SPOTTED OWLS IN THE DOCKET

The Supreme Court began hearing arguments today on a case that will determine whether the Federal Government has been wrongly interpreting theEndangered Species Act. Lawyers for the timber industry argue the act calls for the federal government to purchase privately held land when the land is critical tosurvival of troubled fish or wildlife, while the Clinton Administration defends the government's right to impose restrictions over commercial activities on private property to protect endangered species. The case centers on Oregon loggers who want to cut trees on private lands that are the habitat of the threatened northern spotted owl.