In January we reported on the issue of "decoupling," or unlinking, federal payments to counties from timber sale receipts. "Federal Revenue Payment Programs" historically have paid counties 25% or more of revenues from public lands, most of which come from timber sales, and counties in turn use the funds to pay for schools and roads. The payments were established to compensate for the federal property counties cannot tax.
Last year Forest Service Chief Michael Dombeck proposed to stabilize federal payments to counties by de-coupling them from timber sales. A number of progressive county officials, in addition to National Audubon Society and other conservation groups, support Dombeck's proposal. The Administration has proposed a current pending measure in Congress which would standardize these payments to counties.
In March 1998 the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners sent a letter to the Quilcene Ranger District stating they had become aware of the proposal to provide stable and predictable payments to states. They noted that 23% of this county's 1997 road revenue (excluding grants) was provided through federal forest yield payments. "Replacing the federal forest yield payments with a guaranteed stable funding source would enable our county to develop and implement a more reliable transporation improvement plan."
They concluded by saying, "Jefferson County is strongly supportive of the proposed amendment to the 1908 Congressional Act (16 U.S.C. 500) with the modification to allow for adjustments for inflation. We will urge our legislature at the appropriate time to vote affirmatively for this proposal." The letter was signed by Glen Huntingford as Chair.
However, in a March 1999 letter to Sen. Slade Gorton, signed by all three commissioners, their position of support has been modified. A group called the National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition, whose members include numerous timber industry groups as well as the National Education Association, promotes increased logging to fund rural education. Their influence is probably the reason for the change of position.
The timber industry obviously benefits by maintaining the connection, when the NEA and counties lobby to keep timber harvest volumes as high as possible. The industry is also hoping to gain greater local control over the management of federal lands by capitalizing on the current debate.
The Coalition's platform includes: 1) Guarantee a safety-net payment based on years when timber levels were at their very highest; 2) Allow counties the option of taking a payment higher than their safety-net guarantee if timber revenues increase -- thus continuing the incentive for overcutting and maintaining the link between the timber industry, local government officials and local land managers; 3) Pay for the guaranteed payments out of the Forest Service's non-revenue producing programs such as fish and wildlife and watershed protection if timber revenues are insufficient; and 4) Establish local and national committees to create forest policy and legislation which would ensure "long-term community stability, the sustained yield of forest products, and the maintenance and protection of forest health."
In their letter, the commissioners state that, "Counties and schools are innocent victims of the hostile and volatile environmental debates grid-locking the political process." They then outline some points they want covered in any new funding mechanism.
One point is "Require payments be guaranteed based on 100% of the highest three-year period during 1986-1995." The late '80s were the unsustainably-high timber boom years in the Northwest, so asking for that base seems unreasonable. The Administration's new proposal calls for 76%.
The commissioners also ask for "either/or" language which would provide the actual 25% of receipts, if that were greater than the highest years'. Again this provides an incentive for the county to push for ever-increasing timber harvesting.
The final two points are asking specifically for no "decoupling," and to "Provide for a process to develop a long-term solution to ensure long-term forest management and a return to actual timber receipts."
That last point ties into the Coalition's goal of establishing local control of federal forest management by setting up "advisory committees" in each Forest Service and BLM district to tell forest managers how to "manage" (read harvest) their lands.
Focusing just on harvest amounts ignores environmental concerns and will really lead to grid-lock due to more lawsuits. And the world market can't be controlled locally; a lot of trees can be cut for a low price, and the county would still lose.
We don't blame the county for wanting a high revenue guarantee, but it needs to be a reasonable amount and to not promote excessive logging. Our county commissioners should be looking to the future, not trying to hold onto the past.
Please discuss this issue with our commissioners, and those in your own county if you do not live in Jefferson, as you have opportunities. Dan Harpole is the current Chair, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, PO Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368, 385-9100, fax 385-9382, jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is planning on introducing a county payments bill with timber industry champion Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID). So it will be timely to let our legislators know it's time to decouple these county payments, and to support the Administration's stabilization proposal.
Rep. Norm Dicks, 2467 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515 202/225-5916, fax 202/226-1176 (no e-mail)
Sen. Patty Murray, 111 Russell SOB, Washington, DC 20510 202/224-2621, fax 202/224-0238, senator_murray@murray.senate.gov
Sen. Slade Gorton, 730 Hart SOB, Washington, DC 20510 202/224-3441, fax 202/224-9393, senator_gorton@gorton.senate.gov
Thanks to the following sources for information used in compiling this report: Peg Reagan, executive director of Conservation Leaders Network, and former Oregon county commissioner; National Audubon Society; and American Lands.
GET RID OF RIDERS
In contrast to our state, which has a statute that hinders the ability of legislators to attach riders to a bill, which are unrelated to the bill's title and subject matter, our federal legislators have no such restraints. One sad example of this process is the infamous "Salvage Rider" which resulted in the Rocky Timber Sale, logging old-growth on the Quilcene District in 1996.
In his May 29 radio address, President Clinton called on Congress to pass budget bills free of special-interest "riders" that roll back protections already in place. The address notes that the President has vetoed bills before because they contained anti-environmental riders and, if necessary, is prepared to do so again.
Of course, he's signed bills that contained those kinds of riders, too. So while we don't want any more stealth attacks in Congress, we don't want any more ambushes from the White House, either.
VICTORY FOR PILCHUCK AUDUBON
A federal court of appeals ruled recently in favor of Pilchuck Audubon Society, in Everett, and its co-plaintiff, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, by halting a land exchange in the Cascade Mountains until more thorough environmental analysis is completed. Pilchuck Audubon Society challenged the Huckleberry Land Exchange outside of Seattle, in which the Forest Service traded 4,300 acres of old-growth forest in and around Huckleberry Mountain, including one of the last unlogged forests in the lower Green River Basin, for 30,000 acres of mostly cutover Weyerhauser land. Though the exchange ostensibly was made to help consolidate federal lands in the area, the plaintiffs held that the Weyerhauser lands to be traded were ecologically inferior.
The Court of Appeals agreed that the deal heavily favored Weyerhauser and that the Forest Service had not examined enough alternatives or all of the environmental impacts before approving the swap. The exchange is now on hold until the Forest Service conducts a proper analysis. Weyerhauser cannot log any of the land acquired in the exchange until this analysis is done and approved. The effect of this ruling on the controversial federal land exchange program could be significant, because it requires the government to more carefully consider environmental impacts and public interest in land exchanges.
"NO SURPRISES" SALMON BILL
PASSES WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
The Wash. state legislature passed legislation to respond to the recent salmon and steelhead trout listings in the Pacific Northwest. The legislation, intended to preempt extensive federal involvement in the state's salmon recovery, will give the timber industry tax breaks and 50 years of "No Surprises" assurances. In exchange, the industry will leave unlogged buffer strips along rivers and streams to protect spawning salmon, which require cold, clear water, shaded by trees, to survive.
Scientists and the conservation community have criticized the bill, questioning whether these buffers are sufficient to save the state's salmon runs from extinction. In addition, the bill's "No Surprises" assurances will mean that even if the buffers prove inadequate at some point during the next 50 years, the state would be unable to require that landowners set aside more land. Governor Locke is expected to sign the measure, since he is an advocate.
Thanks to all of you who made calls trying to stop this legislation. The concerns continue regarding riparian buffer issues on every land ownership.
Of Interest:
**Two separate research projects studying migratory songbirds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park have reached the same unexpected conclusion: oldgrowth forests contain a greater abundance and diversity of songbirds than forests that were logged 70-100 years ago.
Prior to those findings, the traditional belief was that second growth forests sustained more life because plant growth is more vigorous in them. The reason for the greater bird abundance in old-growth may be that old-growth forests offer a greater variety of habitats.
**The Government Accountability Project's Forest Program offers advice on identifying and reporting timber theft. GAP provides legal and advocacy assistance to concerned citizens who witness dangerous, illegal, or environmentally unsound practices in their workplace and choose to "blow the whistle." Contact GAP's Forest Program in D.C., 202/408-0034; gapforests@erols.com or website www.whistleblower.org for more information.
**Having just completed a 109-page thesis about access to national forests, and the First Amendment rights of the public and press during controversial activities taking place on these public lands, Libby Langston is now selling copies of it to anyone interested.
The thesis highlights situations that took place in the 1990s in which a reporter, photographer and one videographer were arrested for trying to document controversial activities on national forest lands.
A spiral-bound copy, with shipping, costs $19. Send a check to Libby Langston, 309 Short St., Missoula, MT 59804. For more info, contact her at 406/721-0451 or libbylan@bigsky.net
QUAFCO News June 1999
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