Judge Blocks Timber Sales in Three States

AP ^ | 1/9/6 | GENE JOHNSON

[SmithL]

Seattle -- A federal judge who struck down a Bush administration decision to ease logging restrictions last summer issued an injunction Monday blocking as many as 144 timber sales in three states.

The sales in Washington, Oregon and northern California had been approved under the administration's decision to stop requiring that the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management look for and protect rare plants and animals before logging on 5.5 million acres covered by the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan.

The Bush administration eliminated the so-called "survey and manage" rule in spring 2004 as part of a legal settlement with the timber industry. Environmental groups sued over the decision, arguing that it was arbitrary and that the government had not evaluated what the impact would be on protected species such as the great gray owl.

Last August, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman agreed, striking down the new rule. At the time, she did not say whether she would allow the 144 timber sales — approved since the rule's adoption — to proceed. About half of those sales included old-growth logging.

[schu]

Of course, the mills all retooled (or went out of business) in the 90's when the big logs were no longer available. Modern mills are highly efficient, but not for 36+" logs.

So why are we selling the timber rights?

schu

[SierraWasp]

"Thanks for all the nice comments about me by the way...."

You're welcome, cause you're well worth likin!!! I ain't got no great perceptive power. I just know when somebody's sneakin up on the people to give 'em a bad screwin without any lovin, if'n ya knows what I mean...

[forester]

Sorry, I love Weyerhaeuser, own some stock, have made a living selling them stuff, but I want them no where near old growth, even to thin it out.

No worries schu, Weyerhauser has large chunks of Canada under contract, so you'll never have to see nasty logging in the lower 48...they are happy to send us lumber that we no longer have the political will to harvest here in America.

[schu]

Not sure I said anything about preventing harvest of timber.

My issue is with logging old growth.

schu

[SierraWasp]

What? As long as the Sierra-Nevada CONservancy, courtesy of Arnoid Swharzenrelagator, decides what should be private and what should not be??? NO! That don't help one danged bit!! NONE!!!

That should NOT be government's role whatsoever and shame on anyone in this nation that thinks it should be in my opinion!!!

[forester]

See, I knew it would be a fun thread!

[Dustbunny]

The judge is obviously part of the enviro wacko crowd.

[SierraWasp]

Yeah! I'm sorry you got such crumby working hours or we could keep this up all night if you were collecting ol government "rockin chair!" (smirk)

[beaver fever]

Because mills built 30 years ago can cut the wood and small mills can custom build saw rigs to harvest it.

It is very waste intensive and modern high capacity mills are built for large output production using 2nd or 3rd growth.

My brother manages a mill that is completely automated and pounds out 1.5 million board ft a year.

Old say blades had 1/8 inch teeth. Modern blades are down to 3mm and are computer controlled to prevent over heating and laser scan the head of the log for the most economic cut.

Dimensional lumber is the modern term for this kind of production.

The log is cut to custom grade according to specifications of the customer by the head rig. That means the finished wood has already been sold before it is cut.

How do we do it?

Volume, volume, volume.

And reducing wastage from warping and fungus during storage and transporting by pre-selling the wood.

[SierraWasp]

I just got one last question for everybody on this thread!

How come they're so much better at blockin Bush that we were at blockin Clinton, huh??? I want an answer to that!!!

[schu]

Sorry, my concern is not with harvesting timber, my issue is with harvesting old growth. I've been in a bunch of mills, (paper and saw) sold them lots of control and computer stuff. They are highly automated and efficient.

20 years ago the waste was horrific, they used to burn the leftovers! Now they make something useful, it has been a difficult, but good change.

schu

[forester]

My issue is with logging old growth......If by "old growth" they mean original growth, or never been cut, which is the traditional meaning, then I would NOT support these sales.

Lemme see, I have worked in fifty year old stands of fir that have taken over what was historically grassland....never been cut...

the whole old-growth arguement is in the eye of the beholder...as one environmentalist once stated "You can tell your in an Old Growth stand when you FEEL it is old growth."

Personally, I am not into clearcutting, but this enviro crap has gone way past reasonable into the realm of ridiculous. Tell you what, give me an example of what you think could be cut, and I'll give you an enviro reason to preserve it. After 25 years, I have heard them all.

[forester]

How come they're so much better at blockin Bush that we were at blockin Clinton, huh??? I want an answer to that!!!

Wooooaaa, good point. Maybe 'cuz the GOP needs new leadership??!!

[forester]

I'm off tomorrow, the paperwork didn't come through...prolly workin Wed-Sat in Chiloquin Oregon

[forester]

Wow, this thread is better then I thought, the moderators pulled a post and everything.

[beaver fever]

The only mill that I have experience with is the Slocan mill owned by Canfor.

My brother has managed the mill for 25 years and nursed it through three upgrades and several changes in management.

Last time I talked with him they had reduced waste to less than 3%. That is spectacularily efficient by any standard.

They have been harvesting 2nd growth since 1985.

Any mill that harvests less than a million board ft per year is not competitive internationally.

An interesting side-note is that Slocan achieved 97% efficiency while paying millions in trade penalties to the US government and still made a profit.

[forester]

An interesting side-note is that Slocan achieved 97% efficiency while paying millions in trade penalties to the US government and still made a profit.

The USFS could learn alot about alternatives to their curret gridlock by studying the regulatory system of B.C.

[crz]

Another example of why the forest products industry is moving out of this country and why the Russians and others are licking their chops and sending volumes of lumber to this country.

6 logging companys I know of around here have gone to Russia. They dont have to put up with the crap.

[beaver fever]

"The USFS could learn alot about alternatives to their curret gridlock by studying the regulatory system of B.C."

I heartily agree. I said on previous threads that the US should adopt the Canadian stumpage fee system on Federal lands.

Canadian lumber companies pay a set fee for a minimum cut.

Once they reach the minimum the can cease production if prices for lumber are flat or receading and still maintain their leases.

In the American system you buy the logs and have to process or sell them before the bugs take your profit away. That, regardless of the market price of a raw log.

When prices are low American loggers and mills take a beating.

The irony is that 114 US mills in the North West have closed since the logging despute.

Now Canadian mills are selling lumber hand over fist to the Japanese. The Japanese import what is called J grade.

High quality lumber with straight grain cut to exacting specifications. If it arrives in Japan and it doesn't pass their Q/A specs they don't accept the order and cancell the contract.

No room for mistakes there and if you are late with delivery you are toast.