The Department of Agriculture ruled that the U.S. Forest Service did not violate federal law when it paid $90,000 to PR firm OneWorld Communications [3] to promote increased logging in California's Sierra Nevada forests. The "Forests with a Future [4]" campaign claimed that today's forests have denser tree growth [5] than in the past, and that increased logging is needed to reduce wildfire threats. The department's general counsel wrote, "The Forest Service seems to be explaining and defending its policies and responding to arguments against those activities - a legitimate activity." Two members of Congress had questioned whether the PR firm contract violated a federal ban on public funds going "to pay a publicity expert."