A ruling from the US Interior Department yesterday will double the rate of logging in 2.6 million acres of forest in southwestern Oregon. While the decision is a boon to logging companies, it has upset local environmentalists.

Earthjustice has condemned the ruling, and Oregon governor Theodore R. Kulongoski noted that it could interfere with future wilderness designations in the Rogue River area.

Representatives from the timber industry, however, are excited about the decision. Logging on Oregon federal land was cut by 80 percent under the 15 year-old Northwest Forest Plan. The new ruling will help both local mills and timber companies to increase their business.

Oregon's ruling isn't the only one on deck that could affect US forests— President Bush is expected to change US Forest Service agreements to make it easier for mountain forests to become housing subdivisions.