'Fix our Forests' a wolf in sheep's clothing 

The “Fix Our Forests Act” (H.R.471) may sound like a good plan, but look closer.  Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Grand Junction, co-sponsored this bill and helped push it through the House. The Senate will vote on it soon, but Coloradans should know that this is not what it sounds like.

The “Fix Act” will approve massive logging projects by avoiding review under the Endangered Species Act  and the National Environmental Protection Act. The public, as well as scientists and experts will be cut out of the review process. Millions of acres of our national forests are at risk for reckless commercial logging projects under this act. For this reason, more than 85 conservation groups, including Environment Colorado and Environment America oppose this law. It bypasses established processes for issuing logging permits.

Wholesale logging will not slow climate change and may make it worse. Intact forests help cool our planet, store carbon, and protect watersheds and wildlife habitat …. the list goes on! Please contact Sens. Bennett and Hickenlooper immediately. Ask them to vote no on this deceptively named bill. It will not protect us from wildfire and can hurt us and our forests in so many ways. It is truly a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

– Mary Handrick, Durango