Alaska judge blocks logging bid in Tongass national forest, protecting old-growth stands

An Alaska district court judge has dismissed a lawsuit from logging companies seeking access to old-growth timber in the Tongass National Forest, closing the case permanently.

Judge Sharon L. Gleason granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss “with prejudice,” meaning the plaintiffs cannot sue the same parties for the same reasons again. Dismissal with prejudice is typically used when a case is deemed frivolous, improperly filed, or lacking legal basis.

The suit was brought last March by the Alaska Forest Association, Viking Lumber Company, Inc., and Alcan Timber Incorporated against the US Department of Agriculture, its secretary, the US Forest Service, and its director. Two local townships and several environmental groups joined the case on the side of the defense.

The Tongass is the nation’s largest national forest and the world’s largest temperate rainforest. It provides habitat for species including the bald eagle, sperm whale, Steller’s sea lion, Chinook salmon, brown bear, mountain goat, and the Endangered Haida ermine.

“This ruling is a big victory for the Tongass’ old-growth forests. I’m relieved the court squarely rejected the logging industry’s rash attempt to force large-scale logging,” said Marlee Goska, the Center for Biological Diversity’s Alaska attorney, in an email to GearJunkie. “This lawsuit had no legal basis, and the court was right to dismiss the case outright. We need to leave the Tongass standing for the sake of wildlife, climate, and local communities.”

The lawsuit centered on two USDA regulations from 2016 and 2021 and the 1990 Tongass Timber Reform Act, which requires the agency to provide timber industry access to meet “market demand.” With the dismissal, the old-growth forests in Tongass will remain standing.