THE US FOREST SERVICE HAS RELEASED A DECISION THAT WILL ALLOW CALIFORNIA LOGGERS TO REMOVE DEAD TREES FROM AN AREA BURNED BY LAST YEAR’S RIM FIRE.    YESTERDAY (WED) FEDERAL OFFICIALS PERMITTED THE TIMBER INDUSTRY TO LOG 52-SQUARE-MILES OF BLACKENED TREES IN THE STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST.    THE DECISION FOLLOWED A STANDOFF WITH ENVIRONMENTALISTS WHO ARGUED THE TREES ARE NEEDED TO CREATE A HABITAT FOR ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES. THE TIMBER INDUSTRY SAYS LOGGING WOULD PAY FOR REPLANTING TREES IN THE AREA.    THE SUPERVISOR OF THE STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST IS EXPECTED TO FINALIZE THE DECISION TODAY (THURS).