in the resource industries for quite some time, that the basic building blocks for America's economy come from the land. This includes timber, oil, gas, rare earth minerals, gold, silver, lead, zinc and literally thousands of minerals which cannot be synthesized. While it is true that recycling is a good practice, you must first remove the raw elements from the land before they are available to recycle. Once removed from the earth, then and only then can certain elements and minerals be recycled millions of times over.

America has perfected these techniques perhaps better than any other nation in the world, and the rise in prosperity of average Americans has outpaced the world by more than 40 times.

Old miner's cabin on Profile Summit

Typical American home from the 1920s. 6 feet high
ceiling, to save on heating. Less than 200 square
feet of living space to accomodate an entire family.
No plumbing, electricity, or ammenities of any sort.
Going to the bathroom at night required slippers, a candle
and possibly a shotgun if furry critters with claws were
roaming around. I camped in this cabin as a boy. It's a
huge setback from modern life to see how people lived back
then in America, and how the majority of the world's population
still lives.

Most persons today take all that which surrounds us, our television, IPOD, computer, cars, stereos for granted. Many people are disconnected from the long and harrowing road the elements took on their journey from the time they were extracted from the earth, processed, shipped, sold, repeatedly, before all falling into perfect harmony into the items you now see before you.

Most persons do not know, in America, in 1905, that old age was simply 45 years old. And that your life expectancy has been dramatically INCREASED through breakthrough developments in the mining industry, which make other wonders like medicine, farming, research and development possible. Case in point: Russia. Where life expectancy is still a meager 52 years old. And which has a flailing mining industry, light-years behind that of America and Canada.

Joseph A. Holmes said it best (circa 1880s) when he stated "The most patriotic act a man can do is work in a mine." It would then follow, the most "unpatriotic act" a person could do, is to actively OPPOSE exploration and development of minerals America uses, to the betterment of the human cause the world over.

Example: Most people are not aware that the Barringer Meteor Crater, otherwise often referred to as the "Winslow" meteor crater in Arizona, was developed by D. M. Barringer in the early part of the 20th century, as an attempt to recover the meteor thought to still exist at the bottom of the crater. In the early 1900s, Barringer had estimated the size of the meteorite at "in excess of a million tons." http://www.barringercrater.com/adventure/ And that, had he been successful, America would be far more prosperous than it already is as a direct result.

Even without the riches Barringer might have contributed, America is doing pretty darned well as opposed to the rest of the world.

87% of the world population today lives on less than $2/day. This is where America was more than 150 years ago, but has crawled out of the proverbial ooze pit and left the rest of the world behind. Advances in mining have brought America to the greatest nation on earth you now see before you.

In 1855 America, a ton of iron rails for the railroad cost more than $85 on average. *1] This was more than 120 days wages for the average American worker in 1855. From 1872 to 1882, the price of U.S.-produced steel rail dropped from $140 a ton to $35 a ton, and production rocketed from 90,000 tons to 1.5 million tons.*2]
In 1872, in today's prices, iron rails for the railroad would cost nearly $4,000 per ton. However, the current going rate for rail steel is somewhere around $420 per ton, or about 1/10th the cost it was in the 1870s.

The average American can now buy one ton of steel with 2-4 days wages, a sharp contrast to the 120 days wages from 1855.

We now can afford items never dreamed of in 87% of the world today, and in the America of 100-150 years ago. Iron has gotten so expendable to the point it's an item found in most garbage cans in American households. We throw away more wealth in 5 years, than the majority of the world will see in their shorter-than-American average lifetimes.

Forces are at work to weaken America from within, as a nation

Since the radical 1960s shifts in policy against states' rights, county rights, mining, logging, and virtually every extraction process known to man under the sun has come under fire from environmental groups. To me, the son of a man who lost his job in the early 1980s as a direct result of environmental groups suing, the current collapse of America's economy was easily predictable. And it is still obivious to me that many well intentioned people are being used as pawns in the battle for America's existence.

We all want clean air. We all want clean water. What we don't want, are communist nations getting into bed with environmental activists, inside our nation, to destroy our way of life.

For some time now, I have been warning congressmen, senators, newspaper outlets, that China is using environmental groups and America's own laws, regulations, policies and rules against us.This is particularly true with rare earth minerals, where China controls 97% of the world supply/production, even though the largest reserves in the world are here in the northwest.
http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/2010/10/rare-look-at-common-sense-thrown-to.html

I've even gone so far as to walk into senator Jim Risch's office and given a very lengthy, in depth speech as to why I lose sleep at night knowing our congressman and senators are proposing more wilderness. Not because I like to ride atvs and snowmobiles, but because I know for a fact there are no mines currently producing rare earth minerals in the USA. And that our best bet for ensuring the security of our nation DEPENDS on extraction of rare earth minerals, which exist in high quantities near lands soon to be locked away by CIEDRA..

Now back to my rant about communists' activities within our borders!

Indeed, the communist pary USA, which has ties both to China, Russia, the KGB, and which openly supports democratic candidates, pushes an enviro-utopia-agenda, where all the birds, bees, bear, alligators and people hold hands/flippers/paws/insect-thingies and sing "Kum-by-ya." Here's a direct link to the Communist Party USA which states some of the afore-mentioned facts: http://www.cpusa.org/faq/

Of course, you have to go to THIS link to see the ties between Russia, the KGB, China, and the Democratic Party, many current members such as Hillary Clinton, which were openly supported and endorsed by communist China, Bob Trueff of the San Francisco Communist Party, etc.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_USA

It is with a heavy heart I say that America is losing the cultural war with environmental extemism, and being forced to surrender to communist agendas. What better way to defeat America than to sign on willing soldiers, such as the Sierra Club, within our ranks? Chinese officials have often been spotted attending events with such groups as the Sierra Club, including this encounter documented on the Sierra Club's own website: "Peng and seven other Chinese delegates dropped by the Sierra Club's headquarters this summer after completing monthlong internships with U.S. environmental organizations, including the Club." http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200711/bulletin.asp

At face value, China's willingness to work with and support those groups which knowingly and willfully cripple the American economy seem like a "great social experiment." Digging a little deeper, it's not hard to find actual harmful mal-intent from multiple environmental groups against American industry. Such as the latest scandal, involving an offer "not to sue" or misuse the public scoping and comment period on a 680 mile long El Paso pipeline proposal if the builder agreed to spend more than $20 million. It calls for the Houston-based company to spend $15 million to set up a conservation fund for the Idaho-based Western Watersheds Project and $5 million to create a fund for the Oregon Natural Desert Foundation. http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_e0ee96a0-b976-5ac2-801e-73063f9fac85.html

Just recently I talked with a manager of a company who claimed Western Watersheds similarly approached his company and offered not to comment during the NEPA process if the company agreed to pay Western Watersheds $1 MILLION up front, before the proposal was made public.

While it is controversial to say communist entities directly fund and partner with environmental groups to bring America's prosperity down, there can be no doubt these groups share the communists desire to hit Americans where it hurts the most, in their pocketbooks.

In a timespan of less than 10 years, 8 environmental groups filed more than 450 lawsuits against the federal government and received more than $4.7 BILLION of tax-payers' hard earned cash. This money is often used to hire more lawyers, then file MORE lawsuits, and gain MORE taxpayer money, until the cycle ultimately bankrupts most federal agencies and prevents them from performing their congressional mandated work, spending all their time, energy, and budget dealing with rabid environmental lawyers. https://westernlegacyalliance.org/blog/eaja-abuse-front-and-center.html

1]
http://tacnet.missouri.org/history/railroads/rrcosts.html
2]
http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=661

Scott Amos

A proud supporter/defender of the US Constitution and American pursuit of life, liberty and happiness as a way of life

Homepage: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004)

2011-02-08T23:50:00.007-07:00

PAYETTE NATIONAL FOREST CONDUCTS ARSON ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, OF HISTORICAL LANDMARKS

NEW! Angry Protesters March on US Forest Service!

Help stop these horrendous crimes being committed against defenseless elderly couples!

As my investigation into illegal conduct committed by the USFS continues, please accept these updates to PREVIOUS criminal complaints I've filed with the US Attorney General, Idaho Attorney General, Valley County Prosecuting Attorney, Valley County Sherriff's Office, and the USDA Office of the Inspector General.

Please find HERE more PROOF the Payette National Forest KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY destroyed a home which was located on private property. This was obtained, after MULTIPLE FOIA requests, and threat of a lawsuit, from the Payette National Forest head office in McCall.

Per interviews with the former mine manager, the surveyor for Dakota Mining Inc, and the homeowner, I have been able to ascertain it was the HOUSE which was on private property. A seperate tool shed/shop was present which Jim Adkins had later constructed upon unpatented mining claims.

Reviewing public land maps, available for $1 per copy at the Valley County recorder's office, I further assert this house was in fact on 100% private property! You can't drive to it's former location, as the landowner today has locked gates, private property and no trespassing signs posted on the road leading to where this historic property was destroyed.

I attempted to photograph remnants of it from across the river, but noted the private property INFACT is on both sides of the EFSF Salmon River. And that no USFS property gets very close to where this house used to sit.

That is why, with 98% probability, I assert: The Payette National Forest, never an organization to waste a good opportunity to bully a private landowner into "restoring habitat" on lands which aren't public, did knowingly and willfully engage in illegal conduct.

This immoral, unethical and illegal conduct included enticing an unwillingly partner (Stibnite Mine) to help the USFS not only VIOLATE the Antiquities and National Historical Preservation Acts, but to become an unwilling partner in arson of private property on private land. Ultimately, it was not Minven or Dakota Mining, owners of Stibnite Mine, which burned down this historic former doctor's home, and Bradley Mining Office, listed on the National Register of Historical Places, which includes, but not limited to, the ENTIRE STIBNITE MINING DISTRICT!!!

It was a contractor hired by the Krassel Ranger district of the Payette National Forest. MANY upper level management, to include then forest supervisor Fred Dauber, had been warned both in WRITING and VERBALLY in front of DOZENS OF WITNESSES (including myself) that destroying this historic house and the Boyscout cabin was in direct violation of the law.

AFTER these skirmishes and confrontations, and after illegal sanctionst AGAINST the mine, to include witholding unrelated operating permits, did Mr. Bork, mine manager finally agree to USFS terms regarding these historical buildings.

This home had been moved from it's original location near Garnet creek, onto additional private property owned by the Oberbilling estate and leased to Dakota Mining.

During an interview with Mr. Oberbilling, former estate manager for the Oberbilling estate, on or about July 1992, (BEFOREAdkins' home was destroyed) I asked him WHY he stood by and did NOTHING as the USFS burned DOZENS of historic buildings I witnessed, on his private property?!!? His answer was simply this: The tired, teary-eyed old man, too choked up for words managed to get out a very tearful, angry response saying "there's just nothing I can do to stop them!!!"

Later, I figured out he meant the USFS was threatening him with turning his family heritage into a CERCLA site which would ultimately BANKRUPT the family legacy. Sadly, after getting away with what could only be called ARSON for DECADES, the USFS, after burning the last intact structures at Stibnite, both on private or publicly administered lands, screwed the Oberbilling estate and Dakota Mining by doing what they had been threatening to do for YEARS!!!

Sadly, MANY of the USFS rangers who committed the above crime, have NOT been held accountable for their actions.

Several of them continue to break laws, in their official capacity, sanctioned and justified by the NEW forest supervisor Suzanne Rainville. Who not only looks the other way while they commit their crimes, but solicits AWARDS and MEDALS for the same people who burned down Jim Adkins' house.

Does this mean she is the same kind of person who would burn down Adkins' house? You are who you associate yourself with.

Suzanne Rainville's associates include known arsonists, would-be burglars and felons who stole private property from the Big Creek Lodge, destroyed private property on the Jones' claims, distorted official USFS documents to suit their evil purposes, and have been seen leaving the crime scenes of MULTIPLE private dwellings destroyed by fire.

I do not say this lightly, when I say both the current, and FORMER Payette National Forest management team are corrupt, abusive, unapproachable, unaccountable, unethical, immoral, unrepentent criminally-minded and unforgivable.

Scott Amos

A proud supporter/defender of the US Constitution and American pursuit of life, liberty and happiness as a way of life

Phone: 208-353-8907
Homepage: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/

USFS Closing Off MORE Roads to ATV/Public Use

2011-01-28T00:13:00.002-07:00

This cave is 4 miles west of Yellow Pine on the EFSF-Salmon River Road, which may be limited to ATV use under new USFS policy.

NEW! VALLEY COUNTY RESPONSE TO USFS

The USFS is seeking public comments as to whether to close down EVEN MORE roads from public use!

Many of the public comment periods are still open and I encourage outdoor enthusiasts to submit their comments. Here are the USFS forests in question:

Forest News:

Possible OHV use changes on Forest Service Roads of Concern

(via email Wednesday, January 26, 2011)

OHV enthusiasts,

The Forest Service in Idaho is currently reviewing forest roads that they have concern over OHV’s sharing the same right of way as full size vehicles. The roads they have identified may require mitigation measures that could include CLOSURE TO ALL OHV’S, not just unlicensed operators. To see a map of the roads the different districts have identified and learn about their public comment process, please visit the following links.

If you have any additional questions please contact me or your USFS Ranger Districts,

Todd Wernex
Recreation Specialist
Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
(208) 514-2413

Here are the links:

Boise National Forest
http://tinyurl.com/BNFATV

Payette National Forest
http://tinyurl.com/PNFATV

Sawtooth National Forest
http://tinyurl.com/SNFATV

Salmon-Challis National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/

Nez Perce National Forest
http://tinyurl.com/NPNFATV

Idaho Panhandle National Forests
http://tinyurl.com/IPNFATV

Caribou-Targhee National Forest
http://tinyurl.com/CTNFATV

The Clearwater National Forest does not have the information posted to its website yet.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

BOISE NATIONAL FOREST

January 27, 2011
Information Contact: Idaho City Ranger District Mike Feiger 208-392-6681

____________________________________________________________

This is a letter I sent to the Payette, Boise, Sawtooth, Challis, Nez Perce, Panhandle, Idaho City ranger districts. It is in response to public comments being sought on ADDITIONAL road closures and restrictions.

Sent to: mailto:comments-intermtn-payette@fs.fed.us; comments-intermtn-payette@fs.fed.us; comments-intermtn-boise@fs.fed.us; comments-intermtn-sawtooth@fs.fed.us; mjrhodes@fs.fed.us; mjrhodes@fs.fed.us; middlefork@fs.fed.us; middlefork@fs.fed.us; juliehopkins@fs.fed.us; comments-northern-nezperce@fs.fed.us; comments-northern-idpanhandle@fs.fed.us; "lballard@fs.fed.us" lballard@fs.fed.us; ttidwell@fs.fed.us, rsowa@fs.fed.us, hforsgren@fs.fed.us,

I grew up riding on Payette and Boise National Forest roads. I bought my first snowmobile at age 8. I bought my first motorcycle at age 12 and my first atv at age 12. In those days there were lots of mining trucks and logging trucks to worry about bumping into.

Now most those jobs are gone, mostly due to USFS and presidential/congressional jobs-killing/obliterating policies which target the American right to earn an honest living. Now you (the USFS) are looking to destroy MORE jobs by limiting ATV use which is the only source of revenue left for rural communities which have seen TENS OF THOUSANDS if not HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of lost public lands dependent jobs since 1992. Thousands of those jobs were lost in Valley County alone, to include the closed down sawmill in Cascade, the logging trucks that no longer haul to Horseshoe Bend, and the privately owned mines on Thunder Mountain the Payette closed down and bought out. Stibnite is being targetted for the same reasons....but I'm going off on the tangent I'm prone to when I see my government destroying American families and communities..........

The solution to this problem is simple: Stop closing all the side roads which would allow the American people to go out and responsibly enjoy our forests, and our children would not HAVE to ride down main forests roads to have a unique outdoor experience on their motorcycles, atvs or utvs. Impose reasonable speed limits on forest roads is fine. Amy and Rob Bryant are nice folks to deal with and I think they treat atv users with respect and dignity. I CANNOT say the same for Clem Pope, Patti Stieger or some of the other knuckleheads you've sent into the back country in recent years. Especially after Patti Stieger's episode locking five people behind the gate on three mile road then driving off and intentionally leaving them there. Makes your entire agency look like a bunch of criminal incompetent idiots, even those I would otherwise respect. It shows your hatred towards us who pay your wages, that you wouldn't even grant the common decency of allowing five citizens, two of which suffer from disabilities, from exiting a roadway before citing them and unlawfully imprisoning them for the crime of enjoying the land they are partial owner to. One of the trapped victim's statements may be read online here: https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B70-4LPNNbOzOTFlOWYxNTEtZGNkMi00NjVhLTg0YzktZjgwMjY4Y2Q5ZTA4&hl=en&pli=1

Or at my homepage devoted to documenting other heinous crimes committed by USFS listed under my name below.

Scott Amos
A proud supporter/defender of the US Constitution and American pursuit of life, liberty and happiness as a way of life
Phone: 208-353-8907
Homepage: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004)

Former Krassel District Ranger Speaks Out

2011-01-21T11:50:00.003-07:00

Ned Pence, former USFS employee and district ranger on multiple forests, speaks out regarding how the USFS is mismanaging the forests and destroying jobs at the same time.

Ned has more than 40 years experience working for the USFS and more than 50 years experience in forestry. He and his brother Carl (another former USFS official) have written a book called "Lost in the Forest" which they publish and print. To order copies, email Ned Pence.

Join the cause on Facebook to stop illegal USFS practices

ANALYSIS OF THE DEIS FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION STRATEGY PHASE I FOR THE BOISE NATIONAL FOREST.

BY NED N. PENCE, RETIRED FORESTER

INTRODUCTION

The Boise National Forest comprises nearly 1.68 million forested acres. A current Forest Plan was completed in 2003; however since 2000 the forest has experienced extensive wildfire, affecting about 380,000 acres (17% of the forest). The purpose of the project is to complete a comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (WCS) for the forest and amend the 2003 Forest Plan (Summary, page 6). The Wildlife Conservation Strategy is being completed in conjunction with the Sawtooth National Forest and the Payette National Forest that have also experienced similar extensive wildfires.
The DEIS explains that Forest Plan amendments are necessary for eight reasons (Summary, page 8):

1. Add to or modify existing management direction to emphasize retention
of most forest stands that meet the definitions of old-forest habitat or large tree size class.
2. Add to or modify existing management direction to focus restoration in forest stands classified as large tree size class and medium tree size class to promote desired old-forest habitat or large tree stand conditions and reduce hazards and risks to these habitats.
3. Delete wildlife standard WIST01 and replace it with a more comprehensive and diverse strategy for wildlife conservation that relies on scientifically accepted conservation concepts and associated principles.
4. Move the 400,000 acres in the planning unit that fall within Management Prescription Category (MPC) 5.2 (Commodity Production Emphasis) to a restoration emphasis.
5. Add or modify existing management direction to emphasize retention of large snags while balancing other objectives associated with a given MPC (e.g., the desire to provide for economically viable timber harvest on lands suitable for timber production).
6. Prioritize vegetative and associated wildlife habitat restoration treatments to increase the overall probability of restoration success.
7. Identify the location of priority or key habitat areas for wide-ranging carnivore species, such as wolverine, and retain linkages between these habitats. Based on the best information available, identify where potential conflicts between this species and human use may exist and whether further review is warranted.
8. Balance wildlife habitat restoration needs with multiple-use objectives, and allow treatment exemptions for treatments that respond to emergencies, provide for public health and safety, and allow for the exercise of existing rights and other statutory requirements.The Boise National Forest desires to return the vegetation to "historical conditions" believing that past forest management – wildfire suppression, and timber harvest have "directly and indirectly affected habitat quality, quantity, and distribution" (Summary,
page 7). It is not possible to know what "historic conditions" (prior to human settlement) were; however, the Forest Service believes past management practices have resulted in:

1. Substantial reduction in the abundance and extent of large trees size class and old forest habitat.
2. Substantial reduction in the abundance of legacy ponderosa pine and western larch, and large snags.
3. Substantial increases in tree densities and ladder fuels resulting in reduced habitat quality.
4. Reductions in habitat quality due to an increase in climax tree species.
5. Reductions in forest cover from uncharacteristic wildfire, insects and disease.
6. Reductions in habitat quantity and quality due to historic and/or continued human use.The above concerns prompt me to ask, which is more important, habitat or human use to satisfy current and future needs? The Forest Service must recognize that it is not possible to change current human needs and the impossibility of returning the historic conditions that existed prior to European settlement. However, the desire to return the historic role of fire has to make one wonder.
There is considerable evidence that Native Americans regularly burned the forest to satisfy their needs prior to European settlement. The "mosaic" that the Boise National Forest seems to desire was the result of hundreds of years of deliberate human caused fires combined with allowing lightning fires to burn. It is doubtful that current management can duplicate those conditions due to existing fuel loading without mechanical treatment and then frequent prescribed fire. A major question and concern should be: "Will current attitudes and needs allow the Forest Service to return the historic role of fire?" Current attempts using Wildland Fire Use (WFU) and Appropriate Management Response (AMR) have resulted in catastrophic fire and the expenditure of
millions of dollars.

I am impressed with the effort that the Forest Service has invested in the DEIS and understand that the effort continues. The strategy remains to be completed for the Payette and Sawtooth National Forests and there remain three more parts to be completed before the effort is complete. The DEIS consists of several hundred pages and is difficult to read due to the frequent use of acronyms. Although, I was a Forest Service employee for 24 years and accustomed to the Forest Service use of acronyms, the practice can be confusing when one suddenly encounters an acronym like VDDT without explanation. (It stands for Vegetation Dynamic Development Tool, a "user friendly computer tool" that is not explained until Appendix 4.) A person not familiar with the Forest Service use of acronyms would probably give up on reading or understanding the DEIS after a few pages. (Note, the DEIS Appendix Section contains 18.65 MB in five sections and also Appendix A "vegetation" of the original Forest Plan, Chapter III containing 1.28 MB; the reason for two appendixes is not clear. I did not read the entire DEIS document because I was only interested in finding the answer to specific questions.) It required considerable research to answer those questions. I doubt that most persons interested in management of the Boise National would have the time and patience to determine the management intent of the amended forest plan. It is even questionable that most persons working on the Boise National Forest would understand the intent of the very complicated management direction contained in the Forest Plan or this DEIS.
My interest in the DEIS stems from the fact that I was a timber forester on the Boise NF from 1967 to 1971, a District Forest Ranger on the Payette NF from 1971 to 1976 and a smoke chaser on what is now the Sawtooth National Recreation Area early in my career during the summers of 1957 and 1958. I became very familiar with the vegetation, topography, and management problems of the area during those assignments. I no doubt contributed to the departure from the Historic Range of Variability (HRV) which is a subject of much discussion in the DEIS through my efforts at fire control and timber sales. Since retirement in 2005, I have also become concerned with the Forest Service fire management policy and have reviewed the results of the Cascade Complex Fire on the Boise and Payette National Forests that burned over most of my first ranger district assignment.
The DEIS is available at http://fs.usda.gov/boise. I will frequently reference pages in the document with this analysis and readers are encouraged to refer to the document for a full understanding of my analysis. I completed the analysis because of my professional interest in answering four questions:

1. How much of the Boise National Forest will be managed by active
management (mechanical vegetation treatment)?
2. How much will be managed with Wildland Fire Use (WFU)?
3. How much will be managed with prescribed fire?
4. What is the probable result of the proposed management?
ALTERNATIVES
The DEIS analyses three alternatives. Alternative A is the current 2003 plan, Alternative B is the proposed alternative and Alternative C is similar to the proposed alternative with exemptions needed to address hazardous fuel reductions. A summary of alternative analysis can be found in the Summary section pages 21 to page 37. The major change proposed would be deleting Management Prescription Category (MPC) 5.2 in the current plan and moving the commodity emphasis of MPC 5.2 to a "restore and maintenance emphasis" in other management prescription categories. Table 2-10 on Summary Section page 36 illustrates the effect of this change on the Allowable Sale Quantity (ASQ), the Total Sale Program Quantity (TSPQ) and the suitable timberland. Table 2-10 also illustrates the change in "old forest habitat" and trend in the "large tree size class" felt necessary for wildlife conservation. Although, the definition of "large tree size" is not defined until Table A-3 on page A-6 of Appendix A. The definition was a surprise for this old forester because I always thought that large trees started about 30 inches DBH and not the 20 inches defined as a large tree. Many of the new trees currently growing on timber sales I prepared and sold on the Boise NF between 1967 and 1971 would be defined as large trees.
MECHANICAL VEGETATION TREATMENT
Mechanical vegetation treatment includes timber sales, pre-commercial thinning, commercial thinning, and any mechanical treatment that would reduce the fuel loading resulting in the large wildfires. The historical timber harvest that was practiced prior to 1987 when I was a forester/district forest ranger on the Boise and Payette National Forests is mentioned in Chapter 3 (Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences) page 287. The Allowable Sale Quantity (ASQ) was 319MMBF/year and possibly even higher some years. It dropped to 166MMBF/year in 1987 with the completion of Forest Plans under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). By 2008 the timber harvest from the two forests had dropped to an average of 33.5MMBF/year. Obviously, the economic impact was substantial for affected communities. Several sawmills that depended on the timber harvest closed. The "substantial" transition in the wood products industry is addressed in Chapter 3, Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences, on page 299. At this time there is only one sawmill left south of the Salmon River in Idaho at Evergreen. This mill was actually considered one of the smaller sawmills when I was a forester on the Boise and Payette National Forests. Much of the timber it now cuts is actually from Idaho State Lands and private ownerships. Table 2-16 in the Summary Section, page 49 illustrates "The Reasonable Foreseeable Future Southwest Idaho Output by Ownership". The reduction in mechanical vegetation treatment represents a significant change from the historic past when mechanical vegetation treatment was the major method utilized to treat forest fuels. As explained on page 299 of Chapter 3, Affected Environmental and Environmental Consequences, there are no serious economic consequences from any of the three alternatives analyzed because the mills closed in 2001 and the economic impact had already occurred when the current Forest Plan was completed in 2003.
The acres planned for mechanical vegetation treatment are explained under Management Direction in Appendix 2, Chapter III, page III-12. "On a decadal basis: a) Harvest timber, other than by salvage, on at least 90,000 acres; b) Reforest at least 20,000 acres, and c) Complete timber stand improvement activities on at least 55,000 acres." Using this direction the Forest Service would treat by mechanical methods about 9% of the 1.68MM acre forest every ten years. I believe that the three national forests will have a difficult time using mechanical vegetation treatments to restore the historic role of fire without increasing timber harvest. It is doubtful that the industry that once existed will return without some assurance of raw material availability.
　
　
FIRE MANAGEMENT
There is no doubt that the Boise National Forest has a fuel management problem.
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
The problem is explained in the DEIS summary, pages 45-47. "Restoring" the role of fire is an objective of the Boise National Forest. The "Historic Range of Variability" HRV is a guide to restoration. Fire is explained in the Summary, page 45 as a vegetation management tool. The objective as explained in the Summary on page 46: "the objective is to restore the historical role of fire, including the vegetative conditions that resulted from and contribute to how fire operated in the past."
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
I have no doubt there is a fuel management problem. Until about 1979 the Forest Service suppressed fire with a 10 a.m. policy that required fire planning for control of every fire by 10 a. m. the following day. About 1950, fire suppression became very efficient with the advent of aerial attack; although, starting about 1940 with the manpower furnished by CCC crews, fire suppression became a factor in vegetation development. Many forest acres in the West have not experienced fire for over 50 years. I could understand the change in vegetation about 1960 as the change from serial vegetation to climax vegetation became obvious to a young forester. By about 1970 the result became obvious as fires burned with greater intensity and were more difficult to suppress. In 1979 the Regional Forester of R-4 allowed a "let burn policy" for Wilderness Areas and "roadless areas" providing an environmental analysis was completed. I was on two of the first "let burn fires" that escaped and developed into major fires that required a major suppression effort. Because the practice of letting a fire that started in July burn with little or no control was obviously a problem, the practice was stopped during the 1980s.
A major factor in the 10 a. m. policy was the "Timber Resource Review" directed by Chief Richard McArdle in 1952 to study the availability of timber that would satisfy the demand. The report, "Timber Resources for America’s Future" was not completed until 1958. Following the report, Chief McArdle summarized the findings: "to meet future demands will take earnest effort. Meeting those needs will require not only early action but an intensity of forestry practices that will startle many of us." While McArdle’s words may seem strange for many today, they were believed for much of my early career. We believed that fire control was necessary and that most of the national forest would be managed with mechanical methods. However, starting during the 1980s public concern over timber harvest stopped or delayed many attempts at mechanical vegetation treatment. The intensity of forestry and forestry practices envisioned by McArdle does not exist in the Forest Service today.
Table 3-1 on page 71 of Chapter 3, Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences, illustrates the Historical Fire Regime by Potential Vegetation Group (PVG) that is an objective for the Boise National Forest. Fire Regime is explained on Table A-5 in Appendix A, page A-8 and the PVG is explained on pages A-21 to A-22 in Appendix A. These tables are important because the question becomes, will the Boise National Forest be able to accomplish the desired objective with the management tools available?
Management objectives for fire management are listed on page III-11 of Appendix 2, Chapter III. The objectives are "on a decadal basis, schedule and complete at least 50,000 acres of hazardous fuel reduction and maintenance treatments within the wildland urban interface and on a decadal basis use prescribed fire to treat at least 100,000 acres." In summary the Boise intends to treat with fire about 150,000 acres every ten years. The DEIS becomes somewhat confusing due to the use of fire and terms like "Prescribed Fire", "Wildland Fire Use (WFU)" and "Wildfire". Section 3.2 in Appendix 4 on page 8 somewhat clears up the confusion. Prescribed fire is assumed to be primarily a maintain effect, WFU is a "reset" effect, and wildfire is a "replace" effect. Although, page 8 defines wildfire as an "unwanted wildland fire", one still has to wonder how much wildfire will be utilized as a management tool to "restore the historic role of fire". Considering that 17% of the forest has experienced wildfire since 2000, one has to assume that wildfire will be a major tool. Certainly fire events where major fires burn under "Appropriate Management Response" (AMR) suppression action one has to believe that wildfire will be the major management tool with prescribed fire and WFU used to maintain and reset the effect of major fires.
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
SUMMARY OF ACRES TREATED
A summary of activity by management groups is provided on pages 24 to 26 of Appendix 4. Understanding the active management acronyms requires referencing table 18 on page 18 of Appendix 4. By adding up the activities for the first five decades one can obtain a concept of the proposed action. The average yearly acres treated in Alternative B for the first five decades are about 217,550 acres. The treatment by fire use including prescribed fire and wildland fire use is about 118,410 acres a year. One can conclude that wildfire will be used on over 50% of the forest to restore fire to its historic role and then prescribed fire and wildland fire use will be used to maintain and/or reset the historic role of fire. The problem with fire as a tool is somewhat defined on page 96 in Chapter 3, Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences. "Management--such as mechanical thinning or prescribed fire--would likely result in relatively controlled and targeted changes to vegetation, whereas the effects from ecological processes would tend to be more stochastic in space and time." I can certainly agree with this statement. Wildland Fire Use, Appropriate Management Response, and wildfire, especially when fires starting in July or August are allowed to burn with measured suppression activity is characterized by conjecture and what may be theoretically possible. When the Forest Service relies on "ecological processes" as a management tool with little or no interference or advanced planning, nature determines the final result. The public and the Forest Service may not agree with the final result of ecological processes.
Mechanical vegetation treatment and prescribed fire would be capable of producing the desired result with more control. Mechanical treatment is limited by the acres determined to be "suitable". The suitable acres for the proposed action are defined in table 3-61 on page 280 in Chapter 3, Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences, as 516,100 acres or 31% of the forested acres. Table 3-62 on page 281 in Chapter 3 illustrates the Decadal Allowable Sale Quantity and the Total Sale Program Quantity for five decades is displayed on page 284. The change in the type of timber product that will be produced and the affect is recognized on page 322 of Chapter 3. " Alternative B would likely have a greater mix of small to medium log products. The greater mix of lower grade and smaller products would also be expected to result in a higher percentage of stewardship contracts." The change represents a desired condition to increase the number of "large" trees. Large is defined as trees over 20 inches DBH meaning that most of the timber products will be the result of harvesting trees under 20 inches DBH. A problem the Boise NF will face in implementing planned mechanical vegetation treatment is the availability of industrial facilities interested in the small logs. Most of the industry that once existed no longer exists requiring longer haul distances for low value products. The DEIS does not address the possibility of a biofuel industry. Another problem is that the lower value products will likely have a negative value requiring stewardship contracts that are subsidized. Considering the economic difficulties the nation faces, funds to subsidize stewardship contracts will likely be a problem.
　
　
　
CONCLUSIONS
The Forest Service and the public have been confused over the mission and purpose of forest management almost since passage of the Multiple-Use Sustained Yield Act in 1960. The plethora of well meaning environmental acts starting with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969 have only served to increase the struggle to define the purpose of the National Forests. The Forest Service lost its mission about 1985 and has been struggling to define it since that time. The subject DEIS is a good example. Which is more important, habitat restoration or providing the goods and services desired by a confused public? The Forest Service mission defined in the late 1980s as "Caring for the land and serving people" does nothing to answer the question. The complicated and confusing planning process required by NEPA and the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) has proved to be expensive and does little to resolve the management problems facing the Forest Service. The subject DEIS is a good example. Until Congress restores a mission for the Forest Service, no one can answer the question--which is more important, habitat or providing goods and services for the American public.
The subject DEIS illustrates the problem with a lack of clarity of mission. The mission and objective seems to be restoring and maintaining historical habitat (Historic Range of Variability) with fire as a primary tool. However, it does nothing to address the human need for renewable resources today and in the future. The consequences section does nothing to address the affect on soil, fish, water and riparian habitat. One only needs to look at the South Fork of the Salmon River (SFSR) to recognize that the Cascade Complex Fires in 2007 resulted in serious and long lasting impacts on natural resources including sedimentation of the SFSR. Is this result the Boise National Forest envisions from the tools for restoring HRV?

　
One can not answer that question with the subject DEIS. The subject DEIS does not serve to inform the public of the desirability of restoring the historic conditions existing prior to European settlement or how the renewable resource needs today and in the future will be met by doing so. As a professional forester with 50 years of experience, I have difficulty envisioning how the forest will look in 50 years except it may have more "large" trees with much less density, canopy cover, fewer climax species and more serial species. I can envision that there will be an impact on soil, water, and riparian resources with fewer natural resources available to satisfy human needs. Perhaps this is what the Boise National Forest and the public desires; however, I doubt that the forest in 50 years will look like this DEIS describes or the result is something the public will accept.

California Representative Tom McClintock on USFS Crimes

2011-01-16T02:03:00.003-07:00

True to his word, Tom McClintock has been listening to the American people. On 01/07/2011, Tom McClintock addressed the house floor regarding crimes committed by the United States Forest Service.

A nice video of representative Tom McClintock on the house floor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxHnSWzxZ44

Representative McClintock stated a "high" number of people are calling him to complain of abuses, crimes and totalitarianism enacted by local rangers as abusive as those found on the Payette National Forest.

He likened what's happening with the USFS today as to what the king of England did in mideavel times, declaring 1/3 of England to be "the king's forest."

I encourage members to call Tom McClintock and thank him for listening to those of us who are afflicted by abusive USFS employees.

Contact him at:
Tom McClintock

United States Congress
State:California
District:4th District
Party: Republican
Email:mcclintock@tommcclintock.com
Phone:530-613-1188
Location:
<span>1700 Eureka Road, Ste 170</span>
Roseville, CA, 95661

Join our cause to fight USFS corruption, abuse: http://www.causes.com/causes/556811

Scott Amos
208-353-8907
Email: amos2500@yahoo.com
Homepage: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/

Front view of Superintendent Cabin at Sunnyside on Thunder Mountain. 1930s or older.

Website documenting USFS arson of historical cabins here: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/

Cinnabar Idaho. Bunkhouse, pre-1950. The bunkhouse was built in sections. The newer section in the left of photo was wiped out by an avalanche, year unknown. The road to this historic ghost town is currently scheduled for obliteration by the Payette National Forest. There are four active lawsuits regarding access to this historic town. A criminal complaint was filed with the USDA Office of the Inspector General for rogue Payette National Forest employees destroying structures at this town. The entire town is located on private property, which doesn't seem to phase arson-happy PNF employees. If you want to save this building contact the arson-happy Payette National Forest at (208) 634-0700. Website documenting USFS arson here: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/

I guess I will be risking jail time by driving to my property?

Idaho Governor Butch Otter Tells US Dept. of Inferior "ENOUGH!!!"

2011-01-13T19:09:00.006-07:00

Idaho Governor Butch Otter Tells US Dept. of Inferior "ENOUGH!!!"

Posted by Scott Amos at 6:48pm

In a very blunt letter, and deservingly so, governor Butch Otter has stood up to Obama's appointed land-grabber-czar Ken Sala"Czar."

http://tinyurl.com/Ken-SalaCzars-Roya...

Idaho Governor Butch Otter

US Dept. of Inferior Secretary Ken Salazar
ordered lands to be locked away from public
uses through secretarial order
#3310.

In the last days of the lame duck session, congress refused to pass public law HR 5101 which would lock up 58.5 million acres in 44 states. Sensing a public backlash, a fearful congress, already feeling the pains of the November 2 election made a wise move and put the vote off on the incoming 112th congress.

A disappointed secretary of the Department of the Inferior Ken Salazar, not one to take "no" for an answer, circumvented congress and the will of the American people. As is usually the case, the Dept. of Inferior, BLM and USFS "pretend" to accept public comments. As was the case with the Payette National Forest travel plan, 98% of the hundreds of comments the public submitted were thrown in the garbage, ignored. Forest supervisors, regional foresters' oppinions apparently supercede the US Constitution and will of the American people.

Ken Salazar, either a flunky of economics, or just enjoying his god-like unaccountable powers has created millions of acres of defacto wilderness. In one fell swoop, without congressional oversight or public approval: issued a secretarial order # 3310.

Opportunities for estimated hundreds of thousands of forest/rangeland dependent jobs will now be lost. Including green jobs such as biomass generation facilities which turn dead underbrush into electricity or ethanol.

No one feels the pain of this recession worse than Adams and Valley counties in Idaho, with 19.5% unemployment in Adams and 17.5% in Valley county. These once thriving logging communities have watched unemployment skyrocket as a result of Clinton era legislation. Now, as if that weren't enough, Ken Salazar has added himself to the list of jobs-killing do-gooder know-it-alls.

Spread the word. Every invitation counts:

Casualties of Mismanaged Forests

2011-01-09T01:42:00.003-07:00

By most peoples standards, I am a young man. Yet when I try telling my son how the forests I grew up in used to be green, or how thousands of people were employed and making healthy livings off renewable resources, I feel old.

I feel like my grandpa must have felt when he would tell me stories about the great depression and how he went to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps clearing timber and building park benches by hand, to get our nation back to work.

Click Here for Photo of Now Extinct Sawmill Once Located at Cascade, ID

For today, as you are reading this: The forest I grew up in, once thriving with logging and mining companies desperate to find employees, at whatever wage they were willing to accept, are gone. The great depression is at our doorsteps once more. Only this time, it has a new ally against the American people: Bureaucrats and all their red tape!

If the great depression were to happen today, and Franklin Roosevelt were still alive, it would be over 40 years before the Hoover dam could be built. There would be all the environmental impact studies to deal with, NEPA, DEQ, USFWS, NMF, OSHA, Planning and Zoning, USFS, BLM, Dept. of the Inferior (Interior, I always get those mixed up!).

I offer you exhibit A: $350 million of your and my tax dollars being spent to REMOVE hydro-electric dams, similar to the Hoover.

The Associated Press

Trees felled in preparation for Elwha dam removal

LAKE MILLS, Wash. — An army of excavators has started ripping out a 37-acre grove of alder trees on the Olympic Peninsula's Elwha River in the first stage of what's being billed as the largest dam removal project in the nation's history.

So not only are no dams being installed, which produce the cheapest electricity known to man and that contribute to our nation's prosperity: but in fact, the enviro-litigious groups have won out and our prosperity is getting flushed down the river along with the dams.

If Franklin Roosevelt Tried to Build the Hoover Dam Today
There would be 20 or more enviro-litigious groups looking to make a profit from the Equal Access to Justice Act. Forest plans would be evaluated and re-evaluated. Plans of Operations would be submitted, rejected, re-submitted, approved, then fought in court by the zombie-like Sierra Club and similar groups who make millions every time the government moves or breathes, or allows others to move or breathe.

Meanwhile, the soup lines would continue to grow. WWII would have come and gone (our nation would have lost the war, of course), the post-war 50s boom would never have occurred, our ability to put a man on the moon in the 1960s would still be a far-off dream, especially if some biologist's "study" suggested a hole might form in the ozone layer.

And you would not be reading this post right now, because the internet would never have happened.

Falling below communist economic levels

Next, the Chinese or Russians would step in. You would be put into slave camps. They would have you clear cut all our forests, mine all our minerals, and ship them to China and Russia. No environmental studies would be done. Your health would be the least of a foreign government's concern. Our nation would never have known the joys of making a reasonable living from a renewable resource.

Where to find a job?

You can't choose where to put a mine or logging operation. Minerals and timber occur where they want, when they want. If a wilderness is put into place where those occur, then it will be punishable by fines and imprisonment for anyone who wishes to extract them. Hence why CHINA is the only country in the world currently operating rare earth mineral mines and processing facilities. You can thank Jimmy Carter, Ken Salazar, Obama, Mike Crapo and Mike Simpson for ensuring the most economical resources are off limits in recreation and wilderness areas.

They're why billions of board feet of our nation's timber is turned into air polluting forest fires or bark beetle food. While countries in central America clearcut the rain forests and sell them to us to build and repair our houses.

Along with plastics, paper, synthetics made from wood, the average American consumes about 14 pounds of wood each day. The U.S. imports most of it's forestry dependent products from Canada, Japan, and Mexico.

Example of Waste

In one mega-fire in 2007, the Payette and Boise National Forest destroyed estimated $4 BILLION in timber and over 800,000 acres of prime endangered species habitat. All remaining dead trees are left in place to rot and produce more greenhouse gases such as CO2, Methane and CO.

Much of the burn had been previously logged and replanted for future harvests. In 1993, all logging ceased under the false pretense of preserving salmon critical or spotted owl habitat. Even though NO spotted owls were ever "spotted" on the Payette or Boise National Forests.

Never!

Spotted owls have never been known to reside in Idaho, yet tens of thousands of Idaho workers lost their jobs to set the forests aside for spotted owl. According to some radical Payette National Forest employees, to be burned to the ground in mega-fires is better than having our forests selectively harvested and thinned. Makes their paychecks easier when the forests they manage are turned into range land by bug, fungus infestations and out of control wildfires.

Your Feet Kill up to 43% of Fish

2011-01-02T06:49:00.014-07:00

Help us stop USFS waste, abuse and corruption. Join our cause on facebook: http://www.causes.com/causes/556811

I find this to be another falsehood in the Payette National Forest travel planning process.

According to Clem Pope and his cohorts, walking through a stream ONE TIME kills up to 43% of the fish eggs?

I did a lot of fishing, hiking and swimming growing up on the EFSF of the Salmon River. My personal observations are nowhere CLOSE to that of the USFS. In the off chance living creatures may have survived the toxic wastes dumped into the river by recent fires, now they have to worry about my size 16 salmon stompers?

I've had athlete's foot once or twice, which may have been responsible for killing up to 10% of the fish in the South Fork, but the other 33% were not my fault!

Click for larger image

Seen here: Over 1,000 cubic yards estimated dumped into the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River. This blowout, the result of the 2007 wildfires the Payette National Forest refused to control. This is located approximately three miles downstream of Stibnite, Idaho. The sediment here is volcanic and likely contains high amounts of arsenic, mercury, stibnite, tungsten, lead, zinc, cadmium. In addition to benzene and other hazardous by-products generated naturally by burning wood and organic substances. Note: When cinnabar, otherwise known as mercury ore, is heated to roughly 450 F, it liberates mercury fumes directly into the air.
As seen here, the ore which contains up to 80% mercury by weight was heated, liberated and dumped into the river where it will form sulfuric acid and liquid mercury. It occured due to forest fires on ore bearing mountains where no mining has ever occured. The amount of heat it took to cause this catastrophe was un-natural, due to over-forestation. For a hundred years, the USFS, Civilian Conservation Corps, logging companies have planted excessive trees in this region. In the mid-1990s all logging was stopped, which would have lessened this type of catastrophic event.

Payette National Forest report titled:

Biological Assessment for the Potential Effects of

Managing the Payette National Forest in

the Middle Fork Salmon River Tributaries NW and Main Salmon River Tributaries SE

Section 7 Watersheds on

Snake River Spring/Summer and Fall Chinook Salmon,

Snake River Steelhead, and Columbia River Bull Trout

and

Biological Evaluation for

Westslope Cutthroat Trout

Volume 11

Ongoing and New Actions

http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/payette/projects/2009monitor/MFT_BA11.pdf

Hidden on page 98 reads:

"9. TRAVEL PLAN

Potential effects of this action are: increased sedimentation in streams due to motorized and nonmotorized use at road and trail stream crossings, increased chances of petroleum spills, and physical harm to eggs that may be present in redds at fords and elsewhere. Soils on roads and trails at stream crossings can be delivered as sediment to streams via wind, water, and tires at fords. As described above (section V. A. 6.), this additional sediment can reduce habitat quality and adversely affect incubating eggs, and petroleum products can directly poison salmonids and their aquatic invertebrate food source (section V. A. 4.). Mortality of listed fish eggs (adverse effect) can occur should redds be trampled or driven over. Trampling can occur due to any foot or horse use in streams, including use from anglers, swimmers, people floating in watercraft, people hiking, and similar activities. There are approximately 34 road crossings and 20 stream trail crossings in the Upper Big Creek subwatershed of the MFSR subwatershed, of which an unknown number are fords. About 90 percent of these trail crossings are assumed to be fords (Clem Pope, Recreation Manager, Payette NF, McCall, ID). Fording frequently occurs in spawning habitat because these are often the easiest places to cross a stream. Roberts and White (1992), found that twice-daily wading throughout trout egg development killed up to 96% of trout eggs and pre-emergent fry, while a single wading just before hatching killed up to 43% of eggs."

From 34 road crossings, 20 stream/trail crossings, most of which are not in spawning beds, PEOPLE are the root cause of fish trampling?

What about grey wolves, deer, elk, bear, bald eagles, beaver, wolverine, mountain lion and linx which also use the stream crossings? Do they kill 43% of the eggs every time they walk across a creek?

Do the people writing this stuff, write it from a cubicle in McCall? Or simply make it up right on the spot? Or was it the result of a VERY GOOD mushroom season after these same people mismanaged an 800,000 acre fire?

Next time I won't walk across the creek. Especially since it should be easy to find a bark beetle killed tree or blackened carcass of an old growth tree lying around to use as a bridge. We can't have your or my feet stirring up 8 feet of filth left in the river by the same people who believe our feet are more toxic to fish, than an 800,000 acre wildfire!

Sincerely,

Scott Amos

208-353-8907

Home: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/

Help us stop USFS waste, abuse and corruption. Join our cause on facebook: http://www.causes.com/causes/556811

Idaho Parks and Recreation Projects

2010-12-13T16:54:00.004-07:00

Bayhorse, Idaho. A great undertaking by historical conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, horseback riders and atv groups alike.

In 2006, Bayhorse became a unit of Idaho’s State Park system and is the first OHV Recreation State Park in Idaho. It is an authentic blend of history and adventure. Bayhorse is nestled in a narrow, rocky canyon about three miles from where Bayhorse Creek enters the Salmon River, near Challis, Idaho. The terrain surrounding the town is rugged with steep slopes, deep canyons and wonderful views. Enjoy miles of new riding on trails within the park, and get extended trail access to hundreds of miles of trails on adjacent public lands. Ride the newly constructed Lombard Trail that starts from the Land of the Yankee Fork State Park Interpretive Center and continues over Blue Mountain to connect to the Bayhorse Area. Source: http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/recreation/motorbikesandatvs.aspx

While many, especially in the USFS wanted to see the town of Bayhorse, of which first buildings were built in 1853 torn down and burned to the ground, advocacy groups for the preservation of Idaho's first mining town prevailed.

Hundreds of Idaho mining towns, historical or not, have already been destroyed and any trace of their contributions to Idaho's history have been removed by USFS or BLM fire gods.

Without these little towns that came and went littering the landscape of Idaho, there would be no state.

In the case of Cinnabar and Stibnite, Idaho, two towns nestled against a wilderness backdrop located in the Payette National Forest, there indeed may not have been a United States of America in the years following WWII. Up to 95% of strategic minerals such as antimony and tungsten was supplied by these two towns. A significant amount of minerals essential for high explosives known as mercury fulminate came from the town of Cinnabar.

As was originally planned for Bayhorse, several USFS officials would love to see Stibnite and Cinnabar plowed into oblivion. In fact, dozens to hundreds of historic structures, on private land or not, have already been judged and consumed by the hellfire unleashed by almighty USFS fire gods.

The battle for Stibnite is almost lost with few remaining structures. Cinnabar is very much intact and a favorite spot for outdoor enthusiasts thirsting for a firsthand glimpse of what it was like to fight for survival against the rugged Idaho wilderness. Visiting this town offers a window into Idaho's contributions to both world wars, providing minerals for explosives, alloys and munitions, crucial to defeating foreign threats.

It is only right that Cinnabar and the remnants of Stibnite be preserved for future generations to see. Not only is it the right thing to do, it is also federal law. The Antiquities Act, National Historical Preservation Act, to name a few.

It would be fitting to turn Cinnabar into a state park similar to Bayhorse, and to preserve the legacy of the pioneers who came to the wilderness and carved out the places we call home.

The Criminal Organization Formerly Referred to as the USFS or Payette National Forest

2010-10-21T00:08:00.027-06:00

Numerous Violations of Federal Ethics Rules, Laws by the Payette National Forest
Help us stop USFS waste, abuse and corruption. Join our cause on facebook: http://www.causes.com/causes/556811

Links of interest

1) Entering onto private property illegally, and unlawfully burning down homes which were specifically protected by the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966. In his own words, here is a USFS ranger who has publicly claimed that Yellow Pine and the surrounding communities should be allowed to burn to the ground.
It was USFS rangers such as our fusee friend who likely "burned Cabin Creek" to the ground, just to show us citizens "who's really in charge." Wildfire did not burn Cabin Creek. According to the USFS official report of events, "firefighters" burning their garbage at the end of putting out a massive wildfire, lost control of their burning garbage which destroyed FIVE buildings protected by the National Historical Preservation Act.

*Fussy fusee USFS fire fighter talks about "let Yellow Pine burn" here:http://tinyurl.com/FUSEE-NUTBAG

This and hundreds of other historical cabins were unlawfully burned by rogue USFS Rangers who work for the Payette National Forest.

This cabin at Stibnite, Idaho (a historical district) was listed on the National Register of Historical Places and protected by the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966.

A receipt retained from the Krassel ranger district through FOIA shows $6990 of taxpayer money was used to burn the cabin pictured above to the ground. This house was located on private property. The USFS unlawfully burned it to the ground while the owner was fighting for his life in the hospital and was not there to prevent Payette National Forest arsonists from committing their crimes.

Historical videos of Stibnite here: http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/dm/dm2009/viewfilm.html
More history about Stibnite here: http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/dm/dm2009/films.html

Click here for more historical photos!

Video of more cabins illegal arson aftermath here:
http://tinyurl.com/PNF-ARSON-1
Picture of cabin remains on private property at Stibnite, unlawfully destroyed by Payette National Forest employees: http://tinyurl.com/PNF-TRESPASS-ARSON-1

Historical TV/radio repeater tower between Cinnabar and Stibnite destroyed unlawfully by Payette National Forest: http://tinyurl.com/PNF-ARSON-2

Question: How does the USFS get away with burning historical buildings on private property?

Answer: By TRESPASSING, NO OVERSIGHT AND FALSIFYING NHPA studies, required by federal law!!!!

Payette National Forest Employees investigated for similar crimes in other ranger districts: http://tinyurl.com/JIM-EGNEW-GONE-WILD

Get involved to help stop
Proposed Arson at a Town Named after President Theodore Roosevelt
Call the Payette National Forest at 208-634-0700 and tell them to stop violating the National Historical Preservation Act (NHPA)!!!!!
Link: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/p/falsifying-archeological-studies-to.html

Spread the word. Every invitation counts:

2) Unlawfully imprisoning entire towns, denying citizens the right to medical treatment while suffering from heart attacks and other illnesses. Iron gates were installed to lock up rural residents as if they were cattle, and to unlawfully leave the gate unattended. Such actions resulted in a high degree of danger to residents who had no phones or feasible means to communicate with the outside world.
*photo proving unlawful imprisonment here:
http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/p/foia-documents.html

Road to private property. Multiple private property
owners are being denied their basic access rights by this
unlawful gate on Three Mile Road.
Addtionally, five citizens and their vehicles
were unlawfully locked behind this gate on April 28th, 2010.
Patti Stieger of the Payette National
Forest drove down this road, found their vehicles unattended,
cited them, drove out and locked the gate.
Her crimes then left the five US citizens who contribute to her paycheck
abandoned,alone to fend for themselves twenty miles from the nearest
help.
Statement from unlawfully imprisoned citizen here:
http://tinyurl.com/CITIZEN-UNLAWFULLY-IMPRISONED

Historical RS-2477 roadway
that Valley County is fighting for.
USFS told the County "we know it's likely your road,
but we're closing it anyway. And
if you DON'T like it, then sue us."

3) Forcing private property owners off their land, by illegally closing access roads, lighting fires which destroyed private property, then offering to buy them out for 1/3 the land value.

4) The method by which the PNF roads were closed DID NOT use appropriate NEPA public comment periods, in violation of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). The Payette National Forest unlawfully declared roads to be closed without ANY NEPA comment periods taking place. Their actions violate NEPA, the Forest Plan, the 2001 Roadless Rule, the Idaho Roadless Rule and just good old fashioned decency or plain common sense. Years later in the Big Creek and Yellow Pine Travel Plan, 2008 Travel Plan, Suzanne Rainville, PNF supervisor closed the roads again citing "no action" is being taken, relying on the previous unlawful actions as basis for closing the roads once more.

After unlawfully declaring the roads closed, and facing imminent litigation from the local community, in their ignorance and arrogance the Payette National Forest IGNORED 360 pages of public comments demanding roads being left open. Favoring 4-5 pages which support road closures OVER the 360 pages which oppose.

Why the hell did they even have a public comment period, if the USFS choses to ignore 98% of the American public who took precious time out of their busy schedules to interact with the Payette National Forest? Just to watch Suzanne Rainville, backed by the USFS take a power trip and tell the overwhelming majority of the American public to go to hell? Or in the words of Joe Harper, Krassel district ranger "we're closing all the roads anyway and if you don't like it then sue us?!!"

Download public comments telling USFS not to break the law here:
http://tinyurl.com/CITIZENS-ORDERED-TO-SUE-USFS

5) Violating NEPA (again) by using a falsified socio-economic study that falsely states there to be "ONE" tourism job in the town of Yellow Pine, and "38 government workers." Travel plans put together by the incompetent buffoons at the Payette National Forest falsely state "The economy of Valley County is dependent upon tourism, with the exception of Yellow Pine."

To set the record straight, in a community of only 45 people, there are eleven tourism dependent businesses, roughly 16 employees, and ZERO GOVERNMENT WORKERS WITH YELLOW PINE MAILING ADDRESSES!!!

See Falsified Socio-Economic Study Used by Payette:
http://tinyurl.com/PNF-FALSIFIED-NEPA-STUDY
This simple search, keyword "Yellow Pine" on http://www.visitidaho.org/ PROVES the USFS falsified a socio-economic study required by federal law, otherwise known as NEPA

http://tinyurl.com/PNF-FLUNKS-ECONOMICS

This website is devoted to honesty and openess in the federal government, particularly regarding the Payette National Forest and United States Forest Service.

Payette National Forest USFS personnel have a higher than national average belief that they are exempt from the federal code of ethics by which every other federal employee is bound, which states:

"1. Put loyalty to the highest moral principals and to country above loyalty to Government persons, party, or department.

2. Uphold the Constitution, laws, and legal regulations of the United States and of all governments therein and never be a party to their evasion."

http://usgovinfo.about.com/blethics.htm

"All governments therein" would include the states, counties, cities, associations and hamlets the USFS unlawfully abuses, ignores, bullies, intimidates and harass. "Evasion" means "avoiding, ignoring, disrespecting" local goverments, counties included. Like when Krassel District ranger Joe Harper told the Valley County commissioners "we don't care you claim these as county roads, we're closing them anyway. And if you don't like it then sue us (the USFS)."

http://tinyurl.com/PNF-JOE-HARPER

Unlawful Imprisonment of Rural Towns
Interview About USFS Crimes
Falsification of NHPA Study to Unlawfully Burn Historical Log Cabin

For further information or comments, send me an email or call:

Scott Amos
208-353-8907
amos2500@yahoo.com

Help us stop USFS waste, abuse and corruption. Join our cause on facebook: http://www.causes.com/causes/556811

RARE EARTH MINERALS: A Rare Look at Common Sense Thrown to the Wind, How the USA Was Defeated From Within

2010-10-20T23:54:00.008-06:00

USFS is noted for incompetence, arrogance and stupidity. Now actions undertaken by them [or others] also fall into the category just short of treasonous!

China rapidly developing military, economic might and muster, seeks to dominate world economy and become next world superpower:

I hate saying "I told you so." But regarding our now critical dependence on rare earth minerals, I've been trying to get the attention of important people for several months now, as well as most everyone I know.

Earlier this year I had predicted that China would cut off shipments of rare earth minerals to the United States and Europe, citing short supply vs a very large domestic demand.

Honestly, I had believed it would be a few years away. As all of us now know, the Chinese have had the power for many years to cut off the supply of critical elements at any time.

Of particular importance and in extremely short supply were our national supplies of rare earths.

Rare earths are used for everything from laptops, cell phones, satellites, F-35 fighter jets and other CRITICAL components our modern society has become dependent upon.

F-35 fighter jets such as the one shown above rely heavily upon several extremely low supply "rare earth" minerals.

In a recent show of muscle over a minor dispute, China effectively put Japan's economy into a tailspin by refusing to export rare earths to that country. Now China, increasingly running low on supply while increasing it's own domestic demand, has shut down exports to the USA and Europe. Future F-35 fighter jets and other high tech gadgets will undoubtedly be losing their luster, relying on old technologies. In some cases, it is likely certain technologies will go extinct as no replacements likely exist.

In essence, China's actions have likely crippled our military, economy, and weakened the US on the world stage.

Today I was forwarded this report that indeed, China has stopped shipments of rare earth minerals to the USA and Europe. And there are currently no rare earth mineral producing mines in the United States.

Link: http://www.zerohedge.com/article/china-halts-rare-mineral-exports-us-and-europe-prices-set-surge

This is sad, because one of the biggest known reserves in the world is right here in Idaho. However, bureaucratic red tape, over-zealous god-like regulatory agencies with personal agendas have effectively jeopardized our national security at the same time, putting untold numbers of Americans out of work.

While the wave of "shut down all mining" has been sweeping across the USA with record support, including recent passage of HR 5101 and "connecting corridors wilderness", people have become less and less educated and MORE dependent upon the very resources they unwittingly were locking up in "scenic areas" and "wilderness."

Anti-mining has effectively been spoon fed to gradeschool children all across the USA, while those same schools used the very minerals they were trying to stop Americans from digging out of the dirt.

For those of you who are interested, the stock of the company which MAY or MAY NOT someday be allowed to operate in Idaho to recover said critical minerals has jumped from $8/share to $13/share in a surprisingly short time frame.

If mining were to start today, it would be FIVE YEARS before one ounce of usable product reaches US markets and manufacturers of critical military hardware.

In the article listed above, the following statement is very true about what's about to be the result of poor resource planning by people in Washington, regulatory agencies spending all their time on trivial issues.

Regarding the exporting of Chinese rare earths, soon to cease:

“That will create some problems,” he said. “It’ll force some people to look very carefully at the use of rare earths, and we might be reverting to some older technologies until alternative sources of rare earths are developed.”

It's time to put petty difference aside and start doing what's best for America. Because "what's not best" for America has been happening for far too long.

Rural town unlawfully imprisoned by USFS
More USFS crimes here

Scott Amos

208-353-8907

Website: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com

How The Payette National Forest Violated NEPA

2010-10-10T13:40:00.003-06:00

The Payette National Forest was made aware of many errors in the travel management plans they had put together for the Big Creek, Yellow Pine, Warren, Secesh and Valley County as a whole.

Suzanne Rainville, PNF supervisor chose to IGNORE any and all comments from HUNDREDS of citizens desperately begging to leave rural roadways as they were.

Quote from Sue Dixon, PNF Employee Travel Plan contributor: "NEPA is not a democracy." [ What about the people NEPA is supposed to protect and work for?]

Comments from Valley County, Adams County, state and local officials were included in the ignored comments list.

In all, as many as 1,000 public comments and appeals to road closures were cast aside, ignored, and the people who wrote them were ordered to "sue us" (The USFS) if you're not happy with what we're doing.

I came across one appeal in particular, which displays the disdain the Payette National Forest has for the people paying their salaries, i.e., you and me the taxpayers, very well here: http://data.ecosystem-management.org/appeals/displayDoc.php?doc=VjFab1EyUXhjRmhTYms1cVpXNU9OVlJXVWxkYWF6RlZWMVJXVG1SNk1Eaz0=

In true spirit of the Payette National Forest attempting to force all humans OUT of the lands managed by corrupt bureaucrat delusional, deranged madmen/mad-women, Suzanne Rainville has told the American people what they can do with themselves in a manner that would make many of her predecessors proud.

After all, if you read many USFS websites, documents, they declare the nation's forest to be "USFS lands" instead of "public lands, owned by the American people." Herein lies the problem.

Most USFS people are avid skiers, hikers, horseback riders. They have taken it upon themselves to lock away the use of lands owned by the American people and hoarded it away fiendishly for their own personal use(s).

They are general exempt from the same laws you and I are while they are outdoors "managing" our forests. This includes trespass and clearing trails. I'll give an example.

While working one day on private property owned by Hecla Mining at Stibnite, Idaho, two USFS rangers on atvs showed up where several of Hecla's employees had closed all roads and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for reclamation work, putting the land back as it had been before mining commenced.

These riders had, using chainsaws cut the multiple 30" diameter trees off our road located on private property, which we had put there to keep people from trespassing on Hecla's private land.

I informed them we had spent several days closing that road on our private property and asked them to re close the road, and asked them to leave the private property. They refused to leave, and refused to undo the environmental damage they had just ensued.

Fred Dobber, PNF supervisor later brought a USFS vehicle onto the property to observe our reclamation work. As employees of Hecla, we had asked everyone to park and walk in the fragile restored area.

Fred drove up about a 30%+ grade in his Chevy Silverado with US Govt plates and created huge ruts. That was in 1993. Today, you can still see the damage caused where the USFS Ranger/supervisor Fred Dobber unlawfully drove his vehicle, in trespass, onto private land when the rest of us walked the 1/4 mile to the area to be observed.

This is what's typical of almost every USFS ranger working for the Payette today. Do-as-say-not-as-I-do-.......or you'll get fines and jail time.

States Prepare to Declare War on the Feds Regarding 10th Amendment of the US Constitution

2010-09-10T23:03:00.007-06:00

States Take on Federal Law
Georgetown law professor Randy Barnett and Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Jim Howell on a proposed amendment that would allow states to opt out of federal laws.

Video of interview: http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4432863

Many laws currently enacted by congress, the senate, president, and numerous federal courts and individual judges ignore the US Constitution.

States are "fed" up with the feds, and the constant harassing, bullying, intimidation and top-down management they've been subjected to.Several states, including Idaho are standing up for the rights granted to the states by the 10th amendment of the US Constitution.
Idaho is fighting back with a law passed by the Idaho state legislature (HCR058).

Who Says The Federal Government Isn't Capable Of Socialism, Tyranny?

Having personally lived in a town unlawfully held prisoner by the USFS, and watching US citizens almost die at the hands of government "rangers" who put the importance of the environment ahead of US citizens who pay their wages, it's easy for me to understand why the US Constitution is so important.

Story continues: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com

Tenth Amendment, in a Nutshell:
The government of the United States has the power to regulate only matters delegated to it by the Constitution. Other powers are reserved to the states, or to the people (and even the states cannot alienate some of these). In modern times, the Commerce Clause has become one of the most frequently-used sources of Congress' power, and thus its interpretation is very important in determining the allowable scope of federal government.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

How the US government works:
A supreme presidential ruler, by executive order, tells the people what to do and how to live their lives with all the power to circumvent congressional oversight at the stroke of a pen. In addition, the "over-see-ers" themselves often are little more than out of control senators and congressmen/women, ignorant of the best interest of the American public.Proof positive: OBAMACARE, TARP, FEDERAL BAIL OUTS OF FAILED COMPANIES (AGAIN).

Our "representatives" seeking only to achieve bigger campaign contributions, rebuke the power of the people, often for the cause of fattening their personal wallets, much to the demise and increasing indebtedness of the nation.

How the US Constitution says the country should be run:
The American people give power to the counties, counties give power to the states, states give power to the federal government. The ultimate, supreme "rulers" are the people themselves.

How tyranny of the few holds back the many
Many factors weigh in when figuring out "how we got here." A bully never has any power over you that you don't give to them, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Of course, as of late, our public schools, who are themselves run by radical leftist/socialist, generally hold high contempt for the US Constitution. [ I present bicycle boy, who was told by his teachers he couldn't fly an American flag on his bicycle]. As do most federal employees, judges, law enforcement, whose jobs are to enforce the constitution. As usually is the case, the jobs which they hold are often directly at odds with the US Constitution. Such as TSA, who violates the 4th amendment rights of every American boarding every plane.

The 4th amendment directly addresses "unlawful search and seizure." It states "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

It is surprising, make that...alarming how many people willingly submit to being searched in a manner which directly violates their rights. And how nunns, off duty police, military, little old ladies and dear sweet old men are often treated more harshly than enemy combatants captured on the battlefield. This is because the people do not know their rights, have not read the constitution, and do not make a stand when watching tyranny grow exponentially, to the point of government abuses.

The time to make the stand for your rights is RIGHT NOW. Show your support by writing your representatives, both federal and state. Let them know you support returning the power of the government to it's rightful owners..........WE THE PEOPLE!

Sincerely,

Scott Amos
208-353-8907
Website: http://usfspayettenationalforest.blogspot.com/