NEMUS BMIEFS

President Carter decided to open 36 million acres o.f national Jorest lands .for development, generally following Forest Service recommendations developed from RARE II: about 15.4 million will be set aside for wilderness, with an additional 10.6 slated for further study l'rom an original total of 62 million acres. .

Predictably . environmentalists were outraged. some plan to sue, while forest products industry representatives. though critical, were less severe in their judg ment. . for the American Plywclod Assn.'s reaction, see p. 22. Congress has the final decision.

While still 1l(Xr below yearearlier figs., the 30% iump in March housing s/arls was good news, as was a 2001, increase in bldg. permits for future construction. the 1,793,000 units on a seasonally adjusted annual basis included a 340/o move upward for single family starts, which were at a 1,263,000 pace.

Bldg. economist Michael Sumichrast called the leap 'fairly normal...a"fter a pretty bad winter, " adding, "l don't think we are going to see 2 million starts this year or for at least another 2 years"...he foresees no credit crunch.

Public hearings are being set following the Southern Pacific's decision to abandon its N WP subsidiary line between Willits and Arcata, Ca. due to the high cost in reopening the lsland Mountain tunnel collapsed since a Sept. 6. fire...

Gov. wood dust standards of no more than .5 milligrams per cu. ft. plus a requirement for employers to monitor employee health and maintain records if a concentration greater than .3 is reached "will have a severe effect upon the millwork industry," spokesmen say. .

PROD Wholesale has completed a total remodeling at their Hayward, Ca., facility: office, sheds. mill, spur, plus regrading. Ponderosa Wholesele, Reno, Nv., has been acquired by Palmer G. Lewis Co., Auburn, Wa., for an undisclosed amount.

Weaver Forest Products, Medford, Or., has opened a Walnut Creek, Ca., sales office, concentrating on western red cedar and green Douglas fir: Frank Jason, mgr. . . Hardwoods, Inc.n a div. of Sauder Industries, Vancouver, B.C., has opened a Spokane, Wa., branch. a new Boise, Id., facility has been started by Lumber Products, Portland.

Edward Hines Lumber intends to complete its new Hines, Or., planing mill by midyear. Shakertown. Winlock, Wa., has purchased plywood product manufacturing rights and other assets from Ced-A-Fir Farest Products. Beaverton, Or.l no amount revealed.

Weyerhaeuser seeks to buy Dallas-based Bodcaw. a forest products firm, for $610 million.. Evans Products Co., Portland, has agreed to pay approx. $30 million to Lone Star lndustries for 40 Lindsley Hsme Care Centers in F1... . . move is part of Lone Star's decision to dispose of its 200 bldg. centers and concentrate on its cement business. .

R-W Specialities' western turnings div.. Denver, has moved into its new plant and warehouse. . . Sabah-Kuwait Timber Co. is now exporting high grade logs front the Far East, Inchcape of Singapore is handling management & marketing.

Cords Lumber Co., Inc. is a new Fresno, Ca., glue-lam beanr wholesaler. . MarquartWaUb Lumber has moved in Orange, Ca., into their new distribution center at 2176 Pacific St. . . Diamond International has purchased Portland Road Lumber, Salem, Or., for an anrount believed in excess of $2 million.. Diamond plans additional stores in Portland and Eugene, Or. .

Boise Cascade is building a new store in Eugene, Or. on the old Northwest Lumber Co. site. Joseph Forest Products has abandoned plans for a wholesale yard in Stanfield (Pendleton) Or.. because of "zoning problems". .

84 Lumber Co. has opened a new yard in Brea, Ca.,. Copeland Lumber is adding 6.500 sq. ft. to its Sheridan, Or., store. Duvall Cash & Carry is a new retail lumber business in Duvall, Wa., opened by Erv and Arlene Harder. . Dale Gleichweite is the new owner of Pacific Grove Builders Suppty. formerly owned by the late Jim Fife. ..

Builders Emporium. Irvine. Ca., has begun an installation program on certain items (fireplaces, patio decks, doors, etc.) at its 47 So. Ca., stores. a drivethru format is planned for Economy Lumber's Longmont and Greeley, Co., stores.

(Pleasc turn to page 6B)