| Press Release |
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| December 8, 2008 |
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Governor calls Federal Forest Management Plan incomplete
Proposal represents a good start from which to build a plan that provides predictable, sustainable timber revenues for Oregon counties
(Salem) – After two months of review, Governor Ted Kulongoski today asked the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) not to adopt its proposed forest management plan, commonly known as the Western Oregon Plan Revision, and to open the plan for an additional public comment period once the BLM has addressed his concerns.
The Governor cited BLM’s decision not to complete consultation on Endangered Species Act (ESA) impacts as a major obstacle to the successful implementation of the proposed plan. The plan defers consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service until harvest projects are identified.
“I had every reason to believe that the plan would fully address BLM’s obligations under the Endangered Species Act. I believe that delaying this work is the wrong approach and is legally inconsistent with the requirements of the ESA,” Governor Kulongoski said. “Furthermore, this approach could set a bad precedent that opens the door for other federal agencies to do the same.”
The Governor also expressed concerns related to water quality, wilderness areas, insufficient monitoring provisions and the lack of any acknowledgement that the BLM will utilize forest management strategies that fight global warming. Additionally, he is concerned that the BLM has failed to garner the support of Oregon’s congressional delegation, which is critical to the success of the plan. The U.S. Congress eventually will be asked to allocate funding.
“I am committed to a developing a plan that meets the economic, social and environmental values of these forest lands and that can gain the support of Oregonians and especially our congressional delegation. We all know that our counties desperately need predictable, sustainable revenues,” the Governor said. “We’re not there yet, but there is an opportunity to build upon this proposal and make it better.”
Regarding monitoring, the Governor recognizes that the BLM will measure progress as the plan is implemented, but he is concerned about the lack of an effort to assess the effectiveness of the management plan. He also requests that the BLM commit to working with local communities and Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality in advance of harvests to monitor water quality for drinking and for fish. Finally, he requests that BLM incorporate the best available science on forest management strategies that fight global warming and incorporate those strategies into the plan.
“Any management plan should incorporate the best available science on strategies that recognize and support the role our forests play in carbon sequestration and that future forest ecosystems are better able to accommodate a warmer climate,” the Governor said. “For the long-term economic health of our counties, we must ensure that these forests are managed in a way that takes climate change into account.”
The Governor also noted his support for the potential designation of approximately 98 miles of the Wild Rogue River and 60,000 acres of associated lands for federal Wild and Scenic River status. Some of these lands will be affected under the proposed plan. The Governor is requesting that the BLM officially recognize this potential designation within the plan.
Federal law requires the BLM to revise its plan for the management of what are known as O&C lands because the current harvest levels are not meeting the statutory requirement that enough timber be produced over time to provide for the long-term economic stability of local communities. Actual harvest levels of 80 to 130 million board feet are not producing the revenue Oregon counties need to provide essential services.
On BLM’s proposed level of harvest, the Governor is aware that historical harvests on these lands over prior decades have exceed sustainable levels, but does believe that 502 million board feet can be achieved over time as the forests mature and if his other concerns are addressed.
“I recognize that the BLM has made significant improvements from the draft plan to the proposal before me today, but more work is needed,” the Governor said. “It continues to be my hope that this process will be a model for the development of other federal management plans.”
A harvest level of 502 million board feet would provide $75 million in revenues to Oregon counties or 65% of what these counties have traditionally received for timber production on O&C lands through the federal county payments program that is expected to end in four years.
The proposed plan applies to more than 2.5 million acres of federal public lands primarily in western Oregon. Sixteen Oregon counties and several state and federal agencies have participated in the public process. During the 155-day public comment period, the BLM received nearly 30,000 letters and emails.
To read a copy of the Governor’s letter to the BLM, click here.
Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
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