Bill Bennett: “In 1991, a forest health aerial detection survey was made in Utah that discovered the bark beetle in certain parts of…”

“In 1991, a forest health aerial detection survey was made in Utah that discovered the bark beetle in certain parts of the Dixie National Forest. Forest health specialists advised that it might be necessary to suppress the epidemic by removing some of the infested trees and thinning some of the standings. At the time they made that decision, this photo depicts what the forest looked like: healthy, green, a place that was of some pride to the people who lived there. This is called the Sidney Valley Recovery Project, proposed as part of the strategy to suppress the spread of the epidemic into that area. As soon as this was announced, three different environmental groups filed appeals of the project and, naturally, it was delayed while those appeals were heard. Finally, after the delay, the Forest Service was upheld, so the appeals were examined and found to be without merit. The Forest Service was upheld. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance chose to file a suit in Federal court. There were the typical delays connected with litigation, and the Federal court finally threw out the lawsuit.”