Flying Finns
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Society of American Foresters Policy Update Week of February 1st Articles listed in the headlines may now be accessed by clicking the blue highlighted number adjacent to the headline. Headings above each article summary are web links to the articles. Click headings or web addresses at the end of the article summary link to the articles web address. SAF Legislative Actions 1. SAF Submits Letter of Support for Healthy Forest Restoration Amendment Act and Biomass Utilization Bill In the Administration 1. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Questions President Obama's Transparency Vow 2. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Travels to Arizona to Celebrate Collaborative Fire Mitigation Project 3. USDA Releases Woody Biomass Feedstock Yard Business Development Guide 4. BLM and USFS Announce New Grazing Fees 5. Visit by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Marks End of Construction Gridlock in Great Smoky Mountains Last Week in Congress 1. Natural Resource Legislation Passed Last Week This Week in Congress 1. Natural Resource Legislation Scheduled to be Discussed in Committee and on the Floor National Headlines 1. President Obama's Budget Includes Placeholder for Possible Cap and Trade Program
1.Louisiana Forest Association Says Ruling by the 2nd Circuit Court Could Result in Timber Theft 2. BLM Land Planning Policy Frustrates Elected Officials 3. Forest Service is Sued for Failure to Cut A Tree and Could Be of Concern for Beetle Kill Projects 4. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Faces Cuts with Other SUNY Campuses 5. Plans for Bighorn Sheep in Payette National Forest Open for Public Comment 6. Michigan' Delta Conservation District Advertise Funds for Forests from Farm Bill SAF Legislative Actions SAF Sends Letter of Support for Forest Initiative December 7th-SAF President Bernard Hubbard submitted a letter to House Representatives Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), and Greg Walden (R-OR) on behalf of SAF to express support for the Healthy Forests Restoration Amendments Act and the Incentives to Increase Use of Renewable Biomass Act of 2009. Link to Letter Available on the SAF Policy Page: http://www.eforester.org/fp/documents/ltr_support_HFRA_12709.pdf In the Administration PEER Questions Transparency of Obama Administration Press Release Published January 28th by Kirsten Stade Orders released barring US Forest Service employees from speaking to the press about politically sensitive matters are similar to the directives sent by George W. Bush's Office to federal staff, according to the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. Peer complains that the Administration's focus on message control restricts the information available to people outside federal agencies by disallowing federal employees to speak candidly about issues and policies of national concern. Link to Press Release: http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1298 Payson Roundup Article Published February 2nd by Pete Aleshire Secretary Tom Vilsack took a tour of the Four Forests Initiative sites in Arizona flanked by representatives of the U.S. Congress, state and local officials, local timber operations, and environmental interest groups. He vistied this week to investigate how the groups were able to compromise and work to mitigate the fire risk in four national forests between Alpine and Williams. Arizona after years of disputes. Secretary Vilsack said the Four Forests model had elements that should be incorporated in forest planning efforts across the country. The year long process brought different entities had been at odds over how to best manage the timberlands to reduce wildfire risks to the bargaining table. They were able to openly discuss opportunities and associated costs, and with the aid of USFS funding and expertise, they agreed to accept a plan that guaranteed the timber companies an annual volume of timber. However, the tree diameter target size was downsized and accomplished the goals of reducing fuel loads and maintaining the forest canopies in the national forests. The timber companies will have to develop mills and bio-fuel plants in the area to process the small diameter wood harvested but are promised 5,000-15,000 acres of harvestable timber annually by the USFS in the White Mountain Stewardship Contract. In return, the timber companies guaranteed the contracts must agree to thin buffers near urban areas in the four national forests at a reduced cost. According to estimates from Northern Arizona University's Ecological Restoration Institute, the project could generate up to 13,000 jobs and an over $1 billion dollar boost to the local economy. Link to Article: http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2010/feb/02/forest_wars_finally_end/ USDA Releases Woody Biomass Feedstock Yard Business Development Guide January 27th- The Woody Biomass Feedstock Yard Business Development Guide was developed by the Federal Woody Biomass Working Group chartered under the Biomass Research and Development Board to be a resource and business guide for developing a woody biomass collection yard. This Guide provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities to establish a woody biomass feedstock yard in the United States. It includes information on biomass sourcing; facility site selection and equipment; biomass sort yards; biomass collection, concentration, and distribution; biomass handling, sorting, and economic considerations; business planning; marketing and distribution; financial feasibility analysis; and sources of technical assistance and funding. Additional references and resources are included. BLM and USFS Announce New Grazing Fees Press Release Published January 29th by Tom Gorey The federal grazing fee will be $1.35 per animal unit month (AUM) in 2010. The rates, which mirror rates charged in 2009, will apply to close to 18,000 permits that will be renewed after March 1st. The AUM is defined as one cow and calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats per month. Link to Press Release: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2010/releases/01/grazing.shtml Visit by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Marks End of Construction Gridlock in Great Smoky Mountains Press Release Published on February 2nd by David Barna Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will be in Bryson City North Carolina on February 6th to sign an agreement finalizing the contract to build a 34 mile road through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The federal government decided to build the road in 1943, but the government did not contract for the construction of the project until recently. Secretary Salazar will sign the documents between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm Saturday, February 6th in the town square. Link to Press Release: http://www.doi.gov/news/mediaadvisories/2010_02_02_advisory.cfm January 27th- Idaho Wilderness Water Facilities Act (H.R. 4474) passed the House of Representatives on a suspension bill vote. The bill authorizes the continued use of certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho. More information about the Bill: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h4474/show February 10th- Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing to consider any pending nominations; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2011 for the Department of the Interior. Hearing scheduled for 9:30 AM February 10th in room (SD-366). National Headlines President Obama's Budget Includes Placeholder for Possible Cap and Trade Program New York Times Article Published February 1st by Darren Samuelsohn The President's 3.8 billion dollar budget does not specify how much money should be set aside for climate-related legislation asking Congress to develop a "comprehensive market-based climate change policy". The gesture with the elimination of subsidies for fossil fuels and an emphasis on renewable energy declares President Obama's preferences without leaving the administration politically vulnerable leaving the ultimate decision to the Congress. Though he increased funding for clean energy programs, he cut funding designated for many environmental and energy programs and agencies explaining that the cuts were made after line by line analysis of agency discretionary
Link to Outline of Program Cuts, Agency-by-Agency: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=44521&oref=todaysnews Link to President Obama's Budget Outline: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Overview/ In the States: Louisiana; Montana; Oregon; New York; Idaho; Michigan Louisiana Forest Association Says Ruling by the 2nd Circuit Court Could Result in Timber Theft The News Star Article Published January 31st by Johnny Gunter Does a ruling that designates co-heirs as "any person" open the door from relatives to steal timber from property co-owned by several individuals without significant consequences in Louisiana? The Louisiana Forestry Association has followed the case of Bruce and Janice Sullivan closely and believed that a lower court made the correct ruling regarding a contested timber harvest on land co-owned by the divorced couple. Janice Sullivan visited the forestland in 1995 and found that timber had been harvested by her ex-husband without her consent. She sued Bruce Sullivan in the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals and was awarded triple the fair market value of the timber and attorney fees. However, on appeal by Mr. Sullivan, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals decided that Ms. Sullivan should be awarded the fair market value of the timber, $52,597 dollars, without accrued interest over the last 14 years or attorney's fees. Ms. Sullivan with the help of the LFA plans to appeal the ruling to the Louisiana Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court only accepts 3 percent of the appeals each year. The LFA maintains that a final decision is important because of the about 20 million dollars of timber is stolen annually in the state. Link to Article: http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20101310317 BLM Land Planning Policy Frustrates Elected Officials Billings Gazette Article Published January 29th by Ruffin Prevost Private land use planning meetings are preventing the public from stating up to date on resource management changes in store for the Big Horn Basin according to local officials. The BLM says that state and federal guidelines do not mandate that the discussions are shared with the public, and the privacy allows participants to speak without concerns about how their comments will be received by the public. Local officials including county commissioners worry that disclosure of information about the negotiations to constituents could cost them their spot at the bargaining table and put the peoples' interests they represent at a disadvantage. A draft of the Big Horn Basin Forest Service is Sued for Failure to Cut A Tree and Could Be of Concern for Beetle Kill Projects Oregonian Article Published February 2nd by Bryan Denson A Prospect, Oregon resident filed a suit against the USFS claiming that a white fir fell on February 3rd, 2008 damaging his work truck and causing permanent injuries to his head, neck, and spine. The tree located in the Rogue River National Forest was marked for removal. The tree in question was scheduled for removal before falling on the truck, but the company contracted for the tree's removal failed to cut the tree down on time. Link to Article: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/heres_a_twist_southern_oregon.html SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Faces Cuts with Other SUNY Campuses Daily Orange Article Published January 27th by Jess Siart The SUNYsystem still smarting from a $90 million mid-year cut must prepare for more state fund reductions as a part of a budget plan proposed by Governor David Patterson to recover from the large budget shortfalls in the state. ESF officials say that they hope to reduce costs to cushion the sharp cuts, but that tuition and state money comprise the majority of the operating budget so tough decisions will have to be made. They intend to focus on energy conservation and tuition increases to meet the level of inflation were two ideas that will be implemented soon to combat the loss of state aid. They recognize that eventually academic programs will have to be discontinued, but worry about the diversity and size of student populations that will enter the college with higher tuition and less financial aid available to students. Link to Article: http://media.www.dailyorange.com/media/storage/paper522/news/2010/01/27/News/Ny.Governors.148.8.Million.In.Cuts.To.Suny.Forces.Esf.To.Adjust-3858703-page1.shtml Plans for Bighorn Sheep in Payette National Forest Open for Public Comment Idaho Statesmen Article Published January 28th by the Associated Press The United States Forest Service released a plan for public comment designed to keep grazing domesticated sheep segregated from wild bighorn sheep in Payette National Forest. The plan includes five alternatives to be considered to keep the contact rate between bighorns and domestic sheep between 2 and 5 percent. The bighorn sheep population has suffered recently with the population estimated to be half as large as it was in 1990. Link to Article: http://www.idahostatesman.com/IdahoNews/story/1059535.html Michigan' Delta Conservation District Advertise Funds for Forests from Farm Bill Daily Press Article Published February 2nd by Dionna Harris The 2008 Farm Bill set aside funding in a natural resource program that allows landowners to sign up at local conservation district offices and receive cost sharing for forest management planning and financial incentives through Conservation Stewardship Plans to plant wind breaks, forest buffers, wildlife habitats, and for other projects. According to local conservation district officials, the 2008 incarnation of the bill marked the first time that such programs or funding for forests and habitat conservation were considered. Link to Article: http://www.dailypress.net/page/content.detail/id/517290.html?nav=5003 The SAF National Office serves as the voice of professional forestry through its active role in several forestry, natural resources, and agricultural groups and coalitions...
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