[Reprinted by permission from Econews, March 2003]

New Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos filed suit last month seeking $250 million in penalties for the harm to redwoods inflicted by the "unfair and fraudulent business practices" of Maxxam's Pacific Lumber Company.

The six-count complaint said PL's deception about landslide risks allowed it to cut down some 100,000 trees on unstable slopes and make an additional $40 million a year. Gallegos wants a $2,500 penalty for each tree harvested.

Gallegos charged PL and its subsidiaries with violating the Unfair Competition Act with relation to Headwaters Forest. The complaint said that the firm fraudulently won government approval of sections of its Sustained Yield Plan.

The complaint added that, following this environmental harm, the company even fought against the mitigation measures sought by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The surprise move against one of Humboldt County's biggest employers came after years of citizen complaints that PL's accelerated rate of cut and intensive logging had caused and is causing serious damage.

Ken Miller, a local physician active with the Humboldt Watershed Council, said: "What has been most disheartening has been the complicity of our state and federal agencies in allowing PL to harm residents and the entire social, economic, and environmental fabric of our community."