The Justice Department and the Forest Service have announced plans to investigate harassment and threats directed at Forest Service employees in the agency's intermountain region.
In early November, Gloria Flora, supervisor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in northeastern Nevada, resigned her post, citing hostility between locals in Elko County, Nev., toward Forest Service officials in the area.
The county was plagued by a pervasive anti-government attitude, Flora said in her resignation letter. According to an Associated Press report, Flora said her employees were threatened and shunned in their communities simply because they worked for the federal government.
U.S. Attorney Kathryn Landreth and Forest Service regional forester Jack Blackwell issued a joint statement last week saying they are committed to "vigorous investigation and enforcement" of threats to USFS employees.
According to Landreth, there have been no recent documented claims of harassment filed by Forest Service employees in Nevada, despite reports that, since 1990, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Vegas has ignored 21 alleged felonies and 52 misdemeanors alleged by USFS employees.
"All cases submitted to the Forest Service are reviewed not only for criminal, but also civil or administrative enforcement actions," Landreth said.
Federal officials and residents of Elko County have fought a contentious battle over a local road that was washed out by a flood in 1995. Nevada state assemblyman John Carpenter tried to have the road rebuilt, but the Forest Service fought to keep the road closed to protect threatened bull trout. Plans to rebuild the road were halted by a court injunction.
Blackwell said he and Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck will assemble a fact-finding team to investigate allegations of intimidation, harassment and threats to employees. He also pledged to continue working with the U.S. Attorney's Office despite disappointment with some of the office's past decisions.
"I support and respect their decisions and I look forward to further improving our relationship," Blackwell said, noting that the office deserved recognition for its help in keeping the Elko County road closed.
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