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
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Hole Sponsors
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American West Properties
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Columbia River Community
Health Services
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Car Wash-Laundromat
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Recognize your Administrative Staff !
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Call The Chamber at 481-3014 no later
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Goodie Bag Donators: Oxford Suites & SAGE Center
Golfer Gift: Boardman Foods
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Willow Run Golf Course
Columbia River Community
Health Services
Cabins ~ RV’s ~ Tents
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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
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Some of our services include:
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• 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
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1055 S. Hwy 395, Ste 333 • Hermiston, OR
(541) 567-9670 • Fax (541) 567-4427
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company or companies best suited to your individual situation.
You'll get hometown service from your neighbors and friends.
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