A group of Karuk Indian activists on Wednesday morning blockaded a road being used by a U.S. Forest Service logging contractor in an effort to stop a fuels reduction project they say is damaging sacred sites outside Orleans.

Members of the Klamath Justice Coalition blocked Orleans Mountain Lookout Road and said they turned back a contractor trying to move in heavy equipment for the ongoing project.

”This morning's small but important victory marks the beginning of our campaign to defend Karuk sacred sites and protect the health of our forests,” said local Chook-Chook Hillman.

The Orleans Community Fuel Reduction and Forest Health Project aims to cut back on excess fuels outside the small community while protecting the Panamnik World Renewal Ceremonial District. The project went through a federal Environmental Impact Statement process, and the contract with Timber Products began in October.

The project spans 2,700 acres, and includes commercial removal of trees on 1,000 acres and a decade of fuels reduction work. Currently, 914 acres of timber and biomass removal are under contract, according to Six Rivers National Forest. A number of meetings with Orleans residents and tribal representatives have been held on the project over the past three years.

But concerns about spiritual trails and the logging methods being used were raised by representatives of the Karuk Tribe, prompting Six Rivers Supervisor Tyrone Kelley to meet with

them on Monday. Kelley said several matters were addressed, including what logging equipment would be used, how it would be positioned, where logs were piled and the project's effects on hardwood species.

”We still have some issues that we need to work through,” Kelley said.

Kelley said the type of equipment specified in the environmental statement didn't make it into the contract, a result of an oversight.

The Karuks saw it as a betrayal of promises. The Karuk Tribe on Wednesday issued a statement saying that the use of heavy logging equipment in areas deemed sacred by the tribe haven't been assessed, and that Six Rivers hasn't followed through on a commitment to allow monitoring by several parties during the fuels reduction operation.

”We participated in good faith in the Forest Service's collaborative process,” said Karuk Eco-cultural Resources Specialist Bill Tripp. “Although we were assured that our sacred areas would be protected and our values respected and enhanced, it's clear now that these were hollow promises.”

Tripp said the actions are a violation of federal law.

Kelley said the project was shut down Wednesday due to rain, and the contractor was expected to work through Friday, then break for the holidays. Because of that, Kelley said, there was no reason to suspend the operation. He pledged to work with the tribe over the coming weeks to address the concerns.

”We have to be sensitive to the tribes and we always want to work with the tribes,” Kelley said.