A Whitebark Pine in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Photo by Dave Powell, U.S. Forest Service
Tomorrow, the Senate gets its first look at a compromise logging bill for Eastern Oregon.
Ideally, the bill is supposed to end years of timber wars. No more logging for the sake of logging. Instead, timber harvests happen as part of a greater effort to restore forests. Old growth trees are off limits. But Eastern Oregon lumber mills get a steady supply of smaller trees to help them stay in business.
The compromise came after 18-months of negotiations between Oregon environmental and timber groups. Senator Wyden, who helped organize the talks is sponsoring the bill and Senator Merkley has joined him.
The Senate subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests opens a hearing on the bill at 11:30am Pacific time, Wednesday.
Witnesses from Oregon include:
- John Shelk – Ochoco Lumber Company – Prineville
- K. Norman Johnson – Oregon State University – Corvallis
- Stephen Fitzgerald – Oregon State University – Redmond
- Larry Blasing – Grant County Public Forest Commission – Prairie City
- Andy Kerr – Senior Counselor to Oregon Wild
Oregon Wild released some of the pre-written testimony Kerr plans to make at the hearing.
“Enactment of this legislation can mark the end of the timber wars for the eastside forests of Oregon. When fully implemented, the new statute can result in the comprehensive conservation and restoration of forests and watersheds on over eight million acres of National Forest System lands.
In the isn’t-life-ironic department, the best available science tells conservationists that we need a right-sized timber industry to aid in the conservation and restoration of forests and watersheds. Conservationists also need a relevant and working Forest Service to be in service to forests.
Enactment of this legislation will result in new rules of engagement for national forest stakeholders. Confrontation can give way to collaboration. Walking and talking in the woods can become more prevalent that litigating and arguing in the courts.”
-Andy Kerr
Reaction from the timber industry, and from east side communities has been carefully optimistic. A “step in the right direction”, but no panacea according to an editorial in the La Grande Observer.
Oregon environmental groups are split. The Hells Canyon Preservation Council has come out against the bill, in part because logging will increase over the short term. During the first few years of the bill, citizens won’t be able to appeal Forest Service logging decisions.
The Oregon Sierra Club has also expressed reservations. While not yet taking an official position, an alert sent to members last week warns that the bill “threatens” Eastern Oregon forests. It says the bill doesn’t do enough to protect old growth, and does allow for the building of new roads. They’re asking members to write Wyden to get him to change the legislation.
Finally, the hearing will be available live at this link. If I can figure it out, I will also stream it on Natural Oregon.
