…The U.S. Forest Service has dropped plans for a final environmental impact statement related to managing old-growth forests on public lands such as those across Western North Carolina’s national forests. …The proposed Old Growth Amendment was designed to introduce consistency to old-growth protection on lands controlled by the United States Forest Service. …Many scientists and advocates were critical of the proposed amendment, saying it would have codified loopholes that allow for logging in old-growth forests. On the other side, Republican legislators and timber industry representatives criticized the Forest Services’ approach, saying logging is critical for many states’ economies and governors needed more input or control. …Will Harlan, the Southeast director of the Center for Biological Diversity, said that it may be better if the plan was killed, as old-growth protection can continue on the local level under current regulations while leaving room for future protections.