Jerry O'neil 985 Walsh Road Columbia Falls, Montana 59912 406-250-2503 Oneil@Centm:Ytel.Net
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Case 9:19-cv-00140-DLC-KLD Document 6 Filed 11/07/19 Page 1 of 41 Jerry O'Neil 985 Walsh Road Columbia Falls, Montana 59912 406-250-2503 oneil@centm:ytel.net IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 4TH DISTRICT OF MONTANA MISSOULA DIVISION Jerry O'Neil, Case No. CV 19-140-M-DLC-KLD Plaintiff, AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR vs. DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Chip Weber, in his capacity as Forest Supervisor for the Flathead National Forest; Chris Savage, in his capacity as the Forest Supervisor for the Kootenai National Forest; Carolyn Upton, in her capacity as Forest Supervisor for the Lolo National Forest; Bill Avey, in his capacity as Forest Supervisor for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest; and the UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE, a federal agency; Defendants. : INTRODUCTION 1. It is my intent with this action to get the Defendants to consider - and Jerry O'Neil vs. Chip Weber, et al. AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Page 1 Case 9:19-cv-00140-DLC-KLD Document 6 Filed 11/07/19 Page 2 of 41 to increase - the albedo effect when managing the federal forests in Montana so as to decrease the local warming and the global warming that is harming the endangered species that reside in the federal forests in Montana. 2. "ALBEDO EFFECT" - Universe Today, when referring to the albedo effect, stated at https://www.universetoday.com/39937/albedo-effect/, : Astronomers define the reflectivity of an object in space using a term called albedo. This is the amount of electromagnetic radiation that reflects away, compared to the amount that gets absorbed. A perfectly reflective surface would get an albedo score of 1, while a completely dark object would have an albedo of 0. Of course, it's not that black and white in nature, and all objects have an albedo score that ranges between O and 1. Here on Earth, the albedo effect has a significant impact on our climate. The lower the albedo, the more radiation from the Sun that gets absorbed by the planet, and temperatures will rise. If the albedo is higher, and the Earth is more reflective, more of the radiation is returned to space, and the planet cools. An example of this albedo effect is the snow temperature feedback. When you have a snow covered area, it reflects a lot of radiation. This is why you can get terrible sunburns when you're skiing. But then when the snow covered area warms and melts, the albedo goes down. More sunlight is absorbed in the area and the temperatures increase. Climate scientists are concerned that global warming will cause the polar ice caps to melt. With these melting caps, dark ocean water will absorb more sunlight, and contribute even more to global warming. Earth observation satellites are constantly measuring the Earth's albedo using a suite of sensors, and the reflectivity of the planet can actually be measured through Earthshine - light from the Earth that reflects off the Moon. Different parts of the Earth contribute to our planet's overall albedo in different amounts. Trees are dark and have a low albedo, so removing trees might actually increase the albedo of an area; especially regions typically covered in snow during the winter. Jerry O'Neil vs. Chip Weber, et al. AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Page2 Case 9:19-cv-00140-DLC-KLD Document 6 Filed 11/07/19 Page 3 of 41 3. It is also my intent to have the Defendants reclassify the areas that presently are, or in the future would be, classified as "Recommended Wilderness Areas" or "Wilderness Study Areas," not into Wilderness, but into a new classification called "Primitive Recreation Areas" - or other suitable name. My reasons for this include to: a. Allow the Supervisors' offices of the local forest districts the unfettered, or less fettered, management of these areas with local input; b. Enhance the cooperation of the Defendants with interested State and local governmental agencies and others in the development and management of the national forests pursuant to the Multiple-use Sustained-yield Act of 1960. [See the Montana 65 th Legislature's House Joint Resolution 9 urging the United States Congress to release certain wilderness study areas in Montana from consideration for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System which is attached as Exhibit A. c. Allow trails in these areas to be created and maintained with the use of mechanical equipment; d. Allow the use of pedal bicycles in these areas; and e. Allow these areas to be managed expeditiously and economically in Jerry O'Neil vs. Chip Weber, et al. AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Page3 Case 9:19-cv-00140-DLC-KLD Document 6 Filed 11/07/19 Page 4 of 41 such a manner as might be necessary to increase the albedo effect in order to protect their flora and fauna from global warming. 4. In December 2018, the Forest Service published a revised Forest Plan for the Flathead National Forest (the "Forest Plan for the Flathead National Forest" or "revised Forest Plan"). The revised Forest Plan and other plan amendments for the Lolo, Helena-Lewis & Clark, and Kootenai National Forests set the stage for forest management activities ( e.g., logging, road development, recreation management, etc.) for at least the next 15 years in these forests. 5. The Forest Service's 2012 Forest Planning Rules, 36 C.F.R. § 219.3, require that Defendants use the best available scientific information. It also requires that Defendants determine what information is the most accurate, reliable, and relevant to the issues being considered. Defendants were required to: a. Identify what information was determined to be the best available scientific information; b. Explain the basis for that determination; c. Explain how the information was applied to the issues considered; d. Document how the best available scientific information was used to inform the assessment, the plan decision, and the monitoring program as required, all as required by C.F.R. §§ 219.6(A)(3) and 219.14( a)( 4 ). Jerry O'Neil vs. Chip Weber, et al. AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Page4 Case 9:19-cv-00140-DLC-KLD Document 6 Filed 11/07/19 Page 5 of 41 e. When it was pointed out that Defendants never considered the albedo effect, they promised to consider it in the future, but in their Record ofDecision at page 109, they mischaracterized the concept, assuming it called for deforestation by removing all trees in the boreal forest. 6. This case challenges the Forest Service's decision finalizing the 2018 revision to the Flathead National Forest Land Management Plan and the amendments to the Lolo, Helena-Lewis & Clark, and Kootenai National Forest plans. MY PARTICIPATION IN THE PLANNING PROCESS 7. I have worked hard to protect and conserve the valuable wildlife, habitat, scenic character, social and economic sustainability, sustainable recreation including recreation settings, opportunities, and access, and opportunities to connect people with nature afforded by the Flathead National Forest for many decades and I remain committed to ensuring the Forest Service manages the Forest in accordance with NEPA, NFMA, 36 CFR 219 and the Forest Planning Rules. 8. I have submitted written and oral comments regarding managing our forests, with consideration of the albedo effect and the benefits of pulling forests areas out of Recommended Wilderness and Wilderness Study Area Classifications Jerry O'Neil vs. Chip Weber, et al. AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Page 5 Case 9:19-cv-00140-DLC-KLD Document 6 Filed 11/07/19 Page 6 of 41 and putting them into a new, Primitive Recreational Classification. 9. According to the accompanying "UTC-11," [Exhibit B], I submitted my "objections to the revised forest plan(s) for the: Flathead National Forest, Regional Forester's list of species of conservation concern, Kootenai National Forest Plan Amendment, Lolo National Forest Plan Amendment, (and the) Helena Lewis and Clark Forest Plan Amendments." 10. As evidenced by the attached FAfF Plan Revision & NCDE GBCS Amendment to the Lalo, Helena-Lewis & Clark, and Kootenai NFs #46286 [10/02/2016]. On 10/02/2016 [Exhibit C] I filed the attached documents: LetterText.pdf and Letters to Nature - Effects of boreal forest vegetation on glob.pd/ 11. On 02/12/2018 [Exhibit G], I filed documents: UTC-11; 18-0103 JerryONeil.pdf, 18-0103 Literature.pd/, and LetterText.pdfwith the Forest Service. 12. My objections then - and continuing - include: a. The Defendants need to consider, and to increase, the albedo effect on Montana's national forests by increasing the grazing of wild life and livestock and the harvest of timber, post, poles, and other forest products from these national forests. b. The Defendants need to increase the minimal amount of allowance for Jerry O'Neil vs. Chip Weber, et al. AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Page 6 Case 9:19-cv-00140-DLC-KLD Document 6 Filed 11/07/19 Page 7 of 41 the use of bicycles in the submitted forest plans. This should be accomplished by changing the designation of any lands that otherwise would be added to wilderness areas or recommended wilderness areas to "Primitive Recreation Areas" or other suitable designation; allow these areas to be managed at the local area by our local U.S.F.S. Supervisor with local input; allow the use of pedal bicycles on the trails in these areas; and allow the use of chainsaws and other mechanized equipment for the development and maintenance of these trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, other recreational activities." STANDING AND JURISDICTION 13.