Owl Ruling Cripples Timber Sales, But Gongressional Bill Offers Hope

Two May 23 events concerned the lumber industryone positive and one negative.

On the positive side a group of congressmen headed by Sen. Robert Packwood of Oregon introduced in Washington, D.C., the Forests and Families Protection Act of 1991. The only timber controversy legislation currently before Congress, this bill is a joint proposal of the labor unions representing the forest products industry workers and industry management.

With bi-partisan support firom Oregon, Washington and other areas, the bill is said to offer the basis for a balanced solution to the conflict between environmentalists and the forest products industry. While setting aside some old growth forests for owls, the bill would limit environmentalists' ability to challenge Forest Service decisions and would provide economic aid to displaced loggers. It is thought to be capable of maintaining a sustained, predictable timber supply to meet the nation's needs for wood and wood products.

On the negative side of the timber issue, a ruling by Seattle, Wa., district court judge William Dwyer stopped all new sales of timber on 66,000 acres of Northern Spotted

Owl habitat. This decision favored the Seattle Audubon Society in ordering the Forest Service to comply with the National Forest Management Act, thus halting federal timber sales in Western Washington, Western Oregon and Northern California during l99l and part of 1992.

In addition the judge ordered that revised standards and guidelines for protection of the owl be submitted to the court by March 1992.

A scheduled l7l sales will be affected. Estimates are that 2 to 3 billion board feet of timber and 3,240 to 7,400 timber worker jobs will be affected. The Forest Service expects planned sales for the two years to be reduced as much as 780/0, dropping from 3.7 billion board feet to 809 million feet. Sales already under contract are expected to be exempt.

The industry fears more than a economic rippling effect on timber communities. Major species such as Douglas fir and spruce are expected to continue to increase in cost, ultimately affecting the price of housing and hurting the homeowner. the builder. the retailer and distributor.

Raprd Rack Acquires Sammons

Rapid Rack Industries, Inc., City of Industry, Ca., has acquired Sammons & Sons product lines and will manufacture, market and sell Sammons Storage Systems.

"We are excited about combining Sammons' nearly 60 years of rack system experience, quality products and service with the broad based shelving lines and the talent and re- bill sullivan robert golding dale dickinson . bill young sources of Rapid Rack," said president Gerry Bergman. "We intend to be the best, as well as the largest, full line storage equipment manufacturer in the West."

Rapid Rack Industries, Inc., one of the largest manufacturers of storage products in the country, offers a full line of products and services including a computer aided design (CAD) system, to support customer

Tree Farms Mark 50 Years Of Good Management

The American Tree Farm System, which currently includes more than 70,000 members owning almost 93 million acres of trees, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Its origin dates back to l94l when Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. established the Clemons Tree Farm in honor of pioneer logger Charles H. Clemons on a 120,000 acre tract of burned over land. The Grays Harbor County, Wa., site now has 400,000 acres stocked with Douglas fir, hemlock and red alder ranging in age from two to 50 years.

Nearly 60% of the tree farms in the system are in the south: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Ceorgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Okla- homa, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Although virtually all the early tree farms were industry owned, the program now includes many small landowners.

To qualify for membership, a landowner has to accomplish specified forest management goals. Inspection of woodlands is a central part of the program. Tree farms are reinspected every five years. In 1988, 14,793 inspections were made, mostly by state foresters.

Following the criteria that trees are a renewable resource for our future, tree farms are recognized by a green and white diamond shaped sign. The symbol has become synonomous with good forestry.

Tree farmers use intensive forest layout and design requirements. management techniques or combinations of silvicultural practices to meet objectives. These include collecting seed from trees. This is sown in a nursery and grown for two to three years before the seedling is planted in the forest. Seedlings are handplanted on prepared sites, nurtured with nutrients, then thinned to allow adequate room to grow. After a clearcutting harvest to produce renewable, recyclable, biodegradable wood products, the cycle begins again.

In addition to corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities in the City of Industry, Ca., the company has a facility in Mexicali, Mexico.

While the tree farm is producing, it provides a habitat for wildlife. The Clemons Tree Farm has a healthy population of elk, deer, grouse and eagles whose nests are inventoried with protection plans which guide forest practices. Streams on Clemons have good quality water and sustainable fisheries. In some cases they furnish municipalities with water.