Saw-Wielding Activists Mock Logging Law

WASHINGTON — Environmentalists revved up a “21-chain-saw salute” in front of the White House on Friday in a mocking ceremony for President Clinton’s signing of a logging law.

“Americans better get used to the sound of chain saws in their national forests. That’s what they are going to hear the next two years,” Sierra Club President Robert Cox said.

Chanting “we want a leader, not a logger,” about 150 environmental activists joined in the rally at Lafayette Park across the street from the White House. Several carried signs that read “President Clinton is an Environmental Chameleon” and “Thanks for Nothing, Bill.”

Clinton on Thursday signed a comprehensive spending reduction bill that also waives environmental laws to expedite salvage logging in national forests facing fire threats.

It also provides exemptions from laws protecting fish and wildlife to carry out logging in forests with northern spotted owls in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.

Clinton vetoed the same idea earlier, saying it was a “very bad environmental provision.” In reversing his position and agreeing to accept the logging measure, he said he does not intend to take advantage of the exemptions and will conduct the timber harvests consistent with existing laws.

White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry said Clinton was “not happy with the language” on timber salvage, but that he had brought about significant changes in the legislation that would allow him to continue to “meet our responsibilities for environmental stewardship.”

McCurry said it was the Republican-controlled Congress that was ready to “eviscerate” environmental protection laws and suggested demonstrations on Capitol Hill would be more appropriate.

Speaking of the President, Gene Karpinski, executive director of the Public Interest Research Group, said: “It is a betrayal of the environmental values he claims to hold so dear.”

The activists took the chains off the Homelite Super 2s, one of the smaller variety of chain saws, and raised them in the air, gunning the gas-fueled motors for a host of television cameras.

It clearly was a new experience for some. Karpinski had trouble starting his chain saw until someone told him to take the cover off.