Two Activists are arrested for blockading the Otter-Wing timber sale, one activist is arrested trying to observe forest service law enforcement.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/30/99

Media Contact: Joshua Burnim, 208-882-9755

Otter-Wing (20 miles SE of Grangeville), Idaho - At dawn today three activists working with the Cove/Mallard Coalition were arrested by Forest Service law enforcement on the 1875 road in the Nez Perce National Forest. Two of the activists (Batgirl and Scuttles) had been blocking access to the Otter-Wing timber sale since Sunday morning. The third activist (Sarah Seeds) was arrested for demanding that she be able to observe police conduct.

Sarah Seeds was arrested after she refused to move from a location where she could witness the conduct of officers in dismantling the blockade. She had chains on her wrists and ankle so that the officers could be assured that she could not interfere with their operation. Sarah Seeds stated from jail, "I think it is really unfortunate that it is necessary to go to these lengths to prevent not only the clearcutting of our lands, but the clearcutting of our human rights."

Forest Service law enforcement used a cherry picker to remove Batgirl from a thirty foot tripod. They then proceeded to use the same machine to remove Scuttles from a thirty foot monopod with the assistance of workers. The three individuals are being taken to Boise for arraignment before a federal judge today. Although no one was hurt, witnesses said that law enforcement used techniques that put both individuals in extreme danger of injury in order to remove the blockade as quickly as possible.

Mike Bowersox, a coalition volunteer stated, "These actions will continue in the Otter-Wing timber sale as long as the forest service continues to break the law. Otter-Wing and the streams that will be affected by the continuing logging and road building offer the last viable habitat for endangered steelhead trout, bull trout, and chinook salmon on the South Fork of the Clearwater River." The blockade was the second civil disobedience action of the summer on the 1875 road. For the last year citizens have engaged in numerous protests against the sale. Activists have submitted several reports to the Forest Service regarding environmental violations taking place in the lay out of sale units, stream buffers, and road construction.

Joshua Burnim of the coalition said, "This sale represents industrial logging at its worst where roadless areas are violated, pristine old growth habitat is destroyed, and massive amounts of sediment are routed into the last healthy streams. If the Forest Service cared about healthy ecosystems it would stop logging the Otter-Wing timber sale immediately."

Otter-Wing is a part of the Wing-Twenty mile area which is a part of the Greater Salmon/Selway Ecosystem, the largest roadless area in the lower 48 states. The sale includes 12 miles of new road and 694 acres of clearcuts. The sale is just south of the Gospel Hump wilderness area in the Nez Perce National Forest. Activists have been protesting the sale since 1998 and there have been numerous arrests over the last two years. The Otter-Wing campaign is a part of a seven year effort by the Cove/Mallard Coalition to protect the Greater Salmon/Selway Ecosystem.

Still photos and video are available on request. Contact Joshua Burnim at 208-882-9755. -end-

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