Group wants timber harvest panel to go public
'Governor must put an end to closed-door sessions'
By MITCH LIES
Capital Press
A nonprofit organization that advocates for protection of old-growth forests is calling for Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber to go public with what they say are "the closed-door proceedings of the governor's timber harvest panel."
In a press conference at the Oregon Capitol Dec. 18, Cristina Hubbard, project director of Forest Web of Cottage Grove, Ore., said decisions being made behind closed doors "have a direct impact on our lives and those of the generations to follow."
"The governor must put an end to closed-door sessions and hold a public comment period on the timber harvest panel's recommendation," Hubbard said.
Kitzhaber this fall convened a panel of conservationists, timber industry representatives and county commissioners to develop recommendations for managing Oregon and California Railroad Revested Lands in Oregon. Known as O&C Lands, the federally owned and managed lands comprise about 2.5 million acres in 18 Western Oregon counties.
The panel's recommendations, which could be released as soon as January, are expected to be part of federal legislation.
Three members of Oregon's congressional delegation introduced a bill last year that calls for setting aside a little over 1 million acres of O&C Lands for conservation, and setting up a trust to manage the remaining 1.5 million acres for timber production. The O&C Trust, Conservation and Jobs Act has yet to receive a congressional hearing.
Hubbard said Forest Web isn't advocating participation in the governor's panel, but to have the panel's proceedings opened to the public.
Also, Hubbard said, the organization wants a chance to comment on the recommendations before they become part of federal legislation.
"The fear is making timber the dominant use of these lands," said former Lane County Commissioner Jerry Rust, who also spoke at the press conference. "We want a chance to discuss that."
"The public has been excluded from the decision-making process of this important legislation," Hubbard said.
source: http://www.capitalpress.com/oregon/ml-timber-press-conference-121812
A recent report on the progress of this effort is at http://www.heraldandnews.com/members/news/frontpage/article_8eaabc72-4b3b-11e2-b4a8-001a4bcf887a.html
ReplyDeleteThe first part reads "Legislation on fate of O&C forestlands gets boost
By DEVAN SCHWARTZ H&N Staff Reporter | Posted: Friday, December 21, 2012 12:00 am
With Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., soon to chair the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., continuing to chair the House Committee on Natural Resources, there is a greater chance that stalled legislation to determine the fate of Oregon’s O&C forestlands will advance, said Wyden’s press secretary.
U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., worked on the O&C Trust, Conservation and Jobs Act through the House Committee on Natural Resources.
“We’re committed to finding a bipartisan solution that puts people back to work in the woods,” Andrew Malcolm, Walden’s press secretary, said."