NW spotted owl recovery plan due by end of week

After months of tinkering, the Obama administration is due out this week with its last-ditch plan for saving the northern spotted owl from extinction. Timber industry and conservation groups that have battled for decades said Monday the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been unusually closed-mouth while developing the final recovery plan, and they have no idea what it will say. The draft plan it is based on drew harsh criticism from both sides. Conservation groups felt it didn't protect enough habitat. The timber industry felt it didn't allow enough logging to supply mills and reduce the threat of wildfire...more