HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-042 Letter - Lawsuit Intervention Decision
April 23, 2010
CITY OF
ASHLAND.
Scott Comoy, Forest Supervisor
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
. 3040 Biddle Road
Medford, OR 97504
RE: City of Ashland Intervention
. The City of Ashland is an advocate for the Ashland Forest Resiliency (AFR) Project. The City
supports the project's Record of Decision (ROD). Moreover, the City is an active participant in
implementing the decision. .The City is a signatory of both the Master Stewardship Agreement
and Supplemental Project Agreement. There has been a strong collaborative effort between the
partners involved with a cormnitment t!) community involvement and monitoring effort that will
develop trust and transparency.
The City of Ashland feels that the AFR project meets the letter and intent of the 1970 National
. Environmental Policy Act (NEP A). As such, the City supports implementation of the preferred
alternative identified in the Record of Decision (ROD). The preferred alternative reduces the risk
of wildfire in the City's watershed, reduces the threat to homes and lives in the urban-wildland
interface, protects the City's primary source of drinking water, and includes the community as an
active participant. We believe this project not only satisfies NEP A and the Healthy Forest
Restoration Act, but is also essential to the safety and health of our community.
On March 16th Ashland City Council discussed intervening on behalf of the USDA Forest
Serviceag;rinst the complaint filed on J"anuary 14, 2010. Although we agree with the Forest
Service that the ROD meets all relevant legal requirements, the Council voted not to participate
in the lawsuit. The primary concern was that the City of Ashland does add any expertise about
N'EP A that the Forest Service Counsel does not already have. This decision in no way diminishes
our support of the project and a desire to see implementation move forward.
. The City of Ashland recognizes that the Ashland Creek Watershed is a unique .and valuable.
resource as well as the City's sole source of drinking water. Creating a resilient watershed in the
face of potentially severe wildfires is crucial to Ashland's well being from public safety,
. economic, environmental, and ecosystem perspectives. .
Sincerely,
~mberg
Mayor
c. Ashland City Council
J"ohnKarns, Fire Chief
ADMINISTRATION
20 EAST MAIN STRE"ET
ASHLAND, DREGDN 97520
WWW.ASHLAND.OR.US
TEL: 541-488-6002
FAX: 541.488.5311
ny: 800.735.2900
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