Judge Orders Federal Logging Project Halted in Shawnee National Forest
The ruling found the Forest Service violated the Endangered Species Act by approving logging before completing consultation on federally protected Indiana bats.
- On Monday, District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel ordered the U.S. Forest Service to suspend a commercial logging project in Shawnee National Forest, finding the 2024 approval violated the Endangered Species Act.
- The agency approved the project in October 2024 without waiting for a final "biological opinion" from the Fish and Wildlife Service, which later identified the roughly 70-acre project area as critical habitat.
- Contractor work began in mid-August 2025, thinning 40 of 67 acres before operations halted; Rosenstengel rejected the agency's defense, writing, "Because the Forest Service did not do so, it violated the ESA."
- Sam Stearns, public education coordinator with Friends of Bell Smith Springs, called the ruling a vindication, stating "the Forest Service cannot be trusted to tell the truth."
- Meanwhile, the Trump administration finalized rules in July weakening the Endangered Species Act and proposed rolling back a 25-year-old policy blocking road construction, moves environmental groups claim will accelerate logging on federal lands.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Federal judge orders halt to Shawnee National Forest logging project over Endangered Species Act violation
Judge Nancy Rosenstengel found the Forest Service approved a southern Illinois logging project in October 2024 without waiting for a Fish and Wildlife Service opinion that later confirmed endangered Indiana bats lived in the project area.
Judge orders federal logging project halted in Shawnee National Forest
A federal judge this week ordered the U.S. Forest Service to suspend a commercial logging project in southern Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest, finding the 2024 approval of the project under President Joe Biden violated the Endangered Species Act. The agency improperly approved the project in October 2024 without waiting for a final “biological opinion” from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an East St. Louis judge ruled Monday. That opinion,…
Associated Press News
Judge orders federal logging project halted in Shawnee National Forest
A federal judge this week ordered the U.S. Forest Service to suspend a commercial logging project in southern Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest, finding the 2024 approval of the project under President Joe Biden violated the Endangered Species Act.
Judge orders federal logging project halted in Shawnee National Forest – Capitol News IL
A federal judge ruled the 2024 approval of the project under President Joe Biden violated the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified the roughly 70-acre project area as home to the federally protected Indiana bat.
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