Newhouse Introduces Tree Spiking Mitigation Act In U.S. House

Last week, Central Washington representative Dan Newhouse, announced that he was introducing the Tree Spiking Mitigation Act. The chair of the Congressional Western Caucus says the act, which is a companion bill to legislation recently introduced in the Senate, came about because of the Administration’s nominee to head the Bureau of Land Management, Tracy Stone-Manning. Newhouse said investigations and document show that years ago Stone-Manning was involved with an ecoterrorism organization that engaged in tree spiking.

“So, the purposed of the legislation is twofold, 1.) to draw attention to the issue itself and try to reduce the danger to people in the logging industry and 2.) to draw attention to the nominee’s history and past as she’s being considered for this very important federal post.”

Newhouse added some have tried to downplay Stone-Manning’s role in tree spiking, but he pointed out that when these spikes, some of which are 12”-18” in length, hit a saw, it creates an explosion which leads to shrapnel. That, Newhouse pointed out can lead to injury and death, either out in the woods or within the sawmill.

“This is not just a childlike prank, this is a truly dangerous activity that puts people’s health and wellbeing and lives at risk.”

Click Here to read the entire Tree Spiking Mitigation Act.

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