Forest Service Shirks Environmental Review for Large Arizona ORV Rally

A six-day off-road vehicle rally that started today in Arizona’s Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest was tacitly authorized by U.S. Forest Service officials without analysis or approval under the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biological Diversity, which works to reduce environmental destruction caused by ORV use on public lands, voiced numerous concerns about the “Outlaw Jamboree” — most recently in a letter dated Aug.14, 2012 — to the Forest Service. The event threatens to damage lands affected by the Wallow fire and subsequent flooding, including valuable habitat for Mexican spotted owls and Mexican gray wolves. It is now exploring legal options to ensure the event does not irrevocably harm local wildlife...more