Tag Archives: timber management

Lawmakers like plan to revamp O&C lands

Posted on by
Reply

Medford Mail Tribune 4/12/2013
Excerpt:     “A trio of Oregon congressmen expressed optimism over a plan to revamp management of the O&C lands in Western Oregon following a House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing Thursday morning.

“This hearing signals that this is a serious plan that is being taken seriously by the U.S. House of Representatives,” according to a statement released by U.S. Reps. Greg Walden, R-Hood River; Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield; and Kurt Schrader, D-Canby. …”
Read entire article at  http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130412/NEWS/304120337/-1/NEWS07

Timber counties plan to get House hearing

Posted on by
Reply

Medford Mail Tribune 4/10/2013
Excerpt:      “The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing Thursday morning on a proposal by a bipartisan trio of Oregon congressmen to revamp management of the O&C lands in Western Oregon.

Citing the dire economic straits of the timber-dependent counties, the session was requested by U.S. representatives Greg Walden, Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader. The three are the co-authors of the O&C Trust, Conservation and Jobs Act.  …”
read entire article at http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130410/NEWS/304100329/-1/NEWS02

4FRI environmental analysis available for public comment

Posted on by
Reply

Williams News 4/9/2013
Excerpt:      “The U.S. Forest Service has published an environmental analysis for the first phase of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) project, and is now seeking public comment about the document.

The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) published March 29 proposes habitat enhancement, thinning and prescribed burning on one million acres of the Kaibab and Coconino national forests in the next 20 years. The DEIS will now undergo a 60-day public comment period.

The 4FRI project is the largest forest restoration project in the country, spanning 2.4 million acres within the Kaibab, Coconino, Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves national forests. The project proposes restoration for 189,255 acres surrounding Williams.  ….”
Read entire article at http://www.williamsnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubsectionID=1&ArticleID=13305

Forest Service change aims to resolve project objections earlier

Posted on by
Reply

Missoulian; 4/10/2013
Excerpt:        “In U.S. Forest Service-speak, we’re switching from a 215 to a 218.  The difference in digits determines how and when someone can protest a timber sale or a road decommissioning, or any other Forest Service project that needs an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment.

Under rule 215, you appeal the decision after it’s announced. Under rule 218, you object before the decision is made.  “The idea is we can sit down together and work out the issues,” said Ray Smith, Forest Service Region 1 objections and appeals coordinator. “It’s really important – the work together part.  …”
Read entire article at http://missoulian.com/news/local/forest-service-change-aims-to-resolve-project-objections-earlier/article_8b033b74-a18c-11e2-bd84-0019bb2963f4.html

Judge tells feds to study owls before selling timber

Posted on by
Reply

Capital Press 4/5/2013
Excerpt:      “The U.S. Forest Service must study competition between threatened spotted owls and barred owls before proceeding with a timber project in an Oregon national forest.
A federal judge has blocked logging on more than 2,000 acres in the Willamette National Forest, including about 450 acres of spotted owl habitat that would have been removed or downgraded.   Two environmental groups — Cascadia Wildlands and Oregon Wild — filed a legal complaint against the “Goose Project” last year.   …”
Read entire article at http://www.capitalpress.com/content/mp-owl-logging-ruling-040513

Congressman Wants To ‘Streamline’ Projects

Posted on by
Reply

Payson Roundup 4/2/2013
Excerpt:       “Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Prescott) has once again introduced a bill designed to “streamline” environmental and administrative reviews when it comes to reviewing grazing leases and thinning projects to reduce wildfire risk.

Gosar, who represents northern Gila County, said the bill would reduce administrative delays for grazing and thinning permits that would reduce fuel loads. An identical bill died last year, but this year he has enlisted as a co-sponsor newly re-elected Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Flagstaff), who represents southern Gila County.  …”
Read entire article at http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2013/apr/02/congressman-wants-streamline-projects/

Editorial: Rural roads and schools need more protection

Posted on by
Reply

Spokane Spokesman Review 4/2/2013
Excerpt:         “Didn’t think the brainless budget sequester Congress foisted upon itself could get any dumber? Read on.

The U.S. Department of Interior is asking states to pay back millions of dollars already allocated to rural counties for schools, roads and other services. Plus, it plans to subject funding to the across-the-board cuts called for under sequestration.   ….”
Read entire article at http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/apr/02/editorial-rural-roads-and-schools-need-more/

Feds want $18 million back from timber counties

Posted on by
Reply

Huffington Post 3/29/2013
Excerpt:      “GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The U.S. Forest Service’s demands that rural timber counties pay back millions of dollars in federal subsidies under automatic budget cuts have outraged members of Congress from both parties and caused concern in those counties with struggling economies.

Thirty-one members of the House this week sent a letter to the Obama administration protesting demands that they return $17.9 million in revenues that pay for schools, roads, search and rescue operations in rural counties as well as for conservation projects. …”
Read entire article at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20130329/us-federal-repayment-demands/?utm_hp_ref=arts&ir=arts

Feds ‘claw back’ money; Western states hit hard

Posted on by
Reply

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel 3/28/2013
Excerpt:       “The U.S. Forest Service is preparing to “claw back” about $18 million from timber sales to states for local schools. The Interior Department, meanwhile, has notified states that they won’t get about $110 million from mineral royalty payments.

Both moves are efforts to shift the burden of spending reductions from the sequester to the states, according to a bipartisan group of representatives, including U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo.  ….”
Read entire article at http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/feds-claw-back-money-western-states-hit-hard

Changing recreational habits challenge forest service

Posted on by
Reply

Smoky Mountain News 3/27/2013
Excerpt:          “The painstaking process of outlining a clear mission for the U.S. Forest Service and how it will manage its expansive public lands in Western North Carolina and the varied — and sometimes competing — interests of the people that use them has begun. Once completed, the new plan will serve as a reference for the coming 15 years on any major decision made about the Pisgah and Nantahala forests in regards to protected wilderness areas, logging, mountain biking, fires, hiking, hunting and more.  …”
Read entire article at http://www.smokymountainnews.com/outdoors/item/10038-changing-recreational-habits-challenge-forest-service