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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2020)
Opinion 4A Thursday, October 15, 2020 Other Views How national forests suffer from litigation, obstruction ost would agree forest management is essential to reducing heavy fuel loads that contribute to unnaturally severe wildfires. Yet, anti-forestry obstruction and litigation are keeping federal land man- agers from reducing the risks to our national forests and nearby communities. This year’s devastating wildfire season is providing more examples of how timber proj- ects are often delayed until it’s too late to save a forest. The Crystal Clear Restoration Project was an effort by the U.S. Forest Ser- vice to reduce NICK SMITH wildfire risks AMERICAN FOREST on the Mount RESOURCE COUNCIL Hood National Forest, protect nearby communities and restore hab- itat for the Northern Spotted Owl. It would have treated over 11,000 acres of the forest by thinning overstocked stands at risk of wildfire. This effort was halted after activist groups filed a lawsuit. In May, a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ordered the national forest to complete addi- tional paperwork before the thinning could begin. Unfortunately, portions of the project area have since burned up in the White River Fire. Early infrared information from the National Interagency Fire Center indicates it burned at intense heat. Would thinning and reducing fuels have reduced the intensity of the White River Fire, and given fire- fighters a better opportunity to contain the blaze more quickly? Thanks to anti-forestry litigation, we’ll never know for sure. In its 208-page Environmental Assessment of the project, the Forest Service determined current over- stocked conditions would lead to uncharacteristi- cally severe fires, including crown fires that destroy forests. The agency determined forest management activities, including logging, were needed to improve the forest’s resiliency to wildfire, and even to create quality habitat for Northern Spotted Owls that are currently not found in the area. The activist groups initially challenged the resto- ration project in U.S. District Court, mischaracter- izing the project as “commercially logging thousands of acres of old growth” at the expense of the owl. The district court rejected claims that there is scientific controversy over thinning in order to reduce the risk of wildfire, and the judge recognized that less than 1% of the project was in old-growth stands. The district court judge had also denied a request for an injunction against the project, finding that the public interest favored action to decrease the risk of catastrophic fire and to support the local economy through the sale of timber. The decision was appealed to the 9th Circuit, which wrongly second-guessed the agency and the expertise of professional land managers and scien- tists, and indefinitely postponed the project. Attor- neys for the activist groups submitted agenda-driven research, and other information funded by anti-for- estry groups, which criticized the effectiveness of thinning overstocked and fire-prone forests. The panel found the Forest Service didn’t properly weigh this information, and ordered the agency to conduct additional analyses. It is too late to save these forests from the White River Fire. Even more troubling, the 9th Circuit panel’s deci- sion has negative implications for the use of forest management activities, in this case thinning activi- ties, that are based in real science and are proven to protect public lands and communities from wildfire, and provide true conservation benefits. This story is all too common throughout Oregon and the West, where our public lands agencies and their experts have worked to reduce severe and dan- gerous risks to our landscapes. With millions of acres of federal lands at risk of devastating wildfires, projects to reduce fuels and promote our forests’ resiliency to wildfires have been stymied by obstruction and litigation based on flawed and agenda-driven science. Only Congress can provide relief by providing these agencies the tools and resources to implement preventive forest management activities that spares our forests and communities from this devastation. — — — Nick Smith is director of public affairs for the American Forest Resource Council, a regional trade association representing the forest products sector. He also is executive director of Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities, a nonpartisan grassroots coalition that advocates for active management of America’s federally owned forests. M Letters Alf Rippee is a clearheaded problem solver My wife and I strongly support Kristine Alf Rippee for La Grande City Council. We have known her for more than 10 years, and from our first meeting have been impressed with the energy and organizational skills she has brought to homeschooling her four children. She has strong roots in Eastern Oregon and directs the same energy and commitment to her work for the La Grande commu- nity. She volunteers as the treasurer of the La Grande Swim Club and as an official for USA Swimming for La Grande High School swim meets. She volunteered for the Girl Scouts as the regional event and travel coordi- nator and is also director of the Wal- lowa Fiddle Tunes Camp. Kristine is a clearheaded problem solver. Her pres- ence on the city council will benefit the entire community. Jon White La Grande Clements is only candidate with the experience to lead in difficult times This is the time when experi- enced leadership matters the most. I proudly endorse Steve Clements to be reelected as mayor of La Grande. I admire and respect Mayor Clem- ents for his intelligence, his generosity of spirit and his dedication to the good of the citizens of La Grande. Steve has proven to be genuine, reliable and willing to work the long hours needed for the position of mayor. Steve’s honest, pragmatic and hopeful insight into our communi- ty’s problems and needs come from his years of leadership experience. In public meetings, he examines the issues and listens closely to the pub- lic’s questions and concerns. He is considerate of varying opinions. I worked with Steve on local issues and state housing matters. I found him to be very knowledgeable about our housing needs and very welcoming of grant funds that brought housing resources and extra dollars into our community. He knew our city’s needs and knew the problems of our com- munity and of our state. Steve has been a three-term mayor. He deserves to be reelected for a fourth term. Steve is an experienced public servant with a clear vision of where he wants La Grande to go in the future. Many residents share his vision because it focuses on keeping our city a beautiful, safe and pros- perous place to live. We need Steve. Steve needs you. Join me in supporting the only candi- date with the experience to lead us in these difficult times. Reelect Mayor Steve Clements. Zee Koza La Grande La Grande would benefit from Wheeler’s tenacity and skills I am voting for Denise Wheeler for Position 2 on the La Grande City Council because she is community minded, hardworking and service ori- ented. After moving to La Grande in 2002, Ms. Wheeler helped originate the first performances at the Elgin Opera House with her husband, Kenn, who teaches theater at Eastern Oregon University. Wheeler directs musical theater at La Grande High School and works at a local retirement center as a Contact your public officials Local officials La Grande: City Manager Robert Strope, 541- 962-1309, fax 541-963-3333; RStrope@cityofla- grande.org; P.O. Box 670, La Grande, OR 97850; Mayor Steve Clements, mayor@cityoflagrande. org; Councilors Gary Lillard (mayor pro tem), glillard@cityoflagrande.org; Nicole Howard, nhoward@cityoflagrande.org; Corrine Dutto, cdutto@cityoflagrande.org; Mary Ann Miesner, mmiesner@cityoflagrande.org; Justin Rock, jrock@cityoflagrande.org; and through the city manager’s office. Elgin: City Hall, 790 S. Eighth Ave., Elgin, OR, 97827; City Recorder/Administrator Brock Eckstein, cityadm@cityofelginor.org; Mayor Allan Duffy, 541-240-9763, mayor@cityofelgi- nor.org; Councilors Mary West, 541-805-0443, councilor3@cityofelginor.org; Kathy Warren, 541-786-9611, councilor6@cityofelginor.org; Risa Hallgarth, 541-437-9462, councilor2@ cityofelginor.org; Rocky Burgess, 541-786-2417, councilor1@cityofelginor.org; David Reed,541- 975-3306, councilor4@cityofelginor.org; and Ryan Martin, councilor5@cityofelginor.org. Cove: City Hall, 504 Alder St., P.O. Box 8 Cove, OR 97824; City Recorder Donna Lewis, 541-568- 4566, donna.lewis@cityofcove.org; Mayor Del Little, 503-508-6727. Union County: County Courthouse: 1106 K Ave., La Grande, OR 97850; 541-963-1001; fax 541-963-1079; Commissioners Donna Beverage, dbeverage@union-county.org, Matt Scarfo, mscarfo@union-county.org, and Paul Anderes, panderes@union-county.org; administrative officer Shelley Burgess, sburgess@union-coun- ty.org. Wallowa County: Courthouse, 101 S. River St., Enterprise OR 97828, 541-426-4543 ext. 15; fax 541-426-0582; Commissioners Susan Roberts, ext.133, sroberts@co.wallowa.or.us; Todd Nash, ext.132, tnash@co.wallowa.or.us; John Hillock, ext.131, jhillock@co.wallowa.or.us. State officials Rep. Greg Barreto of Cove (58th District): Sa- lem office: 900 Court St. N.E., H-384, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986-1458. Email: rep.gregbarreto@ oregonlegislature.gov. life enrichment assistant. I noticed her in action on behalf of our community when she testified at the La Grande City Council meet- ings in 2018 to give input on a pro- posal to add recreational marijuana to the upcoming ballot. La Grande voters had turned this measure down several times and Ms.Wheeler felt the voters had already spoken. She showed tenacity and testified at two dif- ferent meetings. The council reversed its vote after input from concerned citizens. Denise fully supports our police and fire departments. She supports peaceful protests. She supports the functions of our library and recreation department and, within the budget, would like to improve them all to ben- efit our community. With regard to COVID-19, she told me, “I do take it very seriously. My daughter had COVID-19 and has since recovered. I also work in an elder-care facility and I know the importance of protecting our residents and abiding by all of the COVID-19 protocols. But I have also seen the consequences of the lockdown. Because of all that I have seen and experienced, I think we need to open up cautiously and start rebuilding our community.” Denise has shown tremendous organizational skills, listening ability and plain hard work as a leader in women’s and youth groups. Now, she has a desire to expand her service in the community by serving on the La Grande City Council. Please join me in voting Denise Wheeler for Position 2 on the La Grande City Council. Marie Rampton La Grande Sen. William S. Hansell of Athena (29th District): Salem office: 900 Court St. N.E., S-423, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986-1729. Email: sen.billhansell@oregonlegislature.gov Gov. Kate Brown: 254 State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310; 503-378-3111; www.governor.oregon. gov. United States officials Rep. Greg Walden (2nd District): walden. house.gov; D.C. office: 2182 Rayburn Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; 202-225- 6730; fax 202-225-5774; La Grande office: 1211 Washington Ave., La Grande, OR 97850; 541- 624-2400; fax, 541-624-2402. Sen. Jeff Merkley: merkley.senate.gov.; D.C. office: 313 Hart Senate Office Building, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224- 3753; fax 202-228-3997. Portland office: One World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; 503-326-3386; fax 503-326-2900. Pendleton office: 310 S.E. Second St., Suite 105, Pendleton 97801; 541- 278-1129.