Environmental Protection Information Center, Inc. v. Maxxam Corp.

The Environmental Protection Information Center, Inc. (EPIC), and Lynn Burchfield (hereafter appellants) appeal from an order dismissing on grounds of mootness their petition for writ of mandate to set aside the approval by the California Department of Foresty and Fire Protection (hereafter Department) of two timber harvest plans submitted by Pacific Lumber Company (hereafter Palco).

Though both affected relatively small stands of old-growth timber, the two timber harvest plans presented many contrasting features. Plan 1-87-625 HUM (hereafter plan 625) covered 641 acres of predominantly redwood forest in the Root Creek drainage in Humboldt County. Apart from certain small sections, the land had previously been selectively logged between 1959 and 1982 and supported a vigorous secondary growth. The plan called for clearcutting two areas of 37 and 38 acres and for removal elsewhere of seed trees left standing in the previous logging. The first of these areas had failed to develop satisfactory regrowth in earlier logging. The second area contained 24 acres of forest recently logged in 1982 and a 14-acre “island” of old-growth redwood forest. These 14 acres were near a stand…