The U.S. Forest Service announced that it will exempt the Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska from a national rule prohibiting timber cutting in roadless areas. The decision means about 300,000 acres of dense, old-growth rain forest will be available for logging.

The forest covers nearly 17 million acres.

Timber industry supporters said it would help revitalize a regional timber industry that has faltered since the area's two pulp mills closed in the 1990s.

The Tongass is the last vestige of old growth hardwood forest in this Nation.  Take a long, last look, and tell me this decision by the government does not bring tears of sadness a/o rage to your eyes.

Gene  

"There was a time in this fair land, when the railroad did not run; when the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun.  Long before the white man, and long before the wheel.. when the green, dark, forest stood..too silent to be real".   (G.Lightfoot, from Canadian Railroad Trilogy 1967).