Nov. 7 - Saturday, 7 p.m. - Seattle - Olympic Park Associates' 50th Anniversary Dinner - Speakers, Gov. Dan Evans, Michael Frome and David Morris - $25 - To reserve by Oct. 31, contact OPA, 2433 Del Campo Dr., Everett, WA 98208, or call 425/337-2479 - Happy Anniversary!
LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS CONTINUE
While the Omnibus Parks Bill was just defeated, the Interior Appropriations bill has been rolled into an omnibus spending bill and will probably be passed by the time you read this.
National Audubon reports that the House defeated the Omnibus National Parks and Public Lands Act (H.R. 4570) last Wed. by an overwhelming 302-123 vote. The controversial bill contained about 100 provisions affecting national parks and wilderness areas. While the act would have authorized numerous non-controversial projects, it also contained retrograde environmental legislation that threatened federal lands. Among the dubious provisions were ones that would have opened up wilderness areas to development; restricted the President's power to designate land as a national monument; created two massive subsidized salvage logging programs; and forced a road through a major migratory bird delta in Chugach National Forest of Alaska.
As of late Friday, the fate of the many anti-environmental riders attached to various spending bills remained undecided, although many of these provisions could be attached to that omnibus spending bill and were expected to be considered during the weekend. A measure authorizing a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness area in Alaska will possibly be included in this package -- the measure was added to the Interior Appropriations bill last week and passed the Senate as a stand-alone bill. Some riders will be negotiated off of the omnibus bill, but there is a danger that several new anti-environmental riders could be added.
President Clinton declared again last week that he would "veto any bill that will do unacceptable harm to our environment."
It's important to send the message that anti-environmental riders are unacceptable. Please contact President Clinton (White House Comment Line 202/456-1111) and Vice President Gore (202/456-2326) and urge them to stand firm in opposing all anti-environmental riders and to veto bills that contain these riders. The cheapest time to call is before 8 a.m. PDT. The next few days are critical, so please call soon!
Here is what to say: "Stop Congress' assault on the environment! Please veto any appropriations bill with anti-environmental riders still attached."
When you call the White House, an operator will answer. Ask for the Comments line, and you will be sent to an automated Comments system. Wait for the automated survey questions to end and then press 1. You will then be sent to an operator, where you can leave your comment.
When you call Al Gore, you receive four options: choose number 1 to leave a message for Gore. Either a recording or operator will answer and you can register your opinion. Thanks!
SURVEY & MANAGE DELAY
As part of the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are supposed to survey and then manage for many more species thought to have some level of risk within the range of the northern spotted owl. The surveys are to be conducted before implementing ground-disturbing activities.
These species include fungi, lichens, bryophytes, amphibians, one mammal (the red tree vole), mollusks, vascular plants and arthropods. Since there are 400 species, the Plan outlined a schedule whereby the surveys could be phased in over several years.
Thus far, more than 300 species have been studied. However, out of the next group of 80, 32 require specialized study techniques, and the agencies stated they could not meet their next deadline of October 1, 1998. On September 25, they announced a proposed delay in the schedule of one year.
The agencies were unable to develop effective survey techniques in a timely fashion for the 32 species because, they state, either identification is extremely difficult (taking highly-trained specialists to identify), or it takes many years of looking at an area to prove the absence of the species.
The proposed delay will allow projects, such as timber sales, watershed improvements and recreational developments, to continue while more efficient means of detecting the species are developed.
None of the species is listed under the Endangered Species Act. Federal scientists predict that a one-year change in survey schedule would not pose a substantial risk to the 32 species.
Critics contend that the agencies have been aware of the schedule since 1994, and should have worked harder to keep to it. The agencies say they have been working, that the species are quite difficult to survey, they have fewer personnel and declining funds, and the Plan allows for modification of the schedule.
In the notice dated September 25, it was announced that an Environmental Assessment was being prepared, and on October 7 it was released. There is a public comment period for the following 30 days. Based on the comments a decision will be made in February.
Any projects with a decision notice before October 1 can proceed, and there a number of them on the Olympic. Until February, there will not be any decisions authorizing ground disturbing activity within the range or conditions where the 32 species may occur.
To get a copy of the EA for comment, contact Bill Torgersen, BLM, Oregon State Office, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR 97208. It is also posted on the internet at:
www.or.blm.gov/information.htm
SOLEDUCK SALE REVIEWED
In July as part of an annual Forest Service review process, Alex Bradley of QUAFCO participated in a team review of the Tie Timber Sale on the Soleduck District.
The sale was part of a habitat development study examining different management approaches for accelerating development of stand structures, and plant and animal communities associated with late-successional stands. This means thinning in ways that allow for varying amounts of light to increase understory growth, that enhance the growth of remaining trees, and trying out different ways of retaining or creating snags and piles of down wood. All this is geared toward hoping to create older forest conditions sooner, and to help the spotted owl have more habitat and more food.
In addition the sale included commercial thinning of 900 acres of second growth conifer. While these acres were not part of the study, thinning them will enhance the growth of the remaining trees.
Timber harvest techniques have certainly been evolving since the implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan in 1994. While the new methods weren't voluntarily inspired, and more evolution is warranted, it is still encouraging to see the improvements being carried out on the ground.
Trees were thinned in variable densities, i.e. some patches are left alone, some have few trees taken out, others have more taken out. Measures were taken to protect already existing understory vegetation, like vine maple. Ground disturbance by equipment running over it, or logs being dragged over it, was minimized by design.
Harvesting near streams was also by thinning in varying densities and patterns, but the actual inner channel of the stream course was barely harvested. Only a few trees needed for anchoring parts of the logging system were cut. While this is good, the trees were removed, and should be have been left on site.
The operator, Dave Soderlind from Sequim, (you may recall he logged Caraco Cat, one of the infamous Salvage Rider sales) was characterized by the Forest Service as being very cooperative, interested, and even innovative in suggesting improvements in how to log the sale.
Logging under these newer guidelines, and using complicated designs, is quite a change for operators. Soderlind worked closely with the Forest Service timber sale administrator, understood the objectives, how the sale area was supposed to look when finished, and he did it. He even suggested modifying a logging method that, in a future sale, might preclude the need to build as much temporary road mileage.
The sale area appearance was certainly much less disturbed using the new designs and methods. It's important to acknowledge these improved techniques.
However, there is still much debate about whether or how much harvesting within Riparian Reserves should be occurring. It still seems sometimes that pressure for timber volume amounts outweigh biological prudence. Temporary roads are still built, and not fully removed to maintain future access. And only time will tell if these experimental efforts in acceleration will result in truly the same quality old growth forests that Nature can accomplish at its own pace.
But, hey, things are improving in some ways, in some places.
HOME DEPOT ACTION DAY
On October 14, activists across the country will publicly call on Home Depot to stop selling old growth wood products. Activists will hold educational events, generate calls, and send coalition letters to local Home Depot stores requesting meetings. Home Depot is the world's largest retailer selling old growth wood products.
Since Home Depot is such a well-known company it would make a big impact on the rest of the industry if it were to make a commitment to go old growth free. Recent meetings with Home Depot have led activists to believe that Home Depot is close to making a decision.
Earlier this year, a national campaign was launched to protect old growth with the theme, "Don't Log It, Don't Import It, Don't Use It." American Lands joins other organizations working to stop the logging of old growth forests both here and around the world, to stop the import of old growth wood products, and to end their sale. They are calling for a switch to third-party independently certified lumber, or products derived from recycled or alternative fibers.
QUAFCO News Aug./Oct. 1998
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