Greenpeace's newest ship headed to Southeast Alaska

KETCHIKAN (AP) Greenpeace's newest and largest ship is headed to Southeast Alaska next month to bring attention to logging in the Tongass National Forest and Bush administration policies.

The ship is scheduled to visit Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka in early August to meet with local activists and community leaders.

Scott Paul, forest campaign coordinator for the environmental group, said the 236-foot ship plans to visit roadless areas on the Tongass and Southeast's now-defunct pulp mills.

Paul said Greenpeace is particularly concerned about a recent rule-making effort to exclude Alaska's Tongass and Chugach national forests from the roadless rule.

The Clinton-era rule would limit logging and roadbuilding on national forest land.

The group also is concerned with efforts to swap national forest land for private land in the Tongass and logging's effects on wild salmon runs. The expansion of fish farms in British Columbia is another worry, he said.