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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 13, 2016)
NORTHWEST Wednesday, April 13, 2016 East Oregonian Page 7A BLM plans to boost timber harvest in western Oregon PORTLAND (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Land Manage- ment released its long- awaited plan for managing roughly 2.5 million acres of federal forestland in western Oregon, and counties that rely on timber for revenue quickly threatened legal action. The agency has spent years working to update the Northwest Forest Plan, trying to strike a balance between the interests of the timber industry and environmentalists. The original plan developed in the mid-1990s failed to deliver promised yields of timber, in part because of federal laws to protect species like salmon and the northern spotted owl. The proposal released Tuesday and still months from being formally adopted calls for three-quarters of the land to be locked up in reserves for ¿sh, water and wildlife. The agency estimates the plan will provide 278 million board feet of timber per year, an increase of 75 million from what’s currently offered. Despite the boost, 17 counties that get a chunk of revenue from timber sales contend it’s not enough and announced plans to sue. “Their plan’s illegal as far as we’re concerned and the counties have no alternative but to challenge it in court,” said Tony Hyde, a Columbia County commissioner and president of the Association of O&C Counties. Bureau of Land Manage- ment project manager Mark Brown said the agency is aware of the economic situ- ation faced by counties and the plan strives to produce the maximum amount of timber in a sustained manner. “BLM believes in order to provide a sustained yield of timber we must take care of our other legal responsibili- ties, such as the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act,” he said. “If we fail to do so, we will ¿nd ourselves embroiled in litiga- tion across the landscape.” The lands known as “O&C” are a patchwork of one-mile squares once deeded by the federal government to the Oregon & California Railroad. The lands went back to the government after the railroad failed and are now managed by the Bureau of Land Management. During the heyday of the logging industry, some county governments got so much money from O&C payments that they didn’t charge property taxes. Now, many are struggling. Some conservation groups, meanwhile, also found fault with the plan. John Kober, executive director of Paci¿c Rivers, said the federal agency made improvements to protect clean water and native ¿sh but still places “too much value” in subsidizing county governments. “Unfortunately, due to rapacious logging of private and state lands, all of the burden for conservation is placed on federal lands,” he said. PO BOX 1 • 101 Olson Rd • Boardman, OR 97818 • 541-481-3014 www.boardmanchamber.org • email: info@boardmanchamber.org 2016 CHAMBER SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT 1st Place Low Net - Gary Neal, Ryan Neal, Scott Russell, and Don Russell 1st Place Low Gross– Dennis and Kelly Gronquist, Tadd Wetherell, and Brian Wilkins Thank You to the Sponsors, Golfers, Donators, Volunteers, Caterer, and Willow Run Golf Course! You made the event a great success! We raised $3,500 for Riverside High School scholarships! Chamber Luncheon April 20 at noon Port of Morrow Riverfront Center Meet the Candidates! We’ve invited the candidates for Morrow County Commissioner and Judge to our April luncheon to give you an opportunity to meet them, ask them questions, and help you decide who to vote for in the May 17 election! 2nd Place Low Gross – Josh Dilley, Bill and Tyler AZklaÛ^e]%Zg]KnllL\ahee Hole Sponsors • • • • American West Properties Avista Boardman Jumpstart Java Columbia River Community Health Services • Doherty & Russell Car Wash-Laundromat • KRP Management • Carol & Ray Michael • Morrow Cold Storage Hole in One Sponsor: Bank of Eastern Oregon • • • • • Mountain Valley Land Co. Pendleton Bottling Port of Morrow Umatilla Electric Cooperative Watts Brothers Packaging Center Trophy Sponsor: Banner Bank Recognize your Administrative Staff ! This is also our Professional Administrative Assistant Recognition Luncheon! It will be catered by Pudding on the Ritz. We will have a small gift for your key staff, so bring them with you to the event! Call The Chamber at 481-3014 no later than this Friday, April 15 to RSVP for this important event! Tickets are $12. Raffl e Sponsors • • • • • Bank of Eastern Oregon Boardman Hardware Boardman Marina Main Street Sinclair Ray and Carol Michael • • • • • Morrow Cold Storage PGE—Coal-fi red Plant Port of Morrow River Lodge and Grill SAGE Center • United Way of Umatilla and Morrow Counties • Walmart Distribution Center Goodie Bag Donators: Oxford Suites & SAGE Center Golfer Gift: Boardman Foods Volunteers: Anna Browne, Paul Gisi, Dean Kegler Caterer:Cn]rL\hmml<an\dPZ`hg Willow Run Golf Course Columbia River Community Health Services Cabins ~ RV’s ~ Tents Fishing ~ ATV Trails Concessions 450 Tatone Street • Boardman For your appointment, call 541-481-7212 Reservation Line 541-989-8214 Hours: Mon. 7:30am-7pm • Tues.-Fri. 7:30am-5pm Website: morrowcountyparks.org Email: mcparks co.morrow.or.us Hablamos Español Some of our services include: • Well Baby/ Child Exams • Childhood/ Adult Immunizations • Sports Physicals • Men’s & Women’s Health Exams • CDL Physicals • Flu Shots • Pre-employment Screenings • Chronic Disease Management • Limited Access to Dental Care Morrow County Public Works 365 W. Hwy 74 • PO Box Lexington, OR 97839 541-989-9500 office Hydromania Applications Available www.umatillaelectric.com 400 NE Eldrige Dr. 750 W. Elm St. Boardman, Ore 97818 Hermiston, OR 97838 541-481-2220 541-567-6414 800-452-2273 www.umatillaelectric.com • Temporary Staffing Services • Recruiting • Human Resource Management • Risk Management • Payroll Administration • Worker’s Comp Insurance 1055 S. Hwy 395, Ste 333 • Hermiston, OR (541) 567-9670 • Fax (541) 567-4427 Our experienced agents can analyze your insurance needs and select the company or companies best suited to your individual situation. You'll get hometown service from your neighbors and friends. Monday through Friday, or by appointment. www.wheatlandins.com 2;1EMR7YMXI43&S\ Phone *E\ 251 NE Eldridge Drive, Boardman, OR (541) 481-2666 • Fax (541) 481-2239 21EMR43&S\ Phone *E\ )1EMR7X43&S\ Phone *E\ Offices also located in: 4)2(0)832'32(32)0+-2 0%+6%2())28)646-7)%8,)2%;%003;%&%/)6'-8= WWW.BARRETTBUSINESS.COM • Commercial • Farms & Crops • Agriculture • Ranch • Personal • Industrial • Worker's Compensation• Service Organizations • Health, Life & Financial Services If you would like to help sponsor the Boardman Chamber page, published on the 2 nd Wednesday of every month, call Audra Workman at 541-564-4538 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY $POUBDU1FOEMFUPO(SBJO (SPXFST*ODGPSBMMZPVS BHSJDVMUVSBMUSBOTQPSUBUJPO BHSJDVMUVSBMBOESFTJEFOUJBM FOFSHZBOEHSBJONBSLFUJOH OFFETUPEBZ PENDLETON GRAIN GROWERS, INC. pggcountry.com (800) 422-7611
