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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2016)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 Business & Ag BMFPR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In its latest newsletter, the USFS has included up- dates to include the topics of Team Leader transi- tion, the revised timeline, intergovernmental coop- eration and coordination, consultation with tribal governments, and consulta- tion with federal agencies on the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The newsletter began, “It is with a heavy heart that we share with you the sad news of Sabrina Stadler’s recent passing. Sabrina passed away on September 7, 2016 due to complica- tions with pancreatitis. Her family, friends, and colleagues are shocked and saddened by this news. Sabrina gave her all to the Forest Plan Revision effort for more than four years in her role as Team Leader. In August, she began her new role as District Ranger back home on the Plumas National Forest in northern California. Our hearts go out to Sabrina’s husband and two young daughters. We will miss Sabrina dearly. If you would like to send condolences, please address mail to The Stadler Family, c/o The Forest Plan Revision Team, 1550 Dewey Avenue, Suite A, Baker City, OR 97814.” Stadler, along with BMFPR Team member and Public Affairs Officer Peter Fargo, Malheur National Forest Supervisor Steve Beverlin, BMFPR Team Recreation Planner Dennis Doherty, and Malheur Na- tional Forest Public Affairs Specialist Mike Stearly, participated in the July conference call. The USFS announced in the latest update that, while it searches for a new Team Leader, Michael Hampton, of MLH Natural Resource Consulting, will serve as Interim Team Leader. Ac- cording to the newsletter, Hampton, a USFS retiree, served for 38 years, a majority of that time in the Pacific Northwest Region. He spent four years as a Planner on the Umatilla National Forest, and as Acting District Ranger in Walla Walla, Washington, and from 2010 through 2015, he worked directly with the BMFPR Team, as Regional Planner. On the topic of the re- vised timeline, the update stated that the original plan for the publishing of the Revised Plans, the Final Environmental Impact Library CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dirt and oil can cause discoloration and acceler- ate deterioration, but he said that wearing white cotton gloves, a popular practice, isn’t necessary, and actually can be harm- ful (some studies have shown that the gloves can pick up dirt and oil as well as hands, the paper can be damaged, because of the lack of feeling in manipu- lating the pages, and the gloves can increase the temperature of hands, causing them to sweat, and this can be transferred to the paper through gloves). Stokes spoke about the push to digitize media, and he said, “The Baker County Press, I’m happy to see, is getting involved in the Oregon Digital Statement (FEIS), and the draft Records of Deci- sion (ROD) had been for the fall of 2016, but for several reasons, they won’t be ready to be published until 2017, according to the update. The announce- ment for a revised publica- tion date will come after a Formal Consultation is completed, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Nation- al Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Among the reasons given for this delay are the time required to develop and analyze the two new Alternatives that were an- nounced this year, and the time needed to revise com- ponents related to water- shed condition and habitat conservation for aquatic species (an example cited was an unexpected delay, caused by the need to up- date vegetation modeling across all Alternatives, to ensure alignment between different modeling pro- cesses). On the topic of intergov- ernmental cooperation and coordination, the update stated that, because Na- tional Forest management involves and affects state, local, and tribal govern- ments, the USFS seeks their input, and letters were received from Oregon and Washington States, as well as many of the tribes, and counties, during the formal commenting period for the Draft EIS (DEIS), and the Draft Plan(s). “Additional opportunities exist for the Forest Service and other government agencies to cooperate and coordinate,” it stated. According to the up- date, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), government agencies can agree to serve as Cooperating Agencies, which allows the agencies to work with the USFS to share information, and shape successful Plans; to participate in special brief- ings and discussions with the USFS, regarding the NEPA process; to have ac- cess to certain draft docu- ments in advance of the publication of the FEIS, and Revised Forest Plans; to provide special expertise to the Team, where ap- plicable; and to be listed as a Cooperating Agency in the FEIS, and the Revised Forest Plans. The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and its implementing regulations, according to the update, state that, “the responsible line officer shall coordinate regional and forest planning with the equivalent and related planning efforts of other federal agencies, state, and local governments, and Indian tribes.” (36 CFR 219.7, 1982). As part of the BMFPR process, the USFS “...reviews gov- ernment planning and land-use policies; assesses the interrelated impacts of the plans and poli- cies; determines how the revised Forest Plans should deal with the identified impacts (consistent with federal law, policies, and regulations); and considers alternatives for resolving conflicts with the revised Forest Plans.” (36 CFR 219.7(c), 1982). The update stated that the USFS’s “coordination review” is currently in progress, with results to be included in the FEIS. In conclusion, the newsletter stated, “...the Forest Ser- vice is the lead agency and maintains decision-making authority on the Forest Plans, yet we also strive to be good neighbors by cooperating and coordinat- ing with other government agencies. This involves exchanging information and seeking win-win solu- tions whenever possible.” The Baker County Board of Commissioners has held several civil agency- to-agency coordination meetings with Wallowa- Whitman Forest Supervi- sor Tom Montoya, and Whitman District Ranger Jeff Tomac, and maintains a firm stance as a coordi- nating agency. On the topic of consulta- tion with tribal govern- ments, the update stated that tribes involved with the BMFPR included the Burns Paiute Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reserva- tion, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and the Nez Perce Tribe, among others. “Their long histories with these lands are well-documented, and their knowledge and experience is helpful to us federal land managers. Therefore, we seek the tribes’ advice and support when making decisions for these National Forests,” according to the update. The USFS has an obliga- tion to uphold legal rights granted to federally rec- ognized tribes, identified in treaties and clarified in statutes, executive orders, and case law, according to the update, and these rights include fishing, hunting, gathering roots and berries, and pastur- ing horses and cattle. In accordance with Executive Order 13175 on Consul- tation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Govern- ments, federal agencies are required to establish regular and meaningful consultation and collabora- tion with tribal officials in the development of federal policies having tribal im- plications; to strengthen the U.S. government-to- government relationships with Indian tribes; and to reduce the imposition of unfunded mandates on tribes. “Through regular consultation, we exchange information and build mutual understanding that improves stewardship of the ecological and cultural resources that are signifi- cant to the tribes,” accord- ing to the update. On the last topic, consul- tation with federal agencies on the ESA, according to the update, the USFS has a responsibility to “...con- serve diverse habitats for many different species, and it is a responsibility that we take seriously.” Under Sec- tion 7 of the ESA, states the update, any federal agency whose actions may affect species and their critical habitats must con- sult with the USFWS and/ or the NMFS, to ensure that the agency’s actions aren’t likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or adversely modify designated critical habitats. The USFS is currently consulting informally with the USFWS and the NMFS about the potential effects of Forest Plan components, because the BMFPR may affect ESA-listed species and their critical habitats, including Bull trout, Steel- head, Chinook salmon, and others, according to the update. A Biological As- sessment must be prepared by the USFS, prior to formal ESA consultation with the USFWS and the NMFS. From the time this assessment and a request for a formal consultation is received by the USFWS and the NMFS, both agen- cies have 135 days, unless extended, to complete a Bi- ological Opinion. Included in the update is a notice for a public conference call, scheduled for Thursday, November 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., PST. Dial 1-888-844-9904, then enter Access Code 2651088#, in order to lis- ten to the discussion live. The broadcast-style, one- way call will include topics related to those covered in the latest newsletter, and questions can be emailed to bluemtnplanrevision@ fs.fed.us, by November 10. Newspaper Program...” He stressed the importance of preserving historical records, and he noted that the process to digitize newspapers is better from the original source paper (the result has more clar- ity, for example), than it is from microfilm. The Oregon Digital Newspaper Program (ODNP), spear- headed by the University of Oregon Libraries, “... is an initiative to digitize historic Oregon newspaper content and make it freely available to the public through a keyword-search- able online database...” The digitization of The Record-Courier’s books could be in the hundreds of dollars range per vol- ume, and Stokes said fund- ing the project would take serious consideration. Stokes said the shelving unit, which will be con- structed out of metal, as other units at the library, will be installed in the unused, north end of the History Center, which will provide enough space for the books, in two sec- tions (the books take up between 14 and 15 feet of space horizontally, stacked upright). The books would be shelved so that they’re not located too low, or too high, for interested patrons to be able to handle them. He completed a Leo Adler grant application last week (due in October, and awarded in December), but, if approved, the grant would cover part of the cost, and the shelving unit could be up to several thousand dollars. “I would guess, by spring, we would have the new shelving unit in- stalled,” he said. Stokes said the area where the unit is expected to be installed included a station computer which was used for genealogy database access purposes, “...but, really, you can get to those databases on any of our other computers...” In speaking of the History Center’s namesake, Pearl Hayden Jones, he said, “I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting her, but I’ve heard some wonderful things.” Jones, a pivotal figure as the library’s historian, and a major contributor to the collection and inter- pretation of the history of the community in gen- eral, worked at Kennedy’s Eastside Grocery for eight years, and at the library for 16 years, before retiring. She died, at 88, on April 23, 2006, at Idlewood Manor, in Baker City. Stokes said that, as of this writing, there have been no donations offered from the public to help pay for the project, but anyone interested in donating may contact him. The Library’s number is 541-523-6419. — Weekly Hay Report — Friday, September 30, 2016 — Eastern Oregon Prices trended generally steady compared to week ago prices. Most demand lays with the retail/stable hay. According to some producers, horse owners are starting to prefer lower sugar, higher protein hay. Many hay producers are selling or have already sold most of their first and second cutting hay, and are working on later cutting(s) resulting in higher volumes of hay moving. Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Alfalfa — Large Square Supreme 60 140.00-140.00 140.00 Alfalfa — Small Square Good 250 100.00-100.00 100.00 Alfalfa/Triticale Mix— Small Square Fair 27 110.00-110.00 110.00 USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Wednesday, September 28, 2016 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 1114 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk 132.00 - 146.00 Top 150.00 400-500# Bulk 122.00 - 145.00 Top 145.25 500-600# Bulk 119.00 - 132.00 Top 134.50 Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk 123.00 - 136.00 Top 139.00 400-500# Bulk 119.00 - 132.00 Top 134.50 500-600# Bulk 109.00 - 120.00 Top 121.00 Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 112.00 - 122.00 Top 123.00 700-800# Bulk 110.00 - 120.00 Top 121.00 800-900# Bulk 108.00 - 116.00 Top 118.00 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A 600-700# 700-800# 800-900# 900-1,000# Yearling Heifers Bulk 104.00 - 116.00 Top 116.50 Bulk 102.00 - 111.00 Top 115.50 Bulk 97.00 - 105.00 Top 111.00 Bulk 87.00 - 101.00 Top 105.00 Thin Shelly Cows 41.00 - 54.00 Butcher Cows 55.00 - 64.00 Butcher Bulls 49.00 - 68.00 Pairs Young 1210.00 - 1425.00 Hfretts. 61.00 - 76.00 Stock Cows Young - N/A ProducersLivestock.com 541-473-3136 — Log Price Report — Price per 1,000 board feet: Northeast Oregon Currently the local log market is flooded with fire salvage logs. The log buyer for Malheur Lumber Co. stated they have all the logs they need under contract and are not accepting any new purchases. BCC/LLC of La Grande has receive so many burned fire salvage logs they are no longer accepting logs at the La Grande log yard. Any additional pine logs have to be delivered to the Elgin Log yard cut in plywood lengths and to a 8 inch top. For these pine logs cut in plywood lengths, BCC is offering $280.00/mbf. They are also paying $420.00/ mbf for Doug Fir & Western Larch. For White Fir they are offing $325.00/mbf. At the Pilot Rock Saw Mill BCC is offing $360.00/mbf for a 12 to 15 inch top, for 16 to 19 inch top $400.00/ mbf & offing $425.00/mbf for 20 inch plus top Courtesy of Arvid Andersen, Andersen Forestry Consulting — Precious Metals Report — Price per ounce, USD Gold: $1,274.10 Silver: $17.90 Platinum: $986.77 Palladium: $697.88 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $348.25/bu/USD Wheat: $394.75/bu/USD Soybeans: $963.25/bu/USD Oats: $181.25 bu/USD Rough Rice: $10.10/cwt/USD Canola: $460.00 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $102.40/lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $123.58/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $43.68/lb./USD Bloomberg.com