Daily News for October 19, 2026

Forestry

Judge halts US Forest Service plan that would move Oregon HQ to Salem

By Zach Urness
Statesman Journal
October 16, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

A federal judge temporarily blocked a sweeping plan to reorganize the U.S. Forest Service by moving its headquarters to Salt Lake City and closing nine regional offices — including one in Portland. U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria ruled Oct. 13 that the Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, cannot proceed with planned office closures or force employees to relocate while a lawsuit challenging its reorganization continues. …The Forest Service did not immediately address how the ruling would impact its plans. “The Department is reviewing the Judge’s decision and will file its response with the Court,” the federal agency said in a statement. …A coalition of unions, nonprofits, conservation groups and cities challenged the plans, arguing that the USDA was violating congressional rules on how federal funds can be spent. …The injunction is unlikely to completely derail the reorganization.

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Health & Safety

Nakusp forestry contractor fined after worker seriously injured in flash fire

By Storrm Lennie
My Kootenay Now
October 16, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada West

A Nakusp forestry contractor has been fined more than $45,000 after a worker was seriously injured in a flash fire at a cutblock near Passmore. WorkSafeBC imposed a $45,302.81 fine against Galena Contractors Ltd. on Aug. 12. According to the penalty summary, the incident happened while workers were fuelling a mobile cable yarder when a flash fire broke out, seriously injuring a worker. The WorkSafeBC investigation found a portable fuel transfer pump had been modified after a previous malfunction, compromising its safety features and exposing electrical components that could ignite fuel. The company was cited for several high-risk violations, including failing to ensure equipment was properly repaired and maintained, failing to control ignition sources around combustible fuels and failing to conduct regular workplace inspections.

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