District Attorney Paul Gallegos has come out with both guns blazing in a case filed against the Pacific Lumber Co. earlier this week.
In essence, the case alleges that the company and several of its subsidiaries hid scientific data that could have led to a curtailment of logging on its timberlands.
The DA's office is contending that the company lied in its representation of the severity of landslides in Jordan Creek, located upstream of Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The office also says the company suppressed the distribution of several key environmental documents.
Gallegos is seeking $250 million in restitution for the alleged violations.
Local environmentalists are ecstatic.
"I'm flying. This is the best thing that has ever happened," said Ken Miller, a member of the Humboldt Watershed Council, and a longtime opponent of PL, in a phone interview Tuesday. "My god, finally we have a champion who has some power."
When Gallegos came into office he sent out a letter to many of the local environmental and property rights groups, saying that he believed it was his duty, under California's constitution, to enforce certain environmental laws and asked for any input the groups thought would be helpful.
The DA's office declined to comment on the case, citing ethical rules that prevent them from biasing anyone against their opponents. Pacific Lumber could not be reached for comment.
Gallegos' action comes less than a week after he vowed to the Journal that his office would not sit idly by if environmental laws were being trampled (see "Fresh Air," Feb. 20).
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