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Gurbing wildfires again a hot issue

Once again, we've begun our annual "fight the fires" battle. However, the smoke finally may be starting to clear, as the Bush White House's timber bill rolls on. A national logging bill, the Healthy Forests Initiative, appears close to passing, despite the expected environmentalist opposition.

Although the fires have been seen over the years as a western issue, it now appears it has grown into a national issue, and it's time that such a policy was successful. In 2OO2 more than 5.26 million acres were impacted, and already in early August, almost 2 million acres have been

ALAN OAKES publisher ajoakes@aol.com

impacted with possibly the worst to come, as forests continue to dry out.

The new bill gives wide license to thin millions of acres of public timber, while preserving wilderness areas and capping thinning on the affected lands to 20 million acres. Some epvironmental standards will be relaxed, opposition reviews will be sped up, and the views of agencies, such as the Forest Service, will carry additional weight.

I am pleased to see our president out on the stump, selling the measure, and there is a general consensus that the bill has a good chance of passing, especially since it will be debated against an extended fire season and blazing headlines. It appears that Northwest industry factions are working with their Southern counterparts to produce a stronger industry face against its predicted opposition than has been possible in the past. While the two regions have often been rivals, this industry coalition is great to see.

Naturally, opponents cry foul-that the proposal is a ruse to get to other lands, and an attempt to cover up failures by the government last year in providing adequate funds. I hope government opposition will not filibuster the proposals, and forestall this long overdue initiative. Indeed, at this time, a number of Democrats appear to be lining up behind the bill in bipartisan support. I hope that common sense will prevail, but as we all know common sense in government does not always win the day.

Environmentalists are claiming the expedited process is unnecessary, since no more than 67o of cases have gone to court and most appeals are settled within the prescribed 90 days. Now while the public has a right to participate in such decisions, far too many are appealed, eating up not only time, but also a large percentage of the thinning projects'budgets.

Passing of this bill will mean that 2004 will see a large reduction in both wildfires and people losing their homes and livelihoods, and will allow our industry to show they are responsible stewards of our environment. May common sense prevail.

Equally promising, the bill coincides with a recent settlement by the Bush Administration to meet the 1994 goals of the Northwest Forest Plan. Hopefully this is good news, since the plan put in place nine years ago has never met its timber goals. Even less fuel for the fire.

THE industrial market. which only I accounts for roughly 27o of North American oriented strand board production, has never been targeted as a potentially larger market for OSB. Until now, that is.

Made up of wood strands aligned lengthwise and crosswise in different layers for structural strength and rigidity, OSB has captured about 75Vo of the North American home construction market for floor, wall and ceiling panels. Most OSB production, about three-fourths of the total 23 billion sq. ft.. 3/8" basis. continues to be driven by new housing starts.

OSB makers will continue to supply the residential market with large quantities of sheathing. Specialty products, such as heavy-duty flooring panels, radiant panels, structural insulated panels, rimboards and I-joist webs, will also play a larger role to maintain and increase residential market share. But there is a limit to how much more OSB can be supplied for new home construction, which is why producers are looking to new markets.