Environmental groups sue Forest Service
By Mike Lee

SAN DIEGO – Several environmental groups on Thursday sued the U.S. Forest Service over its management plans for the Cleveland National Forest and three others in Southern California.

The lawsuit said the federal blueprints allow recreation and development to damage the forests' ecology. It cited off-road vehicles and gas drilling as problems for the forests, which total 3.5 million acres.

“The Forest Service ... ignored meaningful protections for environmental resources that are critical for ensuring thriving populations of wildlife and healthy forests,” the suit said.

The plaintiffs are the Center for Biological Diversity, Los Padres ForestWatch, Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, California Native Plant Society, Wilderness Society and California Wilderness Coalition. They are being represented by attorneys from the group Earthjustice.

A Forest Service spokesman for the Cleveland forest said he could not comment on pending litigation.

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