Decisions on Marbled Murrelet & Deadline to Save Marbled Murrelets Start in January

Washington State Department of Natural Resources Marbled Murrelet Draft EISs Will Lead to Extirpation – Campaigns Need Your Support in January for Marbled Murrelet Month

The Washington Department of Natural Resources issued two important Draft Environmental Impact Statements in early December that, if adopted as written, will likely lead to the extirpation of Marbled Murrelets in Washington’s Olympic forests: Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Marbled Murrelet Long-Term Conservation Strategy (Murrelet LTCS Draft EIS) and the 2015–2024 Sustainable Harvest Calculation Draft EIS. Public meetings will be held January 10–19 around Western Washington. Comments and change proposals are due March 9, 2017.

OFCO and the Murrelet Survival Project (coalition of conservation groups) are organizing an effort to change these key policies. Washington Forest Law Center’s Dr. Kara Whittaker is leading a team of experts and conservation advocates to propose alternatives to the DNR’s draft options. The Washington Environment Council is working with economists to develop alternatives for disadvantaged trustee local governments on the Sustainable Harvest Calculation. We need your support at key public meetings in January – your presence, comments and letters! Join us in Port Angeles on Tuesday, January 17 – the public meeting starts at 6 PM at Port Angeles High School, 304 E. Park Avenue. Watch for news of a rally before the meeting.

DEIS and Sustainable Harvest Calculation web portal with documents and public meeting information