Congress can now deny the U.S. Forest Service’s move to transition away from old-growth logging in the Tongass National Forest. Conservationists and timber industry groups thought the Forest Service’s decision was finalized last year. But a letter submitted by Sen. Lisa Murkowski prompted the Government Accountability Office to look into it. The office determined Monday that Congress can review the forest service’s decision. Now the agency must follow their old plan until Congress reaches an agreement. Owen Graham, the executive director at the Alaska Forest Association, says it’s a step in the right direction. “I’ve been working hard trying to persuade people to rescinded or reject it or withdraw it. Choke it to death or something,” Graham said. …Meredith Trainor, from the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, said she didn’t agree with everything in the plan. She thought it left too much old growth on the table. But for conservationists, there were also some substantial wins.