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Opinions vary on extent of threat By Paul Fattig Depending on who is asked, talk of increased eco-terrorism is either paranoid poppycock or a very real threat. "This is sensationalistic tabloid journalism," said environmental activist Steve Marsden of Cave Junction, who has been involved in the movement for two decades. "I just don't think it's valid," he added. "My experience is that everything is going the opposite direction, that people in the environmental community are gravitating more and more to the law." Not true, retorted David Hill, executive vice president of the Southern Oregon Timber Industries Association. "It's a very real potential threat we have to live with on a day-to-day basis," he said. "The eco-terrorism issue is very current, very real in Southern Oregon." As evidence, he noted the torching of the U.S. Forest Industries office in Medford last December, a suspected arson claimed by members of the Earth Liberation Front. A shadowy group of radical environmentalists, ELF has also claimed responsibility for last October's $12 million arson blaze at a Vail, Colo., ski resort. Hill also points to a break-in at the SOTIA office in Medford on the night of July 28. Those involved scrawled a note on an inner door that threatened the office with fire. Neither case has been solved. But the subject of eco-terrorism is being reviewed following a four-part series produced last week by The Oregonian newspaper. Mainstream environmental activists, who have continually spoken out against violence, are quick to say any acts of violence in an attempt to protect the environment have been the work of fringe groups. Moreover, they believe that conflict over natural resources on public lands is decreasing, not increasing. "It seems to me the war is winding down," said Andy Kerr, former director of the Oregon Natural Resource Council. "Most of what they are dealing with now are tree sitters." Those who support violence are not true environmentalists, said Kerr, who was labeled a "white collar terrorist" in a 1989 issue of Time magazine because of his leadership in administrative appeals and lawsuits against what he perceived as threats to the environment. "They (eco-terrorists) are the disgruntled loser elements who don't know how to work within the system," he said, noting he opposes any kind of violence. "I don't put those people within the environmental community. "Real environmentalists are the people next door, the people down the street," he added. "Working within the system can be frustrating, but the cut (timber on federal land in the Northwest) has gone down about 90 percent because of environmentalists working within the system." Kerr, who was once arrested during an environmental protest in former U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield's office, also cautioned against lumping together acts by environmentalists and animal-rights activists. "It's important to consider the forms of illegal acts," he said. "I would not lump someone practicing civil disobedience and getting arrested during a protest with someone involved in property damage." Marsden, who also has been arrested for acts of civil disobedience in environmental protests, agreed. Although he had once been involved in Earth First!, a self-described radical environmental group, Marsden said he has never condoned acts of violence. "People concerned about public land issues have become more savvy," he said. "Most of them work to obey the law, not trying to circumvent it. "I just think this whole thing is sensationalism, a way to sell papers," he reiterated. But Mark Tarantino, a Forest Service law enforcement officer in charge of the 10 federal officers assigned to the Rogue River, Siskiyou and the Umpqua national forests, believes otherwise. "It's definitely a concern," he said. "That awareness has been heightened because of some of the activities we've seen in the last year or two. We have seen a significant number of instances that heightens that concern." That concern has changed how Forest Service employee approach their jobs, he said. "We are much more vigilant now," he said. "That includes our entire work force. No question we are potential targets." SOTIA's David Hill is also concerned about industry employees and their equipment. "It's a very active day-to-day issue with us," he said. But Hill did agree with Marsden and Kerr that those who would use violence in the name of the environmental movement are not part of the mainstream. "This is fringe activity," Hill said, then added, "It won't alter what we do. It's an irritant and a danger to us. But it's just not something we would ever give in to." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA