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FOIA Number: 2012-0769-F
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61
7
2
3
A ner cans for the
Ancient Forests
Organizer's
Handbook
SAVE THE BRAZILIAN RAIN FORESTS
Meanwhile, back in the Pacific Northwest
Incient Forests are America's Heritage -
This document was prepared by Chlopak & Associates, April 1992.
Information was compiled from documents furnished by: The Wilderness Society, the Western Ancient
Forest Campaign, National Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, National
Wildlife Federation, National Abortion Rights Action League, The Rockey Company, and Bob Beckel &
Associates.
Cover cartoon: International Herald Tribune, August 8, 1989.
Printed on 100% recycled paper with 90% post-consumer content.
for the Ancient Forests
1211 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 296-2777 Fax: (202) 296-4501
Dear Forests Activist,
Welcome to the Americans for the Ancient Forests campaign. We're pleased
you're joining us in this important fight to save our country's last old growth
forests.
As you may know, logging already has destroyed 90% of our nation's ancient
forests; if we don't save the last 10%, a valuable part of our nation's heritage
will be lost. Once the forests are gone, they are gone forever.
This handbook was designed to give you information about the forests and the
key issues involved with protecting them-from federal mismanagement and
endangered species protection to health care, legal, and economic issues. It also
has organizing tips and suggestions for maximizing media exposure.
We encourage you to share appropriate sections of this handbook with your
fellow organizers and interested parties. If you keep it in a three-ring binder,
you'll have easy access to all the information, and you'll be able to photocopy
pages easily.
Please let us know about your work-how it's progressing, what messages and
strategies are most successful, what challenges you face, and of course, if we
can help you in any way. Feel free to call, 202-296-2777, or write, Americans
for the Ancient Forests, 1211 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 700, Washington,
DC 20036.
Once again, thank you for joining us in our fight to stop the chainsaws.
Yours truly,
Robert A. Chlopak
Director
Americans for the Ancient Forests is a national public education campaign working for the protection of America's remaining ancient (old growth) forests.
The campaign is supported by national foundations and individuals concerned with the unnecessary destruction of this important part of our national heritage.
I. Background Information
Americans for the Ancient Forests conducted a national poll and a series of focus groups. The
poll, conducted by Greenberg-Lake of Washington, D.C, reached 873 adults, 18 years or
older, who are registered to vote in the United States.
Voter Beliefs:
Voters believe that forests are a valuable part of our national heritage.
The strongest, most intense argument for saving the old growth forests combines
balance, our national heritage, and preserving the remaining small portion of our
disappearing, unique ancient forests.
Voters believe that the environment is critically intertwined with survival, the future,
and the world they leave their children.
Women in particular worry about the future and are aware of their responsibility to
protect the environment-including the ancient forests-for future generations.
Blue-collar voters and traditional households are particularly concerned about exporting
logs and jobs to Japan.
Voters are convinced that government often represents the interests of the highest
bidder rather than the public good and fails in its obligation to protect the environment.
Voters readily believe that the Forest Service, like every other branch of government,
could become the captive of special interest politics-e.g., timber companies seeking
the highest profits.
Voters believe a healthy economy depends on a healthy environment.
When voters are confronted with the simple choice between reducing the harvest of old
growth forests and protecting jobs, they overwhelmingly support reducing the harvest
(75 to 15 percent).
Voters like the idea of replanting trees, and are not readily aware of the difference
between mature forests and tree farms.
Voters most committed to preservation tend to be younger voters with more education,
and they tend to be women.
11. Survey Information
33
II. Survey Information
Economics/Exports
In 1980, 102,000 people were directly employed by the logging, lumber, and
solid wood products business in western Oregon and Washington. The number
of timber jobs in the Northwest, however, began decreasing in the 80s, largely
because of the modernization of mills and the export of unprocessed logs.
Workers in Oregon and Washington lost more than 26,000 timber-related jobs
in the 1980s-at a time when the industry was cutting a record amount of timber
from our nation's national forests. These jobs were lost before a single acre of
federal land was protected as spotted owl habitat.
Between 1980 and 1988, timber industry employment in the Northwest fell by
14% while output of finished lumber increased by 19%.
Ten years ago, 4.5 workers were needed to produce every one million board
feet of lumber and plywood. Today, it takes just 3 workers to produce the same
volume of wood products.
Timber workers also lose jobs because of log exports. It is estimated that 600
timber jobs are lost for every 100 million board feet exported.
Last year, we exported 3 billion board feet of raw logs from Pacific Northwest
ports. If we processed these logs in the United States instead of exporting them,
we could generate up to 18,000 direct timber jobs.
Over the next 20 years, the timber industry in Washington and Oregon will
eliminate approximately 33,600 jobs because of labor productivity
improvements the industry needs in order to remain competitive.
Improved productivity has led to fewer timber jobs, fewer shifts, and lower
wages. The average real dollar wage for timber workers in the Pacific
Northwest has declined by nearly 2% annually. In other words, a timber worker
making $20,000 in 1982 would be making only $16,500 in real wages today.
The timber industry employs only 4% of workers in the Northwest. This
number can be expected to decrease because the industry's major producers
have shifted their operations and investments from the Pacific Northwest to the
more economically suitable Southeast. Between 1978 and 1990, the seven major
timber companies slashed lumber and plywood capacity by 33.5% in the Pacific
Northwest while boosting capacity in southern states by more than 121%.
Proposals to reduce timber cutting on federal lands below the current draft
recovery plan level (2.2 billion board feet) to approximately 1 billion board feet
will reduce direct timber employment by approximately 7,000 jobs. Such
proposals, however, also help preserve a fishing industry that produces more
III. economics/exports
39
than $1 billion in personal income Feer and has a 60,000 job
impact. In
addition, some limits on export truit of the job less
The decline in timber industr you S IT reflected in the North we's overall
economic picture. More than 250.000 II jobs have been created in the region
since 1990.
40
Milibinics/exports
fect on the trade deficit - would be
Tom Wicker
Service planned to double allowable
obtained only at high cost to Amer-
timber sales in SIX national forests in
Ican timber workers, old-growth for-
the Southern Appalachians. An an-
ests, recreation, wildlife and efforts
nual average of just under 100 million
to slow global warming. Not only en-
Stripping
vironmentalists but American saw-
board feet was cut from 1977 through
mill interests (already disadvan-
1986; under the Forest Service plan,
by 1996 over 200 million board feet
taged by timber exports) oppose the
would be harvested yearly.
America's
Reagan proposal, which Mr. Bush un-
That increased cutting is bound to
wisely carried over to his revised
be caused at least in part by vast tim-
budget.
ber shipments moving abroad. These
Now the Office of Management and
Forests
exports mean that the domestic mar-
Budget is reported to be reconsider-
ing. For the President, the political
ket must rely more and more on logs
cut from Pisgah and Nantahala and all
cost of axing the Reagan proposal
the other national timberlands, partic-
resident Bush could extend his
could come only from major timber
ularly the great old forests of the
promising
environmental
exporters, if from anyone, since the
Northwest. Why open these national
record by abandoning an ill-
Japanese don't yet vote here.
treasures directly to foreign buyers?
conceived scheme to speed the de-
The environmental gain to the na-
Stay tuned for more on the defor-
forestation of the United States - al-
tion would be considerable. Already
estation of America.
ready far advanced - for the benefit
the national forests are under heavy
of Japan.
pressure from big lumber interests.
As these companies mow down trees
Most Americans are acutely aware
on their own lands and on state tracts
of the environmental folly of Brazil in
cutting, burning and inundating so
to feed the hungry export market, they
much of its vast rain forest land in the
naturally look with covetous eyes on
name of economic progress. But few
timber - often of higher quality - - re-
maining in the national forests.
realize that the United States, which
similarly cleared away most of its
Smaller American milling compa-
nies, meanwhile, find themselves un-
forests in the 19th century, is still
doing it
able to match the bids of foreign
buyers for U.S. logs. That means mill
What's more, too much of our re-
closings throughout the Northwest, for
maining timberlands are being cut to
build houses for the Japanese, at the
example, since export logs typically
move directly from the forest to for-
cost of American jobs as well as the
eign ports, never having been touched
American environment. In the past
by American sawmill workers. This
decade, logs equivalent to a 600,000-
adds to high rates of unemployment in
acre forest were shipped overseas;
some areas that are heavily dependent
last year alone, exports - mostly to
upon the forest industry.
Japan consumed one in four logs
The log shortage for American
cut on the West Coast and in Alaska.
mills also produces new pressures
The pace of this continued Amer-
from them for greater access to tim-
ican deforestation will increase, in
ber in the national forests. They don't
the worst possible places, if Mr. Bush
want to ship logs overseas; they want
stands by an export proposal in the
to keep their own mills humming. Na-
Federal budget that President Rea-
tional forest timber, these loggers
gan submitted in January. It would
say, is all that's available to undo the
permit raw logs from the national
domestic log shortage caused by ex-
forests to be shipped directly to
Sorts.
Japan and other countries.
Already, Government-owned tim-
Under budget restrictions in effect
ber - trees on national forest land
for 21 years, foreign buyers may not
supposedly belonging to the Amer-
bid on timber grown in U.S. national
ican people - is being logged at
forests. The Reagan proposal to drop
record rates. Timothy Egan reported
this ban - which has to be renewed
yesterday in The New York Times
annually - was first estimated to
that in the Northwest alone, 5.5 billion
trim the Federal deficit by an esti-
board feet were cut from 19 national
mated $833 million by 1994; more
forests in 1988 - 20 percent more
rigorous Congressional examination
than 10 years ago. In 1987, 12.7 billion
has reduced that estimate to about
board feet were stripped from the 156
$222 million.
national forests across the country.
©1989 The New York Times
A 37
Statesman Journal, Salem, Ore., Saturday, October 21, 1989
Editorials
One way to keep U.S. mills rolling
Ban private log exports
Congress has settled the Northwest's
Our big timber companies think nothing of
timber crisis for one year. It will mean an
shipping logs from their privats lands to the
assured timber supply for our mills and new
Far East, then bidding for public timber to
efforts to protect old-growth timber and to
run their mills. It can be argued that the big
improve management of our forests.
timber companies are out of line to complain
The big question is, what we will do for the
about environmentalists' attempts to salvage
following year and in the years after that?
the last of our virgin forests when they
One big answer among the scores being
themselves are responsible for more lost jobs
considered has been largely overlooked
than all the spotted owis in the Northwest.
because it's too controversial for even most
environmentalists to suggest. And that's to
Money is the big motive. The Japanese are
ban the export of all logs.
paying three or four times more for these logs
We could reduce our annual harvest of
than the U.S. market can pay. It's big money
trees by a big percentage and still have plenty
in the pockets of timber exporters and
of timber for our own mills if we refused to
shipping companies, but it's lost jobs for
Oregon mill workers.
sell unprocessed logs overseas.
The United States certainly must ban
The profitable demand overseas helps
exports from state and national forests. That
explain why a quarter of all trees cut in
step is supported by our congressional
Oregon and Washington in 1988 were
delegation. by most timber mill owners and
exported, according to figures complied by
by the public - Oregon voted 11-1 this
Rep. Peter DeFazio. D-Ore. Some say
spring to ban exports from state forests.
exports are even higher, if we include
We aiso must consider an even stiffer
partially processed logs and woodchips.
action: ban or gradually reduce log exports
The raw-log industry and shipping
from private lands.
companies refuse to acknowledge that they
This is a country that correctly puts great
could make even more money by producing
stock in the right of people to manage private
and shipping finished lumber.
property as they see fit. But public policy
limits private property rights in land-use
Someone needs to begin the public debate
that will help us decide how to balance our
zoning and other situations, and we could do
the same with logs.
natural resources andjobs against private
enterprise's laissez-faire.
©1989 Statesman Journal
A 67
Judicial Review
Absent Congressional protection, the courts have been the only avenue of protecting the
ancient forests from violations made by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management. It therefore is no surprise that the timber industry has attacked the courts
and tried to prevent citizens from using the judicial system to stop unwise logging.
Several bills pending in Congress would restrict or eliminate judicial review of
federal agency decisions to log our national forests.
In March 1992, Secretary of Agriculture Edward Madigan proposed elimination
of the Forest Service appeals process in part because the administration views
the current practice as "procedurally onerous and confrontational."
Secretary of Agriculture Edward Madigan also endorsed limits on citizens's
access to the courts and announced that government agencies could manage our
national forests better "if we were free from the interference of the federal
courts." He continued, "Only the Congress of the United States can free us
from that interference. We hope they will do that and do that expeditiously."
The role of the judiciary in preserving democratic values cannot be overstated.
In 1803, Chief Justice John Marshall called the right to seek judicial review of
government actions, "the very essence of civil liberty."
Judicial review is part of America's system of governmental checks and
balances-a cornerstone of democracy.
Several bills currently before Congress-S. 1156 sponsored by Senator Bob
Packwood and H.R. 2463 sponsored by Representative Jerry Huckaby-attempt
to exempt federal agencies from complying with environmental laws and also to
limit or elminate judicial review of those agenices' decisions.
Past experience shows that Appropriations Bill riders insulating Forest Service
and Bureau of Land Management decisions from judicial review has done
nothing to bring those agencies back into compliance with the law. In fact it has
institutionalized this behavior. They now, in the words of U.S. District Judge
William Dwyer, "deliberately and systematically" disobey the law-and then
expect Congress to bail them out by suspending the environmental laws,
limiting judicial review, or both.
Proposals to limit judicial review can set a dangerous precedent that could be
used to erode other laws protecting our civil and individual rights.
The attached letter from more than 600 deans of law schools and legal scholars
across America demonstrates the broad support this issues has in the legal
community. Also listed are 46 organizations and 24 attorneys general that
oppose restrictions on judicial review.
III. judicial review
41
October 10, 1991
The Honorable Thomas S. Foley
Speaker of the House
H-204 The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Speaker Foley:
It has come to our attention that several bills currently
pending in the Congress would restrict or eliminate judicial
review of federal agency decisions to log our national forests.
Moreover, Secretary of Agriculture Edward Madigan recently
endorsed such limits on citizens' access to the courts when he
announced that government agencies could manage our national
forests better "if we were free from the interference of the
federal courts. Only the Congress of the United States can free
us from that interference. We hope they will do that and do that
expeditiously."
We, the undersigned law school deans and faculty, adamantly
oppose these and other attempts to undermine existing
environmental laws by restricting the ability of courts to review
and enforce them.
The role of the judiciary in preserving democratic values
cannot be overstated. In 1803, Chief Justice John Marshall
called the right to seek judicial review of government actions
"the very essence of civil liberty."
Yet several bills that may be acted upon this year,
including S.1156, H.R. 2463, H.R. 2807, and H.R. 3263, would
undermine the courts and, with them, one of the cornerstones of
our system of governmental checks and balances. In particular,
these bills attempt to put federal agencies above the law by
including one or more provisions that:
(1) rewrite longstanding rules of administrative law
and civil procedure;
(2) insulate from legal challenge any Forest Service
and Bureau of Land Management decisions that are
based on outdated information; and
(3) arbitrarily declare that the requirements of
specified environmental laws have been satisfied
-- an approach the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
has ruled unconstitutionally abrogates the
functions reserved to the courts.
However, government agencies should not be put above the
law: they have the same obligation -- and responsibility -- to
obey the law as individual citizens. Whether proposals to limit
judicial review are included in authorizing bills or as "riders"
on appropriations measures, they would sanction and encourage
illegal agency conduct. In addition, they would set a dangerous
and disturbing precedent that could be used to erode other
important laws protecting our civil and individual rights.
Printed on unbleached, 100% recycled paper
2
We urge you to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure
that neither authorizing nor appropriations bills contain
restrictions on administrative appeals or judicial review of our
nation's environmental laws.
Sincerely,
ALABAMA
WILLIAM ANDREEN, University of Alabama School of Law
JAMES BRYCE, University of Alabama School of Law
PAMELA BUCY, University of Alabama School of Law
HARRY COHEN, University of Alabama School of Law
BRYAN FAIR, University of Alabama School of Law
TIMOTHY HOFF, University of Alabama School of Law
JERRY HOFFMAN, University of Alabama School of Law
WYTHE HOLT, University of Alabama School of Law
THOMAS JONES, University of Alabama School of Law
MICHELLE MONSE, University of Alabama School of Law
MARTHA MORGAN, University of Alabama School of Law
KARL OKAMOTO, University of Alabama School of Law
KENNETH RANDALL, University of Alabama School of Law
NORMAN STEIN, University of Alabama School of Law
ARIZONA
ROBERT BARTELS, Arizona State University College of Law
MICHAEL BERCH, Arizona State University College of Law
DOUG BLAZE, Arizona State University College of Law
CHUCK DALLYN, Arizona State University College of Law
ROBERT DAUBER, Arizona State University College of Law
IRA ELLMAN, Arizona State University College of Law
JOE FELLER, Arizona State University College of Law
HANNAH ARTERIAN FURNISH, Arizona State University College of Law
MARK HALL, Arizona State University College of Law
DAVID KADER, Arizona State University College of Law
DENNIS KARJALA, Arizona State University College of Law
JOHN D. LESHY, Arizona State University College of Law
ALAN MATHESON, Arizona State University College of Law
RICHARD MORGAN, Dean, Arizona State University College of Law
WILLARD PEDRICK, Arizona State University College of Law
JONATHAN ROSE, Arizona State University College of Law
RALPH SPRITZER, Arizona State University College of Law
DANIEL STROUSE, Arizona State University College of Law
JIM WEINSTEIN, Arizona State University College of Law
LAURENCE H. WINER, Arizona State University College of Law
ARKANSAS
FRANCES FENDLER-ROSENZWEIG, University of Arkansas - Little Rock
School of Law
LYNN FOSTER, University of Arkansas - Little Rock School of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
3
ARKANSAS (CONT.)
W. DENT GITCHEL, University of Arkansas - Little Rock
School of Law
CHUCK GOLDNER, University of Arkansas - Little Rock School of Law
SUSAN GOLDNER, University of Arkansas - Little Rock School of Law
KEN GOULD, University of Arkansas - Little Rock School of Law
DENNIS HANSEN, University of Arkansas - Little Rock School of Law
EUGENE MULLINS, University of Arkansas - Little Rock
School of Law
TERESA NAPPER, University of Arkansas - Little Rock School of Law
L. SCOTT STAFFORD, University of Arkansas - Little Rock
School of Law
THOMAS SULLIVAN, University of Arkansas - Little Rock
School of Law
CALIFORNIA
ELLEN APRILL, Loyola Law School
BARBARA A. BABCOCK, Stanford University Law School
FLORIAN BARTOSIC, University of California (Davis) Law School
ALBERT BRECHT, University of Southern California Law Center
ALAN E. BROWNSTEIN, University of California (Davis) Law School
LEE CAMPBELL, University of Southern California Law Center
ALEX CAPRON, University of Southern California Law Center
JO CARRILLO, University of California, Hastings
College of the Law
ERWIN CHEMERINSKY, University of Southern California Law Center
RICHARD B. CUNNINGHAM, University of California, Hastings
College of the Law
DENNIS CURTIS, University of Southern California Law Center
JOEL C. DOBRIS, University of California (Davis) Law School
DAVID L. FAIGMAN, University of California, Hastings
College of the Law
ROGER W. FINDLEY, Loyola Law School
BARBARA H. FRIED, Stanford University Law School
LAWRENCE M. FRIEDMAN, Stanford University Law School
JENNIFER FRIESEN, Loyola Law School
ARTURO GANDARA, University of California (Davis) Law School
RON GARET, University of Southern California Law Center
ROBERT A. GIRARD, Stanford University Law School
MICHAEL J. GLENNON, University of California (Davis) Law School
VICTOR GOLD, Loyola Law School
GARY S. GOODPASTER, University of California (Davis) Law School
BRIAN E. GRAY, University of California, Hastings
College of the Law
HENRY T. GREELY, Stanford University Law School
JOSEPH R. GRODIN, University of California, Hastings
College of the Law
BARBARA HERMAN, University of Southern California Law Center
BRYAN HULL, Loyola Law School
LESLIE JACOBS, University of California (Davis) Law School
MARGARET Z. JOHNS, University of California (Davis) Law School
KEVIN JOHNSON, University of California (Davis) Law School
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
4
CALIFORNIA (CONT.)
FRITZ JUENGER, University of California (Davis) Law School
KAREN LASH, University of Southern California Law Center
EVAN TSEN LEE, University of California, Hastings
College of the Law
DAVID LEONARD, Loyola Law School
MARTY LEVINE, University of Southern California Law Center
ELIZABETH K. LEWICKI, University of California (Davis) Law School
KARL MANHEIM, Loyola Law School
LEO P. MARTINEZ, University of California, Hastings
College of the Law
CALVIN R. MASSEY, University of California, Hastings
College of the Law
CHRISTOPHER MAY, Loyola Law School
THERESE MAYNARD, Loyola Law School
GERALD T. McLAUGHLIN, Dean, Loyola Law School
MIGUEL A. MENDEZ, Stanford University Law School
JOHN HENRY MERRYMAN, Stanford University Law School
ROBERT H. MNOOKIN, Stanford University Law School
JOHN NOCKLEBY, Loyola Law School
DANIEL ORTIZ, University of Southern California Law Center
REX R. PERSCHBACHER, University of California (Davis) Law School
JOHN W. POULOS, University of California (Davis) Law School
EDWARD H. RABIN, University of California (Davis) Law School
ROBERT L. RABIN, Stanford University Law School
MARGARET JANE RADIN, Stanford University Law School
NOEL RAGSDALE, University of Southern California Law Center
DEBORAH L. RHODE, Stanford University Law School
FLORRIE ROBERTS, Loyola Law School
DAVID L. ROSENHAN, Stanford University Law School
ELYN SAKS, University of Southern California Law Center
JOSEPH SAX, University of California - Boalt Hall School of Law
EILEEN A. SCALLEN, University of California, Hastings
College of the Law
MORTIMER D. SCHWARTZ, University of California (Davis) Law School
DANIEL P. SELMI, Associate Dean, Loyola Law School
TED SETO, Loyola Law School
DANIEL L. SIMMONS, University of California (Davis) Law School
WILLIAM H. SIMON, Stanford University Law School
JAMES F. SMITH, University of California (Davis) Law School
LAWRENCE SOLUM, Loyola Law School
MATT SPITZER, University of Southern California Law Center
DANIEL STEWART, Loyola Law School
CHRISTOPHER STONE, University of Southern California Law Center
SCOTT E. SUNDBY, University of California, Hastings
College of the Law
PETER TIERSMA, Loyola Law School
MICHAEL S. WALD, Stanford University Law School
CATHERINE WELLS, University of Southern California Law Center
MARTHA S. WEST, University of California (Davis) Law School
CHARLES WHITEBREAD, University of Southern California Law Center
GARY WILLIAMS, Loyola Law School
RICHARD C. WYDICK, University of California (Davis) Law School
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
5
COLORADO
EMILY M. CALHOUN, University of Colorado School of Law
RICHARD B. COLLINS, University of Colorado School of Law
RICHARD DELGADO, University of Colorado School of Law
DAVID GETCHES, University of Colorado School of Law
DANIEL B. MAGRAW, JR., University of Colorado School of Law
GEORGE W. PRING, University of Denver College of Law
MARIANNE WESSON, University of Colorado School of Law
CHARLES WILKINSON, University of Colorado School of Law
CONNECTICUT
JON BAUER, University of Connecticut School of Law
PHILLIP I. BLUMBERG, University of Connecticut School of Law
JOHN BRITTAIN, University of Connecticut School of Law
HUGH C. MACGILL, Dean, University of Connecticut School of Law
JEREMY PAUL, University of Connecticut School of Law
CORNELIUS J. SCANLON, University of Connecticut School of Law
TERRY J. TONDRO, University of Connecticut School of Law
DELAWARE
PHYLLIS BOOKSPAN, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
FRANCIS CATANIA, JR., Widener University School of Law, Delaware
LARRY CONNELL, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
JOHN CULHANE, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
BARRY FURROW, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
ALAN GARFIELD, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
SUSAN GOLDBERG, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
JOHN HART, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
ROBERT HAYMAN, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
DAVID HODAS, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
J. PATRICK KELLY, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
MARTIN KOTLER, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
JOHN LANDIS, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
ROBERT LIPKIN, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
CHRISTINE McDERMOTT, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
MARY BRIGID McMANAMON, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
DONALD PEASE, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
LEONARD SOSNOV, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
KATHLEEN TUREZYN, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
JOHN WHERRY, Widener University School of Law, Delaware
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
JOSE E. ALVAREZ, George Washington University National Law Center
LINZ AUDAIN, American University, Washington College of Law
HOPE BABCOCK, Georgetown University Law Center
DANIEL BRADLOW, American University, Washington College of Law
JAMES M. BROWN, George Washington University National Law Center
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
6
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (CONT.)
J. PETER BYRNE, Georgetown University Law Center
NAOMI R. CAHN, Georgetown University Law Center
MARY M. CHEH, George Washington University National Law Center
RONALD COLLINS, Catholic University of America - Columbus
School of Law
C. THOMAS DIENES, George Washington University National
Law Center
WILLIAM N. ESKRIDGE, JR., Georgetown University Law Center
CHAI FEIDBLUM, Georgetown University Law Center
JACK FRIEDENTHAL, Dean, George Washington University National
Law Center
MARK HAGER, American University, Washington College of Law
CHARLES M. MASNER, George Washington University National
Law Center
BINNY MILLER, American University, Washington College of Law
LAWRENCE G. MITCHELL, George Washington University National
Law Center
WALLACE J. MLYNIEC, Georgetown University Law Center
DOUGLAS PARKER, Georgetown University Law Center
JOEL PAUL, American University, Washington College of Law
JAMIN RASKIN, American University, Washington College of Law
PETER RAVEN-HANSEN, George Washington University National
Law Center
ARNOLD W. REITZE, George Washington University National
Law Center
PAUL RICE, American University, Washington College of Law
THOMAS SARGENTICH, American University, Washington College of Law
ROGER E. SCHECHTER, George Washington University National
Law Center
LEWIS G. SCHILLER, George Washington University National
Law Center
PHIL SCHRAG, Georgetown University Law Center
TERESA M. SCHWARTZ, Associate Dean, George Washington University
National Law Center
ANN SHALLECK, American University, Washington College of Law
ERIC S. SIRULNIK, George Washington University National
Law Center
ROBERT STRUMBERG, Georgetown University Law Center
RICHARD P. THORNELL, Howard University School of Law
JONATHAN TURLEY, George Washington University National Law Center
HEATHCOTE W. WALES, Georgetown University Law Center
BURT WECHSLER, American University, Washington College of Law
RICK WILSON, American University, Washington College of Law
LUIZE M. ZUBROW, George Washington University National Law Center
DURWOOD ZAELKE, American University, Washington College of Law
FLORIDA
DONNA R. CHRISTIE, Florida State University College of Law
BARRY CURRIER, University of Florida College of Law
ALYSON FLOURNOY, University of Florida College of Law
LAWRENCE C. GEORGE, Florida State University College of Law
RICHARD HAMANN, University of Florida College of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
6
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (CONT.)
J. PETER BYRNE, Georgetown University Law Center
NAOMI R. CAHN, Georgetown University Law Center
MARY M. CHEH, George Washington University National Law Center
RONALD COLLINS, Catholic University of America - Columbus
School of Law
C. THOMAS DIENES, George Washington University National
Law Center
WILLIAM N. ESKRIDGE, JR., Georgetown University Law Center
CHAI FEIDBLUM, Georgetown University Law Center
JACK FRIEDENTHAL, Dean, George Washington University National
Law Center
MARK HAGER, American University, Washington College of Law
CHARLES M. MASNER, George Washington University National
Law Center
BINNY MILLER, American University, Washington College of Law
LAWRENCE G. MITCHELL, George Washington University National
Law Center
WALLACE J. MLYNIEC, Georgetown University Law Center
DOUGLAS PARKER, Georgetown University Law Center
JOEL PAUL, American University, Washington College of Law
JAMIN RASKIN, American University, Washington College of Law
PETER RAVEN-HANSEN, George Washington University National
Law Center
ARNOLD W. REITZE, George Washington University National
Law Center
PAUL RICE, American University, Washington College of Law
THOMAS SARGENTICH, American University, Washington College of Law
ROGER E. SCHECHTER, George Washington University National
Law Center
LEWIS G. SCHILLER, George Washington University National
Law Center
PHIL SCHRAG, Georgetown University Law Center
TERESA M. SCHWARTZ, Associate Dean, George Washington University
National Law Center
ANN SHALLECK, American University, Washington College of Law
ERIC S. SIRULNIK, George Washington University National
Law Center
ROBERT STRUMBERG, Georgetown University Law Center
RICHARD P. THORNELL, Howard University School of Law
JONATHAN TURLEY, George Washington University National Law Center
HEATHCOTE W. WALES, Georgetown University Law Center
BURT WECHSLER, American University, Washington College of Law
RICK WILSON, American University, Washington College of Law
LUIZE M. ZUBROW, George Washington University National Law Center
DURWOOD ZAELKE, American University, Washington College of Law
FLORIDA
DONNA R. CHRISTIE, Florida State University College of Law
BARRY CURRIER, University of Florida College of Law
ALYSON FLOURNOY, University of Florida College of Law
LAWRENCE C. GEORGE, Florida State University College of Law
RICHARD HAMANN, University of Florida College of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
7
FLORIDA (CONT.)
JEFFREY HARRISON, University of Florida College of Law
ROBERT H. KENNEDY, Florida State University College of Law
JOHN W. LARSON, Florida State University College of Law
JOE LITTLE, University of Florida College of Law
MACK PLAYER, Florida State University College of Law
SHARON RUSH, University of Florida College of Law
MARY TWITCHELL, University of Florida College of Law
JACK VAN DOREN, Florida State University College of Law
GEORGIA
MILNER BALL, University of Georgia School of Law
DORINDA DALLMEYER, University of Georgia School of Law
LAURIE FOWLER, University of Georgia School of Law
THOMAS SCHOENBAUM, University of Georgia School of Law
JAMES C. SMITH, University of Georgia School of Law
HAWAII
JOHN BARKAI, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
ADDISON BOWMAN, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
DAVID CALLIES, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
JAY DRATLER, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
DAVID FELLER, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
CASEY JARMAN, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
AMY KASTELY, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
SABRINA McKENNA, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
RICHARD MILLER, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
JOHN PICKRON, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
JON VAN DYKE, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
JUDY WEIGHTMAN, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
ERIC YAMAMOTO, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Law
IDAHO
KEN GALLANT, University of Idaho College of Law
DALE D. GOBLE, University of Idaho College of Law
JOANN HENDERSON, University of Idaho College of Law
MONIQUE LILLARD, University of Idaho College of Law
ILLINOIS
GARY BALLESTEROS, Northwestern University School of Law
ANITA BERNSTEIN, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago - Kent
College of Law
FRED BOSSELMAN, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago - Kent
College of Law
MARK CORDES, Northern Illinois University College of Law
JACOB CORRE, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago - Kent
College of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
8
ILLINOIS (CONT.)
STUART DEUTSCH, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago - Kent
College of Law
DAVID GERBER, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago - Kent
College of Law
ROBERT GRAHAM, Northwestern University School of Law
FRED HARRIS, University of Illinois College of Law
STEVEN HEYMAN, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago - Kent
College of Law
RICHARD MATASAR, Dean, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago
- Kent College of Law
SHELDON NAHMOD, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago - Kent
College of Law
GABRIELLE SIEGEL, Northwestern University School of Law
JOAN STEINMAN, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago - Kent
College of Law
MARGARET STEWART, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago -
Kent College of Law
A. DAN TARLOCK, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago - Kent
College of Law
RICHARD WRIGHT, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago - Kent
College of Law
INDIANA
PAUL BRIETZKE, Valparaiso University School of Law
EDWARD McGLYNN GAFFNEY, Dean, Valparaiso University School of Law
JACK HILLER, Valparaiso University School of Law
IOWA
JAMES A. ADAMS, Drake University Law School
JERRY L. ANDERSON, Drake University Law School
ANDREA CHARLOW, Drake University Law School
NEIL D. HAMILTON, Drake University Law School
ROBERT P. HUNTER, Drake University Law School
STANLEY INGBER, Drake University Law School
RUSSELL E. LOVELL II, Drake University Law School
DONALD J. POLDEN, Drake University Law School
MAURA STRASSBERG, Drake University Law School
KANSAS
ROBERT CASAD, University of Kansas School of Law
GEORGE CAMERON COGGINS, University of Kansas School of Law
KIM DAYTON, University of Kansas School of Law
ROBERT GLICKSMAN, University of Kansas School of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
9
KENTUCKY
JOHN R. BATT, University of Kentucky College of Law
CAROLYN S. BRATT, University of Kentucky College of Law
ALVIN L. GOLDMAN, University of Kentucky College of Law
LOUIS E. GRAHAM, University of Kentucky College of Law
ROBERT G. LAWSON, University of Kentucky College of Law
DAVID T. MILLER, University of Kentucky College of Law
PAUL OBERST, University of Kentucky College of Law
DAVID C. SHORT, University of Kentucky College of Law
FREDERICK W. WHITESIDE, JR., University of Kentucky
College of Law
LOUISIANA
ROBERT CLAYTON, Tulane Law School
OLIVER HOUCK, Tulane Law School
JANE JOHNSON, Tulane Law School
JOHN KRAMER, Dean, Tulane Law School
ROBERT KUEHN, Tulane Law School
JOHN STICK, Tulane Law School
KEITH WERHAN, Tulane Law School
MAINE
ORLANDO DELOGU, University of Maine School of Law
ALISON RIESER, University of Maine School of Law
MARYLAND
W. SCOTT BURNS, University of Maryland School of Law
ROBERT J. CONDLIN, University of Maryland School of Law
THERESA GLENNON, University of Maryland School of Law
EVERETT F. GOLDBERG, University of Maryland School of Law
ROBERT V. PERCIVAL, University of Maryland School of Law
MASSACHUSETTS
BROOK K. BAKER, Northeastern University School of Law
CHARLES BARON, Boston College Law School
DONALD H. BERMAN, Northeastern University School of Law
NATHANIEL BERMAN, Northeastern University School of Law
LEE P. BRECKENRIDGE, Northeastern University School of Law
JUDITH OLANS BROWN, Northeastern University School of Law
THOMAS P. CAMPBELL, Northeastern University School of Law
EDWARD O. CORREIA, Northeastern University School of Law
RICHARD A. DAYNARD, Northeastern University School of Law
PETER ENRICH, Northeastern University School of Law
CHARLES L. FIELD, Northeastern University School of Law
DANIEL GIVELBER, Dean, Northeastern University School of Law
PHYLLIS GOLDFARB, Boston College Law School
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
10
MASSACHUSETTS (CONT.)
JAMES HACKNEY, Northeastern University School of Law
DEAN HASHIMOTO, Boston College Law School
KIMBERLY HAWKINS, Northeastern University School of Law
KARL E. KLARE, Northeastern University School of Law
RENEE M. LANDERS, Boston College Law School
HOPE LEWIS, Northeastern University School of Law
JEAN E. McEWEN, Boston College Law School
MARY E. O'CONNELL, Northeastern University School of Law
ZYGMUNT J. B. PLATER, Boston College Law School
DEBORAH A. RAMIREZ, Northeastern University School of Law
SUSAN K. SCOTT, Associate Dean, Northeastern University
School of Law
STEPHEN N. SUBRIN, Northeastern University School of Law
PAUL R. TREMBLAY, Boston College Law School
RAJINDER S. WALIA, Northeastern University School of Law
LUCY WILLIAMS, Northeastern University School of Law
MARGARET Y. K. WOO, Northeastern University School of Law
MICHIGAN
BO ABRAMS, Wayne State University Law School
DONALD DUQUETTE, University of Michigan Law School
JULIE KUNCE FIELD, University of Michigan Law School
SUSAN HEDMAN, University of Michigan Law School
MARK MITSHKUN, University of Michigan Law School
MARK VAN PUTTEN, University of Michigan Law School
JOSEPH VINING, University of Michigan Law School
MARY F. WHITE, University of Michigan Law School
MINNESOTA
STEPHEN BEFORT, University of Minnesota Law School
CAROL CHOMSKY, University of Minnesota Law School
LAURA COOPER, University of Minnesota Law School
DANIEL FARBER, University of Minnesota Law School
MIKE TONRY, University of Minnesota Law School
MISSISSIPPI
RICHARD BARNES, University of Mississippi School of Law
DEBORAH BELL, University of Mississippi School of Law
RONALD RYCHLAK, University of Mississippi School of Law
MISSOURI
M. SUSAN CARLSON, Washington University School of Law
D. BRUCE LA PIERRE, Washington University School of Law
STEPHEN H. LEGOMSKY, Washington University School of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
11
MISSOURI (CONT.)
RONALD M. LEVIN, Associate Dean, Washington University
School of Law
DANIEL R. MANDELKER, Washington University School of Law
CHARLES R. McMANIS, Washington University School of Law
JOHN W. RAGSDALE, JR., University of Missouri - Kansas City
School of Law
KAREN L. TOKARZ, Washington University School of Law
MONTANA
MARGERY H. BROWN, University of Montana School of Law
BARI R. BURKE, University of Montana School of Law
BRENDA C. DESMOND, University of Montana School of Law
CARL TOBIAS, University of Montana School of Law
JACK TUHOLSKE, University of Montana School of Law
NEBRASKA
ROBERT C. DENICOLA, University of Nebraska College of Law
RICHARD HARNSBERGER, University of Nebraska College of Law
EMILY FOWLER HARTIGAN, University of Nebraska College of Law
PETER T. HOFFMAN, University of Nebraska College of Law
CRAIG M. LAWSON, University of Nebraska College of Law
ROBERT L. McGEORGE, University of Nebraska College of Law
KEVIN RUSER, University of Nebraska College of Law
ROBERT F. SCHOPP, University of Nebraska College of Law
JOHN ROCKWELL SNOWDEN, University of Nebraska College of Law
STEVEN L. WILLBORN, University of Nebraska College of Law
NEW HAMPSHIRE
RUTH CHEVION, Franklin Pierce Law Center
JAMES DUGGAN, Franklin Pierce Law Center
THOMAS FIELD, JR., Franklin Pierce Law Center
BRUCE FRIEDMAN, Franklin Pierce Law Center
RICHARD HESSE, Franklin Pierce Law Center
LINDA HUPP, Franklin Pierce Law Center
ELLEN MUSINSKY, Franklin Pierce Law Center
SARAH REDFIELD, Franklin Pierce Law Center
ARPY SAUNDERS, Franklin Pierce Law Center
NEW JERSEY
RONALD CHEN, Rutgers University (Newark) School of Law
CHRISTOPHER CLANCY, Seton Hall University School of Law
GARY FRANCIONE, Rutgers University (Newark) School of Law
CAROL GOFORTH, Seton Hall University School of Law
SCOTT GOULD, Rutgers University (Newark) School of Law
EUGENE GRESSMAN, Seton Hall University School of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
12
NEW JERSEY (CONT.)
ALAN HYDE, Rutgers University (Newark) School of Law
JONATHAN HYMAN, Rutgers University (Newark) School of Law
DENIS McLAUGHLIN, Seton Hall University School of Law
MARC POIRIER, Seton Hall University School of Law
ANNAMAY SHEPPARD, Rutgers University (Newark) School of Law
NADINE TAUB, Rutgers University (Newark) School of Law
PAUL TRACHTENBERG, Rutgers University (Newark) School of Law
MICHAEL ZIMMER, Associate Dean, Seton Hall U. School of Law
NEW MEXICO
CHARLES DUMARS, University of New Mexico School of Law
NEW YORK
MARK BARENBERG, Columbia University School of Law
CURTIS J. BERGER, Columbia University School of Law
TERRY BLACK, Pace University School of Law
STEPHEN J. ELLMANN, Columbia University School of Law
CYNTHIA R. FARINA, Cornell Law School
MARTHA L. FINEMAN, Columbia University School of Law
RICHARD D. GEIGER, Assistant Dean, Cornell Law School
WALTER GELLHORN, Columbia University School of Law
FRANK P. GRAD, Columbia University School of Law
JANE L. HAMMOND, Cornell Law School
ALFRED HILL, Columbia University School of Law
ROBERT A. HILLMAN, Cornell Law School
BARBARA J. HOLDEN-SMITH, Cornell Law School
JOHN HUMBACH, Pace University School of Law
SHERI LYNN JOHNSON, Cornell Law School
JOHN KASDAN, Columbia University School of Law
ROBERT B. KENT, Cornell Law School
JOHN M. KERNOCHAN, Columbia University School of Law
JAMES S. LIEBMAN, Columbia University School of Law
ANNE LUKINGBEAL, Associate Dean, Cornell Law School
DAVID LYONS, Cornell Law School
PETER W. MARTIN, Cornell Law School
JOANNE MINER, Cornell Law School
DALE A. OESTERLE, Cornell Law School
RICHARD OTTINGER, Pace University School of Law
KELLIS E. PARKER, Columbia University School of Law
NICOLAS A. ROBINSON, Pace University School of Law
BARBARA SCHATZ, Columbia University School of Law
JOHN A. SILICIANO, Cornell Law School
WILLIAM SLYE, Pace University School of Law
GRAHAM B. STRONG, Cornell Law School
H. RICHARD UVILLER, Columbia University School of Law
DAVID C. WILLIAMS, Cornell Law School
SUSAN HOFFMAN WILLIAMS, Cornell Law School
DAVID R. WOOLEY, Pace University School of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
13
NORTH CAROLINA
DON HORNSTEIN, University of North Carolina School of Law
JOSEPH J. KALO, University of North Carolina School of Law
CHRISTOPHER SCHROEDER, Duke University School of Law
NORTH DAKOTA
MICHAEL J. AHLEN, University of North Dakota School of Law
ALEXANDER J. BoTT, University of North Dakota School of Law
W. JEREMY DAVIS, Dean, University of North Dakota School of Law
PATRICIA BRUMFIELD FRY, University of North Dakota School of Law
CHRISTOPHRER R. KELLEY, University of North Dakota School of Law
RANDY H. LEE, University of North Dakota School of Law
BARRY F. SHANKS, University of North Dakota School of Law
LARRY R. SPAIN, University of North Dakota School of Law
CANDACE M. ZIERDT, University of North Dakota School of Law
OHIO
FRANCIS X. BEYTAGH, Dean, Ohio State University College of Law
MICHAEL BRAUNSTEIN, Ohio State University College of Law
SANFORD CAUST-ELLENBOGEN, Ohio State University College of Law
EDWARD B. FOLEY, Ohio State University College of Law
DAVID GOLDBERGER, Ohio State University College of Law
ARTHUR F. GREENBAUM, Ohio State University College of Law
SHELDON W. HALPERN, Ohio State University College of Law
LAWRENCE HERMAN, Ohio State University College of Law
TIMOTHY S. JOST, Ohio State University College of Law
P. JOHN KOZYRIS, Ohio State University College of Law
CRAIG A. McEWEN, Ohio State University College of Law
EARL FINBAR MURPHY, Ohio State University College of Law
JOANNE WHARTON MURPHY, Assistant Dean, Ohio State University
College of Law
KATHY S. NORTHERN, Ohio State University College of Law
JOHN B. QUIGLEY, Ohio State University College of Law
NANCY B. RAPOPORT, Ohio State University College of Law
RHONDA R. RIVERA, Ohio State University College of Law
NANCY H. ROGERS, Ohio State University College of Law
ALLAN J. SAMANSKY, Ohio State University College of Law
PHILIP C. SORENSEN, Ohio State University College of Law
GREGORY TRAVALIO, Assoc. Dean, Ohio State University
College of Law
DOUGLAS WHALEY, Ohio State University College of Law
CHARLES E. WILSON, Ohio State University College of Law
OKLAHOMA
FREDERICK LEWIS, Oklahoma City University School of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
14
OREGON
PAULA ABRAMS, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis
and Clark College
DAVID E. ATKIN, University of Oregon Law Center
MICHAEL AXLINE, University of Oregon Law Center
STEVEN W. BENDER, University of Oregon Law Center
JOHN BOGDANSKI, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis
and Clark College
JOHN E. BONINE, University of Oregon Law Center
CHAPIN D. CLARK, University of Oregon Law Center
WILLIAM FUNK, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis
and Clark College
IBRAHIM GASSAMA, University of Oregon Law Center
LESLIE J. HARRIS, University of Oregon Law Center
RICHARD HILDRETH, University of Oregon Law Center
JAMES HOFFMAN, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis
and Clark College
GREGORY A. JOHNSON, University of Oregon Law Center
CRAIG JOHNSTON, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis
and Clark College
STEVEN KANTER, Dean, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis
and Clark College
JAMES M. O'FALLON, University of Oregon Law Center
GEORGE M. PLATT, University of Oregon Law Center
MARTHA L. RICE, University of Oregon Law Center
KRIS OLSON ROGERS, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis
and Clark College
DAN ROHLF, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College
DAVID SCHUMAN, University of Oregon Law Center
DOMINIC L. VETRI, University of Oregon Law Center
PAUL WILSON, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark
College
PENNSYLVANIA
EDWIN BAKER, University of Pennsylvania Law School
RAYMOND GALLAGHER, Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg
CHARLIE GEYH, Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg
MICHAEL GOLDBERG, Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg
BRUCE H. MANN, University of Pennsylvania Law School
JAMES MAY, Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg
DAVID RUDOVSKY, University of Pennsylvania Law School
ANDREW STRAUSS, Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg
SOUTH CAROLINA
GREGORY B. ADAMS, University of South Carolina School of Law
LEWIS W. BURKE, JR., University of South Carolina School of Law
KATHARINE BUTLER, University of South Carolina School of Law
RANDALL M. CHASTAIN, University of South Carolina School of Law
VANCE L. COWDEN, University of South Carolina School of Law
ROBERT FELIX, University of South Carolina School of Law
JAMES F. FLANAGAN, University of South Carolina School of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
15
SOUTH CAROLINA (CONT.)
PATRICK J. FLYNN, University of South Carolina School of Law
JOHN P. FREEMAN, University of South Carolina School of Law
F. PATRICK HUBBARD, University of South Carolina School of Law
BRUCE S. JOHNSON, University of South Carolina School of Law
HERBERT A. JOHNSON, University of South Carolina School of Law
DAVID K. LINNAN, University of South Carolina School of Law
HENRY MATHER, University of South Carolina School of Law
WILLIAM S. McANINCH, University of South Carolina School of Law
MARTIN C. McWILLIAMS, JR., U. of South Carolina School of Law
JOHN MONTGOMERY, Dean, University of South Carolina School of Law
LIBBA PATTERSON, University of South Carolina School of Law
WALTER A. REISER, JR., University of South Carolina School of Law
ELDON D. WEDLOCK, University of South Carolina School of Law
SOUTH DAKOTA
JOHN H. DAVIDSON, University of South Dakota School of Law
TENNESEE
FRANCES ANSLEY, University of Tennesee College of Law
ANDREW GODDARD, Vanderbilt University School of Law
GLENN REYNOLDS, University of Tennesee College of Law
BARBARA STARK, University of Tennesee College of Law
GREG STEIN, University of Tennesee College of Law
JIM THOMPSON, University of Tennesee College of Law
TEXAS
MICHAEL CHURGIN, University of Texas School of Law
SANFORD E. GAINES, University of Houston Law Center
THOMAS O. McGARITY, University of Texas School of Law
ROY M. MERSKY, University of Texas School of Law
L.A. (SCOT) POWE, JR., University of Texas School of Law
KARL RABAGO, University of Houston Law Center
UTAH
DAVID DOMINGUEZ, Brigham Young U., J. Reuben Clark Law School
FREDERICK M. GEDICKS, Brigham Young U., J. Reuben Clark
Law School
JAMES D. GORDON III, Brigham Young U., J. Reuben Clark Law School
CONSTANCE K. LUNDBERG, Associate Dean, Brigham Young U.,
J. Reuben Clark Law School
KEVIN J. WORTHEN, Brigham Young U., J. Reuben Clark Law School
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
16
VERMONT
DAVID B. FIRESTONE, Vermont Law School
MARTHA JUDY, Vermont Law School
VIRGINIA
LYNN A. BAKER, University of Virginia School of Law
RICHARD D. BALNAVE, University of Virginia School of Law
WADE BERRYHILL, University of Richmond - T.C. Williams
School of Law
RICHARD J. BONNIE, University of Virginia School of Law
MICHAEL P. DOOLEY, University of Virginia School of Law
MICHAEL J. KLARMAN, University of Virginia School of Law
JODY S. KRAUS, University of Virginia School of Law
DANIEL R. ORTIZ, University of Virginia School of Law
GLEN O. ROBINSON, University of Virginia School of Law
RONALD ROSENBERG, College of William and Mary - Marshall Wythe
School of Law
GEORGE RUTHERGLEN, University of Virginia School of Law
PETER P. SWIRE, University of Virginia School of Law
WASHINGTON
JANET AINSWORTH, University of Puget Sound School of Law
WILLIAM R. ANDERSEN, University of Washington School of Law
MELINDA BRANSCOMB, University of Puget Sound School of Law
WILLIAM T. BURKE, University of Washington School of Law
DONALD M. CARMICHAEL, University of Puget Sound School of Law
DONALD C. CLARKE, University of Washington School of Law
SHELDON S. FRANKEL, University of Puget Sound School of Law
STEWART JAY, University of Washington School of Law
RALPH W. JOHNSON, University of Washington School of Law
JOHN M. JUNKER, University of Washington School of Law
ALAN KIRTLEY, University of Washington School of Law
DEBORAH MARANVILLE, University of Washington School of Law
WILLIAM C. OLTMAN, University of Puget Sound School of Law
CORNELIUS J. PECK, University of Washington School of Law
MARK REUTLINGER, University of Puget Sound School of Law
LEA VAUGHN, University of Washington School of Law
JOHN W. WEAVER, University of Puget Sound School of Law
KENNETH R. WING, University of Puget Sound School of Law
LOUIS E. WOLCHER, University of Washington School of Law
WEST VIRGINIA
GERALD G. ASHDOWN, West Virginia University College of Law
THOMAS C. CADY, West Virginia University College of Law
CHARLES R. DiSALVO, West Virginia University College of Law
JIM FRIEDBERG, West Virginia University College of Law
JEFF L. LEWIN, West Virginia University College of Law
PATRICK C. McGINLEY, West Virginia University College of Law
DALE P. OLSON, West Virginia University College of Law
CAMILLE M. RILEY, West Virginia University College of Law
EMILY SPIELER, West Virginia University College of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
17
WISCONSIN
ARLEN CHRISTENSON, University of Wisconsin Law School
JAMES E. JONES, JR., University of Wisconsin Law School
MARYGOLD S. MELLI, University of Wisconsin Law School
GERALD J. THAIN, University of Wisconsin Law School
JOSEPH R. THOME, University of Wisconsin Law School
CLIFF F. THOMPSON, University of Wisconsin Law School
WILLIAM C. WHITFORD, University of Wisconsin Law School
WYOMING
JOAN BINDER, University of Wyoming College of Law
MARY FRANCES BLACKSTONE, University of Wyoming College of Law
JOHN BURMAN, University of Wyoming College of Law
ROB FISCHMAN, University of Wyoming College of Law
ROBERT B. KEITER, University of Wyoming College of Law
DEBRA MADSEN, Assistant Dean, U. of Wyoming College of Law
GEORGE RUDOLPH, University of Wyoming College of Law
MARK SQUILLACE, University of Wyoming College of Law
JACK VAN BAALEN, University of Wyoming College of Law
The inclusion of titles and affiliations is for indentification purposes
only and is not intended to represent the views of any school.
ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSING RE-ENACTMENT OF
RESTRICTIONS ON JUDICIAL REVIEW
Alliance for Justice
Mexican American Legal Defense
American Civil Liberties Union
and Education Fund
American Fisheries Society
National Audubon Society
American Rivers
National Organization for Women Legal
Center for Auto Safety
Defense and Education Fund
Center for Law and Social Policy
National Parks and Conservation
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Association
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
National Wildlife Federation
Conservation Law Foundation
National Women's Law Center
Consumer Federation of America
Native American Rights Fund
Consumers Union
Natural Resources Defense Council
Defenders of Wildlife
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
Environmental Action
Oregon Trial Lawyers Association
Environmental Defense Fund
People for the American Way
Equal Rights Advocates
Public Advocates
Friends of the Earth
Public Citizen's Congress Watch
Government Accountability Project
Public Voice
Gray Panthers
Rainbow Lobby
Greenpeace, U.S.A.
Sierra Club
Institute for Public Representation
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund
Juvenile Law Center
Southern Environmental Law Center
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
The Wilderness Society
League of Women Voters of the U.S.
Union of Concerned Scientists
Mental Health Law Project
Women's Legal Defense Fund
ATTORNEYS GENERAL OPPOSING RE-ENACTMENT
OF RESTRICTIONS ON JUDICIAL REVIEW (1991-92)
ALABAMA: James H. Evans
NEW HAMPSHIRE: John P. Arnold
ARIZONA: Grant Woods
NEW JERSEY: Robert J. Del Tufo
ARKANSAS: Winston Bryant
NEW MEXICO: Tom Udall
CONNECTICUT: Richard Blumenthal
NEW YORK: Robert Abrams
FLORIDA: Robert A. Butterworth
NORTH DAKOTA: Nicholas J. Spaeth
IOWA: Bonnie J. Campbell
OHIO: Lee Fisher
MAINE: Michael E. Carpenter
RHODE ISLAND: James E. O'Neil
MASSACHUSETTS: Scott Harshbarger
SOUTH CAROLINA: T. Travis Medlock
MICHIGAN: Frank J. Kelley
TENNESSEE: Charles W. Burson
MINNESOTA: Hubert H. Humphrey III
TEXAS: Dan Morales
MISSISSIPPI: Mike Moore
UTAH: Paul Van Dam
NEVADA: Frankie Sue Del Papa
WISCONSIN: James E. Doyle
Printed on unbleached, 100% recycled paper
1/7/92
Fish
The nine main salmon species native to the Pacific Northwest support
commercial and recreational fishing industries that produce more than $1 billion
in personal income per year and have a 60,000 job impact in the region.
In 1988, the commercial salmon industry contributed roughly $320 million to
the Pacific states' economies and generated approximately 15,250 jobs.
Recreational fishing in the Pacific Northwest region is responsible for about
$931 million in annual personal income and generates 47,500 jobs.
Since 1900, loss of fish habitat has contributed to the extinction of 73% of the
40 native North American fishes known to be extinct. The American Fisheries
Society (AFS) lists 106 populations of west coast salmon and steelhead as
extinct and identifies 214 native, naturally-spawning stocks of anadromous (sea
going) fish species as threatened in Oregon, California, Idaho, and Washington.
In the Northwest, 175 of these wild fish stocks are at risk from the effects of
logging and road building.
65% of fish species native to California are extinct, endangered, or in need of
special protection to prevent them from becoming endangered.
Forestry, grazing, agriculture, urbanization, and other land and water
management practices can damage and destroy fish habitats. The Northwest's
fisheries are declining because of the damage to fish habitats.
Successful fish spawning requires certain stream conditions including cool, well-
oxygenated, and fresh water and food. In areas without logging, standing trees
provide essential shade. Then, trees die naturally and fall into the streams; these
downed logs are essential for healthy fish habitats because they modify stream
flow and create a variety of in-stream pools and side channels fish use for
shelter, rest, and protection.
In addition to destroying the benefits of downed logs, logging and road building
increase the amount of fine sediment in streams by 10 to 1000 times. The
increased sedimentation adversely affects the viability of salmon eggs as well as
the fish's ability to feed: salmon are visual feeders, and they can't see their
food in water with high levels of suspended sediments.
Logging frequently removes tress that line the sides of stream. These stream
side trees are supposed to provide shade-vital for keeping water temperatures
down, particularly during summer months when water levels are low. In
southwest Oregon and northwest California, stream temperatures can reach and
exceed lethal degrees without adequate shading.
III. fish
43
In April 1992, the Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to cut by
approximately half the number of salmon that can be fished off California,
Oregon, and Washington during the 1992 season.
In an October 1991 report to the U.S. House of Representatives (Agriculture
and Merchant Marine Committees), the Scientific Panel on Late-Successional
Forest Ecosystems said that under existing forest plans, the prospects for fish
survival is "very low" to "low. The Scientific Panel recommended protection
for 137 watersheds* in the Coast, Siskiyou, Cascade and Olympic ranges.
The "Watershed Option," developed by the Scientific Panel on Late-
Successional Forest Ecosystems in the report listed above, is a set of
recommendations to Congress. It suggests logging and roadbuilding restrictions
that would protect 90 fish stocks identified as at risk of extinction within the
range of the spotted owl. It was developed specifically to maintain and restore
(1) ecological functions and processes in streams and (2) habitat of potential
threatened and endangered fish species and stocks of anadromous salmonids.
There is considerable overlap between high-quality spotted owl habitat proposed
for protection under the Forest Service Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
and the "Key Watersheds" proposed for protection by the Scientific Panel on
Late Successional Forest Ecosystems. There also is overlap between existing
protected areas-National Parks, for example-and the Key Watersheds. This
overlap is to be expected, since prime old growth and late successional forests
provide good habitat for a wide range of creatures including fish and owls.
Although measures needed to protect owls are not identical to those needed to
protect fish, the logging and road building restrictions within proposed owl
areas would extend much of the needed protection to fish habitats.
*A watershed is a portion of the forest in which all surface water drains to a common point. Watersheds
can range from a few tens of acres that drain a small intermittent stream to many thousands of acres for a
stream that drains hundreds of connected intermittent and perennial streams.
44
III. fish
III.
Key Issues
America's Forest Service:
A Record of Lawbreaking and Timber Industry Favoritism
The federal government continually has put the interests of big timber companies ahead
of protecting wildlife and other forest values.
The Fish and Wildlife Service broke the law by not listing the spotted owl under the
Endangered Species Act (the agency subsequently relented); The Bureau of Land
Management violated the National Environmental Policy Act by not preparing an
adequate environmental impact statement on logging's effect on the owl; The Forest
Service violated the National Forest Management Act by not protecting the owl.
Most of the publicly owned ancient forests are managed by the U.S. Forest Service,
which has pursued a policy of aggressive clearcutting.
For the past 20 years, the Forest Service has spent 35% of its budget on the timber
program and only 2% on recreation, fish and wildlife, and soil management.
Nationwide, the national forests contain more than 340,000 miles of operable roads that
are used for timber operations. These 340,000 miles of road are 8 times longer than the
entire interstate highway system-and enough road to go around the world more than 8
times.
For every mile of road built in unfragmented old growth, approximately 97 acres of old
growth forests are altered by the effects of the construction.
Major logging roads cost $45,000 per mile on average-paid by the American
taxpayer.
American taxpayers foot the bill for marketing and preparing timber lands because the
Forest Service doesn't pass these costs on to the timber industry. Over the next ten
years, American taxpayers will have to cover $2 billion of losses on timber sales.
Replanting isn't always successful. The Forest Service acknowledges that in order to
meet replanting goals, they must replant up to twice as many trees as they want to have
standing five years later.
The Forest Service then uses survival rates based on the target number rather than the
actual number of trees planted; if, for example, 300 trees survive in an area with a 300-
tree goal, the Forest Service reports a 100% survival rate even if 600 trees were
planted to achieve this objective.
According to Forest Service reports, survival rates for trees planted in EPA Region 6
(Oregon and Washington) range from 61% to 83% (FY 1991).
LeRoy Lee, a former Forest Service employee, has stated that the Forest Service
counted 30,000 acres of trees that had been clearcut as still standing. Also, in one
11. government lawlessness
35
ranger district, nearly three-fourths of the barren, clearcut lands were still counted as
mature stands of timber.
Al Isaacson, a 23-year veteran Forest Service hydrologist, resigned his post rather than
accept a transfer after he complained that excessive logging was damaging water quality
on Idaho's Panhandle National Forest. Isaacson testified, "we're getting 200-year
floods three or four times a year that are directly proportional to clearcuts in the area."
John McCormick, former head of the Forest Service's whistle-blower program testified
before Congress saying that the Forest Service does little to prevent timber theft and
overlooks illegal timber harvesting techniques.
Montana Regional Forester John Mumma resigned because he refused to log the illegal
and unsustainable volumes directed by his superiors.
In 1990, Forest Supervisors across the country warned the Forest Service was "out of
control." They complained that the agency's emphasis on timber "does not reflect
land stewardship values" and does not meet the "expectations of our public and our
employees." Since that announcement, a continuous stream of whistle-blowers has
described widespread corruption including falsified data, silenced dissent, timber theft,
and illegal logging.
Only the courts have been able to stop the administration from continuing to decimate
our nation's forests. In his opinion halting the sale of timber on 66,000 acres of spotted
owl habitat, U.S. District Judge William Dwyer said that he saw a "remarkable series
of violations of environmental laws a deliberate and systematic refusal by the Forest
Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service to comply with the laws protecting wildlife."
Dwyer continued, "This is not the doing of the scientists, foresters, rangers, and others
at the working level of these agencies. It reflects decisions made by higher authorities
in the executive branch of government."
In May 1990, Forest Service biologist Jack Ward Thomas and a panel of government
scientists concluded that existing forest practices were a "prescription for extinction" of
the owl.
The new Forest Service plan ignores new science showing that declines in owl
population are 7 to 10 times greater than previously indicated.
36
III. government lawlessness
Can't See the Forest for the Sleaze
By John McCormick
placed on whistle-blower charges, I
Whistle-blowers
was ordered to handle those allega-
tions, although there was no training
WASHINGTON
are an endangered
er even a- inb description for nine
he Forest Service sim-
months
T
ply does not tolerate
freedom of dissent;
species.
Al the whistle-blower desk, it be-
came obvious that my own nightmare
"whistle-blower" is a
was the rule rather than the excep-
four-letter word. The
tion. The quantity of whistle-blower
agency has become
allegations has increased sevenfold
comfortable with lying to the public,
the law, I know when public service
ignoring long-festering problems and
since 1987. What follows are. exam-
has been replaced by 3 sellout: That is
ples of standard whistle-blower con-
serving the timber industry as Gov-
the case at the Forest Service.
erriment agents of environmental de-
cerns that continue to-go unheeded:
I joined the agency in 1976, and led
The Forest Service has done little to
struction rather than environmental
investigations for successful prosecu-
protection.
prevent umber theft. Loggers har-
tions of negligence fires by logging
I do not come to these conclusions
vest trees that cannot lawfully be cut
companies, the Government's first
under environmental laws and then
lightly. I have dedicated my entire
timber theft case and its then-largest
professional life to public service and
avoid paying the Government for the
successful timber theft prosecution.
trees because there is no record of the
am an outdoorsman in my personal
In 1984, however, my career began
time who deeply loves our environ-
harvests having occurred. On other
to sour while I was the regional spe-
ment, including the national forests.
cial agent in Alaska. After uncover-
occasions, logging companies them-
After 30 years of hard work and
ing instances of timber theft, improp-
selves, some with Forest Service per-
sometimes risking my life to defend
er road construction in the national
mission, apply the markings that
forests, conflict of interest and per-
specify which can be cut legally.
John McCormick headed the Forest
sonal corruption, I was ordered off
Illegai timber, harvesting tech-
Service's whistle-blower program
key investigations and pressured into
niques, particularly the use of heavy
from 1989 until his retirement this
taking an assignment in Georgia.
machinery that leaves diesel oil spills
month. This article is based on his
After another reassignment. I was
and. contaminates watersheds, are
prepared testimony today before the
often overlooked. These areas are so
exiled to a nonexistent headquarters
House Civil Service Subcomittee.
job. To illustrate the idw priority
sensitive that, horses used to haul
timber must wear diapers to avoid
fouling the streams.
Reports and alata have been tam-
pered with to permit illegal harvest-
ing in habitats necessary for endan-
gered species such as the spotted owl
and bald eagle.
New York Times
There IS a tradition of pork barrel
projects; such as a $160 million con-
tract for a road to nowhere in Alaska
January 29, 1992
while ! was stationed there.
Regional foresters have complete
authority over whistie-blowing inves-
ligations, including those involving
their own conduct. This has created
an obvious conflict of interest.
Employees who do not cooperate
with attempted cover-ups of agency
misconduct 3.00 often punished. Em-
playees the transferred across the
country. sometimes by mid-level
managers, withonly two weeks notice
after the decision has been made.
Forest Service regulations allow only
the agency chief to make such deci-
sions and require 30 days notice be-
fore reassignment. Empioyees are
also obstructed from doing their
jobs: training is denied, instructions
are changed, information is withheld.
Regional officials often settle cases
involving illegal logging by demand-
ing repayment. This makes criminal
presecutions effectively impossible
and has caused the U.S. Attorney to
drop cases. Further. in civil settle-
ments, violators frequently are not
required to repay the value of the
timber, let alone the "triple stump-
age" penalty. The crime remains
profitable even when wrongdoers are
caught.
Sexual corruption is illustrated by
practices such as bringing prostitutes
into a Forest Service district office
and and 910 the forest in a "Love
"un," Pnon. cd by taxpayer dollars.
The most taking feature of these
chases is that they keep occurring. As
as de whistle-blower system at
the Forest Service absorbs employee
concerns rather than acting on them
responsibly, the pattern of lawless-
PULL will continue.
Protecting a Vanishing Ecosystem
New York Times March 24, 1989
IN THE NATION
Tom Wicker
Forests
Are Still
Vanishing
he Eastern region of the United
regulates most of the nation's re-
An active Federal tree-planting
States once was covered with
maining old-growth timber, almost
program was established in the 1985
dense forests. Westward to
all of It in the Pacific Northwest and
farm bill but the need is enormous
about the 95th meridian. beyond the
Alaska. including the important term-
and growing with every slash of the
Mississippi River, mighty trees cov-
perate rain forests of the Olympic
saw. The Wilderness Society esti-
ered the land, save in what are now II-
Peninsula in Washington. But that
mates that up 10 3.1 million Forest
linois and Iowa
doesn't mean these forests are pro-
Service acres need to be reforested.
Not until the mid-19th century did
tected from cutting.
The American Forestry Association
settlers moving west. "which they
The Forest Service is charged not
has identified 20 million open acres in
had for generations seen at sunset
with preserving forests but with
the Southeast alone that should be
through traceries of the twigs and
their utilization - timber produc-
planted to trees.
leafage of the primal forests." reach
tivity as well as recreation and the
In cities. towns and suburbs, which
the Grest Plains and stand "at last
protection of wildlife habitat and
the Forestry Association calls "heat
with the forests behind them."
ecosystems. So it regularly permits
islands," it urges the need by 1992
That was the end of "Book One of
private lumber companies, as they
for 100 million more trees to be
our history." wrote Herbert Quick
deplete their own forests, to cut For-
planted 5 yards around houses and
an lowa editor and novelist, in his au-
est Service timber.
businesses. and 60 million more
tobiography. Even by then the great
Old-growth trees, 300 or more
along streets - not just for scenery
forests through which the pioneers
years old, make particularly valuable
but to achieve huge savings in
had pushed with ax and rifle were
timber for their huge size and tight
energy use.
pocked and spotted with farm clear-
grain. Critics charge that the Forest
Deforestation anywhere - in Mon-
ings and primitive roads: as the na-
Service does not sufficiently protect
tana or Brazil - means soil erosion,
tion developed into an agricultural-
these irreplaceable trees or the re-
fouled streams. increased vulnerabil-
industrial colossus, the destruction
markable ecosystems that surround
ity to flood and wind, vanished habi-
of the Eastern forests rapidly pro-
them, and that it contends twice as
tat extinct species, a heritage dis-
ceeded.
much old-growth remains on Its lands
carded. The disappearance of trees.
Now there's little left of the vast
as IS actually the case.
moreover, with their capacity, ab-
tree cover that once stretched from
Wilderness Society officials be
sorbing carbons from the atmos-
the Atlantic to the Mississippi and be-
lieve, for example, that within two or
phere. IS a major cause of global
yond; and only on the Pacific Slope
three years no "ecologically signifi-
warming. with all its dangers. In
are ancient or "old-growth" forests in
cant" old-growth will remain in the
these circumstances, the United
sizable tracts still to be found in this
Gifford Pinchot National Forest in
States needs to plant more and cut
country. Even they may be gona
Washington. West Coast conifer for-
less: until it does, the finger it points
within 20 or 30 years.
ests unique to the United States are
at others will not be clean.
Thus has the United States done
being CUL too: sometimes mixed
throughout its history what a right-
stands of spruce, hemlock and cedar
eous world denounces Brazil for
are inadequately replaced with Doug-
doing today; no wonder Brazilian
las fir alone, making for a very differ-
leaders point to the United States as
ent forest. In old-growth areas. of
their roie model un deforestation And
course, sapiings planted today hardly
even without Brani's development
replace trees that took hundreds of
needs, the U.S. continues to clear
years to grow.
away its most vahuable foresta.
For the loggers to get at the trees,
The United States Forest Service
roads must be CUL, increasing forest
destruction and preventing affected
areas from-ever being declared pro-
tected "wilderness." In six Southern
The U.S. has
Appalachian national forests encom-
passing 3.5 million acres. the Forest
long done
Service plans to open more than two
million acres to logging in the next
what Brazil
decade, doubling the timber harvest
The plans call (or more than 3,000
miles of new roads in the SLX areas.
is now being
criticized for.
©1989 The New York Times
A 36
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
A critic argues that the U.S. Forest Service, protected from
congressional scrutiny by pork-barrel politics and imaginative bookkeeping,
is devastating America's national forests through needless and unprofitable timber sales.
A feasible and inexpensive policy alternative is available
THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE
NATIONAL FORESTS
BY PERRI KNIZE
HERE ONCE WAS A TIME WHEN IF A TREE WAS FELLED IN THE FOREST, NO-
T
body saw, and business went on as usual. But now a tree can't be felled
anywhere in the national forests without causing violent tremors all the
way to Washington, D.C. There the bureaucrats at the once-proud and
formerly revered U.S. Forest Service, the administrators of the national forests, are
losing credibility as forty years of forest devastation come to light.
While our government supports schemes to trade
When I joined the U.S. Forest Service as a volunteer
Third World debt for intact Third World rain forests and
wilderness guard. in the summer of 1983, I, like most
dispatches American foresters to Ecuador and Honduras
Americans, thought the Forest Service was a conservation
to aid those countries in proper forest management. the
organization dedicated to preserving the nation's wild
Forest Service is deforesting our national timberlands at a
lands. I was vaguely aware that the Forest Service sold
rate that rivals Brazil's. What remains of America's origi-
trees, but was unprepared for the extensive logging roads
nal virgin forests is being clipped away daily on our pub-
and cutting I saw on the Beaverhead and Bitterroot na-
lic lands, lands that contain the most biomass per acre of
tional forests, in southwest Montana. Entire mountain-
any forests on the planet. We are losing intact ecosys-
sides were shorn of cover. and rough roads crisscrossed
tems, watersheds, fish habitat, wildlife habitat. recre-
their faces, creating terraces that bled topsoil into the riv-
ation lands, and native-species diversity to a degree that
ers when the snows melted in spring. Since that summer
may be irreparable.
I've traveled to national forests all over the United States.
Once, the land could accommodate this "manage-
from the Carolinas to Alaska, and seen the same and worse:
ment" without attracting much notice. The national for-
Entire mountain ranges have their faces shaved in swaths
ests, unlike national parks, have traditionally provided
of forty to a hundred acres which from the air resemble
wood, grass, and minerals to the private sector. But popu-
mange. From the ground these forests, charred and
lation growth, shifting demographics, and reduced re-
smoking from slash burning,
sources mean that foresters are increasingly hard-pressed
look like battlefields.
to find forest areas where nobody will see the clear-cuts.
98
ILLUSTRATIONS BY NICHOLAS GAETANO
OCTOBER 1991
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
I was shocked: the Forest Service seemed mòre con-
minority of passionate nature lovers who are considered
cerned about selling trees than about the vitality of the
extremist, virtually everyone I've interviewed over the
public's forests. Yet I met many dedicated Forest Service
past eight years says that ending national-forest logging is
employees at all levels of the agency who were terribly
impractical if not impossible.
unhappy about the emphasis on timber, and I felt com-
A thoughtful look at the condition of our forests, the
pelled to learn as much as I could about why the Forest
needs of our communities, and the national demand for
Service was pursuing such an apparently destructive policy.
wood products reveals that ending national-forest logging
After all, the national forests supply only about 15 per-
is not only possible but also highly pragmatic. In fact, we
cent of the nation's wood. and Forest Service research
can end logging on the national forests and at the same
shows that if that timber were removed from the market,
time improve the future economic stability of small com-
half of the loss would be replaced by wood from private
munities now dependent on timber dollars, stabilize our
industrial tree farms and half by wood substitutes that are
wood supply, save and spend more wisely the billions
already on the market. Seventy-two percent of all the
now pouring out of the federal Treasury, and preserve
timberland in the United States is privately
the health of our virgin forests-if we decide
owned. This land is far better suited to tree
to. We can do it because, contrary to conven-
farming than federal land-it is fertile, low-
tional wisdom. we don't need national-forest
elevation, accessible, and for the most part
timber-not for jobs, certainly not for the in-
does not have the intact ecosystems found on
come, and not for the nation's wood supply.
public land. Our national forests, although
Most commercial-timber owners would actu-
they are richer in biological
diversity, have comparative-
ly little value as tree farms.
They are for the most part
thin-soiled, steep, high-ele-
vation, less accessible lands
that produce low-quality
timber. They are the lands
nobody would take. even for
nothing, when the govern-
ment was divvying up the
West.
Despite the abundance of
merchantable private timber
and the relatively low value
of public timber, no one has
seriously considered ending
national-forest logging.
With the exception of a tiny
OCTOBER 1991
99
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
WE DON'T NEED NATIONAL-FOREST TIMBER-NOT FOR
JOBS, NOT FOR INCOME, AND NOT FOR WOOD.
COMMERCIAL-TIMBER OWNERS WOULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT
IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE NOT COMPETING WITH THEM.
ally benefit if the govern-
into pianos and armoires anyway, but are ground into
ment were no longer com-
pulp to make disposable diapers and cellophane for ciga-
peting with them: as prices
rette packs. Obviously, small-diameter trees from tree
rose, long-term forest plan-
farms would serve that purpose just as well. As for build-
ning would become more
ing materials, we can also create them from small-diame-
feasible and profitable. The
ter trees. Oriented-strand board, chipboard, finger-joint
Forest Service itself would benefit, as it escaped the end-
board, and particle board-made from chips or small
less and expensive forest-management planning with an
pieces of wood-are already available; they are stronger
emphasis on timber which inevitably lands it in court.
than regular wood and can be made from very young
Forest Service employees could begin to inventory and
trees grown in rows like a corn crop.
study the national forests, as they were mandated to do in
"Crop forests are where our timber supply really comes
the National Forest Management Act of 1976. though
from," says a former logging manager at Weyerhauser
without adequate funding for the job. They could begin
Corporation, who asked not to be named. He explains
repairing the damage of the past forty years. instead of
that the industry wants the old timber on the national for-
trying to produce board feet that can no longer be cut in
ests only because with minimal processing these logs bring
an environmentally responsible fashion.
a premium price overseas. "As to old growth. everyone
has gored that fatted calf long enough. Weyerhauser
Timber Mythology
made a fortune from old growth, but you can't cut the last
one and say, 'Gee. that was nice. What do we do now?""
N. VIEW OF THESE BENEFITS, WHY ISN'T THE FOREST
One sign that we have a glut of wood fiber in the Unit-
1
Service eager to end national-forest logging: Why is
ed States is that although we exported 4.2 billion board
it adamant that that cannot or should not be done?
feet of raw logs last year. we can still find plentiful. cheap
The Forest Service rebuffs all such suggestions with
toilet paper in the supermarket. Timber has such a low
three arguments that I call collectively the Great Federal
market value in this country that owners of private tim-
Timber Mythology.
berland often find that growing trees doesn't pay-the
Myth No. 1: Federal timber is needed to meet an ever-
rate of return isn't high enough. Many are selling off their
escalating demand for wood fiber.
forests and using the profits to reduce their debt. If tim-
Myth No. 2: Timber sales overall make a profit for the
ber were scarce-and valuable-this would be a poor
federal Treasury.
business practice.
Myth No. 3: Federal timber, even if sold at a loss. aids
The Forest Service exacerbates the situation by flood-
timber-dependent communities.
ing the market with cheap national-forest timber, driving
Last year the Forest Service once again predicted. as it
prices down. One could argue reasonably that the nation-
has since its founding, in 1905, that demand for national-
al-forest timber program, by competing with the private
forest timber would continue to rise and that timber
sector, is destroying the environmental quality of our pri-
would remain in short supply. In fact the demand for tim-
vate timberlands as well.
ber has declined since the invention of the internal-com-
It also empties the federal purse. "If we simply gave
bustion engine and since we began using electricity and
the loggers fourteen thousand dollars a year not to cut the
fuel oil instead of wood for our energy needs. Many pri-
trees, we'd be a lot better off," says K. J. Metcalf, a re-
vately held forests logged in the nineteenth century are
tired Forest Service planner in Alaska, about his review
now regrown. Horse pasture and farmland have returned
of the Tongass forest plan in 1978. He echoed the senti-
to forest. We actually have more standing trees today
ments of many of the agency's critics. The Forest Service
than we did ninety years ago. So whereas the old-growth
has long claimed that the government makes money on
trees that provide the softwood lumber used for products
timber sales, but an analysis performed at the request of
like fine furniture and musical instruments are indeed in
the House Government Operations Subcommittee on
short supply, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, we
the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources shows
have plenty of wood fiber that can be made into less-
that the Forest Service timber program has lost $5.6 bil-
refined products. Most of our ancient trees are not made
lion over the past decade. Robert Wolf, a retired staffer at
100
OCTOBER 1991
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
the Congressional Research Service, a forester, and a
small communities with jobs. But national-forest timber
road engineer, analyzed the Forest Service's timber-
isn't keeping people employed; although timber produc-
income accounting system at the request of Representa-
tion and logging on federal lands have increased, indus-
tive Mike Synar. the chairman of the subcommittee. At
try employment has declined. Automation, exports of
the time this was written. Wolf expected to submit his
raw lumber, and competition for foreign labor are the
testimony in September. He says his original intention
causes. As for small community sawmills wholly depen-
was to show that sales of national-forest timber were prof-
dent on old-growth national-forest timber, their timber
itable and beneficial. Instead, he found that most of the
supply is limited. The small family mill is destined to go
122 national forests have never earned a dime on timber,
the way of the small family farm, and leveling the nation-
and only fifteen showed a profit last year. The Forest Ser-
al forests won't save it.
vice claims that it made $630 million on its timber pro-
The loggers and mill workers who depend on national-
gram last year; that claim, Wolf says, stems from inflated
forest timber are, like the forests, victims of federal poli-
revenues and discounted costs.
cy. Since the end of the Second World War the Forest
The "net" revenue figure doesn't make allowances for
Service has fostered in their communities an expectation
the 25 percent of gross receipts ($327 million last year)
that federal timber would be available indefinitely, and a
that must be paid to counties from which timber has been
way of life has evolved around that expectation. If the
removed, as compensation for property taxes lost be-
Forest Service and the loggers' elected representatives
cause those lands aren't privately owned. Nor does it take
had been honest with their constituents even ten years
into consideration road-maintenance expenses-another
ago, and warned them that the supply of trees could not
$80 million. Land-line location (surveying to confirm na-
support their industry forever, mill owners and loggers
tional-forest boundaries) cost another $24 million. The
might not have invested further in lumber operations
Forest Service also overlooked some $60 million spent on
that are doomed, national-forest timber or no. These
protection against insects and disease, maintenance of
communities were misled, and they deserve aid in ad-
staff buildings, map-making. and fire protection.
justing to what is for them a catastrophe.
Another $575 million-funds earmarked for reforesta-
But aiding those affected by an end to national-forest
tion, brush disposal, timber salvage sales, roads built to
logging is less problematic than it seems. The jobs that
accommodate timber buyers, and other programs-was
would be lost are not irreplaceable, nor are they as nu-
depreciated over more years than appropriate for ac-
merous as claimed by the timber industry, which wants to
counting purposes. The Forest Service has used a num-
maintain the flow of cheap national-forest old-growth
ber of creative accounting gimmicks. including amortiz-
lumber. A study funded by the timber industry predicted
ing roads over 240 years. (One year roads on the Chugach
that 100,000 jobs would be lost in the Pacific Northwest
National Forest. in Alaska. were amortized over 1,800
as a consequence of restrictions to protect the spotted
years.) The typical life of a logging road. however, is
owl. But according to a Forest Service assessment written
twenty-five years; that's why 60 percent of each year's
for other purposes. the true number is closer to 6,000.
road-building budget is earmarked for reconstruction.
The industry study counted jobs projected for the year
Last year the Forest Service received appropriations of
2000 if logging continued to increase as was once
$700 million for the timber program from the federal
planned, and it included a loss of secondary jobs, such as
Treasury, yet spent more than $1 billion. According to
pumping gas and waiting tables, though the relatively
Wolf's calculations, after a realistic amortization of costs,
healthy economy of the Pacific Northwest is creating new
the timber program actually generated a net loss to the
jobs in many other sectors.
federal Treasury of $186 million last year.
The Forest Service says that only 106,000 jobs nation-
One reason timber sales don't make money is that most
wide-including approximately 15,000 in the agency it-
national-forest timber is virtually worthless. Short grow-
self-are related to national-forest timber. An agency re-
ing seasons and poor, unstable soils mean that a national-
port speculated that these jobs would be replaced in part
forest tree may need 120 years to reach maturity. "No one
by new logging jobs when wood production shifted to pri-
in his right mind would pay what it costs to grow it," says
vate industrial lands. And in communities without near-
Wolf, who now calls the Forest Service timber program "a
by industrial timberland new jobs could be created, in-
fraud." Since the Forest Service was founded on the
cluding jobs rehabilitating the national forests, with
promise that the timber program would make money, to
federal funds saved when national-forest timber was no
admit losses after so many years of false claims would
longer being sold at a loss.
threaten not only the agency's timber program, and
Inevitably, the small communities dependent on na-
therefore about a third of its 45,000 jobs. but quite prob-
tional-forest logging must diversify their economies or
ably the existence of the Forest Service itself.
die. But if we do not end logging before their timber sup-
Even in the face of evidence that the timber market is
ply is exhausted, the clear-cuts that surround these com-
glutted, and that its operations run at a net loss, the For-
munities will bankrupt their future. Once the forests are
est Service will justify selling trees as a way to provide
gone, they will have neither the timber industry nor
OCTOBER 1991
103
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
property values nor the recreation potential that could
ued timber-industry support for their re-election cam-
help them build a stable economic future. Logging the
paigns. And the White House wants to take care of its
national forests results in the loss, rather than the
friends. All use national-forest timber as a means to
strengthening, of community stability.
achieve their aims.
So if jobs are being lost despite increased logging, and
More than a quarter of the money the Forest Service
the U.S. government loses millions a year on that log-
spends comes from selling timber-whether the sales
ging, and we don't even need the lumber, why does the
make money or not-through a little-known law called
Forest Service persist in logging the national forests?
the Knutson-Vandenberg Act of 1930. The K-V Act al-
When environmentalists, economists, forest planners.
lows the Forest Service to retain virtually all its gross tim-
and policy-makers say it is not practical to end national-
ber receipts in order to fund projects like tree-planting,
forest logging, they mean it is not practical politically.
wildlife-habitat improvement, and trail-building, and to
buy equipment like computers, refrigerators, and so on.
Political Realities
It is a back-door way of funding the agency without going
through the appropriations process. Last year K-V money
HE NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT ACT OF
and similar timber funds added $475 million to the Forest
T
1976 stipulates that those who are most inti-
Service budget, above and beyond congressional appro-
mate with the national forests-the public and
priations. Because Congress has limited its funding to
the local Forest Service team-should work
timber-sales development, fire fighting, and road-build-
together to decide how they are to be managed. But in
ing on the national forests, and has resisted the agency's
practice the forests are ruled by competing and comple-
requests for support of other programs, K-V money is of-
mentary agendas in Washington, D.C. Forest Service ad-
ten the only resource on which the Forest Service can
ministrators are concerned with maximizing their bud-
rely to finance many of its non-timber activities. Erosion
gets, holding on to their jobs, and preserving the status
control. campground improvements, and plant and ani-
quo. Congressmen want jobs in their districts and contin-
mal entory, for example. are all funded by timber sales.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE
TOO NEGATIVE. FOR INSTANCE,
THEY WOULD SAY THIS TREE
IS CUT. I PREPER TO SAY IT'S
HALF-STANDING...
EAT
MORE
LUJAN
104
OCTOBER 1991
A8 SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 1992
THE WASHINGTON POST
Interior Secretary at Center of Storm
Over Handling of Owl Controversy
By Tom Kenworthy
Washington Post Staff Writer
If it were a fable, it could be en-
Those alternatives presumably
titled "The Owl and the Cabinet
would entail fewer job losses than
Secretary," and the moral might be
the 31,000 predicted by the official
that having friends in high places
draft recovery plan that is required
may turn out to be a mixed blessing
by the Endangered Species Act. But
for workers in the battered Pacific
they also would undercut a basic te-
Northwest timber industry.
net of the act by jettisoning the goal
That, at least, is the lesson of
of rebuilding the owl population in
past Bush administration attempts
favor of merely stabilizing it. In ad-
to loosen restrictions on logging
dition, they would require Congress
imposed by the endangered-species
to pass legislation exempting some
battle over the northern spotted
timber sales on federal lands from
owl, and to broker a better "bal-
long-standing environmental law.
ance" between protecting the owl
The lawmakers predicted in a
and protecting timber jobs.
Feb. 19 letter to Lujan that the net
Those efforts have only contrib-
result will be "more litigation, fur-
uted to a prolonged policy impasse
ther injunctions, and continued cha-
that has resulted in a string of court
OS in federal forest management."
decisions finding the federal gov-
More delay and uncertainty would
ernment in violation of several land-
be intolerable, added Oregon Gov.
mark environmental laws and plac-
Barbara Roberts (D). "We got
ing millions of acres of federal land
communities in my state that have
off-limits to new timber sales.
been financially devastated and
Now critics of Interior Secretary
workers unemployed by the thou-
Manuel Lujan Jr. say he may be
sands," she said. "To play with peo-
compounding earlier mistakes with
ple's lives
is just irresponsible."
his latest actions designed to pro-
The storm of criticism directed
vide relief to timber workers-ac-
at Lujan centers on two ongoing
tions that are likely to come under
developments in the long and tor-
stern review at a hearing Tuesday
tured history of federal policy on
before members of three House
the owl, which was declared a
committees. Lujan, the critics say,
threatened species in 1990.
is holding out false hopes with ef-
First is his management of a spe-
forts that are only going to keep the
cially created Endangered Species
issue bogged down in court and de-
Committee, dubbed the "God
lay a final resolution.
Squad." which is considering wheth-
"History may be repeating itself,"
er to grant a relatively narrow ex-
four Democratic members cf Con-
gress from Oregon warned in re-
sponse to Lujan's recent announce-
ment that he is delaying release of a
comprehensive recovery plan for the
owl and convening a new task force
to develop recovery alternatives.
emption from the Endangered Spe-
by Lujan, senior Interior Department
ardize the government's position in
ery" of the owl-a position contrary
Western Council of Industrial Work-
cies Act to the Interior Depart-
officials have sought to exclude from
a pending court case.
to the Endangered Species Act.
ers, a group that represents 30,000
ment's Bureau of Land Manage-
the proceedings arguments that
Those issues, should the "God
"We have to look at other things
workers in the timber industry.
ment (BLM) SO it can proceed with
question whether the basic legal re-
Squad" grant BLM an exemption,
than just the biology," Lujan said in
But others have questioned
timber sales on 4,426 acres of BLM
quirements for convening the com-
virtually guarantee that the deci-
an interview. "When the options [to
whether Lujan's proposal will do
land in Oregon.
mittee have been met. For example,
sion will be litigated in federal
be developed by the new recovery
anything but guarantee the contin-
Second is Lujan's more recent
the Interior Department prevented
court, with timber cutting likely to
task force] are there and members of
ued management of forests by court
decision to seek less economically
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
be barred pending a decision.
Congress have to choose one way or
injunction and create an even more
burdensome alternatives to the owl
from presenting its view that the
In the second case, Lujan's call
the other, either they will [accept]
polarized situation in Congress. It
recovery plan whose release has
BLM failed a key test of the exemp-
these options or say, 'Well, I'm sat-
for recovery-plan alternatives that
could, they say, reduce the chances
now been postponed until April.
tion process by not consulting in
isfied with a loss of 31,000 jobs.'
would "have significantly lower job
of passing comprehensive old-
Lujan concedes that this new, far-
good faith on the proposed timber
Pronouncing himself "thrilled," by
and community impacts, while al-
growth forest legislation that would
reaching proposal would require a
sales and by failing to explore after-
Lujan's proposal, Sen. Bob Packwood
congressional exemption from such
natives.
lowing survival of the owl," has
(R-Ore.) said the initiative reflects
protect the owl, provide a stable
laws as the Endangered Species Act
Late last month, that led to the
been warmly received by industry
his own long-standing desire "to con-
timber supply and extend economic
and the National Forest Manage-
resignation of the Fish and Wildlife
representatives and Republican
sider jobs in whatever spotted owl
help to timber industry workers.
ment Act in order to open up more
Service's outside counsel in the
lawmakers from Oregon and Wash-
recovery plan we come up with."
"Your decision to ignore the law's
owl habitat to logging.
"God Squad" deliberations because
ington. They agree with the secre-
"I applaud anything anybody does
requirements seems calculated to
In the case of the BLM exemption
of his disagreement with the Inte-
tary that the government's goal
to bring into play the social, human
once again raise hopes in timber de-
request, to be decided in May by the
rior Department's view that inclu-
should be, in Lujan's phrase, "pre-
and economic equation," said Mike
pendent communities in the Pacific
seven-person "God Squad" chaired
sion of the arguments would jeop-
servation but not necessarily recov-
Draper, executive secretary of the
See OWL, A9, Col. 1
THE WASHINGTON POST
SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 1992 A9
Critics Say Lujan's Actions Contribute to Northwest Timber Sale Impasse
OWL. From A8
Act (the agency subsequently re-
That particular case began three
protecting the economic lives of
violations of the environmental
have broken the law and now want
lented): that the BLM violated the
years ago when the Seattle Audu-
American men and women who live
laws." He barred the Forest Service
to continue to break the law."
Northwest without oftering any
National Environmental Policy Act
bon Society sued the Forest Ser-
and work" in the Pacific Northwest.
from selling timber in Oregon, Wash-
Lujan's allies have rushed to his
prospect for improvement in the
by not preparing an adequate en-
vice. U.S. District Judge William L.
Several months later. the plan
ington and Northern California unti!
defense. "It seems to me it strikes a
forest management deadlock."
vironmental impact statement on
Dwyer in March 1989 issued a pie.
emerged. It consisted of a three-
the agency had developed new stan-
good balance," said Mark Rey, ex-
wrote the four Oregon Demo-
the effect of logging on the owl: and
liminary injunction temporarily halt-
page press release urging Congress
dards and guidelines for protecting
ecutive director of the American
crats-Reps. Peter A. DeFazio,
that the U.S. Forest Service vio-
ing Forest Service timber sales.
to adopt legislation allowing for 3.5
the owl and a thorough environmen-
Forest Resource Alliance.
Ron Wyden, Les AuCoin and Mike
lated the National Forest Manage-
Later that year. Congress stepped
billion board feet of timber to be cut
tal impact statement.
But the secretary's detractors say
Kopetski-in their letter to Lujan.
ment Act by not protecting the owl.
in with appropriations bill language
in the Northwest and providing "in-
That history, say Lujan's critics,
until Congress enacts comprehensive
The lengthy history of the owl is-
The net result is that the Forest
that allowed the Forest Service to
sulation" from environmental laws.
demonstrates the folly of administra-
old-growth forest legislation, the
sue is studded with instances in
Service and BLM are currently en-
continue seliing specific amounts of
A week later, the Agriculture De-
tion efforts to sidestep the require-
only alternative is to abide by exist-
joined by federal courts from selling
timber in the Northwest and direc-
which agencies in the Agriculture
partment said It would manage tim:-
ments of environmental laws.
ing environmental law.
timber on millions acres of federal
and Interior departments have been
ted the agency to develop a spotted
her sales in a manner that was "not
"This latest Lujan maneuver is
"As long as [Lujan] ignores his
land in Oregon, Washington and
owl management and conservation
inconsistent" with the earlier rec-
ordered by courts to do more for
really breathtaking in its audacity,"
Northern California.
constitutionally sworn duty to uphold
plan by Sept. 30, 1990.
ommendations of an inter-agency
the owl in order to comply with en-
said AuCom, who is challenging
the laws of the land, he is not going
The events that led to the injune-
The Forest Service did not follow
scientific team.
Packwood for the Senate next fall.
vironmental law.
to get any cioser to a solution," said
tion against Forest Service timber
that directive. Instead, Lupan and
That led directly to a frank denum-
"It's an administration whose agen-
The courts, for example, have
Kevin Kirchner, an attorney with the
sales in owl habitat illustrate the k.
then-Agriculture Secretary Clayton
cration of the executive branch by
cies have broken the law, who have
found that the Fish and Wildhfe Ser-
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund.
gal perils of trying to find legislative
Yeatter created a group to develop a
Judge Dwyer, who last spring ac-
been told by the courts they are in
"There is bound to be more litiga-
vice broke the law by not listing the
and administrative shortcuts to com-
plan to "balance our responsibility in
cused the Forest Service and other
violation of the law, who have
tion, and he is bound to be repri-
owl under the Endangered Species
piv with environmental law.
preserving the owl and forests while
agencies of a "remarkable series of
harmed Oregonians because they
manded by the courts again."
Taxol
The tree products of the Pacific yew (Taxus Brevifolia) found primarily in old
growth forests, is the principal source of taxol-one of the most promising new
drugs for the treatment of ovarian, breast, and potentially other cancers.
Taxol has been tested extensively by the National Cancer Institute, which had
great success in using taxol to block cell division in several different types of
cancer.
Most promising to date is the response from late-stage ovarian cancer patients
who had not responded to any other drug. 30-35% of them responded favorably
to taxol. Tests are also being conducted to see if taxol is an effective treatment
for breast cancer.
The US Forest Service's policies governing logging practices may be wasting 60
to 75% of all yew trees in commercial timber harvest areas.
Clearcutting douglas-fir, red cedar, and the forests' other large trees destroys
many of the yews, which are smaller trees in the forest understory. Such
logging practices make it virtually impossible to collect bark from yew trees.
The likely result: lifesaving taxol is lost as yew bark is burned in slash piles.
Oregon and Washington's national forests have an estimated 189,000 yew trees
that have been sold but are not yet cut. These yew trees could produce enough
taxol to treat 63,000 ovarian cancer patients-a five year supply.
Nearly 40% of the world's medicines are derived from natural sources. The
ancient forests provide a natural laboratory for a variety of potential cures.
For the next 2-3 years, Pacific yew bark will be the only accessible source of
taxol. New avenues, however, are expected to open soon. Scientists believe
that a compound called baccatin (produced in the European picatta tree) can be
converted to taxol in 3-4 stages. They predict that this process will yield an
estimated ten times the amount of taxol currently found in yews. Scientists hope
to switch to the picatta as soon as possible in order to protect the yews.
According to the National Cancer Institute, taxol will be on the market within 5
years. The rights to produce it are owned by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
III. taxol
37
Trees for Cancer Drug Being Wasted
Photographs by Jonn Glustina for The New York Times
Logging operations on public land typically consign
yew log with some of its bark still intact. fore-
the Pacific yew. and a medically valuable compo-
ground. burned with other waste wood in a logged
nent of its bark, taxol. to trash piles for burning. A
area of Umpqua National Forest in Oregon.
Exclusive Rights to Bark
Considered a Scrub Tree
Continued From Page Al
Yet even if the Forest Service were
Mr. Robertson of the Forest Service
to curb waste of yews, the bark collec-
says the yew, which was long consid-
tion program itself is an invitation to
ered a scrub tree and was routinely
Saul Schepartz, a director with
waste and loss, critics in Congress and
bulldozed and burned. has been elevat-
the National Cancer Institute. "In
elsewhere say.
ed to the most precious resource of the
years to come, the needs of taxol
Last summer, the Government en-
forest, and is now being treated as
will far exceed the supply."
tered into a five-year agreement with
such. The slow-growing tree is found
Another offical at the institute, who
Bristol-Myers, the nation's second
mainly in ancient forests on Federal
would speak only on condition of ano-
largest pharmaceutical concern, giv-
land in Washington and Oregon. He
nymity, called the waste of yew bark
ing the company nearly exclusive ac-
said the agency has stepped up law
"shameful" and "outrageous."
cess to yew bark in the national forests.
enforcement against yew poachers,
When asked about the yew still being
The intent was to encourage develop-
who became a problem several months
burned or lost in logging, F. Dale Rob-
ment of the drug and to get it to the
ago after publicity about the value of
ertson, the chief of the Forest Service,
market as fast as possible.
the yew, and has ordered that no bark
said, "It's a crash program and we
But critics says the contract encour-
be burned in slash piles.
haven't quite worked out all the defects
ages waste because there is no signifi-
The American Cancer Society esti-
yet."
cant competition. In such an arrange-
mates that about 12.500 women will die
It takes up to 60 pounds of bark, or
ment, the critics say, the tendency is to
three very old yew trees, to provide
take only the bark that is most easily
enough taxol to treat a single cancer
removed, to leave scraps on the ground
patient for about a year, so Govern-
and to strip some trees only partly.
ment officials say they are now trying
If more than one company were in-
WASH.
to minimize waste.
volved on an equal basis, the competi-
Columbia R.
Although taxol is not yet available on
tors would have incentive to saivage
the open market, about 1,000 cancer
every ounce of the bark, the critics
Portland
assert.
Salem
patients are receiving it on an experi-
84
"This is the only case I know of
OREGON
mental and emergency basis. By early
5
next year, the Bristol-Myers Squibb
where the Government has transferred
Company expects to begin selling taxol
control of an entire species over to a
Glide
A
UMPQUA
NATIONAL
for treatment of ovarian cancer. Al-
private company," said Representa-
FOREST
though yew bark is the only approved
tive Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon,
sour
taxol, numerous researchers
whose House subcommittee has held
Medford
are
to develop an artificial form
hearings on the subject. "You have the
Miles
of th
most important tree in the forest and
CALIF.
NEV.
0.
0
100
the land agencies are running this
thing by the seat of their pants."
The New York Times
The Umpqua National Forest is a
home to the valuable Pacific yew.
opyright © 1992 The New York Times
NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1992
Trees That Yield a Drug
For Cancer Are Wasted
By TIMOTHY EGAN
Special to The New York Times
GLIDE, Ore. - Nearly a year
policy of salvaging yew bark be-
after the Government recognized
fore clear-cutting in the much
the Pacific yew as the most valu-
smaller amount of forest that it
able tree in American forests be-
controls. Clinical development of
cause it yields a rare cancer-
taxol has been limited by a short-
fighting drug. the precious bark is
age of yew bark. Last year, more
still being burned as scrap and
than 800,000 pounds of yew bark
discarded to rot on the forest floor
was collected, the most ever. That
in wasteful logging operations in
was enough to treat about 12,000
the Northwest.
patients.
Here in the Umpqua National
"The supply is finite," said Dr.
Forest last week, a crew of Forest
Service workers set fire to a huge
Continued on Page A12, Column 4
pile of downed trees, the garbage
of a typical logging operation on
Government land. But among the
wood smokering in the pile were
several yew trees covered with
sections of bark.
The bark can be processed to
yield taxol, a drug considered so
valuable in the treatment of ovar-
ian cancer that the very lives of
thousands of cancer patients hang
on its development in private lab-
oratories.
Bark Left in Piles
In the last year, the Forest
Service and the Bureau of Land
Management, which both control
land where yew trees are found,
have received dozens of com-
plaints from people who found si-
miliar cases of yews being wasted
in the woods. Congressional inves-
tigators and several environmen-
tal groups have also documented
instances of yew bark discarded
on the ground in heaps known as
elash piles.
Most of the nation's yew bark is
found in nine national forests in
Washington and Oregon. Yet until
a policy change three weeks ago,
the logging in six of those forests
was done without first removing
the bark. In the traditional log-
ging practice that was used in
those forests, all trees were clear
cut, a process in which 75 percent
of the yew bark is lost, Forest
Service-documents say.
John Glustina for The New York Times
The Bureau of Land Manage-
A damaged yew tree in a
ment is also working toward a
logged area near Eugens. Ore.
"These fires are the final indignity
of ovarian cancer this year, and 45,000
for the yew, which has been SO mis-
will die of breast cancer. In trials, taxol
has been found to be highly effective
managed it makes you want to cry;"
said Gerald Rust, a commissioner of
for treatment of both cancers, although
Lane County, Oregon, and a founder of
the approval of the drug for breast
the Native Yew Conservation Council.
cancer may be a few years away. The
Ned Davis, the Forest Service ranger
drug has also shown promise for treat-
in this part of the Umpqua, said he-had
ing lung cancer, which kills 143,000
instructed his crews not to allow 'a
Americans a year.
The Forest Service has never known
single pound of yew bark to go to waste.
But he said mistakes are often made.
exactly how many Pacific yews are left
in the United States. Last year officials
Nearby, Paul Antos was building his
estimated there were 130 million trees.
home with yew logs that have been
But Mr. Robertson, in an interview,
discarded by the timber workers and
said there were closer to 20 million. An
bark collectors. The typical trees grow
in about 100 years to about 25 feet tall,
inventory is now being done.
with trunks about a foot in diameter.
The Bureau of Land Management
Mr. Antos has a permit to salvage the
controls far fewer yew trees, but two
wood and said he was appalled by the
months ago a survey by two environ-
mental groups of logging practices in
waste he found daily.
the agency's forests found that three in
Logging Policies Blamed
Environmentalists say the decades-
every four yew trees were being lost.
old logging policies of the Government
"For every acre of forest cut in this
land agencies are the main reason yew
wasteful manner, a cancer patientmay
is in short supply.
go without taxol," said Bruce S. Man-
"We've been saying for some time
heim, a scientist for the Environmental
that the ancient forest may hold an-
Defense Fund, which conducted, the
swers to questions that nobody has yet
study along with the Wilderness Soci-
to ask," said Wendell Wood, of the
ety.
Oregon Natural Resources Council re-
Trees Only Partly Stripped
ferring to the potential for medical or
others uses found in the rich mix of
Under the contract with Bristol-My-
ers, the bark is collected by crews of
species found in old forests.
But timber industry officials say the
private workers, then sent to a labora-
environmentalists themselves may be
tory for processing. In some cases, yew
trees have been only partly stripped.
blocking an adequate supply of you
When this happens, the Forest Service
from going to cancer patients. Much of
has the power to send the collectors
the yew grows on land that is home for
back to salvage the waste.
the northern spotted owl, a threatened
Nancy Goldfarb, a spokeswoman for
species, and therefore is generally off
Bristol-Myers, said the contractor
limits to logging and yew harvest.
hired by the drug company to collect
bark "has been instructed to make
every effort to assure that none is
wasted."
Paul Antos, who said he was appalled by the logging waste he finds
Here in the Umpqua National Forest
daily, is building a home with lumber from discarded yew trees.
in Western Oregon, a place of rolling
woodlands covered in Douglas fir, ce-
dar and black oak, with yew trees
growing in small concentrations, yew
bark was easy to find on a visit last
week. It was in several of the piles
readied for burning and in one large
pile that had already been set afire by
Forest Service crews. Such firesbare
part of the way the Government has
long handled the residue of clear-cut
lo
THE NEW YORK TIMES
DAILY CLIPS 02
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1992
Yew Trees Needn't Fall to Make Cancer Drug
To the Editor:
too small for removal; even if twigs
"Trees That Yield a Drug for Can-
and needles were collected, the meth-
Halt Clear-Cutting
ods for extracting taxol from them
To the Editor:
cer Are Wasted" (front page, Jan. 29)
begins with the premise that yew
have not yet been approved by the
The clear-cutting of our national
bark can be processed to produce
Food and Drug Administration. In
forests and other Federal forest lands
taxol, a drug to treat cancer. True,
other cases, the bark found had been
is a national disgrace. The wasteful
but it is equally true that taxol can be
cut several years ago, diminishing
burning of yew trees, source of the
produced from the leaves (needles)
the viability of taxol in the bark.
anticancer drug taxol, is only one
of nearly every species of yew tested.
The Bureau of Land Management
part of this national scandal ("Trees
Harvesting a tree for bark kills the
has established and implemented a
That Yield a Drug for Cancer Are
tree. Harvesting needles from yew
system for harvesting yew in timber
Wasted," front page, Jan. 29).
trees, even large quantities of nee-
sales that netted 65,000 pounds of
Clear-cutting trees and burning the
dles, does not kill the tree. Taking
bark in 1991. This represents consid-
remains is universally condemned in
needles, then, makes yews a renew-
erable progress, considering that the
the case of the worldwide destruction
able resource, whereas taking yews
yew collection program is only seven
of tropical forests, yet this is the
themselves makes them nonrenew-
months old. We have developed a
official policy the United States For-
able. These trees grow very slowly.
policy while trying to be responsive to
est Service is using to wreck our
Your numbers are questionable:
public forests.
even a very large tree rarely yield 20
For decades, the Forest Service
pounds of bark. Five pounds of bark
has consigned these once magnificent
for each yew harvested is a much
forests to the role of lumberyard,
more common figure. Even so, it is
exhausting them of yew trees, ancient
widely agreed that the demand for
oak, cedar, Douglas fir and redwood,
and at the same time of the soil,
taxol will never be met by harvesting
fresh-water fish and salmon, interna-
trees, even if every yew now in exist-
tional migratory songbirds, wander-
ence were cut.
Bristol-Myers Squibb, the same
ing herds of ungulates and predators
company that uses bark at such an
and the fabric of forest biodiversity.
alarming rate, owns the patent for
Giant timber companies and local
timber interests have had a lock on
the process that converts yew leaves
into taxenes. You should be address-
scores of senators and representa-
tives who every year vote for billions
ing questions such as some of the
of tax dollars to the Forest Service to
following:
spend on clear-cutting national for-
e Why isn't Bristol-Myers Squibb
ests. The leader of the Congressional
using needles to produce taxoi, since
timber cabal is Senator Mark Hat-
it owns the patent?
field, the senior Republican on the
o How many pounds of bark does
Thomas Kerr
Appropriations Committee. For dec-
Bristol-Myers have? (The company
is licensed to collect 875,000 pounds,
the urgent humanitarian need for
ades he has held his power of the
taxol. In the 1992 bark harvest sea-
Congressional purse over the heads
but persistent stories show it has col-
lected nearly twice that much, there-
son, which begins this spring, we will
of colleagues to bully them into voting
implement even tighter guidelines on
for massive clear-cutting of national
fore much of it illegally.)
© Where is the taxol that should
yew harvest to insure maximal use of
forests in his state of Oregon and
have been produced from bark col-
this valuable resource with the least
throughout the forest system.
lected so far? DAVID SCHNEIDER
Impact to the environment.
A new bill in Congress to protect
Tight control over harvest of the
forests already has 38 sponsors. Rep-
San Francisco, Feb. 13, 1992
yew will be accomplished by requir-
resentative John Bryant's forest bio-
The writer is a docent at the Strybing
ing that all bark be removed from
diversity and clear-cutting prohibi-
Arboretum.
trees meeting minimum size guide-
tion bill (H. R. 1969) would halt clear-
lines. Bureau employees will be in the
cutting on all Federal forest lands
No Waste of Bark
field to weigh yew bark harvested by
permanently and would allow only
To the Editor:
permit from agency-managed lands.
selection logging, periodically cutting
"Trees That Yield a Drug for Can-
This will allow us to monitor how
a few trees from a section of the
cer Are Wasted" (front page, Jan. 29)
much bark has been harvested,
forest while letting the rest of the
is wrong in its assessment of the
where it is harvested and who har-
forest grow intact.
Bureau of Land Management's man-
vests it. An increased bureau pres-
It would mandate that the Forest
agement of the Pacific yew for the
ence in the field will insure that har-
Service repair the damage done by
tree's production of the anticancer
vesters adhere to the standards we
decades of clear-cutting and that it
substance taxol. You have been mis-
have set.
manage the forests for the full range
led by those who, in their rush to fuel
Last year our law enforcement
of forest biodiversity, not just for
the fire of their attack on timber
staff investigated numerous cases of
timber. It includes a clause with se-
harvest in general, misinform by tell-
bark theft. We will prosecute yew
vere penalties and allows the public
ing only part of the story.
bark thieves to the fullest extent of
to sue the Forest Service or other
In virtually every case in which we
the law. Theft of yew bark from Fed-
Federal agencies if they break any
have investigated assertions of wast-
eral land is punishable by a maxi-
provisions.
CARL ROSS
ed yew bark, the accusations are un-
mum penalty of 10 years in prison
Washington, Feb. 1, 1992
founded. In some cases, other tree
and a $10,000 fine. SUSAN LAMSON
The writer is co-director of Save
species have been misidentified as
Deputy Director for External Affairs
America's Forests, a coalition of en-
Pacific yew. On other sites, bark left
Bureau of Land Management
vironmental and citizens' groups and
behind consists of twigs and needles
Washington, Feb. 3, 1992
businesses.
TOP 10 COMPANIES HOLDING OUTSTANDING TIMBER SALES CONTRACTS
Company
Board Feet (sold and uncut)
Location*
Patient Impact**
Roseburg Forest Products
124 mmbf (USFS)
Rogue River, Siskiyou,
8,000
Siuslaw
232 mmbf (BLM)
Coos Bay, Medford,
Roseburg, Eugene
Boise Cascade
74 mmbf (BLM)
Salem, Medford, Roseburg
4,000
96 mmbf (USFS)
Rogue River, Siuslaw,
Siskiyou
Pacific Lumber & Shipping
116 mmbf (USFS)
Gifford Pinchot
2,700
Bohemia
56 mmbf (BLM)
Coos Bay, Eugene,
2,500
Roseburg
49 mmbf (USFS)
Siuslaw
Freres Lumber
10 mmbf (USFS)
Siuslaw
2,100
81 mmbf (BLM)
Salem
Hampton Affiliates
60 mmbf (USFS)
Siuslaw
2,100
30 mmbf (BLM)
Salem
High Cascade
88 mmbf (USFS)
Gifford Pinchot
2,000
Seneca Sawmill
47 mmbf (USFS)
Siuslaw
2,000
40 mmbf (USFS)
Eugene
Willamette Industries
77 mmbf (BLM)
Eugene, Salem
2,000
8 mmbf (USFS)
Siuslaw
Medford Corp.
41 mmbf (USFS)
Rogue River
1,800
38 mmbf (BLM)
Medford
*
Only the Willamette, Umpqua, and Mt. Hood National Forests have established pre-logging requirements
for yew bark collection. The five BLM Districts in western Oregon that contain ancient forest are Coos Bay,
Medford, Eugene, Salem, and Roseburg, none of which have developed pre-logging rules for the Pacific yew.
** Reflects total estimated number of cancer patients that could be treated if bark from all yew trees in sale
areas was harvested prior to logging.
Source: Timber Data Company, Contract Activity Reports for U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Region 6 and BLM
Oregon State Office, September 30, 1991.
IV. Clips/Articles
THE NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIALS/LETTERS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1991
ARTHUR OCHS SULZBERGER. Publisher
ARTHUR OCHS SULZBERGER JR., Deputy Publisher
MAX FRANKEL. Executive Editor
JOSEPH LELYVELD. Managing Editor
WARREN HOGE. Assistant Managing Editor
DAVID R. JONES. Assistant Managing Editor
CAROLYN LEE. Assistant Managing Editor
The New York Times
JOHN M. LEE, Assistant Managing Editor
ALLAN M. SIEGAL. Assistant Managing Editor
Founded in 1851
JACK ROSENTHAL. Editorial Page Editor
PHILIP M. BOFFEY. Deputy Editorial Page Editor
ADOLPH S. OCHS. Publisher 1896-1935
ARTHUR HAYS SULZBERGER. Publisher 1935-1961
LANCE R. PRIMIS. President and General Manager
ORVIL E. DRYFOOS. Publisher 1961-1963
RUSSELL T. LEWIS, Sr.V.P., Deputy General Manager
JOHN M. O'BRIEN, Sr.V.P., Deputy General Manager
ERICH G. LINKER JR. Sr. V.P., Advertising
WILLIAM L. POLLAK. Sr.V.P.. Circulation
ELISE J. ROSS, V.P. Systems
JAMES A. CUTIE. V.P., Marketing
National Forests: Going, Going
The forests are sanctuaries not only of human
Yet the trees kept falling. One reason was that
life but also of the human spirit. And every tree is a
a big chunk of the service's budget comes from
compact between generations.
selling timber. Perversely, some of its conservation
So declared President Bush in 1989. Yet Mr.
programs - erosion control and plant and animal
Bush has done little more than his indifferent
inventory - are funded by timber sales. As a result,
predecessor to stop the devastation of these sanctu-
the service assigns targets to each of its nine
national forest regions, rewarding forest managers
aries Logging in the national forests continues at a
who meet their "cut."
furious pace. And neither the President nor Con-
It's a cozy deal for industry because the timber
gress has tried to strike a fair compromise between
harvested from public land is cheap. The Forest
the needs of nature and industry.
Service picks up road construction and other costs.
Last week, two senior Forest Service officials
That, of course, creates artificially low prices, re-
with responsibility for millions of public acres told
duces incentives to harvest private land and further
Congress they had been kicked out of their jobs for
increases the pressure on public lands. But loggers
resisting orders to increase the timber harvest that
love it.
they felt were environmentally unsound. Their defi-
The Government has been equally solicitous of
ance, they said, provoked the wrath of the timber
industry in the Pacific Northwest, whose majestic
industry and the White House.
old-growth forests are coveted by loggers. These
Such charges of industry favoritism are a
forests are also home to the spotted owl, and for
further embarrassment to an Administration still
years, conservation groups - as anxious to save the
smarting from the spanking it got in May from U.S.
forests as they were the owl - urged that the bird
District Judge William L. Dwyer of Seattle. Accus-
be listed as a threatened species.
ing the Administration of a "deliberate and system-
The Reagan Administration dawdled, knowing
atic refusal" to comply with laws protecting wild-
full well that if it protected the owl it would also
life, he banned further logging in parts of the old-
have to protect its habitat. And when Mr. Bush
growth forests of the Pacific Northwest until Fed-
reluctantly agreed to list the owl in 1990, his aides
eral agencies produced an effective protection plan
torpedoed an interagency plan to set aside millions
for the endangered spotted owl.
of acres to protect the habitat.
Congress is now seeking a compromise to the
That's what set Judge Dwyer off. He acknowl-
old-growth dispute. But it obviously has a much
edged the complexity of the issue and the hardship
bigger task: the need to rethink the purpose of the
his decision might cause for logging families, whose
national forests and the role of their designated
anxiety borders on desperation. Yet he found it
stewards, mainly the Forest Service.
inconceivable that "the mightiest economy on
Historically, Federal policy has favored exploi-
earth" could not find a way both to manage its
tation of the national forests, which provide roughly
irreplaceable old-growth forests and ease the pain
15 percent of the nation's wood. The Forest Service
for workers, families and communities.
has long been in the business of selling timber. In
Judge Dwyer is right. But the courts are not the
1976 a worried Congress adopted the National For-
place to set policy in the Northwest or anywhere
est Management Act, which urged the service to
else in the national forest system. That is a job for
treat the forests as valuable ecosystems by balanc-
the "environment President" and the Congress.
ing wilderness and industry values.
And so far, both have failed.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
JUNE 29, 1990
ARTHUR OCHS SULZBERGER, Publisher
ARTHUR OCHS SULZBERGER JR., Deputy Publisher
MAX FRANKEL. Executive Editor
JOSEPH LELYVELD. Managing Editor
WARREN HOGE. Assistant Managing Editor
DAVID R. JONES, Assistant Managing Editor
The New York Times
CAROLYN LEE, Assistant Managing Editor
JOHN M. LEE, Assistant Managing Editor
ALLAN M. SIEGAL, Assistant Managing Editor
Founded in 1851
JACK ROSENTHAL Editorial Page Editor
ADOLPH S. OCHS, Publisher 1896-1935
LESLIE H. GELB, Deputy Editorial Page Editor
ARTHUR HAYS SULZBERGER, Publisher 1935-1961
ORVIL E. DRYFOOS, Publisher 1961-1963
LANCE R. PRIMIS, President
RUSSELL T. LEWIS, Sr.V.P., Production
ERICH G. LINKER JR., V.P., Advertising
JOHN M. O'BRIEN, Sr. V.P., Finance/Human Resources
ELISE J. ROSS, Sr. V.P., Systems
WILLIAM L POLLAK. V.P., Circulation
Yet Mr. Bush Writes Off Ancient Forests
President Bush says he's an environmentalist
fect employment in Oregon and Washington. Many
and pronounces on plans to plant a billion trees. But
old-growth logs are exported to Japan at prices that
given the chance of saving the last remnant of the
American mills cannot match. These mills thus de-
majestic old-growth forests of the Pacific North-
pend on logs from Federal land, which by law can-
west, he ducks.
not be exported. Setting aside Federal forest to pro-
The chance was created last week when the
tect the spotted owl could cost 28,000 jobs, the For-
spotted owl, one of a hundred species that depend on
est Service estimates.
these unique forests, was declared to be in danger of
But automation is likely to cost up to 8,000 of
extinction. Instead of acting to save both owl and
these jobs, anyway. And all jobs will disappear
forest, as well as the logging communities that de-
"eventually; if cutting continues at present rates, the
pend on the cutting, the White House threatens to di-
old-growth forest could vanish in 15 years.
lute the Endangered Species Act.
In principle, most people would choose to save
owls, trees and jobs. But there is wide disagreement
on how much to reduce the annual harvest.
A magnificent forest, with trees 200 to 1,000
Environmental groups like the Sierra Club
years old, once stretched hundreds of miles from
northern Washington to northern California. Vora-
favor a sharp reduction, along with measures that
cious logging has reduced the forest to about a tenth
might save many of the threatened jobs, like refor-
its former size. Though large timber companies
estation, recreational use of the forests and banning
now harvest a sustainable yield from their own
the export of logs cut from state and even private
lands, many small mills that can only handle old
lands. Others, like Republican Senator Slade Gorton
logs depend on the ancient forests surviving on Fed-
of Washington, want only a modest reduction in the
eral and state lands.
annual harvest.
Conservationists have long pleaded for the in-
The Administration has offered no remedy. It
dustry to convert to cutting reforested, second-
has pronounced itself against compensating those
growth areas. These pleas were ignored until it was
who lose their jobs and in favor of a plan to gut the
found that the spotted owl, which needs large terri-
Endangered Species Act so that it won't create such
tories of old-growth forest to survive, might be
tricky political problems. This abnegation of re-
threatened.
sponsibility has thrown the issue to Congress, essen-
That's why the Fish and Wildlife Service last
tially leaving the solution up to the politically em-
week formally listed the owl as an endangered spe-
battled representatives from the Northwest.
cies, which means that its entire habitat qualifies
Mr. Bush likes the easy part of being an envi-
for legal protection.
ronmentalist. If he would now come to grips with
This protection, if granted, would seriously af-
the hard part, he would help everyone.
A18 TUESDAY. JUNE 25. 1991
R
The Washington Post
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
Owls, Trees and Loggers
T
HE ENDANGERED Species Act lends it-
ging as much as it restricted it. The Endangered
self to caricature; in the case of the north-
Species Act was less equivocal, and as the size of
ern spotted owl, we print on the opposite
the old-growth forest was reduced, a multiple-
page today an explanation of why the caricature
use compromise became more difficult to
is false. The excerpts are not from the works of a
achieve.
biologist or economist but from an opinion by a
The Reagan and Bush administrations for the
federal judge; sadly, the courts have become the
referees to which one must too often look for
most part dealt with the issue by looking the
environmental truth these days.
other way; the law-and-order administration
The opinion is the best summary we have seen
balked at enforcing the law. The judge says the
of this dispute. The owl, Judge William Dwyer
record shows them to have engaged in "a re-
observes, is not so much the subject of the
markable series of violations of the environmen-
controversy as it is a convenient metaphor and
tal laws" and a "deliberate and systematic refusal
what the biologists call an "indicator species."
to comply with the laws protecting wildlife,"
What its extinction would indicate is that the
not at the working levels of the relevant agencies
entire complex forest system of which it is part is
but higher up, for political reasons.
at risk. The real dispute is over that old-growth
The owl-and through it, by proxy, the irre-
forest that is the owl's habitat. "A great conifer
placeable forest-is to be preserved; the execu-
forest originally covered the western parts of
tive branch, for the sake of seeming to protect
Washington, Oregon and northern California"
jobs that are disappearing anyway, has refused.
from the coastal mountains to the sea, Judge
Judge Dwyer has enjoined further logging con-
Dwyer wrote. As little as 10 percent of it
tracts until a plan to enforce the law is put in
remains, and the question is whether to log the
place. Congress is now trying to find a legislative
remainder or save it. The judge's opinion has
compromise; the industry is claiming that efforts
helped to toss the question back to Congress. But
to save the owl are having an unhappy impact not
the history of the dispute-and the reason it was
just on jobs but also on lumber prices, which have
before the judge-is that neither elected branch
been rising. The idea is that the owl is responsi-
of government has wanted to be the one to
ble for the run-up. But that seems not to be so.
decide.
The people in the logging towns deserve help in
Most of the logging of the old-growth forest
making a transition they faced anyway. The
which Judge Dwyer described was done in the
last 50 years; much of the logging on the federal
Dwyer opinion, while it isn't addressed to Con-
share of that land has been done by smaller
gress, urges facing other obligations at the same
companies-the giant companies are more likely
time, obligations that are not inconsistent with
to grow their own trees on their own vast tracts
aiding the loggers now. "The loss of old growth is
of land. The judge observes that the smaller
permanent," he notes, while "to bypass the envi-
companies logging in the federal domain are in
ronmental laws, either briefly or permanently,
decline for economic rather than environmental
would not fend off the changes transforming the
reasons that have nothing to do with the spotted
timber industry. The argument that the mighti-
owl-but that has made the owl doubly a symbol.
est economy on earth cannot afford to preserve
Congress moved to control the logging on
old-growth forests for a short time, while it
federal lands with the National Forest Manage-
reaches an overdue decision on how to manage
ment Act in 1976. But this call for multiple use of
them, is not convincing today. It would be even
the forests was a straddle that regularized log-
less so a year or a century from now."
June 29, 1990
THE WASHINGTON Post
The Washington Post
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
Forests, Jobs and Owls
T
HE NORTHERN spotted owl dispute is not
been used to halt the logging but weren't. Some
about the owl but about the dwindling old-
land has been given protected status as wilderness
growth forest in which the owl lives. Log-
or park. but this has been a limited solution. Now
gers want to continue cutting the forest down and
the Endangered Species Act has been invoked: the
say jobs will be lost if they are prevented from
owl has become surrogate for its home.
doing so, as environmentalists wish. The adminis-
The Reagan administration tried to say the owl
tration has waffled, saying it wants to save the owl
was not a threatened species, but its decision was
and the jobs. Who wouldn't? The only thing the
found baseless in court. Now the Bush adminis-
administration hasn't figured out is how.
Here's an environmental issue on which the
tration-Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan having
choice should be clear. The country isn't running
first complained that the act is too confining-has
out of jobs, but it is running out of ancient forest.
agreed that the owl is in jeopardy. But it mainly
There are several definitions of what constitutes
proposes to study what to do about that and in the
such forest, so some disagreement exists about
meantime has indicated it will ask Congress-1) to
how much is left. But by one estimate, the classic
immunize whatever is decided from challenge in
old forest remaining is equal to no more than three
the courts and 2) to ease the species act so a better
Rhode Islands, of which only one is protected under
balance can be struck between threatened species
current law.
and threatened jobs.
This is an irreplaceable resource; these forests
Congress should do neither. Court-stripping is
are special and majestic areas. The country doesn't
wrong, and the species act is more valuable and
need the lumber, and for the loggers and communi-
less onerous than the critics make it sound. Maybe
ties involved, cutting the forest down would be only
the study will come up with a way to save both owl
a respite. Once it was done, there would be no
and jobs; we doubt it. The government may be able
forests (or owls) and still no jobs. Best adapt while
to help the affected states find other jobs. A lot of
at least the forests are left.
timber is now shipped out of the Northwest in raw
The timbering dispute has gone on for years, but
form: if further processed at home, it could provide
it has intensified as the remaining old growth
more jobs. But the stands of ancient timber that
declined. A national forest management act in 1976
remain are only a fragment of what once existed,
included some provisions that in theory might have
and they ought to be preserved.
Los Angeles Times August 16, 1989
As Owls Go, So Goes the Forest
Compared with the foreign debt or tax reform.
versus jobs or owls against people. The viability of
anvironmental issues generally seem simple.
the owl is a symptom of the health of the whole
Wastes foul the ocean. Industrial emissions pollute
forest. If the owl is disappearing, then something
the air. Chemicals deplete the ozone layer.
basic is wrong with the forest. If the forest is so
But even environmental matters often are
severely threatened, then the public must decide
reduced to overly simplistic battle lines as one side
whether something should be done to save it.
or the other attempts to gain the emotional
The law is supposed to do that now. That is the
advantage of public support. A prime example is
process established in a variety of federal statutes
the fight over the cutting of old-growth national
passed in the past two decades. But legislators in
firests in the Pacific Northwest. From the timber
the Northwest are seeking to circumvent this
Industry's standpoint, the environmentalists want
process by voiding the court injunctions and
to bring a giant industry to its knees and throw
precluding any further legal action on the pro-
innocent loggers out of work just to save a few
posed cutting of 10 million board feet of old-
reclusive owis.
growth forests through the coming fiscal year.
True. the fate of the northern spotted owl is the
Such a provision was inserted by the Senate into
legal flash-point of the controversy over cutting
the Interior appropriations bill that now awaits
the old-growth forests in Washington, Oregon and
negotiations in a Senate-House conference com-
Northern California. Environmental groups have
mittee.
won court injunctions, against further cutting on
Environmental law was written to provide
certain federal forest lands until experts can
long-term protection of the nation's natural
determine the nature of the threat to the owl,
resources, not to expedite their economic exploita-
which is protected under federal law.
tion for short-term profits. That law should not be
But the issue is far broader and deeper than owis
voided or short-circuited now.
Boston Sunday Blobe
Defending the forests
: On:the wings of an owl, the Bush administra-
There is inherently a conflict between preserv-
tion has tentatively decided to save six million
ing the environment and generating economic
acres of irreplaceable "old growth" forest in the
growth, both valid goals of public policy. At times
Pacific Northwest. A Cabinet-level task force is re-
it is necessary to favor jobs. The pro-environment
portedly tilting toward accepting the advice of a
position ought not to be absolutist.
Fish and Wildlife Service panel to put the forests
The Endangered Species Act is, in fact, an ab-
off-limits to logging to save the Northern spotted
solutist law. It holds that once a species is declared
owt, which is declining toward extinction.
to be threatened, no company or individual can en-
Because 20,000 timber-industry jobs are at
gage in activities that harm it.
stake, some loggers will conclude that, in the mat-
Saving obscure species is a brittle basis for
ter of birds VS. people, conservationists who have
conservation policy. It is politically risky to place
driven the administration to this decision are for
curious little living things such as snail darters,
the birds.
louseworts and spotted owls against human be-
Actually, the owls are merely a symbol of a
ings. It would be far better if endangered ecosys-
more important treasure, the ancient forest eco-
tems were saved for their own sakes rather than
system. The old-growth forest - mostly Sitka
being piggybacked upon an owl.
spruce and Douglas fir on rainy western slopes of
Until bureaucracies such as the Forest Service
the Cascades - is rapidly disappearing. At recent
and the Bureau of Land Management develop a
rates of cutting, it will be gone in 20 years. This
more farsighted view of their responsibilities, how-
patch of the nation's natural heritage belongs to all
ever, the Endangered Species Act remains the for-
Americans, and to their children.
ests' most reliable line of defense.
God Squad confusion
Saving the spotted owl should be committee's goal,
but the administration undercuts its own credibility
The Sunday Oregonian
hen it comes to confus-
agencies that BLM hasn't been doing
Founded Dec. 4. 1850. Established as a daily Feb. 4, 1861. The Sunday Oregonian established
W
ing the spotted owl
its job right.
issue, the federal
That strategy could leave the Fish
Dec. 4, 1881. Published daily and Sunday by the Oregonian Publishing Co.,
government is on a roll
and Wildlife Service - enforcer of
1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97201
If just can't stop.
the Endangered Species Act - as the
FRED A. STICKEL, President and Publisher
Witness the opening proceedings
loncsomest federal agency in town.
WILLIAM A. HILLIARD, Editor
PATRICK F. STICKEL, General Manager
''' which the Endangered Species
Even partisans of the timber
ETER THOMPSON, Managing Editor
BRIAN e. BOUNOUS, Advertising Director
Committee - known as the God
industry shouldn't be too cheered by
OBERT M. LANDAUER, Editorial Page Editor
PATRICK L. MARLTON, Circulation Director
Squad -- will review Bureau of Land
the administration's attempts to
DONALD J. STERLING JR., Assistant to the Publisher
Management timber sales in Western
skew the issue in the industry's
Oregon that have been blocked
favor. The administration has tried
because they could jeopardize the
that time and again. Each time it has
JANUARY 12, 1992
owl. listed as a threatened species.
caused more trouble as courts have
Most recently, the Environmental
stepped in to enforce the laws.
l'rotection Agency removed itself as a
Had the administration faced up to
participant in the proceedings. That
the owl issue responsibly at the
came after the agency submitted,
beginning, when less-drastic adjust-
then withdrew, testimony highly crit-
ments were possible, the owl might
ical of BLM's assessment of the risk
not have been in such jeopardy.
its logging would pose to the owl.
The proper function of these pro-
Earlier, high-level officials ordered
ceedings should be to explore just
the lawyer for the U.S. Fish and Wild-
what it takes to achieve a high proba-
life Service to drop one of its legal ar-
bility of the owl's survival and how
the BLM timber sales affect that
guments against the BLM position.
probability. The God Squad might,
All this increases the suspicion
for instance, distinguish where owl
that the Bush administration is
habitat is essential for the species'
manipulating the input before a
protection, as opposed to merely
federal hearings judge so the output
desirable.
will be favorable to the timber
But the committee should not
industry. irrespective of the facts of
accept as an option a timber harvest
the matter.
strategy that makes the extinction of
The God Squad itself is composed
the owl or other species a significant
mostly of high-level administration
probability.
officials, but their work presumably
And it most assuredly should not
will be much tidier if they aren't
play God with the proceedings by
bothered by troublesome testimony
allowing the facts to be slanted before
or arguments from other federal
they ever get to a decision.
The Sunday Oregonian
Founded Dec: 4, 1850. Established as a daily Feb. 4, 1861. The Sunday Oregonian established
Dec. 4, 1881. Published daily and Sunday by the Oregonian Publishing Co.,
1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97201
FRED A. STICKEL, President and Publisher
WILLIAM A. HILLIARD, Editor
PATRICK F. STICKEL, General Manager
PETER THOMPSON, Managing Editor
BRIAN E. BOUNOUS, Advertising Director
ROBERT M. LANDAUER, Editorial Page Editor
PATRICK L. MARLTON, Circulation Director
DONALD J. STERLING JR., Assistant to the Publisher
SEPTEMBER 15, 1991
More need for forest bill
The God Squad is no substitute for Congress' doing its job
ureau of Land Management
tint right at the start by sharing his
B
Director Cy Jamison has
announcement podium with Pack-
given Congress yet more rea-
wood, who's running for re-election.
son to get down to business
Thus, Oregon and Washington sen-
on a Northwest forestry bill. Other-
ators and representatives should
wise, what should be a bipartisan,
push for legislation that assures both
regionally guided effort to resolve a
a predictable level of federal timber
complex scientific and economic
sales and protection of the spotted
issue could become more confusing,
owl, other species and the old-growth
more divisive and more controlled by
ecosystem. Getting that policy state-
outsiders.
ment is in the interests of environ-
Jamison has decided to ask for a
mentalists and the timber industry,
seldom-convened, high-level panel -
although the two sides remain far
made up mostly of members of the
apart over what it should entail.
administration - to consider grant-
The industry needs action to
ing 44 BLM timber sales an exemp-
regain stability with federal timber
tion from the Endangered Species
sale levels. They have plummeted as
Act's strictures.
the owl issue has worked through
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
courts and committees.
has determined that the sales jeop-
Environmentalists should be eager
ardize the northern spotted owl,
for resolution, too; they may find
which has been listed as a threatened
their court victories illusory as
species. And Thursday, a federal
bureaucrats correct what judges
judge ruled that the BLM had violat-
have held are procedural failings.
ed the Endangered Species Act when
The congressional decision won't
it adopted Jamison's timber-sales
be easy. But paying attention to the
strategy without properly consulting
work of a couple of committees other
with the Fish and Wildlife Service.
than the God Squad can help Con-
Some Northwest delegation mem-
gress make informed choices.
bers - such as Sen. Bob Packwood,
One is the scientific panel that
R-Ore. - have wanted to get the so-
recently identified a series of old-
called God Squad into the picture.
growth management alternatives and
But the committee isn't the appropri-
the environmental and economic con-
ate way to set long-term policy cover-
sequences of each.
ing all the concerns about how the
The other panel is preparing a
federal forests, especially old-growth
spotted owl recovery plan. Its draft
stands, are to be managed. That's the
recommendation is due by the end of
role of Congress, taking into account
this year - before Congress is likely
both economic and scientific consid-
to finish passing any measure - and
erations; and Oregon's and Washing-
appears headed toward an ecosystem
ton's senators and representatives
approach to forest management.
should force the action.
Managing the forests as an interre-
One Cabinet-level committee
lated ecosystem is a sound alterna-
already has taken a shot at the spot-
tive to a variety of single-species pre-
ted-owl issue without success. This
scriptions. But it needs a prudent
new panel's work is likely to be too
combination of flexibility to incorpo-
prolonged and too narrowly focused
rate new discoveries and a firm man-
to do much more. And Jamison
date to carry it out. That's where
colored his request with a political
Congress comes in.
D2
The Sunday Oregonian
Founded Dec. 4, 1850. Established as a daily Feb. 4, 1861. The Sunday Oregonian established
Dec. 4, 1881. Published daily and Sunday by the Oregonian Publishing Co.,
1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97201
FRED A. STICKEL, President and Publisher
WILLIAM A. HILLIARD, Editor
PATRICK F. STICKEL, General Manager
PETER THOMPSON, Managing Editor
BRIAN E. BOUNOUS, Advertising Director
ROBERT M. LANDAUER, Editorial Page Editor
PATRICK L. MARLTON, Circulation Director
DONALD J. STERLING JR., Assistant to the Publisher
AUGUST 11, 1991
Keep courts in picture
The new secretary of agriculture
unconstrained power to the govern-
is making an old mistake in blaming
ment to run the forests according to
the courts for the federal forest
its unchallengeable assumptions of
policy gridlock plaguing the Pacific
what the law permits. Indeed, even a
Northwest.
confidence-building record wouldn't
Secretary Edward Madigan,
justify short-circuiting legal protec-
whose department includes the U.S.
tions that might, in the future, pro-
Forest Service, told a news confer-
tect the timber industry and workers
ence that "we believe we could man-
frustrated by court action today.
age the forests better if we were freed
Madigan is correct when he calls
from the interference of federal
for legislation resolving the stale-
courts, and only Congress can do
mate caused in part by court findings
that."
that the government neglected its
Congress should be very wary of
responsibilities to protect the north-
doing that. Without the possibility of
ern spotted owl. Congress needs to
judges reviewing an agency's action,
clarify what it expects in terms of
Congress has no assurance that its
forest protection and timber sales.
laws are being followed. Neither does
That includes looking at interesting
the public. The best lawsuit is the
suggestions on ways to streamline
one that doesn't get filed because
the review process to ensure that
bureaucrats - knowing they are
unfounded lawsuits or appeals don't
accountable to the courts - follow
hamstring federal agencies.
the law the first time.
But any responsible measure will
Blaming judges for trouble-caus-
provide protection of endangered
ing decisions is much like blaming
species and biologically important
the bearers of evil tidings - often the
forest ecosystems, as well as bring
real blame lies elsewhere. In the case
succor to a troubled timber industry.
of the federal timber controversy,
Thus, it must include a reasonable
the administration's problem isn't
process for federal courts to review
that a lot of lawsuits and administra-
whether federal agencies are follow-
tive appeals have been filed, but that
ing law and their own regulations in
federal judges have determined that
finding the required balance.
those filing them had a point:
Courts do indeed frustrate bureau-
Federal agencies were not proceed-
crats' ability to do whatever they
ing according to applicable laws or
want regardless of what the law re-
their own regulations.
quires. Whatever the bureaucrats
The Reagan-Bush administra-
think about that and however trou-
tions' blunder-filled handling of the
bling in the short run, it's a safe-
spotted-owl and old-growth issues
guard for the public that shouldn't be
falls far short of justifying a grant of
tossed out.
MAY 27, 1991
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The voice of the Northwest since 1863
Editorials
Dwyer decision
the correct one
U.
S. District Judge
would bring back either the bird or
William Dwyer has taken
the trees.
the only reasonable
However, the picture is not
course in ruling that the Forest
quite as bleak as it seems. Some
Service must prepare a plan to
harvesting would continue on
save the Northern spotted owl
federal lands, since 4.8 billion
before allowing more cutting in
board feet of timber has been
the owl's habitat.
sold that has not yet been felled.
In one sense, Dwyer's ruling
Dwyer put 66,000 acres off limits
was a difficult one, since many
until the new rules are in place.
residents of this state's timber-
In another sense, the ruling
dependent communities remain ill-
was an easy one. The Forest
prepared to engage in other
Service blatantly has flouted the
occupations. The issue of
law and ignored the directive of
assistance to residents of these
Congress to prepare the plan, as
communities is one that should
the judge noted. Dwyer pinned the
command the attention of
blame for what he called
Congress.
"deliberate, systematic" violations
This ruling will, for the time
of the law not on Forest Service
being at least, shut down logging
personnel but on "higher
operations on almost 80 percent
authorities" in the executive
of 17 forests in Western
branch of government.
Washington, western Oregon and
If the Forest Service now
Northern California.
abides by the law and moves along
The judge ruled that a
as smartly as it should have from
"substantial risk" exists that the
the outset to prepare a cutting and
owl would be wiped out if
habitat conservation plan, the
logging continued on those parcels
pain caused by uncertainty can be
while the agency tried to fashion
somewhat lessened.
a habitat preservation plan.
Stability is needed in the
Obviously, if the planners
Northwest timber harvest regime,
discovered that the owl for its
and the judge rightly has made it
survival needed trees that had
crystal clear that it is the Forest
been felled in the interim, no
Service's responsibility to stop
amount of judicial restraint
stalling and provide that stability.
The Atlanta Tournal
Whose forests are they, anyway?
For years, the credo of the professional
his courage, the Forest Service bureaucracy
forester has been "sustained yield," an ethic
ordered him transferred to a desk job in
that calls for cutting only as much timber
Washington, D.C. Mr. Mumma chose to retire
each year as can be replaced. That way, the
instead, he told a congressional committee
loggers will always have jobs, the sawmills
this week.
will always have timber, the deer and bear
will always have forests and watersheds will
Lorraine Mintzmeyer, Rocky Mountain
always be protected. Conducted on that basis,
regional director for the National Park Ser-
timber-cutting is an industry that can be sus-
vice, told the committee a similar tale. To-
tained economically, environmentally, politi-
gether with Mr. Mumma and other federal of-
cally and morally.
ficials, she had helped compile a 60-page
draft report recommending specific ways to
However, during
protect Yellowstone National Park from en-
the go-go '80s, sus-
croaching commercial and resource develop-
tained-yield theories
ment, including timber. But when the group's
were largely aban-
final report emerged, it had been shrunk to a
doned as national lum-
10-page document that was stripped of spe-
ber production soared
cifics and that embraced business as usual
from 31.8 billion
around Yellowstone. The change, she testi-
board feet in 1981 to
fied, was produced by political pressure from
49 billion board feet in
White House Chief of Staff John Sununu.
1989, figures that
don't include millions
Ms. Mintzmeyer, by the way, was recent-
of raw logs shipped
John Sununu
ly transferred to Philadelphia, a move. she
overseas. In Montana
has reluctantly accepted.
in particular, companies such as Plum Creek
and Champion International actually
The White House, not surprisingly, de-
stripped their huge tracts of privately held
nies any connection to the transfers of Mr.
timberland clean of vegetation. They didn't
Mumma and Ms. Mintzmcyer. No doubt it is
worry about the future because they fully ex-
the Yellowstone angle that has them mos
pected that when the time came and their
concerned. In the past Mr. Sununu has beer.
own timber was exhausted, they could use
implicated in gutting environmental policy
their considerable political influence to pry
on wetlands protection and global warming
open public lands.
with little political damage. Most people con
sider those issues too complicated to get up.
Now the time has come, and the pressure
set about.
is being applied. Western timber companies
are demanding that the U.S. Forest Service
But Yellowstone is different. If there is E
accelerate the cut on public forests, and they
piece of land that symbolizes the romantic
aren't taking no for an answer.
link between Americans and the land, Yel
lowstone is it. Republicans do not want to SC
John Mumma told them no, for a while
a Democratic presidential candidate stand
anyway. Mr. Mumma, the regional forest su-
ing in front of Old Faithful, explaining how
pervisor for Montana, Idaho and North and
the Bush White House sold out Yellowstone
South Dakota, refused to accede to industry
demands because doing so would require him
to development interests.
to break environmental protection laws. For
Yet that is apparently what happened.
San Francisco Examiner
Thursday, April 11, 1991
Save the ancient trees
HE WILDERNESS SOCIETY
In the past, the federal government has
T
is passing out one million post-
aided and abetted the destruction of our
cards-all printed on recycled
great forests by encouraging wholesale cut-
paper-which it hopes citizens
ting of timber on federal land while charg-
will use to send a message to Congress and
ing minuscule fees. The government has
the Bush administration: Save the ancient
practically carried the chain saws of the
forests of California and the Pacific North-
timber companies. That's changing. Envi-
west. Fewer than one in 10 of those old-
ronmentalists have been more aggressive in
growth trees remains standing, most of
forcing the government to comply with its
them on public lands, and logging threatens
own laws, including the Endangered Spe-
to wipe out even these majestic giants be-
cies Act and the National Forest Manage-
fore too long. In two decades, the last of the
ment Act. Loggers, beset with continuing
uncut, undisturbed forests could be gone.
Each week, loggers fell four square miles
assaults on what they can cut, are more
of ancient forests on federal land from here
willing to compromise to gain some pre-
to Seattle. Endangered forests of coast red-
dictability. At the state level, timber com-
woods, Douglas fir and the Ponderosa pine
panies and environmental groups together
are home to animals and plants as diverse
are backing timber reform legislation.
as the northern spotted owl-threatened
The immediate goal of the Wilderness
with extinction-and the Pacific yew tree,
Society postcard-drive is to enact a federal
whose bark yields taxol, a cancer-fighting
moratorium on old-growth logging for
drug. Protecting ancient forests also helps
three years, sponsored by Rep. Jim Jontz,
to stall global warming, provides a natural
D-Indiana. Once that is done, a plan to gain
filter for clean water, prevents erosion and
permanent protection for ancient forests
gives us all a glimpse of what existed before
can be worked out. This is a legacy we can
humanity's first footfall intervened.
-and should-leave to future generations.
THE
the U.S. Fish and
T
danger.
DAILY ASTORIAN
Wildlife Service is the
Our two senators do us no
first government agen-
favor in either of those specu-
Founded in 1873
cy to acknowledge a fact long
lations. In the first place,
known to timber industry ana-
Packwood will not gut the
lysts: That considerable indus-
species act. In the second place
4
SEAL
R
STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor
try jobs have been lost to log
it is very unsenatorial of either
E
VERUM
181
exports and technology. The
Packwood or Hatfield to sug-
T
2
TOM JACKSON, News Editor
agency has given credence to
gest that it is a good thing to
DOB
DOG
JIM MAXWELL, Advertising & Marketing Manager
that finding in its proposed rule
alter the act.
for the designation of habitat
Anyone who pays scant
ESTABLISHED JULY,
DICK PHILLIPS, Operations Manager
S
attention knows that our envi-
HE
critical to the survival of the
45
RICHARD SCHULTZ, Classified Advertising Manager
northern spotted owl.
ronment is deteriorating. There
ORIA,
JIM ROBINSON, Circulation Manager
The overriding importance
is the greenhouse effect, glob-
of log exports and technology
al warming, forest death in the
in timber industry job loss in
Eastern states and ground
the period 1980-1990 has been
water pollution, to name just
August 20, 1991
quite apparent. It is lodged in
four negative trends.
the reams of statistics which
Man is the ultimate victim of
the government keeps. It was
environmental degradation.
always there for anyone's
We humans are the ultimate
A dose of reality
inspection. As Casey Stengel
and eventual endangered
said, "You can look it up."
species.
Fish and Wildlife Service speaks the
But the critical factor of log
exports and technology did not
truth about timber industry job losses
suit the propaganda needs of
the timber industry. Its p.r. boys
S
en. Packwood recognizes
an environmental threat
would have us believe that
in the high seas driftnet
pesky environmentalists
fishery, which some have
caused massive job loss.
termed ocean strip-mining. But
The timber leaving this
Packwood does not want to
country in the form of raw logs
admit a corollary truth: that
in the period 1980-1990 has
domestic activities - such as
been awesome. Enough to
the overcutting of Pacific
build millions of homes.
Northwest forests - have
Technology has had a simi-
endangered our environment
lar impact in terms of job loss.
in a similar manner.
And that was quite under-
It is okay to beat up on
standable and predictable.
Asians who rape the high seas.
After all, technology has
But don't raise questions about
replaced workers in virtually
the line that's peddled by the
every other manufacturing
timber industry.
industry.
As a world, a nation and a
The timber industry nurtures
region, our population is bur-
illusions for political gain. But
geoning. You do not need a
the industry is so proficient at
doctorate in biology to recog-
inventing propaganda that it
nize that our environmental
believes its own illusions.
systems are being stressed as
The industry has not been
never before. By calling for
alone in feeding illusion to the
revision of the Endangered
public. Witness Sen. Bob Pack-
Species Act, Packwood is only
wood, who promises that he
deluding persons already
will lead a fight to alter the
wounded by unemployment.
Endangered Species Act. Wit-
In aiding their illusion and
ness Sen. Mark Hatfield, who
denial, Packwood is neither
says that the species act is in
being senatorial nor a leader.
THE WASHINGTON POST - June 17, 1991
Jessica Mathews
The Medicine No One Knew Was There
The Wall Street Journal calls it "the
board feet of ancient forest timber is
spotted owl became a cause célèbre
ultimate confrontation between medi-
under contract to be cut this year and
not for itself, but because it was
cine and the environment." The New
next, yet it took intense pressure
chosen as an indicator species of the
York Times, a bit lower key, warns
from environmental groups to finally
health of the ancient forest habitat
that "recovery for sick people may
produce a government moratorium on
and therefore of everything it con-
mean death for the spotted owl." The
burning yews just two months ago.
tained-known and unknown.
controversy could make earlier bat-
Only now is the Forest Service pro-
Next, it is essential to find out
tles over endangered species and hab-
posing an inventory to discover how
more about what's being lost. Most
itats look tame.
much yew is in the forests and where.
species are unidentified, let alone
This time the subject is a drug
Without that knowledge it is impossi-
called taxol. The head of the National
ble to sell as much as possible each
screened for possible uses. Taxol was
Cancer Institute says it's the most
year while sustaining the supply for
discovered in one such screening ef-
important new cancer drug in 15
the years ahead.
fort, but only a tiny fraction of species
Scientists estimate that worldwide,
have been looked at and only for an
years. It has been shown to fight
ovarian, breast and lung cancer and is
50 species become extinct each day.
even tinier portion of their potential
only beginning to be tested. The diffi-
At that rate, in 25 years we will
value. Many species will have no di-
eliminate 10 to 15 percent of the
rect human use but will turn out to be
culty is that taxol comes from the
bark of the Pacific yew, a rare tree
planet's biological wealth. Biologists
essential to the survival of others that
found in endangered, ancient forests.
tear their hair out over this, for it
do. Some species can disappear with
It is a complex molecule that so far
represents a rate of loss that probably
little impact, but by and large ecosys-
has stymied chemists' best efforts to
has only a single precedent in the
tems are stunningly interdependent
synthesize it in the lab. A break-
planet's 4 billion year history. That
networks of plants and animals.
through might be around the corner
was the hypothesized meteorite crash
The formula for balancing immedi-
or years away.
65 million years ago that plunged
ate human needs with environmental
The yew is a slow growing, shade
Earth in darkness and wiped out the
values and long-term human well-
loving tree, which makes it a poor
dinosaurs in a few years. Otherwise,
being is, therefore to save, study and
candidate for plantations devoted to
mass extinctions take place over mil-
use-not use up now, rue later. There
producing the drug. That leaves the
lions of years, not decades.
will be some collisions, but a policy
natural forests as the only source of
To those who catalogue it, today's
that puts a high value on preserving
taxol for the indefinite future. But the
loss is a catastrophe that will impov-
bio-diversity-knowing that there are
yew grows sparsely, and six 100-year-
erish future generations in ways be-
thousands more taxols out there-will
old trees are needed to treat one
yond reckoning. Harvard's E. 0. Wilson
in the long run preserve more options
patient. Harvesting enough for the vast
calls it "the folly our descendants are
than it forecloses. Business as usual
potential market, at an affordable cost,
least likely to forgive us." Yet because
has been: Ready, fire, aim. Too many
could mean clear-cutting all the re-
the numbers are uncertain, and the
of those shots are backfiring.
maining ancient forests in the North-
disappearances gradual and largely in-
west. Even then, there might not be
visible, loss of biological diversity re-
The writer, vice president of World
enough taxol to meet the demand.
mains just another unaddressed prob-
On first glance, the story seems to
lem on an overcrowded list.
Resources Institute, writes this
Slowing the loss requires first of all
column independently for The Post.
pose a stark ethical choice between
human and other forms of life. If so,
that we preserve viable fragments of
there would be only one acceptable
as many habitats and ecosystems as
answer. But in fact, the taxol dilemma
possible. Only 10 percent of Ameri-
is not really about ultimate values. It
ca's old-growth forests remain. Had
is both more mundane and more im-
they been cut a bit faster, taxol might
portant. Stripped of philosophical
never have been discovered. The
trappings, it is actually about waste,
sound resource management, the val-
ue of bio-diversity and the blinkered
human habit of favoring short-term
gain over long-term yield. Ironically,
those who may most threaten the
supply of the drug are not environ-
mentalists trying to prevent the cut-
ting of ancient forests but the manag-
ers of these public lands.
Until now, loggers have treated the
Pacific yew as a trash tree, ripping it
out and burning it along with other
underbrush. Though taxol's potency
was established in 1989, the Forest
Service has been slow to respond,
trapped by a mind-set that prizes
lumber above all other forest prod-
ucts and services. Almost 2 billion
THE DENVER POST
F. MAN SPENCER
WILLIAM DEAN SINGLETON, Chairman
Editor
DONALD F. HUNT, Publisher
CHUCK GREEN
RYAN McKIBBEN
Editor of the Editorial Page
Executive Vice President and General Manager
NEIL WESTERGAARD
RICHARD JACOBS
Executive Editor
Senior Vice President, Administration and Operations
WILLIAM EL HORNEY
FRANK DIXON, VP Operations
KIRX MacDONALD, VP Advertising
Senior Editor
STEVE HESSE, VP Circulation
FRITZ ANDERSON, VP Finance
KEN CALHOUN, VP Marketing
Felling trees, fighting cancer
AT
A TIME when breast can-
legitimate. But thousands of
cer is on the rise and doesn't
lives are at stake here. Because
seem preventable, the govern-
yew trees grow only about three
ment ought to be encouraging
to the acre, and it takes the bark
the harvest of Pacific yew trees,
from about three trees to pro-
from which the cancer-killing
duce enough taxol to treat one
drug taxol is made.
patient, the thousands of acres
Instead, federal officials are
under contract to be cut repre-
standing by while thousands of
sent an equivalent number of
the scarce evergreens are wast-
cancer patients who could be de-
ed during the logging of more
prived of the drug if restrictions
commercially desirable timber.
aren't imposed.
The U.S. Forest Service and
Moreover, while the supply of
Bureau of Land Management,
taxol will remain limited until
which supervise millions of
nursery-grown trees or artificial
acres of forested land in the Pa-
substitutes begin providing new
cific Northwest, have been asked
sources of the chemical, the de-
to require that logging compa-
mand seems likely to grow. In
nies allow the small and sparse-
addition to breast cancer, which
ly distributed yew trees to be
kills about 45,000 women each
harvested before other cutting
year, the drug has also been
can begin on federal lands.
found to be effective against
But while three national for-
ovarian cancer, which kills
ests in Oregon have adopted such
12,500 annually. And there are
a policy, six other forests west of
preliminary indications that it
the Cascades are dragging their
may also be effective against
feet and the BLM seems almost
lung cancer, which claims
intransigent. Apparently, the
140,000 each year.
logging firms are worried that
Clearly, the Americans who
yew cutters might pose liability
stand to benefit from this prom-
problems, and that the big Doug-
ising treatment deserve at least
las firs and red cedars might
as much consideration as those
split part if they fall on yew tree
who make their living by exploit-
stumps.
ing the very resources that could
These concerns may well be
provide a cure.
The New York Times
NEW YORK, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1991
The Great
Tree Robbery
Further, the Forest Service subsi-
By Tim Hermach
dies violate free enterprise principles
and harm the economy: the sales
Native forests
from national forests have devalued
EUGENE. Ore.
timber on private lands, putting
ext week, the House
could vanish by
small tree growers out of business.
N
Subcommittee on Civ-
As for employment, the numbers
il Service is expected
are plain enough. Oregon's Depart-
the year 2000.
to meet with top For-
ment of Employment reports that
est Service officials to
from 1977 to 1987, the state lost more
determine whether
than 12,000 jobs in logging and wood
the Bush Administration has put
More important, all this comes at a
processing. This 15 percent drop ac-
pressure on Government employees
time when less than 5 percent of the
companied a 10 percent increase in
to permit increased logging on Fed-
forest that once covered North Amer-
wood taken from national forests.
eral lands.
ica remains. Just 1 percent is protect-
The answer is "yes." In his decision
Why? Because at least 60 percent
ed, while the rest, primarily our na-
May 23 to temporarily halt logging in
of all Northwest timber is exported
tional forests, is falling at the rate of
parts of the Northwest, William L.
unfinished. Like a third world colony,
nearly a million acres each year -
Dwyer, a Federal judge in Seattle,
we have turned what's left of our
twice as fast as Brazil's rain forest.
suggested that excessive logging was
national forests into a source of raw
And while 80 percent of Brazil's rain
"not the doing of scientists, foresters,
materials for others.
forest still stands, at current rates,
rangers and others at the working
The Forest Service follies have oth-
the unprotected remnants of Ameri-
levels of these agencies. It reflects
er economic liabilities. According to
ca's forests could be totally frag-
decisions made by higher authorities
Forest Service figures for 1990, total
mented and gone by the year 2000.
in the executive branch of Govern-
revenues from forest-related tour-
In 1989, George Bush said: "The
ment." The forced resignation last
ism, hunting and other forms of rec-
forests are the sanctuaries not only of
month of John W. Mumma, a regional
reation were $122 billion, while log-
wildlife, but also of the human spirit.
forester widely regarded as an oppo-
ging receipts from the nations' public
And every tree is a compact between
nent of increased logging, seems to
forests and industries were $13 bil-
generations." Let's stop logging on
support Judge Dwyer's argument.
lion. Few if any tourists will want to
public lands and put our forest poli-
The Forest Service and big timber
visit the ruined forests, clearcuts and
cies in line with our rhetoric.
companies have tried to justify the
tree farms that take the place of old-
logging of public lands by focusing on
growth forest land.
Tim Hermach is president of the Na-
the effects reduced logging would
Finally, there are the effects of
live Forest Council, which seeks to
have on local economies. They have
unbridled cutting. Forests are the
protect the national forests.
pitted humans against endangered
world's lungs, drawing in carbon di-
species. But the preservation vs. jobs
oxide and releasing oxygen. They col-
debate is an attempt to distract us
lect and store rainfall for slow re-
from the economic realities that both
lease during dry spells. Losing them
the Forest Service and the lumber
means losing their salutary effects on
firms would rather keep hidden.
the world's climate and atmosphere.
First is the Forest Service's pro-
An end to logging on public lands
gram of subsidized timber sales to
would make small tree growers via-
the logging industry. Our tax dollars
ble again by ridding the market of
pay for mapping, logging roads and
unfair, taxpayer-subsidized competi-
other services that make it more
tion. The money now spent to prop up
profitable for companies to log public
Forest Service timber sales could go
lands than their own. Without this, the
directly to the employment of loggers
timber companies would be forced to
and others involved in the planting
make their profits by cutting private-
and restoration of native forests and
ly owned lands, which account for 85
fisheries. It takes more jobs to re-
percent of the U.S. timber supply.
habilitate a forest than to destroy it.
THE WASHINGT
Panel Halves
Pacific Ocean
Salmon Catch
Some Experts Say
Industry Faces Ruin
By Kate Darby Rauch
Special to The Washington Post
SEATTLE, April 10-A federal
panel tonight voted to cut by ap-
proximately half the number of
salmon that can be fished off Cal-
ifornia, Oregon and Washington this
year. Many experts predicted the
action could spell ruin for the re-
gion's $66.4 million salmon fishing
industry.
After holding months of public
meetings from California to the Ca-
nadian border, the Pacific Fishery
Management Council, meeting in
San Francisco, chose the cutback
from 1991 fishing levels over a
BY ANDY KLAMSER FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
more drastic options: a total ban on
Revenue from Pacific Coast salmon fishing has been declining for years.
Washington
salmon fishing.
Such drastic action was made
salmon fisherman right now are
When both happen, he said: "You're
post
necessary because of a striking de-
thinking about giving up," he said
going to get low production. Some
cline in the population of Pacific
from San Francisco. Many, he said,
stocks are in serious trouble." Al-
coast salmon in the past few years.
have boats up for sale, though
ready, several species of Pacific
April 11, 1942
Contingent on final approval by
prices are low and buyers scarce.
salmon are listed as endangered or
Commerce Secretary Barbara
The Pacific Coast salmon fishing
threatened.
Hackman Franklin, the new restric-
industry employs some 10,000 peo-
Tonight's decision is expected to
tions will take effect next month.
ple on approximately 3,800 vessels.
have minimal impact on the price or
The measure does not affect salmon
The council, a Commerce De-
availability of salmon nationwide.
fishing off Alaska or Canada.
partment agency, manages marine
Most salmon eaten in the United
The action came as no surprise to
fishing regulations from three to
States comes from Alaska-whose
the region's commercial, recre-
200 miles offshore. The 13-mem-
$320 million take in 1991 was
ational and Indian tribal fishing con-
ber group, based in Portland, Ore.,
about five times as large as that
cerns, already struggling to adjust
works closely with state fisheries
from California, Oregon and Wash-
to years of decline in the salmon
departments and sets yearly limits
ington combined-or is imported,
catch.
on the number and types of fish that
usually "farmed" salmon from Can-
"We're in for some real tough
can be caught by commercial and
ada or South America.
times," Hans Radtke, an Oregon
sport anglers.
But along the coast, fear and dis-
economist who is a member of the
Several factors-both natural
couragement have already set in.
council, said before the vote. "It
and man-made-are being blamed
"It's quite a blow to the city," said
looks like next year will be the same
for the salmon decline. They in-
Mary Yoder, mayor of Port Orford,
or worse. This is very important on
clude the five-year drought in Cal-
Ore., population 1,050. "Most of
the community level."
ifornia and Oregon, which has low-
our employment and workers are
ered the water flow and raised the
under fisheries."
Revenue in these three states
has been falling dramatically for
temperatures of spawning streams
By sharply curtailing marine fish-
and rivers; a periodic warm ocean
years. In 1991, commercial and
ing for a year, the council hopes
current called El Nino, which kills
that sufficient numbers of mature
sport salmon fishing combined
off nutrient-rich plankton that salm-
salmon will journey up freshwater
amounted to $66.4 million, accord-
on feed on; logging, that can clog
streams and rivers to their spawn-
ing to the Commerce Depart-
watersheds with eroded soil and
ing grounds, to replenish-or at
ment-down 28 percent from the
debris; dams, which can hinder ef-
least preserve-salmon stocks. But
preceding year, and 58 percent be-
ficient spawning; and chemicals
most observers agree that lasting
low the 1976-1990 average.
from agricultural runoff.
solutions are needed.
"I'm tempted to get out," said Jeff
"Fewer fish are spawning, plus
"Society has to decide," said Feld-
Feldner, a boat owner and fishing
there's low survival in the ocean,"
ner, "Whether or not they want to
croller from Newport, Ore., who
said Ken Henry, a fisheries biologist
have salmon that are token museum
represents the state's commercial
in Seattle, and chairman of the
populations, or salmon populations
salmon fleet to the council. "A lot of
council's salmon technical team.
that will support fisheries."
THE NEW YORK TIMES OP-ED THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1992
Environmentalism
Doesn't Steal Jobs
By Stephen M. Meyer
tory to safeguard it in the public
interest. Some in Congress and the
Administration want to sell off the
CAMBRIDGE. Mass.
timber and mineral rights to private
1 may be of some comfort to
industry, even though many of these
I
Japan to learn that it is no
sites are in national forests and wild-
longer considered solely to
life refuges. They claim that these
blame for America's eco-
sales will generate Federal revenue.
nomic travails. A new culprit
Fine, so why is the price to industry
has been uncovered: the en-
being set at a small percentage of the
vironment.
fair market value? If the special in-
If some of our political and indus-
terests are going to walk off with
trial leaders are to be believed, owls,
public resources, and wreck some of
caribou, salmon and fir trees are
the most precious wilderness areas
responsible for keeping Americans
left in the country, shouldn't they at
out of work and homeless. Only by
least have to pay full price?
cashing in on the vast untapped
The development of public lands
wealth of America's public lands, re-
will create jobs, some insist. But the
leasing constraints on private devel-
net number of new jobs actually cre-
opment and removing environmental
ated is usually quite small, since com-
regulations on industry can prosperi-
panies just move on when local re-
David Suter
ty return. Scientific evidence and pro-
sources are exhausted.
fessional judgment should not be al-
Logging, mining and drilling rates
closing auto plants when the very for-
lowed to stand in the way of economic
are set to make quick profits, not
eign cars that are swamping domestic
gains - no matter how marginal or
establish a sustainable local industry.
sales perform better in fuel efficiency
Special interests
short term.
So new jobs at one site merely cancel
and emissions control tests? And then
Environmental policy has always
lost jobs at the last site. Employment
again a recent survey showed that 70
use workers as a
been an arena for clashes between
in these localities goes from boom to
percent of American auto buyers
public-public interests and public-pri-
bust in a few years. So why is taxpay-
would be willing to pay more money
propaganda tool.
vate interests. But the "jobs issue" is
ers' money being spent to pay for
for more fuel-efficient cars. How does
being used cynically and deceptively
roads and infrastructure to assist
working against the market help
by special interests to manipulate
these companies? Is this in the public
American competitiveness?
public opinion. Environment bashing
interest?
The White House Council on Com-
swamps versus shops. Wetlands are
has become political sport.
Onerous fuel efficiency and pollu-
petitiveness believes that overly re-
essential to controlling drinking-wa-
The Government assumed guard-
tion standards are allegedly hobbling
strictive wetlands protection is sti-
ter pollution and storm and flood
ianship over vast tracts of U.S. terri-
the competitiveness of the U.S. auto
fling economic recovery, and so it
damage. How does developing wet-
industry. The U.S. auto makers, Presi-
would like to open up half of Ameri-
lands help American competitiveness
Stephen M. Meyer is professor of
dent Bush and some in Congress would
ca's remaining wetlands to condo-
when taxpayers end up having to foot
political science at the Massachusetts
like to relax the rules. But can it really
minium and shopping mall develop-
the bill for new water treatment
Institute of Technology.
be environmental regulation that is
ment. But the issue is more than
plants and the expansion of federally
subsidized flood insurance for ill-
placed developers' projects?
The simple fact is that environmen-
tal regulation is not the reason that
tens of billions of dollars worth of
savings and loans went belly up, that
real estate construction collapsed or
that hundreds of thousands of Ameri-
can workers suddenly found them-
selves unemployed. Nor will environ-
mental neglect buy prosperity or full
employment - a poignant lesson of
the collapse of the Communist econo-
mies in the former Soviet Union and
Eastern Europe.
Environment bashing, like Japan
bashing, is a political gimmick of spe-
cial interests. Environmental protec-
tion is a public interest that does not
conflict with economic prosperity. Re-
laxing environmental protection will
only mean that more Americans will
breathe dirty air, drink contaminated
water and have to travel farther to see
a bird while they search for menial
jobs at half-vacant shopping malls.
Park, Forest Officials
Allege GOP Pressure
Two Caught in Crossfire Over Public Lands
By Tom Kenworthy
tered down to "a brochure" because
Interior spokesman Steven Gold-
Washington Post Staff Writer
of "strictly political concerns." A.
stein and White House deputy press
32-year employee of the Park Ser-
Two senior federal officials who
secretary Gary Foster said Sununu
vice, Mintzmyer has accepted the
had never had any communication
were transferred from their jobs
agency's insistence that she be
with Sewell on the Yellowstone doc-
overseeing millions of acres of na-
transferred to its mid-Atlantic of-
tional parks and forests in the West
ument, known as the "Vision Plan."
fice in Philadelphia.
told a congressional subcommittee
Mumma also made; allegations
Mumma, a 28-year veteran of the
vesterday that their stewardship of
against a number of other political
Forest Service, cited "undue inter-
those resources was compromised by
figures during his testimony to the
ference and pressure by political
political pressure from Republican
subcommittee. He S aid. for in-
figures" intent on forcing larger
lawmakers and the White House.
stance. that he had been told by the
timber harvests on public lands in
The two officials-John Mumma,
chief of the Forest Service that
the West as a major factor in his
the National Forest Service region-
Rep. Ron Marlenee (R-Mont.) had
being ordered to a job in Washing-
al forester for 25 million acres pri-
insisted that Mumma not be recer-
ton. Mumma told members of the
marily in the northern Rockies, and
tified in the Senior Extecutive Ser-
civil service subcommittee of the
Loretta Lorraine Mintzmyer, the
vice and that Sen. Conrad Burns
House Post Office and Civil Service
National Park Service's regional
Committee that he will resign from
(R-Mont.) was receiving regular
director for the Rocky Mountain
the Forest Service rather than
reports on an inspector general's
region-told the subcommittee
agree to the transfer.
investigation into his tenure as re-
their transfers stemmed from de-
"I have done everything ! can to
gional forester.
cisions on timber and park manage-
meet all of my [timber cutting] tar-
Marlenee and Burns. flatly denied
ment that angered commercial in-
gets," Mumma told the subcommit-
the allegations.
terests with powerful political con-
tee, arguing that it is often impos-
The sometimes drarriatic testimo-
nections in Washington.
sible to meet those targets and
ny by Mintzmyer and Miumma-who
The testimony by the two mem-
comply with federal environmental
broke down in tears toward the end
bers of the Senior Executive Ser-
and wildlife protection laws. "I have
of his opening statement as he pro-
vice highlighted the intensifying
failed to reach the quotas only be-
claimed his dedication to the Forest
struggle over resource allocation
cause to do so would have required
Service-brought angry denuncia-
and public land use in the West be-
me to violate federal law.
I
am
tions by Democratic lawmakers who
tween environmental groups and
extremely disappointed that what I
timber. mining and grazing inter-
said the cases demonstrate a disre-
feel as the political pressures I have
ests. It also illustrates how govern-
dealt with over the last few years in
gard both for federal employees'
ment employees in the field are in-
my region have now apparently re-
rights and the nation's resources.
creasingly caught in that crossfire
sulted in the decision to remove me
"Civil servants must be allowed
and in political disputes between
from this region."
to do their jobs without the undue
the Bush administration and the
Annual timber-cutting targets
influence of the monied and the
Democratic-controlled Congress.
are set by multi-year plans for in-
powerful and fear of political repri-
Some lawmakers and environ-
dividual forests and by congression-
sai," said subcommittee Chairman
mental groups believe the order
al appropriations bills.
Gerry Sikorski (D-Minn.).
transferring Mumma is part of a
The Forest Service and the Inte-
Rep. Pat Williams (D-Mont.) said
larger campaign to intimidate field
rior Department have denied that
the cases of Mumma and Mintz-
employees of the Forest Service
the transfers of Mumma and Mintz-
myer represent the tip of "an ice-
into acquiescing in higher timber
myer were reprisals. saying that
berg of a scandal" involving the "in-
production. Ten days ago, for ex-
they were routine personnel shifts.
appropriate political intervention in
ample. Forest Service Director F.
The Interior Department and the
land management by the Park Ser-
Dale Robertson reversed an at-
White House also denied Mintz-
vice and Forest Service."
tempt by Lolo National Forest su-
myer's assertion that Sununu had in-
But Rep. Don Young (Alaska). the
pervisor Orville L. Daniels to re-
tervened in the Interior Depart-
ranking GOP member of the House
duce cutting in the Montana forest
ment's preparation of, the Yellow-
Interior and Insular Affairs Commit-
from 78 million board feet per year
stone management plan. Mintzmyer
tee, said that absent administration
to 52 million board feet.
said that she had been told by Inte-
testimony-which is to come later-
In her testimony, Mintzmyer said
rior principal Deputy Assistant Sec-
the hearings into the Mumma and
her responsibility for preparing a
retary for Fish and Wildlife and
Mintzmyer transfers would become
comprehensive management plan
Parks Scott S. Sewell that Sununu
just a "media event." Some former
for the Yellowstone National Park
had "personally spoken to him about
Forest Service employees attending
area was undercut through pres-
this issue," conveying the White
the hearing said Mumma is incorrect
sure from White House Chief of
House view that "from a political per-
in his assertion that timber targets
Staff John H. Sununu and that the
spective the existing draft
was a
cannot be met without violating en-
document was subsequently wa-
disaster and must be rewritten."
vironmental laws.
THE WASHINGTON POST - August 4, 1991
The Owl's Golden Egg
Environmentalism Could Boost Lumber Profits and Prices
"No tonic could be better for the
as a wood reserve is taking place at a
their operations away from the Pacif-
coming off the public lands of the Pa-
By John M. Berry
Washington Post Staff Writer
depressed wood-products industry
time when the industry already is un-
ic Northwest after they had cut the
cific Northwest depresses the price
than a decrease in capacity coincid-
dergoing change.
bulk of the mature timber on their
of their lumber, and they have made
EUGENE, Ore.
ing with an increase in demand,"
The adjustment is easier for the
own land.
no secret of their support for envi-
t is sometimes hard to tell
Rogers wrote. "Thanks to the con-
big national companies such as Wey-
The symbol of that shift is the
ronmental groups seeking to restrict
the winners and the losers,
troversy over the spotted owl, indus-
erhauser Co. and Georgia-Pacific
tower in downtown Atlanta that
the harvest in the national forests.
and why each is winning or
try capacity is almost certain to be
Corp., which in the 1950s and 1960s
houses the headquarters of Georgia-
Sen. Wyche Fowler Jr. (D-Ga.)
losing, in the war over tim-
cut just as the housing recovery be-
made big investments in the South-
Pacific, which moved there from
last year combined environmental
ber cutting on federal land in
gins to stimulate demand."
east, where land was relatively cheap
Portland, Ore., in 1982.
ism and support for Georgia's private
the Pacific Northwest.
Rogers said the lumber industry
and it is possible to grow southern
Olsen said that between 1978-
timber interests when he proposed
The regional timber industry has
has been plagued for more than a de-
pine like a crop that is harvested ev-
long before the spotted owl became
cutting $100 million from the U.S
sought to portray itself as a clear los-
cade with too much production ca-
ery 30 or SO years. The five South-
an issue-and 1990, Georgia-Pacific
Forest Service's budget for road
er if environmentalists get their way
pacity, a condition that has kept prof-
eastern states of Georgia, Florida,
and the six other largest lumber
building. The road network provides
and the timber harvest is sharply
its low. Reduced harvests in this
Virginia, South Carolina and North
firms operating in the Northwest re-
access to uncut stands of timber on
curtailed to protect recreational us-
region will lead to a cut in industry
Carolina already supply about a quar-
duced their combined mill capacity in
the federal lands.
es, scenic vistas, water quality, fish-
capacity of 5 percent to 10 percent
ter of the nation's timber, more than
the region by one-third. Meanwhile,
The amendment, which was
eries and wildlife such as the official-
and a rebound in profits, he predict-
the western coastal region of Ore-
the seven companies were increasing
strongly backed by environmental
ly endangered spotted owl.
ed.
gon, Washington and California.
their mill capacity in the South,
groups, was narrowly defeated.
Nevertheless, a few weeks ago
This follows a decade in which na-
Jeff Olsen, an economist with the
where fast-growing, privately owned
Neither the commercial nor envi-
Mark S. Rogers, a wood industry an-
tional lumber production surged, ris-
Wilderness Society, one of the envi-
pine forests provide the bulk of the
ronmental arguments for reducing
alyst at Prudential Securities Inc. in
ing from 31.8 billion board feet in
ronmental groups seeking to protect
raw material, by 121 percent.
the Northwest harvest are persua
New York, declared in a headline on
1981 to 49 billion board feet in 1989,
the remnants of this region's ancient
This shift has provoked regional
sive to the loggers, mill workers and
a research paper, "What's Good for
as construction boomed around the
fir and hemlock forests, also argues
political frictions.
contractors who cut and haul logs III
the Spotted Owl Is Great for the
country. This means the reexamina-
that the biggest firms in the industry
Private timber interests in the
the forests of Oregon or Washington
Wood-Products Industry."
tion of the role of the national forests
began years ago to shift the focus of
Southeast contend that the timber
See TIMBER, III, Col. I
Lumbering
Carolina who have stands of pine likely
While the fight over the spotted
are a bit wealthier because of the cut-
owl is only now coming to a nead. the
ting restrictions here.
May Benefit
struggle over old-growth forests has
Those restrictions. the full extent of
been a long-running battle.
which IS still being thrashed out in
"The basic turmoil has been a 20-
Congress and the federal courts. has
year process we have been going
From Cuts
already sharply increased selling pric-
through on land aliocation. said
es for logs from both federal and pri-
Steve Paulson, who IS in charge of
vate land in this area. In sumilar fash-
timber sales at the Forest Service's
ion. as lumber production in the
regional headquarters in Portland.
TIMBER. From H1
Southeastern United States nses to
"The owl is only a surrogate for the
Many see their livelihoods in danger if
offset the lost output here, some of the
land allocation issue."
the timber harvest on federal land is
tens of thousands of timber jobs being
Nevertheless, until recently. the
curtailed. Small- and medium-sized
lest here will reappear in that region.
efforts by environmentalists to re-
lumber and plywood companies. which
The larger companies, such as Wey-
duce cutting of the region's remain-
fear they may not be among the survi-
erhauser. also benefit. Lynn Michaelis.
HIS old-growth forests to enhance
vors as industry capacity declines, are
chief economist for the company,
other uses such as recreation and to
agreed that "to a certain extent. we
pressing members of Congress to save
protect wildlife. including the owl.
their businesses rather than owls.
benefit from higher prices" for logs.
had not actually much attected the
However, those higher prices have the
Among those that may not share in
amount of timber being cut on federal
same impact on the profitability of
the profits is Bohemia Inc., a company
land. During the latter half of the
some Weyerhauser processing opera-
based here that has 2.100 employees
1980s. more than 5 billion board feet
tions as those of companies that do not
turning out about $300 million worth
was harvested each year. In fact. the
own their own timber, he said. Some
of lumber, plywood. laminated beams
cut on federal land rose to an all-time
Weyerhauser mills already have been
and other products annually at a dozen
peak. according to Haynes.
shuttered.
mills in Oregon and California. Bohe-
Michaelis said excess capacity in the
mia. founded 75 years ago on the near-
Falling Payrolls
industry held down the price of lumber
by Row River, decided late last year to
liquidate itself rather than subject its
during the 1980s to the point that it
Despite the size of the federal cut,
rose about 15 percent less than prices
however, between 1979 and 1989
stockholders to year after year of sub-
of goods and services generally. In
employment in the lumber and wood
standard profits.
other words, the real cost of lumber
products industries in Washington
With almost everyone conceding
fell about 15 percent over the decade,
and Oregon fell from 133,800 to
that the amount of timber cut on fed-
making the cost of building homes low-
109,000. As mill owners who could
eral land is going to be reduced at
er than it otherwise would have been.
afford it poured millions of dollars in-
least by half and maybe by much more
Now Michaelis believes the cutting
to their facilities to improve their effi-
than that. many companies, including
restrictions are likely to provide a
ciency, their payrolls fell. The mill
Bohemia, can no longer count on hav-
one-time 10 percent boost in lumber
owners who could not afford the in-
ing enough logs at a price they can af-
prices. With basic lumber and plywood
vestment shut down. and those jobs
ford to run their mills profitably.
accounting for 3 percent or so of the
were lost as well.
"We are caught in the middle and
cost of an average house, restricting
In a nutshell, the industry showed
we see no way out," said L.L. "Stub"
the cut on federal land here would
the same pattern of increased pro-
Stewart. a director and retired chair-
raise the price of a $100,000 home by
duction and efficiency and declining
man whose father helped found the
about $300, he said.
employment that appeared in most
company. "You hate like hell to see
Richard Haynes, an economist at
parts of the manufacturing sector of
this happening after having been in
the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest
the U.S. economy in the 1980s.
business for 75 years."
Research Station in Portland, has
Paul F. Ehringer, a former timber
While Bohemia's workers may
come up with figures that are even
industry executive who is now a con-
come out losers, Bohemia's stockhold-
smaller, about $200 for an average
sultant, tracks mill closings in the re-
ers may not.
home.
gion. Since the beginning of 1980,
Ironically, the same forces that con-
"That's the rub," Haynes said. "The
Ehringer said, 205 mills turning out
vinced Bohemia's president, Richard
cost to you, or me, is very small.
lumber, plywood, veneer and other
D. Tinney, and its board to sell out
The economic impact is feit most in
products have closed in Washington
have made the company far more valu-
the region. What is causing the politi-
and Oregon, costing about 18,800
able.
cal impact is the localized effect.
jobs.
Bohemia has 48,000 acres of wood-
Places like Sweet Home could be los-
The Forest Service's Haynes esti-
land in Oregon and California that are
ing its entire manufacturing base."
mated that saving most of the re-
now worth enough that analysts ex-
Sweet Home is a town of about 7,000
pect the company's shareholders to re-
at the western edge of the Cascade
ceive three or four times the $8.25
Mountains northeast of here.
per share its stock was selling for
when the firm's liquidation was an-
'80s Legacy Continues
nounced last December.
Other owners of softwood timber,
The job losses and business clos-
whether in large stands or small, both
ings that are on the way will hurt
even more because they are a contin-
here and in the South, should see a
uation of what happened here during
similar windfall. While they may not
the 1980s.
have noticed, individual landowners in
Virginia or along the coast of South
LUMBER PRODUCTION
1990 ESTIMATES, IN BILLIONS
OF BOARD FEET
SOUTHEAST
12.9
WEST COAST
9.0
SOURCE: American Forest Council
BY JOHN GIUSTINA FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
Logs await processing at sawmill in Oregon. The industry has been plagued by too much production for more than a decade.
maining old-growth forest will cost
lost to the community and most of its
eral hundred years old. The old-
the region about the same number of
value has disappeared from the tax
growth forest had a ragged appear-
jobs it lost in the past decade for
base of Lane County, an area the size
ance. with trees missing tops, stand-
purely economic reasons.
of the state of Connecticut that pro-
ing dead snags and many trees down
"We are speeding up a decade of
duces more timber than any other ar-
on the forest floor.
changes." the Forest Service's
ea in the nation.
On Hill's Creek near Wolf Moun-
Haynes declared. "The spotted ow)
Bohemia's Stewart and other com-
tain, Bohemia was hauling out timber
compresses it into a couple of years."
pany executives, such as Gene Ste-
This process is playing itself out in
vens, who oversees their Oregon log-
bought from the national forest and
the Willamette National Forest east
ging operations, all are resigned to
cut last fail. The old-growth trees,
of here, where Bohemia, seeing no
what is coming. But they all also re-
with an average of 1,500 to 2,000
way to avoid a shortage of large logs,
gard it as a waste.
board feet of timber each, were
worth about $400 per thousand
closed its lumber mill on Culp Creek.
Flying over land east of here
Some of the 350 employees who lost
board feet, Stevens said.
owned by Bohemia, Weyerhauser and
their jobs had been with the company
other firms, the two men pointed out
The logs were heading for Bohe-
for more than 35 years, Stewart said.
the mosaic of mature trees ready to
mia's sawmill in Coburg, just north of
Some have since found new jobs.
here, to be turned into lumber or to
be cut, areas recently stripped of tim-
Some are training at the community
ber and replanted plots with trees
be peeled into thin panels for making
college here for new careers in high-
ranging from seedlings up to trees 25
plywood. "This is real tree-growing
technology jobs. Many, however. are
country," exclaimed Stewart. whose
or 30 years old. To them, the land
still unemployed. and others have re-
grandfather homesteaded land not far
was like a farm raising a crop with an
tired years before they planned to
away and whose father bossed a log-
exceptionally long growing season.
put their feet up.
ging camp in another valley.
The mill itself, its equipment auc-
Ragged Forests
Now, after a century and a half of
tioned this spring partly at scrap pric-
intensive harvesting, timber is taking
The Willamette National Forest
es, stands deserted with gaping holes
a back seat in the Pacific Northwest.
was a mosaic, too, with clear cuts and
in its roof and no prospect it will ever
The southern pine plywood available
operate again. Its payroll has been
replanted areas. But there. many of
for sale in lumber stores here is clear
the mature trees were part of the
evidence of that.
old-growth forest-trees 160 to sev-
The Oregonian
Sept. 26, 1991
Report claims increased productivity,
not owls, eliminating most timber jobs
By KATHIE DURBIN
The report contends that ban-
widespread economic unrest in
of The Oregonian staff
ning log exports would more than
California, Oregon and Washing-
offset reductions in federal timber
ton."
Boosts in productivity will cost
supply to protect the spotted owl
"The pressure group still is
the Northwest timber industry
and old-growth forests.
refusing to accept any responsibil-
more jobs than will be lost by pre-
Some timber economists dis-
ity for its actions, while its attor-
serving old-growth forests, The
pute that, pointing out that much
neys and lobbyists pull out all the
Wilderness Society said in a report
of the private timber cut for export
stops in order to shut down mil-
released Wednesday.
is in areas distant from mills that
lions of acres of public forest-
The report by the conservation
are hurting because of restricted
land," said Mark Rey, executive
group estimates higher productivi-
federal timber supplies - and
director of the American Forest
ty will cost more than 33,000 jobs
might not be cut at all if lucrative
Resource Alliance.
in the region over the next 20
foreign markets were not avail-
The report did recommend
years.
able.
several actions to help workers
Over the past 40 years, the
The study, funded by the A.W.
and rural communities through
report says, the federal govern-
Mellon Foundation and the Pew
the painful transition to an econ-
ment has allowed systematic log-
Charitable Trusts, also looked at
omy not based on cutting old
ging of its forests to supply raw
automation and the migration of
growth trees.
material for the timber industry.
the timber industry's major pro-
Among the report's recommen-
"By the late 1980's, it became
ducers from the Northwest to the
dations were:
evident that if logging on federal
South over the past 13 years.
Increased funding and
land continued unabated through
Between 1978 and 1990, the
expanded eligibility for job
the 1990's, the ancient forests
seven largest lumber and plywood
retraining programs to help per-
would be severely fragmented and
companies reduced their manufac-
manently displaced timber work-
their many economical values
turing capacity in the Northwest
ers and their families obtain new
essentially destroyed," wrote
by 34 percent and increased their
skills.
George T. Frampton Jr., president
capacity in the South by more
A six-month extension of
of the The Wilderness Society in
than 121 percent, the study found.
unemployment benefits for unem-
the report's introduction. "Yet,
During the same period, lumber
ployed workers who are enrolled
reducing federal timber supply for
industry investment in the North-
in retraining programs, to allow
the region's mills and communi-
west fell by 60 percent.
them to complete the programs.
ties was seen by many as too great
About 50 people from the North-
Financial assistance for
a price to pay for preserving the
west timber industry staged a
housing, health insurance and job
last of the ancient forests."
demonstration in front of the so-
search and relocation expenses.
Profound changes in federal for-
ciety's headquarters just before
A change in the way federal
est management - with corre-
the report was released.
timber receipts are distributed to
sponding reductions in logging of
The group denounced the
counties, aimed at stabilizing reve-
federal timber - will be necessary
report as an attempt by the con-
nue and reducing the pressure on
to prevent irreversible loss of bio-
servation group to "wash its
federal forest managers to meet
logical diversity, Frampton wrote.
hands of any responsibility for the
their timber sale targets.
Protecting a Vanishing Ecosystem
With Fate of the Forests at Stake,
Power Saws and Arguments Echo
By TIMOTHY EGAN
Special to The New York Times
SEATTLE, March 19 - In the Amer-
throngs of animals and birds that have
ican rain forests, a misted expanse of
dwelled in the forests for eons.
coastal evergreens running from
The virgin timberlands that once
Northern California through Southeast
covered much of the country have
Alaska, more of the tallest and oldest
shrunk to a prized strip in the Far
trees in the world are being cut from
West, most of it owned by the Federal
public land than ever before.
Government. These last ancient forests
The cutting, spurred by profound
are being logged at the rate of 60,000
changes in the timber industry, threat-
acres a year - three times the annual
ens the last stands of ancient trees in
harvest at the height of the post-war
the United States, as well as the
building boom.
Some tree experts think only 2 mil-
lion acres, about 10 percent, is left of
the forest that was here before colonial
times. Other estimates are as high as 6
million acres, or 30 percent. Some
Smokey the Bear
scientists and conservationists think
MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1989
the old forests will be gone in three dec-
has become Mr.
ades if logging continues at the present
rate. Others say it could be 15 years.
Lumberjack,
An Industry in Change
some say.
The cutting stems from industry
changes as predictable as automation
and as hard to control as foreign pros-
perity. Foreign timber companies are
able to outbid American companies for
logs from state and private lands. That
has put more pressure on American
companies to log the last remaining
large source of raw wood for domestic
use: the national forests. The compa-
nies plant new trees to replace the ones
they cut, but seeds planted today will
not become full-grown trees for dec-
ades.
For generations, the Forest Service
was seen as the protector of the na-
tional forests, and the agency insists it
still is. But some conservationists think
the agency has become too cozy in re-
cent years with the timber industry.
"Smokey the Bear has become Mr.
Lumberjack." is how one conservation-
ist group put it.
5 Copyright © 1989 The New York Times
Paradoxically, all this cutting has
Continued on Page 12. Column 1
News Articles
Forest Debate Grows, as Saws Buzz
Continued From Page I
not brought prosperity to everyone. Al-
though the huge timber companies that
export heavily and rely on automation
are doing well, there is double-digit
unemployment in many small North-
west communities that depend on the
small mills. Economists blame much
of this on the export of raw logs, which
go from forest to ship without touching
a mill worker's hand, and on automa-
tion. Never before have so many trees
been cut in America by so few people.
Fires Slow the Logging
Nationwide, the amount of timber
stripped from the 156 national forests
reached an all-time high of 12.7 billion
board feet in 1987. That record would
haye been exceeded last year, had not
logging been curtailed by forest fires.
In the Northwest alone, a record 5.5
billion board feet (a typical 30-foot tree
yields about 1,000 board feet) were
logged from 19 national forests in 1988,
about 20 percent more than 10 years
ago. Most of that was irreplaceable
"old growth," virgin timber or trees
two centuries or more old.
Before World War 11, virtually no
timber was cut from these forests,
which President Theodore Roosevelt
placed into the national trust in 1905.
Surrounded by expanding cities and
cleared-over private lands, the Govern-
ment forests have become the last
home for some plants and wildlife at
the very time they are being most in-
tensively logged.
Conservationists say the 191 million-
acre national forest system is in grave
jeopardy. About 32 million of those
acres have been designated "wilder-
ness" and are inviolate. Twenty-three
million acres of that land is in Alaska.
In any event, much of the wilderness
land is mountainous rather than tim-
her-bearing.
About 10 percent of the national for-
est system is in the Northwest, and vir-
tually all of the national system's vir-
gin timber is there.
The New York Times/Michael Leary
A cleared area of the Mt. Baker National Forest in Washington State.
More trees are being cut from Northwest rain forests than ever before.
Protecting a Vanishing Ecosystem
THE NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1989
The New York Times/ Michael or Leary
Timber taken from rain forests in the American
from the West Coast, including Alaska, was sent
Northwest being loaded onto a ship in Everett,
overseas last year without ever touching an Amer-
Wash., for transport to Japan. One in four logs cut
ican millworker's hands.
One Log in Four
Small mill owners used to bid for
© 1989 The New York Times
By the year 2000, timber - when
wood from state and private forests.
measured by actual volume of wood,
But in the midst of the export boom,
not number of trees - will be cut
small mills have been unable to match
nearly twice as fast on national forests
the bids of foreign log buyers, mainly
as new trees can replace it, according
the Japanese, who are buying up more
to a Forest Service analysis done this
and more logs from state and private
lands.
year.
One in four logs cut from the West
As a result, the small mill owners are
Coast, including Alaska, was sent over-
pressuring the Forest Service to let
seas last year, an all-time record, ac-
them cut more trees from Federal
cording to the Commerce Department.
land, the only area from which log ex-
In the last 10 years, logs equal to a for-
ports are prohibited. Big companies
est of 600,000 acres were sent overseas.
are also pressuring for more access to
Fine-grained Douglas fir, hemlock,
national forests as they cut the last of
spruce and cedar, the most prized trees
their own trees.
in the softwood lumber trade, come
from the coastal rain forests, as do red-
wood and sequoia. Wood from these
forests built the frontier towns of San
Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and much
of the houses constructed in that post-
war boom. Now the wood from those
forests is the raw material for a Japa-
nese home-building boom.
V. Cartoons
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
THE NEW FORESTRY
O
NA CLEARCUT DAY, YOU CAN SEE FOREVER
ECOSYSTEM
SPECIESION
DESTRUCTION
MUDSLIPES
FLOODING
PM
SOLD
RUINATION: TOO
S
GRENBERG
are
OWMANbanz W TORNE
AEGOHION.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE
TOO NEGATIVE. FOR INSTANCE,
THEY WOULD SAY THIS TREE
IS CUT. I PREFER TO SAY ITS
HALF-STANDING..
EAT MORE
OWL
LUJAN
BOWBASET
ONE LAST
GREAT ACT
of
DefiaNce
PLOP!
OLDGROWTH
FORESTS AND
is
SPOTTED OWL
III
HABITAT
Portland Organian, 29 May 1989
OHMANTHE
Entering
PACK WOODS
not
Old Growth Forest
51 MIC SPOKEGMAN PEVIEW SPOKANE GROVICLE
THE
THOMAS FOLEY
NATIONAL
OLD GROWTH
FOREST OF
EASTERN YVASHINGTON
WH
WILLISEV989
..THANKS TO 8 LONG
YEARS OF DEDICATED
RESEARCH BY THE
REAGAN ADMINISTRATION
WE CAN SAY
DEFINITIVELY
-
AIR POLLUTION DOES
NOT COME FROM TREES
Scott Willis - Mercury News
A HARD
CHOICE FOR
LOGGERS
EMPLOYMENT OFFICE
RTRAING
Ancient Forest
SUMMAR
AN EASY
EMPLOYMENT OFFICE
CHOICE FOR
RETURNING
SEANAL
THE REST
Ancient
OF US.
Forest R.I.P.
HOROEY
01990 SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER
NORTH AMERICA SYNDICATE
816
TIMBER
BY AUTH FOR THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
OLD-GROWTH
SPOTTED
PRESIDENTIAL
FOREST
OWL
BACKBONE
(GOING...)
(GOING...)
(GONE.)
IT MAY BE
TIME TO DRAW
A LINE IN
THE SAND.
TSL
8
SA
S &
and
A
TOLES
needs SAND
Drine THE
IT'S ABOUT THEIR
I
WAY OF LIFE
I
A
La
From: The Boston Globe
monday, sept3, 1990
01989 SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER HOPEY
TIMBER
COMPANIES
RAW LOG
EXPORTS
WORKERS
"QUICK!LOOK OVER THERE! IT'S THAT DANG SPOTTED OWL THAT MADE ME CLOSE YOUR MILL!"
Rip Van Bush
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
Wh--?
I
could Ye Skorn
there used to be
someary here
LOVE
LOGGING
BEREON
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
same
&
GREENBORG
V/
h/
V
LOGGING INDUSTRY ALTERNATIVE TO SHOW ITS CONCERN FOR THE SPOTTED OWL
INTERN ATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE,
TI ESDAY. AUGUST 8. 1989
SAVE THE BRAZILIAN RAIN FORESTS
Meanwhile, back in the Pacific Northwest
The Morning News Tribune, Monday, May 7, 1990
BENSON
COMORING
NEWS
TRIBURE
-TACCMA
THE
NOT BE
The Demise of
W.MARVIN@1990
Northwest Timber
Industry Jobs
The Spotted Owl
in addition to
plus
and
SLOW
OGEXPORTS
QUSING STARTS
AUTOMATION
LOGEXPORTS
UTOMATION
AUTOMATION
BAINBRIDGE REVIEW
WEDNESDAY, May 9, 1990
HOW GOVERNOR GARDNER'S 3 YeAR "PHASE OUT" OF OLD
GROWTH LOGGING WILL PRESERVE THE NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL:
YeAR 1
YEAR 2
YeAR3 3
SPOTTED OWL
EXTINCT CIRCA 1994
TOPOT.R SYNDICATE SHieRS.JR
VI. Letters to the Editor
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES - May 5, 1991
Letters
Los Angeles Times
It's Not the Owl That
Made Happy Camp Sad
he people of Happy Camp
gress seeks to establish a national
T
The owl controversy has merely
ancient forest reserve system, set-
may believe that they are
given publicity to a disastrous
ting aside large tracts of old-
being killed by owls,
policy of long standing. The owls'
"Spooked by an Owl, Town Fights
growth forest in which logging and
and other cavity-nesting species'
road building would be prohibited.
Its Future" (April 23), but in truth
need for undisturbed forest areas
The ancient forest issue is not a
the economic problems of their
has focused attention on the har-
contest between people and owls.
town did not arise because the
vesting methods advocated by the
The old-growth forests provide
spotted owl habitually roosts in the
Forest Service, such as clear-cut-
habitat for many other rare,
snags of the Pacific Northwest.
ting and shelterwood cutting, in
threatened and endangered species
Their troubles result from having
which large openings are created
of plants, fish, animals and birds.
looked upon the federal timber-
and the attempt is then made to
Moreover, the human benefits of
lands as inexhaustible-a great bo-
regenerate the forest into "even-
ancient forests, both material and
nanza that would continue to pro-
aged" timber stands. Such stands
vide riches for the indefinite
will not provide satisfactory habi-
spiritual, are enormous.
NELLIE D. PATTERSON
future. But now the forests, like
tat for creatures adapted to life in a
Pacific Palisades
the gold mines of Happy Camp. are
primeval forest for several hun-
giving out.
dred years, if ever.
The Forest Service is to be
Today, only about 5% or less of
blamed, not for the slowing down
the tremendous stretches of old-
of timber sales, which is inevitable,
growth forests that once blanketed
but more for encouraging the tim-
the Pacific Northwest still remain
ber dependence of communities
uncut. The preservation of at least
such as Happy Camp-building
a portion of these forests must be
roads into the forests at taxpayer
made a national priority. Legisla-
expense, selling timber below mar-
tion recently introduced in Con-
keting costs and in other ways
promoting over-cutting of timber.
Ask Not for Whom the Owl Hoots
To the Editor:
You report that Interior Secretary
Manuel Lujan Jr. has proposed an
exception to the Endangered Species
Act "in order to save jobs and permit
logging" in the last great stands of
Douglas fir and spruce in Washing-
ton, Oregon and California, the only
habitat of the endangered northern
spotted owl (news article, Feb. 21)
You quote environmeritalists as de-
scribing remnant old-growth forests
as the residue of a unique and irre-
placeable resource, but you allude not
at all to the greater reality: that our
consumer-dominated society can't be
sustained. Not only the spotted owl,
but we also are heading for a dead
end until we learn to accept being just
Thomas Kerr
part of a vast natural order.
Western man continues to devas-
spinning out of control. The battles
tate the biosphere, mining the stored
over the act are a thermometer for
riches of the planet, destroying top-
the confrontation.,
soil, sacrificing biological diversity -
You seem not to understand this,
the glue of Earth, and degrading both
and including a large photograph of a
air and water quality; with a bur-
spotted owl makes me want to spit.
geoning humankind tending toward a
The adjustments that lie ahead will
monoculture, disaster looms:
be hard enough without your collud-
Environmentalists are the lay
ing subtly with the shortsighted per-
priests of a different gospel that can
ception that the argument is jobs
help save us. The Endangered Spe-
versus owl.
ARCHIE RUPRECHT
cies Act is a. toehold for a society
Seattle, Feb. 27, 1992
THE WASHINGTON TIMES March 21, 1991
Saving the ancient forests will save region's economy, too
Your Feb. 27 editorial blast
port binge. The equivalent of
lions of dollars annually; a robust
("Jim Jontz National Park") at ef-
nearly 32,000 U.S. jobs were lost
outdoor recreation and tourism
forts to protect the ancient forests
to timber exports from Washing-
industry that pours some $6 bil-
in the Pacific Northwest hit the
ton and Oregon in 1989. Today, the
lion into the region's economy ev-
wrong target.
United States is both the largest
ery year; a multimillion-dollar
Intent on enviro-bashing, the
salmon industry; and a unique
editorial merely repeats breezy
quality of life that was an impor-
boilerplate from an industry
tant factor in the creation of more
scrambling to duck responsibility
than 160,000 new jobs in Washing-
for job losses and eager to pin the
ton and Oregon last year.
blame on others.
These invaluable non-timber
In the past decade, the timber
benefits will be lost forever if the
industry in the Pacific Northwest
ancient forests are clear-cut to
has become leaner and more effi-
oblivion. Protecting the ancient
cient - production of lumber and
forests may be the only way to
plywood is up 10 percent while
ensure that the region enjoys sus-
more than 26,000 timber jobs have
tainable economic development.
disappeared, say state, federal
The bill proposed by Rep. Jim
and industry experts. Industry re-
Jontz is, so far, the only proposal
tooling has been so successful
for Congress to consider how to
that in 1979, the average mill in
begin the process of making that
the Pacific Northwest needed 4.5
happen.
workers to make each 1 million
board-feet of lumber, but by 1990,
LARRY TUTTLE
fewer than three workers were
exporter of raw logs and largest
Oregon Regional Director
used to make the same amount of
importer of finished wood prod-
The Wilderness Society
lumber. This trend demonstrates
ucts.
Portland, Ore.
why cutting old-growth trees does
Your editorial overlooked the
not, and will not, create more tim-
numerous benefits to society of
JEAN DURNING
ber jobs.
protecting the ancient forests,
Washington State Regional Director
Workers have also been hit hard
such as clean water for homes and
The Wilderness Society
by the industry's decade-long ex-
businesses, valued at tens of mil-
Seattle
THE NEW YORK TIMES - May 30, 1991
A Cancer Drug Argues for Preservation
To the Editor:
I appreciated "Tree' Yiélds a Can-
cer Treatment, but Ecological Cost
May Be High" (front page, May 13),
on the anticancer drug taxol, but not
the implication there must be a trade-
off between human health and old
growth Pacific Northwest forests.
Many commonly used drugs have
their origin in plant materials like the
Pacific yew. But the problem, as you
point out, is that the therapeutic com-
pound in plants is usually present in
very low concentrations. There sim-
ply are not enough plants to make
enough of the drug commercially de-
manded.
The taxol situation actually sup-
ports an argument made for years by
advocates of wild area preservation.
Christophe Vorlet
Destruction of species destroys the
To the Editor:
availability of options with which to
Last year Agriculture Department
solve present or still unfaced prob-
scientists isolated taxol-producing
lems. Here we have it: a relatively
cells and found a way to produce the
rare plant, the Pacific yew, is discov-
drug in tissue culture. They hope to
ered to be the source of a promising
find a commercial partner to develop
treatment for a difficult-to-treat can-
the process. Thanks to them, the yew
cer.
SANDRA A. HOFFMANN
tree would be saved.
RITA CIRESI
Madison, Wis., May 13, 1991
University Park, Pa., May 14, 1991
Save our old growth forests
I wish to express my concern for the
protection of our last remaining old
growth forests in Colorado - more spe-
cifically, the Sandbench in the San Juan
National forest. If the majority of Colora-
dans got involved in protecting this area,
we could stop this timber sale - which 1
believe is illegal.
Denver post
Hundreds of people are working to pro-
tect the Sandbench and bring the issue to
December is, 1991
a head. Dozens are being thrown in jail
and arrested as well. It is unfortunate
that many dedicated and sincere people
have to resort to literally breaking the
law to protect our last remaining old
growth forests. The big question is why
are laws being ignored that were passed
in Congress to protect our forests?
JEFF KNIGHT
Aurora
VII. Opposition
The Act essentially considers only a
single value. If, under the Act, a species is
determined to be threatened, the species
must not only be saved, but its numbers
must bc panded at the expense of all other
values - human, economic, and social.
The once productive forests of the Pa-
cific Northwest have been crippled. The
Forest Service's timber sale program in that
Photo courtesy United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
region has been slashed from more than
"The Forest Service's timber sale program in the Pacific Northwest has been slashed from more than five billion board feet
five billion board feet of timber per year to
of timber per year to one billion board feet per year," writes Washington Sen. Gorton. "Of this billion board feet, 800
one billion board fect per year.
million will come from national forests in eastern Washington and Oregon that are almost uninhabited by spotted owls."
Of this billion board feet, 800 million
Above, a worker hoists a stack of boards from Willamette, Ore.
will come from national forests in castern
Washington and Oregon, forests that are
course of a year and dozens of communities
the export of logs from federal and state
To replace the productive jobs and careers
almost uninhabited by spotted owls.
becoming dislocated is not reasonable.
lands. The only remaining logs for export
of unemployed workers, the government
If wc apply the commonly used job
Critics argue that these job losses and this
from the Northwest are those from pri-
will be forced literally to buy homes, buy
multiplier of 18,000 jobs per billion board
suffering are inevitable. They are not, and
vately owned lands.
new slots in public schools, pave new
fect, this reduction from five billion board
those who suggest otherwise are not look-
Even if we supplemented the regional
roads, transplant businesses, and provide
feet 10 one billion board feet means the loss
ing at the facts.
supply of timber manufactured in North-
millions of dollars in new services.
of 72,000 jobs. The job loss estimates that
Many downplay the impact of spotted
west mills with the logs exported from
Are federal taxpayers ready to pay those
range from 40,000 to 100,000 are, sadly,
owl-decisions by claiming that Northwest
private lands, we would not recover more
costs?
not exaggerated.
than a small fraction of the volume of logs
A reduction in timber supply from North-
Real working people are suffering. They
If you accept the
removed from the supply line by the impo-
west forests will not reduce worldwide
live in pain and grief. Recently, the Scattle
Post-Intelligencer reported that the number
concept of democratic
sition of spotted owl restrictions.
demand for wood products. Economists
Some argue that timber job losses are
predict absolutely no slowdown in world-
of victims of domestic violence in Forks,
policymaking as the
inevitable because the Northwest is run-
wide demand for wood products and, in
Wash., has jumped 45 percent this year.
blending of many values,
ning out of timber anyway. Again, these
fact, predict a steady increase in demand
The number of juveniles charged with as-
arguments are dead wrong. Annual sales
through the coming decades.
sault in Forks has increased 148 percent.
the Endangered Species
levels in our national forests have never
A reduction in Northwest timber supply
Welfare grants for single-parent house-
Act, as currently
exceeded the annual level of growth in vol-
only means demand will be met from other
holds in Forks increased 137 percent and
umc. The law requires the Forest Service to
parts of the world, including the tropical
food stamp grants increased 27 percent in
drafted, is profoundly
plan for sales levels at the level of regenera-
forests of South America and Southeast
just one month. Two children at Forks
undemocratic.
tion and even those levels have never been
Asia, Nowhere are the environmental pro-
Elementary have made serious attempts at
attained.
tections and reforestation requirements
suicide.
Although these factors may have a slight
stronger than in the Pacific Northwest.
Environmental organizations like to
jobs will be lost anyway due to increased
impact on jobs in the Northwest, it is wrong
But all of these factors are not considered
portray the timber industry as a group of
automation in Northwest mills. In fact, a
to deflect all responsibility from the Endan-
once the Endangered Species Act is ap-
greedy timber barons intent on mowing
great deal of technical enhancement took
gered Species Act for the dislocation and
plied.
down the last stick on our National Forests.
place in Northwest saw mills in the early
pain of thousands of Northwest families.
The value promoted by the Endangered
In fact, most of the communities suffering
1980s.
The belief that the federal government,
Species Act is important. But when one
the greatest damage are tied to the national
Researchers have concluded that the
through welfare or job retraining programs,
value dominates all others, public poli-
forests where large private companies play
1990s will be a period in which automation
can replace the productive jobs and carcers
cymaking has gone astray. The Endangered
little or no role in timber harvesting.
has little or no impact on employment lev-
lost by forest products workers, is mis-
Species Act need not be scrapped. It just
The people of these communities are
els in Northwest mills.
placed.
needs repair.
willing to pay a price 10 preserve our natural
It is also fashionable to point 10 the export
Relocation and retraining will require a
beauty - as long as that price is reasonable.
Sen. Slade Gorton (R-Wash) is ranking
of logs as the cause of thousands of job
great deal more than just a moving van and
member of the Commerce, Science, and
But 40,000 workers losing their jobs in the
losses. The fact is Congress has prohibited
six months at the local community college.
Transportation consumer subcommittee.
Page 6 ROLL CALL Natural Resources Policy Briefing Monday, November 18, 1991
Cost of Saving Endangered Species Too High
When Timber Workers Suffer and Lose Jobs
By Sen. Slade Gorton
As a Senator from the Pacific Northwest,
I have attempted to work for a balanced
solution to the ongoing debate between
protection for the northern spotted owl and
protection of timber-based communities in
this region.
Saving species from extinction is a
worthwhile and important pursuit. We
should act as stewards of the carth for the
benefit of our grandchildren and their
grandchildren.
But the costs of protecting the environ-
ment and saving species should be distrib-
med equitably. 1 am suspicious of policies
$11
that impose heavy costs on working people
and little on those who advocate them.
The Endangered Species Act, as cur-
rently drafted, requires a disproportionate
amount of human sacrifice, in certain cases,
for the enhancement of particular natural
AMETTE
species.
The essence of democratic policy-mak-
ing is the consideration of a variety of
competing values that are eventually nar-
rowed down to a single public-policy deci-
sion or series of decisions.
For example, when Congress passes a
WILLAME
budget, wc consider dozens of important
values. We consider the relative values of
all programs and distribute federal funds
accordingly. The budget reflects a compos-
itc of all the competing values.
88
CA
If you accept the concept of democratic
WILLAMETTE
policymaking as the merging and blending
of many values, the Endangered Species
Act 1%. as currently drafted. profoundly
VIII. Grassroots
Grassroots Overview
A. Media
Building relationships with the media
Wire services
Newspapers/magazines
dailies, weeklies, magazines
Radio
Radio Feeds
Television
TV and Radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Materials
press releases, media advisories, press kits,
press mailings
Contact with the Media
Op-eds, letters to the editor, editorial board meetings,
one-on-one meetings with reporters, news conferences, interviews,
tips for television and other public appearances
B. Outreach
Phone/mail program
Organizing volunteers
Coalition building
Event planning & advance work
VIII. Grassroots
45
Building Relationships with the Media
Why You Should Make Building Media Relationships a Priority
Build a professional rapport with members of the media just as you do with other professional
contacts.
The media, while forced by their profession to remain neutral, are real people with personal
interests and demands. Like members of any other profession, some reporters will be easier to
relate to than others.
You will benefit significantly when you strengthen your contacts with reporters. Advantages of
building strong relationships include:
You'll be less likely to regard the media as adversaries and more likely to see them
as individuals who can assist you in accomplishing your organizational goals.
Reporters will be more likely to reflect the nuances and details of your program in
their coverage as they become more familiar with your objectives and style.
Your increased familiarity with reporters and their level of knowledge on
environmental issues will help you determine how much you need to educate them
before they begin writing a story.
You'll become more adept at identifying interesting and newsworthy stories because
of the feedback friendly reporters will offer you on their interest in the stories you
suggest to them.
Your frequent contact with reporters will give you insight into their story planning
and will give you a better sense of when to create news and when to expect breaking
news.
You'll enjoy the media relations aspect of your job far more if you get to know the
reporters you work with as people.
VIII. Building relationships with the media
47
How to Build Relationships with the Media
The first and most important step in building relationships with media is to make your regular
contact with them a top priority. You'll need to:
Introduce yourself. If you are already acquainted, take the time to get to know key
reporters better.
Keep reporters informed of your activities and issues.
Think of new story angles to offer them.
Give them access to your organization's leadership and other resources.
Understand their work environment and deadlines.
Guidelines for Building Relationships with Media
Here are some general guidelines for building relationships with individual members of the
news media:
Make a list of reporters you need to get to know better
Review your media list and make a list of reporters who speak to you frequently, but
with whom you feel you could improve your relationship.
Think about key new organizations-like the wire services and major dailies. Ask
yourself whether you have a strong contact at each of these. If not, then also target
them.
Invite reporters you'd like to know better to lunch or breakfast or some other semi-
social activity so you can talk informally about yourselves and your work.
Make a special effort to introduce yourself to new reporters or those newly assigned
to your issues. Small courtesies can make a difference, particularly when someone is
new on the beat. Make an offer to help out in any way you can, especially by
introducing the new reporter to the people in your organization.
Be a Continual Source of Information
You can send reporters a signal that you have their interest in mind by giving them
information you think will be useful to them.
48
VIII. Building relationships with the media
Phone Calls-call them personally with key pieces of intelligence on stories in the
news.
Mailings-mail reporters information frequently. Make them feel like you are
providing a helpful service (when you see something interesting to you, you share it
with them). Sometimes, you might attach a note saying "FYI" or "Thought you
might be interested." Or you may want to make a short observation such as "Chalk
one up for the good guys" in response to positive news.
Fact sheets-compile your own fact sheets and distribute them to the media as easy-
to-use term reference tools. Provide the names and phone numbers of your office
and key staff (with home numbers for nights and weekends) and quick facts.
Use your judgment on how often to call or write. You want to build a relationship,
but you don't want to be a pest.
Make Suggestions
If you find out that a print or broadcast outlet is planning a story or series on an
activity you're involved in, take it upon yourself to think up angles, side bars, and
stories that would be interesting.
Drop a note to the reporters or producers who will be working on the project and
outline your suggestions. They'll appreciate the input and will likely come back to
you for guidance and resources as they begin the project.
Suggest ideas for new projects either through casual conversation or by setting up an
informal meeting, or by a pitch memo.
Don't, however, make empty suggestions just to be in contact. You want to be
helpful and credible.
Provide Access
You can help reporters get the information or quotes they need by giving them
access to key sources and spokespersons.
Suggest other sources that might have the information reporters need and offer to
call those people to set up a meeting or phone conversation (reporters will appreciate
the introduction).
VIII. Building relationships with the media
49
If a national leader or expert is planning to visit, set up a lunch or meeting for key
reporters to talk with him/her so that they can learn more about an issue or simply
establish a long-term contact.
Make sure you send reporters the message that they have access to you and your
organization. If you can't return their phone calls immediately, have someone else
call and let them know you are busy, that you are eager to help, and what time
you'll be available.
Understand the Culture of the News Room
Deadlines
When a reporter calls you for information, always ask if s/he is working on
deadline. Sometimes reporters are working a week in advance; other times they are
one hour before deadline.
Never be a pest at deadline time. If you have the option, call reporters several hours
in advance of their deadlines, but after they've had a chance to settle in for the day.
If you need to call reporters right before their deadlines, acknowledge that you know
you are calling at a bad time and explain the urgency of your call.
Until you have a strong relationship with a reporter, every call you make will create
an important and potentially lasting impression. Reporters will recognize and
appreciate your simple consideration of their work schedules.
Beats
Be mindful of the separate branches of the news media and their various interests
based on their different assignments. Make sure you know which reporters cover
what beats. If you don't know, ask an editor. You'll waste a reporter's time and
yours if you pitch a story or relay information that s/he is not assigned to cover.
Resources
Identify news organizations that have a difficult time sending reporters out of the
newsroom to cover stories-usually those that are understaffed and have low-
budgets-and do your best to help them overcome their limitations. Radio stations
and wire services, for example, are under special pressure to cover everything with
limited staff. If a radio reporter is interested in your event, but can't attend, arrange
for a phone interview at the reporter's convenience, and ask that it not be aired until
after your event. In the case of a wire service, give all the information you can in
advance with the same embargo restriction.
50
VIII. Building relationships with the media
Most weekly newspapers have very few photographers and will appreciate your
helping them get the story. They are more likely to run your story if you supply
them with a press release to work from and a photograph. Be sure to label the photo
clearly with time, place, names, etc.
Sensitivities
It is natural that you will develop real friendships with some reporters over time.
You do not have to cut off relationships once they become social, but you should be
careful to avoid complicating or jeopardizing your professional relationship. Don't
pressure the reporter to do anything that might make him/her feel uncomfortable or
compromised. By the same token, don't allow yourself to be placed in an awkward
situation.
"On Background"
This is the only basis on which those not identified as spokespeople should speak to
reporters. They can tell reporters that they can "help them quickly by giving out
information on background only," and that you can get quotes for them later.
You should speak "On Background" when your comments are strictly for
background information only, obviously not for attribution, and not to confirm what
someone else may say off the record. Even if a reporter confirms the information
he/she gathered on background with another source, it can't be referenced to you.
"Off the Record"
Never go "off the record" with a reporter. Never say anything to a reporter that you
wouldn't want to see in the press. Play it safe.
Who Pays? A Crucial Point to Note
The matter of "Who pays?" for a meeting over food may be very important to a
reporter. Many media outlets have strict rules against reporters accepting meals
because it may be perceived as taking a financial favor in return for influence on
coverage.
News outlets' policies can vary greatly, so the best thing to do is find out what the
reporter expects beforehand to avoid a sour note at the end of an otherwise
productive session.
If the meeting was your idea, always offer to pay at the outset, but be prepared to
split the check if their management policy so dictates.
VIII. Building relationships with the media
51
Wire Services
Wire Services are news organizations that provide print and broadcast media with up-to-the-
minute news. As the name implies, the written news is transmitted continually via a "wire"
machine.
Wire stories, especially those concerning out-of-town news, are frequently picked-up and run
verbatim by print and broadcast outlets. Mid-size and smaller news organizations rely heavily
on the wires for coverage outside of their area. Every large news organization subscribes to at
least one wire service to keep abreast of news and to back-up its own operations. For that
reason, it is critical to be included in wire story coverage. In addition to breaking-news, wires
also run general news articles, special features on human interest stories and columns by well-
known reporters.
The top three wires, all of which have bureaus in major cities around the nation, are:
Associated Press (AP)
United Press International (UPI)
Reuters.
The "Daybook" is a useful resource of the wires. It is a calendar of upcoming news events that
reporters and editors check daily to find out what press conferences and events are scheduled
for that day or week. The daybook editors of local wires should always be included on your
media advisory mailing list.
In addition to wire news services, there are also a number of wires (e.g., PR Newswire) that
charge a fee, usually per word or line, to run your press release on their own separate wire
operation which outlets pay to receive. These pay wires are often an effective means of
ensuring that your statement gets out quickly-if you know that the news organizations you are
targeting are subscribers. Contact your local PR Newswire or its counterpart to get a list of
news organizations that subscribe to its services in your area.
Who to Contact
Like other mediums, wires in larger media markets typically have reporters assigned to cover
specific beats. They also have staff assigned to take dictation in order to receive reactions to
the top stories of the day. In smaller markets, a bureau chief and one or two other reporters
cover as much news as possible regardless of the news area.
Wire Service Deadlines
Larger bureaus are staffed 24 hours a day and have continual deadlines. Weekdays during
regular business hours, however, are best for reaching reporters that cover specific beats.
VIII. Wire services
53
Newspapers/Magazines
Dailies
The 1600-plus daily newspapers (or "dailies") in the United States provide an estimated 113
million individuals with their primary source of news every day. Dailies appear in morning
and/or evening editions, usually seven days a week.
Dailies cover news in a variety of ways, usually by assigning a story to an appropriate
department. In many cases, you can pitch a story to more than one department-just make sure
you have a relevant angle for each department you pitch.
The better you understand the various ways dailies cover stories, the more successful you'll be
at generating solid and consistent news coverage. First, you must identify the right source to
cover your story.
Who to Contact
City/Metro Editors assign stories of local interest.
National Editors assign stories of national significance.
Your local daily's national reporters would be interested in how a national decision
will affect your state or community. Major papers usually have out-of-town bureaus
to cover national and international news.
Smaller papers generally rely on wire stories for national news, but will often add
comments from area leaders to give the story a local angle.
Political Reporters cover political races and trends. Many small and mid-sized
papers' political reporters are based at the state capital and usually have desks in the
State House "press gallery."
The Editorial Board determines and writes the paper's official position on various
issues. Each weekday these commentaries are found on the editorial page. In major
papers, a special section of the Sunday paper is often devoted entirely to editorial
commentary.
Op-Ed Editors determine which op-eds are to be used in the paper. Contact this
person to discuss an op-ed topic before you invest the time in writing the piece.
Some dailies have one person who serves as the op-ed editor and the editorial page
editor.
VIII. Newspapers/magazines
55
The "Ombudsman" is the staff member responsible for negotiating differences
between the readers and the management of the paper. He or she meets with
concerned readers or responds to their written communication. Often the
ombudsman will write mediating columns on the paper's editorial pages to clear up
disputes.
Photo Editors assign photographers to cover events or activities that will be visually
interesting (e.g., a rally) or that are historical (e.g., the signing of a bill). When you
are planning an event it can be useful to send a separate advisory to the photo desk
alerting photographers to unique "photo opportunities."
Lifestyle Editors assign human interest stories or special features.
Most newspapers have a regular column on local entertainment or gossip in their
"style" section. If a local or national celebrity is participating in your event, contact
the writer or editor of these columns about their interest in covering your event.
Advertising Writers cover advertising or the media, usually in the business section. If
you do a paid media buy, call the advertising writer with information about your ad
campaign.
Daily Newspaper Deadlines
Morning Papers:
General News
4:00 pm the day before publication
Late-Breaking News
8:00 pm the day before publication
Major Late-Breaking News
11:00 pm the day before publication
Evening Papers:
General News
Anytime the day before
Late-Breaking News
7:00-9:00 am the day of publication
Major-Late Breaking News
11:00 am the day of publication
Sunday Papers:
General News
Saturday noon
Section News of Features
5:00 pm the Wednesday before publication
(usually pre-printed)
56
VIII. Newspapers/magazines
Weekly Newspapers
Basic information about weeklies
Weekly newspapers (or "weeklies") are either suburban papers found in close
proximity to large cities or rural papers that provide isolated areas with a link to the
nearest town or county seat. They may be offered for sale at newsstands, by
subscription or distributed free-of-charge.
Weeklies primarily focus on events and issues that are directly tied to the community
they serve.
Major differences between weeklies and dailies
Better response. Local readers may identify more closely with their community
paper than a major daily.
Better play. If your press release is well written, they may print it verbatim. Because
weeklies have less staff, your story may get better play than a daily.
Smaller staff. Weekly and community newspapers usually have small staffs with
general assignment reporters. The easier you can make it for them, the better. Have
all information on hand, and written in brief, concise language.
Photographs. Smaller papers are more likely to use photographs you supply. If you
plan to take photographs at your event, use black and white film.
Publication deadlines. As a rule, weekly staffs are swamped two to four days before
publication. Respect these time restrictions and give them plenty of time to get to
your story.
Sponsorships. Weeklies are a great place to ask for free space.
Magazines
Magazines generally offer more comprehensive, in-depth coverage of a subject area than
newspapers. Consequently, they also demand longer lead-times. Getting covered in magazines
usually requires advance planning and a proactive media strategy.
Many magazines have editorial calendars, which provide information about special issues or
features planned for the year. To find out what a magazine has planned, request an editorial
calendar from the magazine's advertising department at the beginning of each year.
VIII. Newspapers/magazines
57
Become familiar with the regular features that appear in every issue and think about where and
how a story might fit into their format. The editors of these sections are always looking for
information that will be newsworthy when the magazine is published.
Who to Contact
At smaller magazines, the editor-in-chief makes most of the assignment decisions.
Larger magazines usually have different reporters assigned to cover specific beats (e.g.,
politics, national news, education, business, etc.).
Magazine Deadlines
News magazines (e.g., Time, Newsweek, etc.) usually have deadlines a week in
advance for weeklies and a month in advance for monthlies.
Other magazines (e.g., consumer, fashion, trade, etc.) have longer deadlines,
approximately three to six weeks in advance for weeklies and two to three months in
advance for monthlies.
58
VIII. Newspapers/magazines
Radio
Radio plays an important role in shaping public policy debate. Even the most experienced
media strategiests often underestimate (and occasionally altogether overlook) its influence.
Radio reaches people in all aspects of their everyday life: in their car on the way to and from
work, in their homes and offices, even while they exercise with a Walkman.
Radio's power to influence opinion
The average American spends more than 4.5 hours a day listening to the radio.
One example of the power of the radio was last year's Congressional pay raise
which was elevated from virtual obscurity to a level of intense public debate by
radio talk-show hosts around the country. When the pay raise was defeated, radio
broadcasters were recognized as the driving force behind the public's protest.
Your ability to use radio as a public platform to discuss and debate issues relating to
ancient forest protection is a critical element to your community outreach.
Common radio formats
Radio programming offers a variety of formats that reach distinct and different audiences. The
most common radio station formats and their primary/target audiences are:
All-News: adults; heaviest listening during morning/afternoon rush hours (drive
time)
All-Talk: adults (over 40), heaviest listening mid-day and evening
Easy Listening: adults (over 30)
Middle of the Road (MOR): adults (over 30; slightly younger than easy
listening)
Classical: adults (usually higher-income bracket)
Country-Western: adults (over 30)
Religious: (slightly older than MOR audience)
Black: black adults (age varies depending on format within category)
Top 40 Rock: youth (18-35)
VIII. Radio
59
Soul: black youth (teens to mid-30's)
Urban: young adults (20+), contemporary music.
You also have to find the type of program that offers the best vehicle for your message.
News programs provide a useful vehicle for giving immediate reaction to breaking-
news. Radio newscasts usually air at least twice every hour, allowing your statement
to be edited into many soundbites for repeated use throughout the day.
Regularly scheduled programs (e.g., interview, talk-show, entertainment, etc.)
provide a public platform to discuss issues at greater length and detail than in normal
radio newscasts which are generally very brief.
Call-in shows often serve as the modern equivalent of the town meeting with the
most common themes tending to focus on current issues of controversy and
community concern-like preparing for a labor shortage. Note: call-in programs
can be unpredictable (in both large and small markets), but they are both popular
with the general public and influential in determining public opinion.
Public service/affairs programs are regularly or specially scheduled programs that
let you inform and educate the general public about benchmarks or specific topics
concerning issues.
Who to Contact
With the exception of all-news and all-talk stations (which tend to have larger news staffs and
the ability to assign reporters to specific issues or beats) you usually will work with the
stations' news director when pitching a story. Regularly scheduled interview or talk-show
programs or public affairs programs usually have a producer or "booker" to coordinate
scheduling and book guests.
Radio Deadlines
Pitch to radio at least one day in advance of your story. At a minimum, contact radio news
directors four to five hours before your story release. In the case of breaking news, you can
call on short notice to place a guest or feed an actuality. Programs will bump other guests if
what you offer is substantially more interesting or timely. Do not call during a broadcast
because in many cases, the news director also is the broadcaster.
Radio reporters tend to work early morning or late afternoon hours. Depending on the size of
your market and the popularity of a local talk-show, it is best to book interviews as far in
advance as possible, at least a week.
60
VIII. Radio
Radio Feeds
A radio feed is a pre-packaged news story that is fed to radio stations via phone and a tape
recorder. 30 to 60 second feeds allow radio stations to receive a timely news story that is ready
to air once it is received. Radio feeds have become more popular as radio stations and other
media outlets have cut back on staff.
What to remember when you are considering a radio feed
Is your news story timely? Is it newsworthy?
Radio stations in large markets are less likely to take a feed than ones in smaller
markets with less staff.
Try to find supporters that work in PR, media or advertising and have radio feed
equipment and experience. Will they help you send a feed? Do they know which
stations are most likely to accept a feed?
Try to identify third party spokespeople (i.e. local celebrities, opinion leaders, heads
of organizations, etc.) to tape one or two sentence statements. With punchy, concise
sound bites a story can be created and sent as a radio feed.
VIII. Radio feeds
61
Television
Television is unique from all other mediums in that it demands visual presentation of your
message.
To succeed in generating TV coverage you must be able to differentiate between a print and
TV story-for example, a rally with hundreds of supporters is more likely to be covered by a
TV crew than a "talking head" at a news conference.
Beyond simply identifying which of your events will be appropriate for TV coverage, you
must also create events: signing a petition, giving a check, etc., are particularly appealing.
To maximize your use of television, remember that this medium provides you with a dual
route for conveying your message-through the spoken word and through images. Podium
signs, banners, and placards are all effective means of reinforcing your message and increasing
visibility and recognition.
Although air-time on TV newscasts is limited, local stations usually have at least three
scheduled news broadcasts a day-noon, late afternoon/early evening (between 4:00-6:00
p.m.) and final report (10:00-11:00 p.m.)-providing you with more opportunities for
coverage than your local newspaper. During breaking news, the broadcasts also allow you to
update your reaction and statements as more information is received throughout the day.
Generally, noon broadcasts report "lighter" news-special segments and human interest
stories-while the late afternoon/early evening broadcasts serve as the station's primary
newscasts. The late news is usually a final update of the day's news.
Cable TV is an often overlooked, but extremely effective means of reaching large audiences.
Include cable TV in your media and advertising efforts whenever possible.
Who to Contact
Typically, you will deal with the stations' assignment editor. Local stations usually have three
assignment editors-one for the noon newscasts, one for both evening newscasts and a
weekend assignment editor.
Occasionally, you may deal directly with the reporter who has been assigned to a specific story
or beat.
VIII. Television
63
Television Deadline
Pitch to TV stations the day before or four to six hours in advance of news broadcasts with the
exception of news conferences or other pre-scheduled events which should be pitched several
days in advance.
Do not call during or immediately before a broadcast unless you have major breaking news.
TV reporters are busiest in the late afternoon before the evening newscasts.
Because the news is constantly changing and television newscasts cover a limited number of
stories in their half-hour or hour time block, you will find TV assignment editors are
extremely selective.
64
VIII. Television
TV and Radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are brief endorsements for a cause, issue or event.
PSAs are different from advertisements in that PSA sponsors don't have to pay for air time;
the television or radio station donates it. Although PSA air time is free, you are at the mercy
of the station personnel; they are the ones with the power to determine if and when the PSA
will air. A sample PSA is at the end of this chapter.
Contacting the station
First, decide whether you want radio and/or television. Are you going to produce
both radio and television PSAs for your campaign? Just radio? Just TV?
Do your homework. Before you contact the station's public affairs director, be
prepared to present a sound, dynamic argument for why the station should not only
air, but possibly help you produce your PSA. Stations get hit up for PSAs daily.
Show them how it will enhance their image. Anticipate their questions.
Contact the public affairs director (also referred to as a public service director) to
inquire about the stations' policies regarding PSAs. Find out what format is
preferred. (10, 20, 30, 60 seconds; pre-taped; written for anchor to read.)
Enclose additional materials. Send a cover letter briefly describing the event or your
campaign, and encourage the station to air your PSA. In addition to the PSA,
enclose a promotional brochure and/or fact sheet. The easier it is to understand your
issue, the better chance you will have of getting the station interested in your PSA.
Writing tips for PSA scripts
Be brief, concise and interesting.
Write for the ear. Use a conversational tone. Read your script aloud to see if it reads
smoothly. If writing for television, write for the eye and ear. Work with the station,
if possible, on both TV and radio PSAs.
Use contractions. Avoid long sentences.
Double space script.
Make sure the script is catchy and easy to read.
Spell out complicated names phonetically.
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Script writing guide
10-second spot-approximately 25 words
20-second spot-approximately 50 words
30-second spot-approximately 65 words
60-second spot-approximately 150 words
Sending the PSA
For radio, send the PSA at least two weeks in advance of air time. For TV, about
three weeks prior. For stations in larger markets, call ahead and let the public
service announcement director know you are mailing a PSA.
Call to find out who the public service person is at each station. If time is tight, it's
acceptable to send the PSA "Attention: Public Service Announcement Department."
Always verify the address and spelling of the PSA contact.
A few days after the PSAs are sent, call the stations to find out if they will air it, or
if they have any questions.
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VIII. TV/radio PSAs
Materials
Press Releases
One of the most basic and important tools for publicity is a press release. Press releases are
announcements to the media that they might not otherwise hear about. Releases, while
frequently printed verbatim, are intended as 'ticklers' to interest a reporter to write further.
Press releases should be issued only when you have a legitimate news item. A legitimate
news item usually has one or two of the follow characteristics:
It affects a large number of people.
It will interest many people.
It is new or unheard of.
It is related to a current "hot" issue.
Getting Started
Define your purpose. What message do you want to send to the public about your
program or campaign?
The five W's. Before you begin writing your release, identify the basics: who, what,
when, where and why. "How" also should be answered.
Other details. Write down other key details and messages.
What to include
Identification. Identify the organization issuing the release. Include the contact
name, address and phone number.
"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" with release and kill dates. A release date tells the
media when to print or air your news announcement. The kill date indicates when
they story or announcement should stop. These dates are especially important for
events.
Quote. Include a brief, interesting and relevant quote about your project by your
main spokesperson or other notable person.
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67
Description of your organization. This information should appear near the end of
the release such as the last paragraph.
Writing suggestions
Use short sentences and short paragraphs.
Keep your release objective. Never editorialize or use flowery language.
Releases ideally should be one page. Never more than two.
Give the basics in the first paragraph.
Focus on one news message.
Avoid technical jargon.
Double or triple-space, and print on your organization's letterhead.
Verify spellings of all names, dates, times, facts and statistics.
Print "-30-" centered at the bottom of the release. It signifies the release's end.
Sending a release
Stations and publications. Select stations and publications which will be interested in
your news.
Who gets the release? Call the news or assignment desk for this information and check
the spelling of all names. Send it to the news desk or reporter covering the issue.
Send one week in advance. For events, send the release one week in advance so it lands
on the newsdesk a few days before the event. The newsroom is a busy place. Most
reporters don't know what story they will covering until that day.
Follow-up
Follow-up calls. A couple of days before your event, call the news desk or the
reporter for each of the major stations and very briefly ask:
Are they interested in covering the event?
Do they know which reporter may be covering the event?
Do they need more information?
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VIII. Materials
Media Advisories
A media advisory is intended to alert print and electronic media about your event in
advance. It is different from a press release because it offers basic information only. Media
advisories usually are sent to arrive a day or two before the event to serve as a reminder
for the press. A sample media advisory is at the end of this chapter.
Contacts. Identify contacts and their day and evening phone numbers. Contacts
should be prepared to answer questions and provide additional information.
Basics. List the time (include beginning and ending times), date, place (include
address and room number if applicable), who is sponsoring the event, who will be
attending, and why the media want to cover it (why it's important).
Interview or photo opportunities. If it's appropriate, identify a time and place for
an interview and/or photo opportunity. Reporters have limited time to cover events.
Particularly if your event is all day, having an identified opportunity is helpful.
Think photo opportunities, interesting angle, interesting people.
Attention news desk. Send the media advisory to the attention of the news or
assignment desk or particular reporter who covers your type of issue or event.
AP and UPI day books. Be sure to send a media advisory to the AP (Associated
Press) and UPI (United Press International) "day books." The two wire services
produce what is called a "day book" which has a log of the events of the day and is
sent to the newsroom via the wire.
Another option. Send the media advisory about a week before the event, and hand
the press release out at the event.
Press Kits
Purpose
To provide media with an organized source of pertinent information on an issue and/or
an event/activity that will assist them in reporting a story.
When to Use
Distribute kits at news conferences, news briefings, rallies, and any other events or
activities that media attend.
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Components
The kit should detail and enhance your event activity by including materials such
as:
A press release
Copy of the spokeperson(s) statement
An agenda of the event with correct names and title of participants
Reproductions of any charts and graphs used at the news conference
A fact sheet on your organization
Any relevant news articles or other materials that will help media
write/visualize the story
Biographical information on you and other spokespersons.
Press Mailings
Purpose:
To keep media informed of your coalition's activities and stimulate ideas to
encourage their ongoing coverage of the issue.
When to Use:
Mail whenever you have new information to share.
Try to mail on a regular basis-about once every 4-6 weeks to keep your
organization's name and objectives in front of the media.
How to Use:
Send information to the reporters and editors who regularly cover your issues,
but don't hesitate to cast the net wider-media who work on related issues will
find useful any information that might affect their reporting.
For example, provide media with your newsletter, calendar, and direct mail.
Include any relevant news articles or profile pieces, recent press releases, fact
sheets, backgrounders, and summaries.
How often you are able to send mailings will depend largely on your level of
activity. The most important thing is to think of the media as you undertake other
key functions of your organization.
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VIII. Materials
Contact with the Media
Opinion Editorials
An opinion-editorial, often called an op-ed, is a vehicle you can use to express your opinion in
more detail than a letter to the editor. Op-eds appear on the page facing the editorials and are
basically opinion essays.
Generally, op-eds are 1,000 words or less or about three to four typewritten pages, double-
spaced. Call or write the op-eds person of your local paper for writing policies. Unless the
paper pays you a fee, you can send your op-ed to more than one publication.
What publications look for in an op-ed
Strong opinion.
Well-documented, well-researched facts and arguments.
Essays that add to people's knowledge or understanding of an issue.
Hot issues or issues that are relevant and interesting to the local or regional area.
Clear, well-organized writing with captivating examples or facts.
Thoughtful, provocative, colorful writing.
Authors with credibility or experience with the issue to validate their opinions.
Avoiding rejection
As you write, remember that major reasons editors reject opinion-editorials are poor writing,
excessive length and lack of timeliness.
You'll increase your chances of publication if you send your piece with a cover letter briefly
explaining your subject, why it would be interesting to the publication's readers, the story's
main points, and your background.
Remember, your op-ed may not be published for months. These pieces often are scheduled far
in advance; an editor may hold onto your piece until already scheduled ones have run.
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Letters to the editor
Like op-eds, letters to the editor are vehicles for expressing an opinion. Letters to the editor
most often discuss a recent event or issue covered by a publication, radio station, or television
program. They can be used express an opinion about the event or issue or to discuss the paper,
magazine, radio or television program's coverage of an event or issue.
When you should write a letter to the editor
If you are concerned about the media's presentation of your event or issue (it was biased, it
didn't contain important information, it didn't emphasize the information you wanted it to,
etc.) write a letter to the editor. Use a letter to the editor to correct misinformation on
presentation of information. Also use it to give the publication's readers, the radio station's
listeners, or the television program's viewers the information you want them to hear.
Encouraging others to write letters to the editor
Letters to the editor also raise awareness of an issue or a particular point of view related to it.
While op-eds often are written by authors with credibility or experience with the issue, letters
to the editor can be written by individuals concerned about the issue. Encourage supporters in
your area to write letters to the editor expressing their views on ancient forest protection, and
events surrounding your campaign.
Letters to the editor also can be written by more than one person to show unity of opinion,
leaders of influential organizations or organizations that represent many people, and prominent
people in the area.
How to write letters to the editor
Letters should be well-written, concise, and clear. Remember that editors often cut letters for
space; make sure the most important information comes first.
Because your letter will be brief, try to accomplish one goal with it. If, for example, you are
writing to correct an error, stick to the facts; if you accuse the paper of "taking sides" you can
detract from the information you are trying to present. If you are writing to express a point of
view, try to include names of prominent people or organizations who also support your
opinion to demonstrate the broad support your viewpoint has.
Where to send letters to the editor
Most publications clearly tell their readers where to address letters to the editor. Look on the
page where letters to the editor are printed for the correct address and contact person. Radio
stations, and television shows also tell their audiences where to address letters to the editor,
but it may be easiest to call for the correct address and contact person.
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VIII. Contact with the media
Editorial Board Meetings
When and why to have editorial board meetings
Meet with editorial boards to speak with editors directly, present your positions, and
encourage editorial support.
Plan to meet with the editors before the paper takes a position on key issues. Most
print media would rather hear positive input before an editorial is written than
complaints after it appears.
Arrange editorial board meetings when you want to present your views on a
particular aspect of the issue.
You can also request a meeting when you have a new "lead" on an issue or to
introduce yourself and your agenda.
The editorial staffs of your state and community newspapers can be important allies
in promoting your case and are usually extremely open to meetings that will provide
them insight for fair coverage of an issue.
You should plan to meet with the editors of your state's major dailies at least once a
year. It's important to make editors aware of your objectives and goals as they
change and expand.
Also, if you learn that the paper has a new editorial staff person, set up an
introductory meeting.
How to arrange editorial board meetings
To arrange an editorial board meeting and follow through with success, you should:
Contact the editorial page editor by phone or letter. Explain why you think the
editors would be interested in meeting with you. (Large papers may have a staff of
five to ten editorial writers who make up the board. Small papers may have only
one editorial writer-usually the editor of the paper).
Lay the groundwork. Send background materials to your contact(s) to prepare the
editorial staff for your visit.
Select the most appropriate representatives to attend the meeting. For example, this
might include you and a director of one or more coalition groups, depending on
what you plan to discuss.
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73
Before the meeting, research the facts to support your position, prepare talking
points with no more than three or four succinct messages, and rehearse your
arguments. Focus on local angles and those points that will make the strongest
impression. Try to include local statistics that will help make your points stronger.
Know the issue, the latest news and the opposition's views. Also know your paper's
editorial position (e.g., what previous editorials have been written and previous
positions on related issues or other issues involving your opposition).
Find out who will be attending the meeting from the paper, what their position is,
and what their interest is in the issue.
Ask if they plan to write a news story out of your meeting. News reporters are
often invited to attend editorial sessions. What you say in the session can then be
quoted and used in a separate news story.
Be courteous in any contact with newspaper staff. Try not to be combative or
defensive, even if your audience appears to side with your opposition. Your
composure will make it easier for them to understand your views and keep the door
open for future visits.
One-on-one meetings with reporters
Use one-on-one meetings with reporters to give them new information that might affect their
reporting on an issue. Also use them to introduce yourself, coalition members, or national
spokespersons to specific reporters who regularly cover your issue, and to target reporters
unable to attend a press conference or other event. The individual meeting offers them the
opportunity to get the information at their convenience.
When to use one-on-one meetings
Most reporters are open to individual meetings, but do not usually have a lot of time to spend.
Plan one-on-one meetings around meals, usually breakfast or lunch works best, or at times
when reporters are no on deadline. Indicate that the meeting will be brief-45 minutes to an
hour.
How to set up one-on-one meetings
Set up one-on-one meetings by calling reporters in advance or sending a letter and following
up with a phone call.
Indicate the nature of your call or letter, why it is of interest to the reporter, and when you
would like to meet. Be flexible, and allow the reporter to choose the time and date, if possible.
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VIII. Contact with the media
News Conferences
Use a news conference (also called a press conference) to convene media for an announcement
such as: release of new information about your organization or issue; a new angle on a
previous story; a new position; a future event; a new project; a new campaign.
Generally, news conferences are either proactive or reactive.
The proactive news conference: you initiate it to announce or create a story.
The reactive news conference: you initiate it to respond to breaking news.
Regardless of the type of news conference, use this vehicle cautiously. If you call the press for
an announcement, make sure you have "news" to deliver. Otherwise, you risk damaging your
reputation as a serious and credible news source.
Timing your news conference
Schedule a proactive news conference to coordinate with media deadlines. Generally, the event
should be held between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The best days of the week to hold a news conference are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or
Thursdays. Fridays tend to be poor news days because your story will most likely appear in
Saturday's paper, which has a low circulation. Mondays don't allow for last minute notification
of reporters (because of the weekend).
Schedule a reactive news conference as close as possible to the breaking news you are reacting
to. In the reactive news conference, timing is everything. If you wait too long, you will miss
being included in the story.
Notifying the press
Send out a media advisory to the appropriate media.
Make follow-up calls at least two days before the event to encourage
attendance. This also helps you determine the size of your event.
Selecting and arranging your site
Site arrangements are a crucial part of a successful news conference.
Select a site that is convenient for media, or one that provides strong visuals.
Choose a room that is suited for the expected attendance. Most likely a small
room that accommodates an average turnout of 10-15 people will be sufficient.
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Make sure the room is equipped for broadcast media (e.g., two-and three-
pronged electric outlets, "mult box," etc.).
Provide your logo or name on a podium board made of non-glare material.
Provide chairs for reporters, leaving enough room in the back or in the middle
for cameras and tripods.
If you are speaking with other people, provide a head table with chairs and
name cards to identify the speakers.
Set up easels for any visual materials and make sure you bring double-sided tape to
keep your visuals, podium logo, etc., in place.
Provide a reception table at the room entrance where staff can distribute press
kits and sign in media.
Keep a media sign-in sheet-a crucial element for follow-up and future contact.
Share the media sign-in sheet with your spokespersons before the news conference
to alert them to media you know to be against your position.
Provide a holding room for your spokespersons so that incoming media will
not try to question them before the news conference begins. Talking to media
beforehand can sometimes upstage your message.
Provide modest refreshments only if possible and affordable.
The Event
Arrive 1/2 to 1 hour early to make sure your room arrangements are in order in
advance. Know where you can get back-up assistance if something goes wrong.
Bring along a tape recorder to set on the podium to record the news conference.
This will allow the speaker to review his/her answers to questions at a later time
and will help him/her develop better answers for the future.
Start the press conference on time and limit the event to 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Allow ample time for question and answer.
Depending on the formality of the news conference, have a moderator introduce
you and the other spokespersons and field direct questions from the media to the
appropriate person.
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VIII. Contact with the media
The moderator should also keep questioning in line with the agenda and call the
news conference to a close.
If the setting is more informal, you should begin the news conference by greeting
the reporters and briefly stating the purpose for bringing them to the event. Allot
time for questions. Have a staff member watch your time and signal you to close
the conference when reporters' questions become redundant or off-track.
Leave the room as soon as possible following the news conference, unless you have
arranged to do one-on-one interviews with the media. This tactic enables you to
control your story by not responding to media questions that don't pertain to the
message you just conveyed.
Crisis Management:
Have a sign-in sheet at the door to avoid disruptions by hostile individuals, and greet everyone
who comes in. If you don't recognize people, find out who they are and why they are there. If
they are evasive and say, "I just wanted to see what was going on," or if they set off your
internal alarm in any other way, tell them the news conference is for legitimate reports only.
During the question period, have each individual state his/her name and media affiliation
before posing a question. This will discourage random shots from opponents who may have
slipped through your screening process.
If you find yourself in a situation that seems uncontrollable, stay calm. Avoid baiting the
trouble-maker and doing anything that would turn the interruption into a news story. If all else
fails, find a location where you can continue uninterrupted.
Follow-Up
Sometimes, even the best planned, most publicized news conferences can fail to attract media
or be "upstaged" by breaking news. To make sure your information reaches media who did
not attend:
Call reporters and news outlets to inform them of what was said at the news
conference. Offer to provide them with an interview so they can cover the story.
Make sure all the media outlets receive a press kit along with the speakers'
statements and any other pertinent information. (Distribute these by fax or hand
deliver if there is a chance that a news organization will cover the story that day).
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Interviews
Some people dread interviews, but they don't have to be feared. If you are prepared, you can
control the interview-and control the audience's perceptions of you and your issue.
Before the Interview
Get to the studio early so you can meet the host before you are on camera. Decide
how you will address one another-formally or by first names (first names generally
make you feel more at ease and tend to result in a more relaxed interview overall).
Prepare and practice talking in "soundbites" (15 to 30 second responses). The more
adept you are at giving succinct answers, the more useful your responses will be to
the overall program, especially if there will be others interviewed.
During the Interview
Be aware of your audience. Remember that although the interviewer is asking the
questions, individuals in the audience and/or at home are watching or listening-be
sure to include them in your remarks.
If you are doing an interview that is taped and will be edited later, remember that
your entire interview will not be aired; so, establish the point you want to make
first and then elaborate.
Panel Discussions
Find out who else will be on the panel and learn their positions.
Anticipate what questions will be directed to you, and prepare your responses.
Review relevant facts, statistics and specific examples, so that you will be ready to
offer strong support for your position.
During the interview, be ready to give your position-don't let your co-panelists
overshadow you. If you can't answer a questions, say so. Don't respond to hecklers
in the audience. Be brief and to the point. Time is usually limited.
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Tips For Television and Other Public Appearances
When you decide what to wear for a television or public appearance, you should have one goal
in mind: you want people to pay attention to what you are saying rather than what you are
wearing or how you look. Basically, you want to avoid being sloppy and being flashy because
these styles are most distracting.
Try using these guidelines:
Wear solids-brights for women and subdued colors for men.
Women should apply make-up regularly; men should be made-up or
powdered to remove glare.
If you can opt out of glasses, do so because of the glare.
Do NOT wear large or flashy prints or patterns.
Do NOT wear white, black, shiny or glittery fabrics.
Do NOT over accessorize (e.g., large scarves, loud ties, shiny or large
jewelry, hats).
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Phone/Mail Program
An effective phone and mail program is one of a campaign's most powerful tools. Through a
phone and mail program, supporters can be identified, volunteers recruited and funds raised.
An effective phone/mail program also can educate supporters about the issue and the stakes,
build a crowd for events, and generate new donors.
Phone and mail efforts complement each other. With the phone, a caller can do a quick I.D.
and probe on the issue. Mail follow-up further educates and recruits support. What a volunteer
learns on the phone about a supporter's views determines what kind of mailing is sent to that
voter.
Setting up a phone/mail program - checklist
The following outline explains how to set up a successful phone bank and follow-up mail
program. The outline is preceded by a quick checklist of the steps involved in your successful
phone/mail program.
Appoint a phone bank supervisor.
Obtain phone lists.
Find a location.
Determine how many phones and volunteers are needed.
Write a phone script and devise coding system.
Set a date to start.
Follow daily routine.
Design and send follow-up mail.
Appoint a phone bank supervisor
Appoint a phone bank supervisor. This person will work closely with the mail program and
should have a thorough understanding of campaign strategy. The supervisor must do the
following:
Write a phone bank plan and calendar appropriate to your particular campaign and
its idiosyncrasies. Integrate the phone bank plan with a follow-up mail plan.
Recruit and train volunteers. Hire paid staff only if there is a shortage of available
volunteers.
Determine resources for targeting and computerized lists and results.
Oversee the operation.
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Obtain phone lists
Evaluate existing research to define target groups and supporters.
Determine availability of phone lists and take steps to get them and merge them into
one list.
Find a location
Determine how many phones you need (the variables are the number of volunteers, how long
volunteers are available, and the number of names are on the calling list; each volunteer will
be able to complete 12 calls in one hour).
Phone banks can be organized from one large centralized location or from several smaller
sites. A centralized phone bank, if possible, is the best option. It is the easiest to manage
because it allows close supervision to ensure quality and quantity of calls.
If a centralized location is impossible, appoint captains to each site to report to supervisor and
maintain uniformity in phoning practices.
Organizations that often have large numbers of phones are law offices, real estate and
insurance firms, unions, local campaigns and stock brokerages. Encourage supporters
employed at such places to ask their employers/office managers to let the campaign use their
phones after hours.
If no existing site can be found, place an installation order with the phone company and
determine the time involved to install the phones. Make sure to get touch tone phones and not
rotary dial! Only order phone installation as a last resort because it is expensive.
Develop a phone script and tally sheet
Write a script to be used by the volunteers. Make it brief and to the point. Avoid
lengthy conversations.
Provide volunteers with a brief fact sheet or Question & Answer sheet on the old
growth issue. If someone wants extensive information, the volunteer should tell
them someone else will call them back and send more information.
Devise a simple, uniform coding system for the volunteers to record information
obtained from potential supporters.
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VIII. Phone/mail program
Set a date to start
Calculate a starting date by how many names are on the phone list, how many phones exist,
how many volunteers are available and how many hours each volunteer can work. Overbook
the number of needed volunteers; there are always "no shows." (Each volunteer will be able
to complete 12 calls in one hour.)
Follow a daily routine
Call volunteers to remind them of their commitment. This is usually done the night
before they are scheduled to phone.
Welcome volunteers when they arrive and have them sign in (to keep track of
volunteers who fulfill their commitments).
Listen as volunteers make calls so you can catch any problems.
Check to make sure volunteers are coding voter information correctly.
Schedule break times for volunteers and provide refreshments.
Thank volunteers at the end of their shift, check their work and encourage them to
sign up for another shift.
If possible, design and send follow-up mail
Identify the different audiences you want to reach through your mail program and determine
the size of each one. The size of these audiences will shrink during the campaign as you
identify favorable voters via the phone and other voter contact tools.
Define the tasks you want to accomplish using direct mail.
Determine the costs of producing different mail packages and develop a budget based on the
size of each mailing and the package costs. You also need to assess how many volunteers are
needed to conduct the mailing.
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Final tips on phone/mail
Create the following forms: fact sheets/Q & A, script, tally sheets, daily report
forms (samples of some of these forms are at the end of this chapter).
Make sure volunteers hang up after six rings.
The best times to phone are generally 4pm to 9m on weekdays and 10 am to 6 pm
on weekends.
For maximum productivity, schedule your phone shifts for two to three hour
periods.
Basic supplies needed to run a phone bank include work tables, folding chairs,
pencils, pens, scratch paper, staplers, paper clips, Scotch tape, masking tape,
scissors, refreshments, felt-tip pens and posterboard for charts.
Make sure volunteers avoid lengthy conversations with voters.
The three constantly changing variables are: volunteers, lists and telephones.
Constantly try to expand each of the three variables in order to operate a successful
telephone system.
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VIII. Phone/mail program
Organizing Volunteers
Appoint a volunteer coordinator
The most important person in any volunteer operation is the volunteer coordinator. She or he
can be a staff member or a volunteer, but must be committed to full time hours.
The coordinator should be well organized and have the right kind of personality to deal with
campaign staff members and volunteers alike.
The coordinator should be working for weeks before the volunteer effort begins.
Locate and set up volunteer headquarters
To stay happy, volunteers must work in a nice environment. Factors to consider when
choosing a location include the following:
Is it safe inside and outside?
Is it near rapid transit?
Is there enough parking available? Is it free? If not, can you cover the cost? Is the
area well lit?
Is the location air conditioned or heated on the weekends and after hours? Is the
lighting inside sufficient?
Is there a comfortable sound level? Remember, telephones can be distracting. Can
you put up a partition or old carpet on the wall?
Is there a break area? Are there adequate restrooms and are they kept clean and
stocked by the building? Are they available after hours and on the weekends?
Are there comfortable chairs?
Recruit volunteers
The volunteer coordinator and Campaign Manager should decide what kind of jobs will require
volunteers. This way, you'll know your volunteer needs in advance and your recruitment can
target these needs.
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85
People volunteer for several reasons and you should be aware of these when you begin your
recruitment process.
Many people volunteer because they care about the issue. These people want to feel
like they are making a difference.
Some people have made volunteer work their hobby. While they are obviously
concerned with the issues, they also see this as an opportunity to meet people and
socialize.
Some workers volunteer in hopes to land a job or earn money. These people can be
strong workers but you should be honest with them up front about job opportunities
during or after the campaign.
Many people work in dull or unchallenging jobs. Politics is a unique profession
where they can excel. These volunteers want recognition. They want to be seen
doing something important or working with important people.
There will be volunteers who have never been politically active. They will take this
issue personally and feel a need to get involved. They will need to be walked
through the steps carefully but not patronized.
Final tips on volunteer recruitment
Volunteers are not paid so sometimes they don't follow through on their
commitments. So when you plan, expect to lose many of your volunteers. In other
words, recruit twice as many volunteers as you need to perform a given task. In the
case that everyone does show up, have extra envelope stuffing or other tasks for
them to do.
Calling the public at random is not an efficient way to generate volunteers. People
who are already environmentally active are your best source for volunteers.
Gather a list of local organizations that might be interested in the cause. Find
contact people in each organization and ask them to mobilize their group.
Volunteer cards should be distributed at any function these groups have. (Get
permission from a member and ask him/her to be in charge of collecting the cards.)
Maintain the volunteer organization
As mentioned earlier, there are several types of volunteers. Each one should be given
recognition and encouragement. In addition, there are some basic guidelines to help you
86
VIII. Organizing volunteers
recognize-and keep-your volunteers:
Thank the volunteers as soon as they volunteer to help, even before they actually do
any work.
Give volunteers specific jobs they can accomplish. Don't send them off to organize
a certain area without the proper "tools" (i.e., lists, literature, maps. . .).
Break boring and tedious tasks into smaller tasks, and spread them around to all the
volunteers.
Set up some form of training for each task. Even answering phones can be
intimidating if people don't know how the phone system works. Write all
instructions.
Integrate all volunteer activity into a reporting system. Make sure all marked up
lists are returned to the person supervising the project when the volunteer has
finished with them.
Some volunteers don't work out. You can never "fire" a volunteer, so a
reassignment may be the best way to deal with the problem.
Make sure volunteers are informed about what's going on in the campaign. They
should feel as if they are really part of the campaign and know the inside scoop.
VIII. Organizing volunteers
87
Coalition Building
Expanding the coalition of organizations supporting the protection of our ancient forests may
be one of the most effective ways to influence key decision makers.
The existing coalition is large and continuing to grow (see Chapter One of the handbook), but
you must make every effort to bring new organizations and individuals into our coalition.
Everyone expects environmental organizations to be supportive, and they are. We must
continue to expand our reach because when non-traditional organizations support our cause,
more people take notice.
Who can we add to the coalition?
Organizations with an interest in protecting our ancient forests may include:
Local affiliates of national or regional organizations that have joined the
coalition. For example, the national ACLU has endorsed us by fighting the attempt
to limit judicial review. You can leverage the ACLU's national support to seek an
endorsement from a local ACLU chapter.
Women's and health organizations. Groups interested in the taxol/Pacific yew
issue protection for the sake of our children's future health-and their own current
health (see taxol section of the handbook). Examples of these groups include
American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters.
Legal organizations. The legal community has been very supportive in the fight
against limiting judicial review. Contact law firms, legal funds, law schools, etc.
Recreation organizations. Approach any groups that benefit from the protection of
our national parks. RV groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, schools with environ-
mental clubs, local chambers, fishing organizations, riverguides, and many others
have a vested interest in stopping the destruction of our limited natural resources.
How to approach potentially supportive organizations
Use local supporters to open the door. Ask them to make calls and set up meetings
or briefings.
Distribute a basic issue package. Remember not to overwhelm anyone with too
much information at first.
VIII. Coalition building
89
Know what you want from potential supporters. You can ask for letters of support,
use of their mailing list, an article in their newsletter, an opportunity to present to
their members, use of their phones, volunteers, etc. Also, be patient. You don't
have to get everything at your first meeting.
90
VIII. Coalition building
Event planning and advance work
Develop a concept for the event
Hold events to raise awareness, increase visibility, build volunteers, etc. Your job is to leave
more than you found. After the event, you should have more volunteers, more enthusiasm,
more press, more available phones, etc.
Work with local supporters to find out what would be interesting for the people in
that area.
Plan an event where people will enjoy "seeing and being seen." "
Remember the demographics of the town. If you are planning an afternoon event,
figure out the central area that will attract the most people during lunch time so they
can eat and be part of the crowd.
Hold a kick-off meeting to get people excited about the event and to generate more
ideas and volunteers.
Build an event staff
The more people involved, the bigger and better the event will be.
Assign people to key tasks. The local volunteers, organizers and staff people can fill the
following functions:
Volunteer coordinator
A phone supervisor who is in charge of finding free phone banks. (Each phone
bank should have the same captain every night.) This person is also in charge of
finding and overseeing the phoning of lists.
A leafleting coordinator.
A person to be in charge of finding the site.
A person to handle the press.
A person to be in charge of constituencies.
If buses make sense for your event (there may not be enough money in your
budget), you need one person to coordinate filling them.
VIII. Event planning and advance work
91
Set a date for the event
Lock in the day and time of the event early. The earlier you do this, the easier it will be for
people to block off that date and plan to be there. You also can determine conflicts right away
and work around them.
As soon as the day and time are locked in, begin looking for a site. Sometimes you will have
the perfect site but it won't be available on the date. You must set priorities: which is more
important, the site or the date?
Choose a site for the event
There is never a perfect or right site. Factors to balance when choosing a site include:
The symbolism (e.g. Capitol building steps).
Presence of a built-in crowd: how many people are normally at the site at the time
of day that the event is scheduled?
Is the site close to a densely populated area? It's better to have an outdoor site close
to downtown than one in the suburbs if the event is scheduled for 12 noon on a
weekday.
Do people know where the site is? Press people are more likely to show up if they
are familiar with the site and its location.
How many people will it take to fill the site? You need roughly five square feet per
person (including the press area). Therefore, a site that is 50 feet by 100 or 5,000
square feet needs 1,000 people to fill it.
Can access by the opposition be restricted? Consider using credentials to insure that
the visual is completely made up of supporters.
What kind of visual can the site create? People can stand on steps behind the
speakers' area to make it look more crowded.
Can you get permission from the proper authorities to use the site? Do you need
insurance or permits?
How easy is it to get the props (sound, risers) into the site area?
Do not use rooms with fixed seats. Avoid rooms with sloping floors.
92
VIII. Event planning and advance work
If you use an outdoor site, you need an indoor site very close by in case of rain.
Ideally, the rain site should be a few yards from the outdoor site. The further away
the rain site is, the tougher it is to move your crowd. The location of the rain site
needs to be on your leaflets.
Are there unusual factors present? For example, will your speakers be in the shade
with the press in the sun? Is there a building with reflecting glass behind the
speakers? If it's indoors, is the room odd shaped or is there a mirror, etc. that will
reflect light back to the press cameras?
If there is not a large crowd or if the weather is bad, can you make the site smaller?
Obtain material for the event
For the event's speakers you will need:
A floor standing microphone and a sound system. Avoid wireless microphone if
possible.
Floor standing podium.
Descriptive slogan or sign on front of podium positioned at the top of the podium to
get on the news.
If there is no sign or banner behind the speaker, make sure the back drop is a plain
color (blue is best).
A box for shorter speakers to stand on so they can be seen over the of the podium.
Water and glasses should be on a shelf in the back of the podium for the speakers to
use while they are talking.
Directional markings behind the podium. Where should the speakers stand and how
should they exit after they are done talking.
The stage should be elevated, especially if the crowd will hold signs on sticks. The
stage needs to be elevated enough so that the people at the back of the room can
see. Watch out for low ceilings.
VIII. Event planning and advance work
93
Arrange for TV
The television media people will need the following:
A mult box with line level sound (borrow or rent one). Have it tested; if it fails
during the event, the press can't use their video. If they can't use their video, the
event doesn't get on TV. It's as if the event never happened.
Press risers. Each camera needs a space 3-5 feet wide. Therefore, 3-4 cameras need
12 feet of riser. Make sure the lowest riser is at least as high as the speakers' riser.
If a second row of risers is needed, make sure it is 18-24 inches off the ground. If
the crowd has signs on sticks, the lowest level has to be at least 36-48 inches high.
Watch out for low ceilings. Also, if the risers are too high, the crowd won't be in
the shot.
For outdoor events, the sun has to be to the back of the TV cameras.
You'll get the best shot when TV cameras are 45-60 feet from the stage. Avoid
straight on shots; a 45 degree angle is best.
Arrange For Print And Radio Press
Consider the following:
Make sure all reporters can see and hear the event. Don't give them chairs unless
the event is indoors. If they are standing they will better feel the energy of the
crowd and write a better story. People have less energy when they are sitting.
Radio people need access to the mult box. Give them a table next to the press risers
to put their tape recorders on.
Final tips on media arrangements
Have the risers roped off. Put volunteers on the risers to keep the crowd off. The
volunteers should only help the press with logistics. They should not talk to the
press or offer their estimate of the size of the crowd.
Have an identifiable and knowledgeable spokesperson in the media area.
To keep the opposition out of the story, make sure the media's vision of the
opponents' area is obstructed. This is particularly important with TV.
94
VIII. Event planning and advance work
It's helpful to have a friendly public official (from the police or fire department)
near the press area. This person can give the official crowd estimate. Under no
circumstance can this look staged.
Coordinate The Public
Take the following steps to maximize the crowd at your event:
Use credentials to keep opponents out. You may want to consider using more than
one type of credential. For example, one credential allows the holder into an area
very close to the stage. The other credential allows the holder into an area a little
further back. The area between the stage and the press risers should be filled with
your strongest supporters. These people will be the most lively.
Use bleachers or risers (for outdoor events) or chairs (for indoor events) so that
people at the back of the crowd can see. Also, this gives the crowd "height"; it
makes it seem bigger than it really is.
If everyone holds the same sign, the crowd looks bigger than it really is. (Although
homemade signs make the event look less slick and more a grassroots effort,
homemade signs-particularly on white paper-don't look good on TV).
Staple the signs back to back. This way, both the speakers and the TV cameras can
see the signs.
Get people attending the event to sign sign-in sheets. Have them include names and
phone numbers. They can be called later to volunteer.
Think about selling buttons, etc. to raise money.
Build A Crowd
Telephone: the best way to build a crowd is by using the telephone. (See phone bank section
of handbook.)
Leaflets: leaflets are best for weekday crowds during business hours, where people are
coming from somewhere besides home, like their office. Leaflets have a limited purpose. They
reinforce the phone calling and the impression that the event will happen. Even with noontime
or downtown crowds, trying to build a crowd with leaflets alone will not work. When using
leaflets, remember the following:
Leaflets should be no larger than 5 1/2 inches by 8 1/2 inches ("half-size").
VIII. Event planning and advance work
95
Keep the message simple.
Use the least expensive paper-never more than one color.
Always use a union printer-leaflets must have a union bug.
Depending on geographic size and size of the leaflet, price per thousand should be
kept under $6.00.
Include the local office address and phone number on the leaflet. Some people
getting the leaflet may want to know where to volunteer.
Concentrate 90% of distribution near site of event; radiate outward to shopping
centers, college campuses, apartment complexes, etc.
In high density urban areas (New York City subway exit at 7:30 am) maximum
distribution is approximately 500 hour; in low density or residential areas, 150 per
hour is more likely.
Break leaflets into packages of no more than 200. Don't give a leafletter too many
leaflets-there is a negative psychological reaction if the entire package cannot be
distributed. (Give a leafletter several packages.)
The best way to deliver a leaflet is to place it directly in the pedestrian's hand and
make eye contact (verbal hype is also good), next best is giving leaflets to an
organization to pass out at membership meetings, etc.
Posters:
Cover poles around the area of the event and drop off the coverage as you move
outward.
Black print on white stock is the quickest and the cheapest. The posters should not
cost more than 10 cents each for 1,000 or more.
If the posters are to be read by passing motorist, bold face print should be used.
Standard size: 19" by 23".
Free Media: free media can be very effective if it is used correctly. Try to get the media to
attend a smaller event held before the rally. The purpose of this early, smaller event is to
generate a news story that helps advertise the rally. Example: the TV station films a key
supporter and/or volunteers leafleting for the rally, or volunteers painting signs, or a news
conference, etc.
96
VIII. Event planning and advance work
Other Techniques: these include paid media. invitations, leaflets, etc. sent by mail. This is
helpful in constituency crowd building.
Design the Program
Obtain appropriate music.
Decide on the length of the program.
Length of overall program depends on the time of day that the event is called for.
Noontime program should be shorter than evening events. While there is no iron-
clad rule, the best noontime programs start at 12:15 and end at 12:50 or 1:00. If the
program goes much longer, the media will leave and you will begin to lose your
crowd. For an evening crowd, the event could last an hour.
The length of time each person talks depends on how compelling their story is, how
central their speech is to the event, how dynamic they are, and how important they
are to the politics of the event. Be specific and underestimate the time allotment
when you tell a speaker how long they can talk for. Example: if you want them to
speak 5 minutes (which to the audience, may seem like a very long time) tell them
they can speak for 3 minutes. They'll end up going over their time allotment.
Be specific on what topics the speaker should cover.
Pay attention to how the program builds in theme and energy. The last speaker
should be particularly dynamic or someone well-known, for whom the crowd will
wait.
Stay with the theme. Speakers on other topics should be avoided unless there is an
extremely important reason to do so otherwise.
Be careful of the special guest who may not be that dynamic.
On the day before the event, go over with each speaker the topic that she or he will
cover. Have them to do a run-through of their speech.
Ask the speakers to be there early. If the event is called for noon, have them show
up at 11:15. This gives you time for a final run-through and ensures that no speaker
will be so late that they'll miss their turn.
Have a back-up speaker in case someone doesn't show up.
Have an MC introduce each speaker.
VIII. Event planning and advance work
97
Have a staff person keep the program moving and direct the MC to cut off long
winded speakers. The staff person should give the MC cards with the names (and
pronunciation if needed) of all the speakers.
Give the speakers and others who need to be on stage a special credential to get
through the crowd.
Walk Through The Event
As you get closer to the event, keep walking it through. This will help you see gaps or holes.
Make sure you do a walk through on the day before the event. Give yourself plenty of time to
walk through the volunteers who will help staff the event.
On the day of the event, walk it through three times.
On the first walk through, imagine that you are a member of the media. Make sure
that directional signs are clear, the press area is protected, etc.
The second time, imagine that you are a speaker. Make sure you have a holding
area, something to drink before the event, water on the podium, bathroom, etc.
The third time, imagine that you are a member of the public. Can you see and hear
the speakers? What will be done with the protesters, where will people sign in and
buy their buttons, etc.
For emergencies, have a good communication system like walkie talkies.
Develop contingency plans for a protest.
Have an assistant at the day of the event. This person can be a trusted volunteer; the best
person is someone with whom you've worked before. Things will always go wrong at the last
minute. If something has to get done, have the assistant do it.
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VIII. Event planning and advance work
Sample
media
advisory
Contact:
Jim Walton, (206) 591-5135 or
May 25, 1990
Genelle Birk (206) 591- 5175 or
756-3419 (Sat. June 2 only)
Media Advisory
WHAT:
Tacoma Community Summit. A gathering of over 125
Tacoma stakeholders representing broad interests,
backgrounds and neighborhoods to identify issues
and strategies Tacoma should address in the '90's.
WHEN:
Saturday, June 2, 1990, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE:
University of Puget Sound, Student Union Building,
1400 North Lawrence, Tacoma.
WHY:
During Mayor Karen Vialle's campaign, several people
remarked that the people of Tacoma should have a say in
Tacoma's future. This event marks the first time individuals
representing different interest and community groups, and
backgrounds will come together to develop a plan for
Tacoma this decade.
Interview
From 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Summit participants will create
Opportunity:
visual or word images of Tacoma in the year 2000. These
pictures will be assembled into one large mural. The
mayor and the facilitator, Glen Hiemstra will be available for
comment. Participants also may be interviewed during this
portion of the agenda. There will be a 15-minute break at
10:00 a.m.
Sample
PSA
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
October 17, 1990
Contact:
Greg Elkerton
Project Coordinator
Northwest Waste Information EXPO
500 Wall Street, Suite 413
Seattle, WA 98121
728-2223
Begin Use: Immediately
Do not use after: November 7. 1990 (a.m.)
Time: 10 seconds
If reducing and recycling solid and hazardous wastes is your business, you
need to be at Northwest Waste Information EXPO '90. Call 728-2223 for more
information.
Time: 20 seconds
Does your business deal with hazardous or solid waste? Do you want to be
more environmentally responsible? Learn waste and recycling techniques at
Northwest Waste Information EXPO '90. For more information, call 728-2223.
Time: 30 seconds
Are you a small business owner who doesn't know what to do with your
hazardous and solid wastes? Northwest Waste Information EXPO '90 will help
you be a better friend to the environment and potentially half your pocketbook.
It's all happening November 7 and 8 at the Seattle Trade Center. This year's
EXPO includes exhibits, demonstrations and more than 50 industry seminars by
waste and recycling experts. Sponsored by the Waste Information Network and
the Neighborhood Business Council. For more information, call 728-2223.
-30-
PHONER'S VOTER AND ISSUE ID TALLY SHEET
DATE:
SHIFT:
Use cross-hatches only. This sheet records only the number of calls.
Name:
Location Called:
Total Calls Completed:
Dialed Calls. (Use one cross-hatch per each dialed call.)
Busy/No Answer
Disconnected
Completed Calls
Opinion:
For:
Undecided:
Unfavorable:
Issue Preference:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Vote:
For:
Undecided:
Against:
SUPERVISOR'S STATISTICS SHEET FOR
PHONERS' VOTER ID CALLS
Date:
Shift:
Location Called:
Today's
Cumulative
Total
Total
ID CALLS (# of calls placed)
# of Calling Hours
(# hours times # phones)
COMPLETED CALLS
Favorables:
#
% of ttl. completed calls
Undecideds: #
% of ttl. completed calls
Opposed:
#
% of ttl. completed calls
ISSUE ID
#1 (%)
#2 (%)
#3 (%)
#4 (%)
#5 (%)
#6 (%)
Busy/No Answer: #
% of ttl. calls
Disconnected: #
% of ttl. calls
Checklist for Protecting America's Ancient Forests
This checklist can help you organize your campaign. Although it includes many ideas, it is by
no means exhaustive. Use your creativity, try out new ideas, and let us know what's working
for you. If you'd like more information about any of the areas listed below, consult your
handbook or contact Americans for the Ancient Forests.
Use tried and true materials and arguments
Reprint and distribute relevant parts of the handbook (fact sheets, questions and
answers) to local organizations and the press. These materials cover a wide range of
subjects but reinforce a few strong, proven arguments for ancient forest protection.
Use talking points when you speak to interested organizations, the press, and others.
Stick to the messages that work.
Work with environmental and allied organizations
Set up meetings with organizations receptive to our messages. Continue to expand the
coalition.
Demonstrate organized support for ancient forest protection; encourage local
organizations to sign joint letters or mailgrams.
Encourage local supporters to write and call their elected officials.
Get Congressional schedules and attend members' public events to ask questions about
the protection of our ancient forests.
Collect mailing lists from supportive and potentially supportive organizations. Use the
lists for phone bank and mail programs.
Expand the coalition by appealing to third parties and opinion leaders
Gather support from a broad array of third-parties and local opinion leaders. Ask for
letters and/or statements to demonstrate that ancient forest protection has broad and
substantial support.
Use fact sheets and other excerpts from the handbook to solicit support from a variety
of organizations-target organizations and select the arguments that would best appeal
to them.
Develop a local speakers bureau by collecting the names of people willing to speak to
organizations about the ancient forests.
I. checklist
3
Work with local press
Encourage supporters to author or sign Op Ed pieces. Distribute them to local print
media (dailies, weeklies, business publications) and organization newsletters.
>
Write letters to the editor and encourage others to do so.
Seek press opportunities and turn campaign events (local organization endorsements,
announcements of organizational meetings, statements by members of Congress) into
media events.
Contact local radio and television (if possible) talk shows and schedule guest
appearances for people who can educate listeners/viewers on the need to protect our
ancient forests. (Third party spokespersons are your best bet for guest appearances.)
Seek opportunities for national experts to speak about ancient forest protection. Let us
know if you have such an opportunity and need help lining up an expert.
Contact local editorial boards, send them information, and set up meetings to discuss
ancient forest protection. Encourage them to publish supportive editorials.
4
I. checklist
Five Arguments:
Why We Should Fight to Protect Our Ancient Forests
America's ancient forests are disappearing. Only 10% are standing today.
Our forests are fast disappearing. As of today, 90% of our ancient forests have been
decimated, and more are cut each day. America's forests are one of our country's most
important natural resources. Preserving them must be a priority-for our government and for
every citizen-because once they're lost, they're gone forever. Like the Grand Canyon and
Old Faithful, our ancient forests are an irreplaceable part of America's national heritage.
Replanting forests is not a solution. Our national forests are valuable ecosystems that have
evolved over hundreds of years. The timber industry clearcuts the forests and "replaces" them
with single-species tree farms. Planting these tree crops can't recreate our national forests.
Moreover, replanting is often unsuccessful; The Forest Service acknowledges that in order to
meet replanting goals, they must replant up to twice as many trees as they want to have
standing five years later.
If we lose our ancient forests, we lose much more than trees.
Failing to preserve our forests has many consequences. We may lose our clean water, our most
productive spawning grounds for salmon, a several billion dollar-per-year recreation industry,
more than 200 animal species, and countless plant species. We also lose the jobs that depend
on the forests, leaving the timber-dependent communities with higher unemployment and
bleaker economic prospects.
Our government is breaking laws that are supposed to protect our public lands.
Federal laws are supposed to protect our national forests, but key government agencies have
broken these laws repeatedly, placing the interests of big timber companies ahead of protecting
wildlife and other forest values.
Only the courts have been able to stop the administration and its agencies from continuing to
decimate our nation's forests. U.S. District Judge William Dwyer, in his opinion temporarily
halting timber cutting in certain areas, said that government agencies acted with a "deliberate
and systematic refusal to comply with the laws protecting wildlife."
Congress, therefore, must provide permanent protection for these ancient forests by
designating ancient forest reserves.
1. five arguments
5
Timber companies are exporting logs and jobs.
One out of every four logs from the Pacific Northwest is shipped overseas. When we send
raw, unprocessed logs overseas, we send American jobs with them. If we keep our logs here,
processing them in America and creating American-made products, we can save jobs.
The timber industry is trying to have it both ways. Timber companies export a substantial
percentage of the timber they cut on private lands, but claim they need the wood from national
forests (public lands) to meet domestic demand and provide jobs.
We are in the process of destroying our national forests to serve an insatiable international
market. This process can only lead us in one direction: toward grave environmental losses,
job losses, and future timber shortages.
Ancient forests provide lifesaving cancer treatments.
Taxol, found in the ancient forest's pacific yew tree, is one of the most promising new drugs
for the treatment of ovarian, breast, and other cancers. Our government's logging policy may
be wasting 60 to 75 percent of all yew trees-a reckless policy given the American Cancer
Society's estimates of ovarian cancer patients: 21,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian
cancer every year. With current treatment options, 12,500 women are expected to die from
ovarian cancer each year.
Nearly 40% of the world's medicines are derived from natural sources. The ancient forests
provide a natural laboratory for a variety of potential cures.
6
I. five arguments
America's Ancient Forests
A Disappearing Part of Our Nation's Heritage
Why should Americans fight to
Ancient forests provide lifesaving drugs
Nearly 40% of the world's medicines are derived
protect our ancient forests?
from natural sources. The ancient forests provide an
The ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest are
essential laboratory for a variety of potential cures.
the last relatively intact "old-growth" ecosystems in
Taxol, found in the ancient forest's pacific yew
America. Found principally in northern California,
tree, is one of the most promising new drugs for the
Oregon, and Washington, the ancient forests-like
treatment of ovarian, breast, and other cancers.
the Grand Canyon and Old Faithful-are a vital part
Our government's logging policy may be
of our national heritage.
wasting 60 to 75% of all yew trees-a reckless
policy given the American Cancer Society's es-
timates of ovarian cancer patients: 21,000 women
Clearcutting has eliminated 90% of America's
are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and,
virgin forests
with current treatment options, 12,500 women are
Today, our ancient forests are in jeopardy. They
expected to die from ovarian cancer each year.
are disappearing-being clearcut-at the astonishing
rate of 60,000 acres per year. Only 10% of our
ancient forests still stand, and two-thirds of these
Once, America
remaining forests have no protection from future
logging. If we allow current practices to continue,
had abundant virgin forests
our ancient forests will be gone in the next 20 years;
and once they are gone, they are gone forever.
In addition, timber companies export raw logs
cut in the Pacific Northwest. It is estimated that 600
timber jobs are lost for every 100 million board feet
exported. Last year, we exported 3 billion feet of
raw logs from Pacific Northwest ports.
Destroying the forests destroys an ecosystem
and an economy
Destroying these forests can ruin an ecosystem
that provides much more than trees. We may lose:
America's virgin forests, 1850
Water for millions of people
The forests help maintain clean, abundant water
for tens of millions of people, farms, and indus-
tries.
Today, less than 10% remain
Productive spawning grounds for salmon
The forest's streams and rivers provide spawn-
ing grounds for salmon fisheries and habitat for
trout and other sport fish.
A several billion dollar-per-year recreation
industry
Millions of people visit the Pacific Northwest
every year to hike, camp, fish, and enjoy
natural surroundings that are being destroyed.
Abundant wildlife
The ancient forests are ecosystems that support
more than 200 animal and countless plant spe-
cies. If the forests are destroyed, these animals
America's virgin forests, 1989
and plants will be lost forever.
Our government is
Timber companies are causing
breaking the law rather
most of the job losses
than enforcing it
In recent years, all of the Northwest region's
Federal laws are supposed to protect our national
industrial sectors-with the notable exception of the
forests, but key government agencies have broken
timber industry-have increased employment rates
these laws repeatedly; the federal government has
well in excess of the national average.
put the interests of big timber companies ahead of
Timber industry employment has fallen: during
protecting wildlife and other forest values.
the 1980s, before any spotted owl protections were
imposed, Washington and Oregon lost more than
The Washington Post reported that the Fish and
26,000 timber-related jobs-even though timber cut
Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land
from the national forests in these two states in-
Management, and the Forest Service all violated
creased from 3.6 to 5.5 billion board feet per year.
federal law.
These job losses were largely due to the moderni-
The government's timber-first policy has
zation of mills, the export of raw logs overseas, and
sacrificed water quality and the survival of
the movement of timber capital from the Northwest
countless fish, animal, and plant species. In the
to other parts of the United States.
last 20 years, the Forest Service spent 35% of its
budget on the timber program and only 2% on
Timber companies export logs-and export jobs
recreation, fish, wildlife, and soil management.
The timber industry is trying to have it both
In 1990, Forest Supervisors across the country
ways. They cut timber on private lands and export a
warned the Forest Service was "out of control,"
substantial percentage to the Pacific Rim, and then
saying the agency's emphasis on timber "doesn't
claim they need to clearcut the trees of our national
reflect land stewardship values" and doesn't
forests to meet domestic demand and save jobs.
meet "expectations of public and employees."
Timber companies export 1 out of every 4 logs
Since then, whistle-blowers have described
cut in the Northwest. If we processed these logs in
corruption including falsified data, silenced
the United States instead of exporting them, we
dissent, timber theft, and illegal logging.
could generate up to 18,000 direct timber jobs,
John McCormick, former head of the Forest
helping the communities that depend on these jobs.
Service's whistle-blower program testified before
Congress saying the Forest Service does little to
Timber companies are leaving the Northwest
prevent timber theft and overlooks illegal timber
The timber industry employs only 4% of work-
harvesting techniques.
ers in the Northwest, in part because the industry's
Montana Regional Forester John Mumma
major producers have shifted their operations and
resigned because he refused to log the illegal and
investments from the Northwest to the South.
unsustainable volumes directed by his superiors.
Between 1978 and 1990, the nation's 7 largest
The government built thousands of miles of roads
lumber and plywood companies reduced their manu-
in virgin forests for logging companies to use-
facturing capacity in the Pacific Northwest by 34%
all at taxpayers' expense.
and increased capacity in southern states by more
Only courts have been able to stop the adminis-
than 121%. Timber industry investment in the
tration's pattern of lawlessness. U.S. District Judge
Northwest has fallen by 60% since 1978.
William Dwyer, in an opinion temporarily halting
As timber companies export raw logs and flee
timber cutting in certain areas, said government
the Northwest, the number of timber-related jobs in
agencies acted with a "deliberate and systematic
the region can be expected to further decrease.
refusal to comply with laws protecting wildlife."
Make your voice heard
Help us preserve the ancient forests, an irreplaceable part of our national heritage. You can organize your friends,
neighbors, colleagues; work with opinion leaders and your scientific, legal, medical, and environmental commun-
ities; write letters to newspapers; contact your elected representatives. For more information, contact Americans
for the Ancient Forests, 1211 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036, 202/296-2777.
Americans for the Ancient Forests is a national grassroots public education campaign working for the protection
of America's remaining ancient (old growth) forests. The campaign is supported by national foundations and
individuals concerned with the destruction of our national heritage.
Questions and Answers
1. Why do we need to protect our ancient forests?
The ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest are the last intact "old-growth" ecosystems in the
United States. These forests-our national forests-are disappearing. As of today, 90% of our
ancient forests have been destroyed with clearcutting, and more are cut each day. These forests
are an irreplaceable part of America's national heritage; preserving them must be a priority.
In addition, failing to preserve our forests has many consequences. If we destroy our ancient
forests, we lose the jobs that depend on the forests, leaving the timber-dependent communities
with higher unemployment and bleaker economic prospects. We also may lose plant and
animal species forever.
2. Why are our ancient forests being destroyed?
Most of the publicly-owned ancient forests are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the
Bureau of Land Management, which, under pressure from timber interests, have pursued a
policy that includes aggressive clearcutting. Federal laws are supposed to protect our national
forests, but the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have broken these laws
repeatedly. When public lands are mismanaged in this way, our environment pays and big
timber companies benefit.
3. Don't existing laws already protect our ancient forests?
No. Current laws are supposed to protect our forests and provide balance, but they aren't
being properly enforced, and the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have
broken them repeatedly. In addition, current laws don't mandate an ecosystem approach; they
don't effectively preserve the forest ecosystem.
4. What are some examples of federal lawlessness involving our forests?
The federal government continually has put the interests of big timber companies ahead of pro-
tecting wildlife and other forest values.
According to The Washington Post, specific examples of federal lawbreaking include:
The Fish and Wildlife Service broke the law by not listing the spotted owl under the
Endangered Species Act (the agency subsequently relented).
The Bureau of Land Management violated the National Environmental Policy Act by
not preparing an adequate environmental impact statement on logging's effect on the
owl.
I. questions and answers
9
The Forest Service violated the National Forest Management Act by not protecting the
owl.
In addition to these violations of law, the government has mismanaged our forests:
Nationwide, America's national forests contain more than 340,000 miles of operable
roads used to cut timber. On average, major logging roads cost $45,000 per mile, a
cost paid by American taxpayers.
American taxpayers foot the bill for marketing and preparing timber lands because the
Forest Service doesn't pass these costs on to the timber industry. Over the next ten
years, American taxpayers will have to cover losses on timber sales of $2 billion.
For the last 20 years, the Forest Service has spent 35% of its budget on the timber
program and only 2% on recreation, fish, wildlife, and soil management.
Only the courts have been able to stop the administration from continuing to decimate our na-
tion's forests. U.S. District Judge William Dwyer, in an opinion temporarily halting timber
cutting in certain areas, said government agencies acted with a "deliberate and systematic
refusal to comply with the laws protecting wildlife."
5. Is the present controversy just a case of jobs vs. spotted owls?
No. The consequences of failing to preserve our forests extend far beyond losing the spotted
owl. If we destroy our ancient forests, we lose the jobs that depend on the forests, leaving the
timber-dependent communities with higher unemployment and bleaker economic prospects.
We also may lose our clean water, our most productive spawning grounds for salmon and the
billion dollar Northwest fishing industry (see question 16), a several billion dollar-per-year
recreation industry, more than 200 animal species, and countless plant species.
6. Is the spotted owl the main reason for job losses in the timber industry?
No. The timber industry was hit with increasing job loss long before the spotted owl
controversy. During the 1980s, Washington and Oregon lost more than 25,000 timber-related
jobs per year even though the amount of timber cut from the national forests in these two states
increased from 3.6 to 5.5 billion board feet per year. These job losses were largely due to the
modernization of the mills, export of raw logs overseas, and the movement of timber industry
capital from the Northwest region to other parts of the United States (see question 11).
7. Won't we run short of timber and lose jobs if we stop logging in the ancient
forests?
No. We cut more than enough timber each year to meet domestic demand. Timber companies
export 25% of the logs cut in the Pacific Northwest every year and in the process, send jobs
overseas.
10
I. questions and answers
8. How much Northwestern timber does the U.S. export?
The industry cuts approximately 350,000 acres of the Northwest's forest each year: The three
Pacific Northwest states alone export 25% of these logs (roughly 3.3 billion board feet)
unprocessed by our domestic mills.
9. How many Northwest jobs are lost as a result of log exports?
It is estimated that 600 timber jobs are lost for every 100 million board feet exported. Last
year we exported 3 billion board feet of raw logs from Pacific Nortwest ports.
10. How many jobs could we save with a log export ban?
Because of legislation enacted in 1990 logs are not exported from federal lands, and only
Washington state exports logs from state lands. Timber companies, however, still export
substantial quantities of timber from private lands; they export 25% of the logs cut in the
Pacific Northwest every year.
If we processed these logs in the United States intead of exporting them, we could generate up
to 18,000 new timber jobs. Reducing or eliminating the exports also would reduce pressure to
over-cut our federal forests.
11. Is the timber industry a large part of the Northwest's economy?
No, timber is only a small part of the region's economy, in part because the timber industry's
major producers have shifted their operations and investments from the Northwest to other
areas of the country:
The timber industry employs only 4% of the work force in Oregon and Washington.
Each year, Oregon and Washington's economies add an average of 160,000 new non-
timber jobs to the region's employment base.
Between 1978 and 1990, the nation's seven largest lumber and plywood companies
reduced their manufacturing capacity in the Pacific Northwest by 34% and increased
capacity in the southern states by more than 121%.
Workers in Oregon and Washington lost more than 26,000 timber-related jobs in the
1980s-at a time when the industry was cutting a record amount of timber from our
nation's forests. These jobs were lost before a single acre of federal land was protected
as spotted owl habitat.
1. questions and answers
11
12. Can the timber industry continue its current practices indefinitely?
No. In fact, changes in the timber industry are inevitable. The timber industry has cut trees
faster than they can grow, rapidly liquidating the ancient forests. Only 10% of the region's
original ancient forests remain, most on public land. If current timber-cutting practices
continue, the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest could disappear within 20 years.
13. Doesn't replanting trees ensure that the forests will grow back?
No. Timber companies are replanting single-species tree farms of value only to loggers.
Replanted areas lack the biological capital and nutrients provided by the long, natural cycle of
forest growth and decay.
In addition, replanting isn't always successful. The Forest Service acknowledges that in order
to meet replanting goals, they must replant up to twice as many trees as they want to have
standing five years later.
The Forest Service then uses survival rates based on the target number rather than the actual
number of trees planted; if, for example, 300 trees survive in an area with a 300-tree goal, the
Forest Service reports a 100% survival rate even if 600 trees were planted to achieve this
objective.
According to Forest Service reports, survival rates for trees planted in EPA Region 6 (Oregon
and Washington) range from 61% to 83% (FY 1991).
14. Does logging adversely affect fish habitat?
Yes. Forestry, road building, grazing, agriculture, urbanization and other land and water
management practices damage and eliminate fish habitats, and the Northwest's fisheries are
declining because fish habitats are being destroyed. At least 106 populations of West Coast
salmonids (salmon, steelhead, trout, and char) have been driven to extinction, and more than
210 additional populations in the region currently are at risk.
In April 1992, the Pacific Fishery Management Council decided to cut approximately in half
the number of salmon that can be fished off California, Oregon and Washington in 1992.
15. How do current logging practices alter fish habitats?
Successful fish spawning requires certain stream conditions including cool, well-oxygenated,
fresh water and food. In areas without logging, trees that line the sides of streams provide
essential shade. When they die naturally, they fall into the streams, helping to create healthy
fish habitats. These downed logs are essential because they modify stream flow and create a
variety of in-stream pools and side channels that fish use for shelter, rest, and protection.
12
I. questions and answers
Areas with logging lose the essential benefits of downed logs. In addition, logging and road
building increase the amount of fine sediments in streams by 10 to 1000 times.
This increased sedimentation adversely affects the viability of salmon eggs as well as the fish's
ability to feed: salmon are visual feeders, and they can't see their food in water with high
levels of suspended sediments.
Areas with logging also suffer from water temperature problems. Logging frequently removes
the shade trees that line the sides of stream. This shade is vital for keeping water temperatures
down, particularly during summer months when water levels are low. In southwest Oregon
and northwest California, stream temperatures can reach and exceed lethal degrees without
adequate shading.
16. What economic impact do fish have in the Pacific Northwest?
There are nine main native salmon species in the Pacific Northwest states. These fish support
commercial and recreational fishing industries that produce more than $1 billion in personal
income per year and more than 60,000 jobs in the region.
In 1988, the commercial salmon industry contributed roughly $320 million to the Pacific
states' economies and generated approximately 15,250 jobs.
Recreational fishing in the Pacific Northwest region is responsible for about $931 million in
annual personal income impacts and generates 47,500 jobs.
17. What are the scientific experts saying?
In an October 1991 report to the U.S. House of Representatives (Agriculture and Merchant
Marine Committees), the Scientific Panel on Late-Successional Forest Ecosystems said that
under existing forest plans, the prospects for fish survival is "very low" to "low."
The Scientific Panel recommended protection for 137 watersheds* in the Coast, Siskiyou,
Cascade and Olympic ranges.
*A watershed is a portion of the forest in which all surface water drains to a common point. Watersheds can range
from a few tens of acres that drain a small intermittent stream to many thousands of acres for a stream that drains
hundreds of connected intermittent and perennial streams.
18. What is the "Watershed Option"?
The "Watershed Option," developed by the Scientific Panel on Late-Successional Forest
Ecosystems* in the report listed above, is a set of recommendations to Congress. It suggests
public land management changes that would protect 90 fish stocks identified as at risk of
extinction within the geographic range of the spotted owl.
I. questions and answers
13
The Watershed Option recommended policy changes that would maintain and restore
(1) ecological functions and processes in streams and (2) habitat of potential threatened and
endangered fish species and stocks of anadromous salmonids.
*Ancient forest is a lay term for late successional forest.
19. Is there any overlap between spotted owl habitat and the "Key Watersheds"?
There is considerable overlap between high-quality spotted owl habitat proposed for protection
under the Forest Service Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the "Key Watersheds"
proposed for protection by the Scientific Panel on Late Successional Forest Ecosystems.
Similarly, there is overlap between existing protected areas-National Parks, for example-and
the Key Watersheds. This overlap is to be expected, since prime old growth and late
successional forests provide good habitat for a wide range of creatures including fish and owls.
Although measures needed to protect owls are not identical to those needed to protect fish, the
logging and road building restrictions within proposed owl areas would extend much of the
needed protection to fish habitats.
20. What is the Ancient Forest Alliance?
The Ancient Forest Alliance is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 national, state and
local organization seeking greater protection for the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest.
The coalition includes six major national environmental groups as well as environmental and
other citizen action organizations throughout the country.
21. What is Americans for the Ancient Forests?
Americans for the Ancient Forests is a national grassroots public education campaign
committed to the protection of America's remaining ancient (old growth) forests. The
campaign is supported by national foundations and individuals concerned with the destruction
of our national heritage.
For more information, contact Americans for the Ancient Forests, 1211 Connecticut Ave.,
NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036, 202/296-2777.
14
I. questions and answers
Quotes
U.S. District Judge William Dwyer
May 1991:
"More is involved here than a simple failure by an agency to comply with its
governing statute. The most recent violation of the NFMA (National Forest
Management Act) exemplifies a deliberate and systematic refusal by the Forest
Service and the FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) to comply with the laws
protecting wildlife."
"To bypass the environmental laws, either briefly or permanently, would not fend
off the changes transforming the timber industry."
President George Bush
Mt. Rushmore, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 1989:
"The forests are the sanctuaries not only of wildlife but also of the human spirit.
And every tree is a compact between the generations."
Secretary of Agriculture Edward Madigan
August 1991:
"We believe we [government agencies] could manage our national forests better if
we were free from the interference of the federal courts. Only the Congress of the
United States can free us from that interference. We hope they will do that and do
that expeditiously."
George H. Weyerhaeuser
President & CEO of Weyerhaeuser Paper Company
February 20, 1986:
"[Despite record demand for wood products] scores of mills remain closed and
thousands of workers remain unemployed in the Pacific Northwest forest products
industry The reason is that the industry has changed on the inside. [There has
been] a fundamental reorganization of both production and marketing. The result
is
excess capacity [which] has continued to depress prices and thereby created
an environment in which only those producers able to reduce their costs are able to
succeed or indeed survive."
I. quotes
15
John Muir, Founder of the Sierra Club:
"
since Christ's time, God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought,
disease, avalanche, and a thousand straining, leveling tempests and floods: but he
cannot save them from the fools."
R. Max Peterson, former Chief, U.S. Forest Service,
speaking about the decades of extreme and excessive logging
in the U.S. National Forest System:
"Anybody, on the back of an envelope, could have figured out that the rate of
[timber] harvest cannot be sustained."
Tom Giesen, Chairman, Economic Committee,
Native Forest Council:
"Mill closures and unemployment are due to automation, gains in efficiency, and
the fact that about one out of every four logs cut in the Northwest is shipped
overseas unprocessed. Overall, industry set records in 1987 and 1988 for profits,
and it had near-record production. It has cut more logs than ever."
U.S. Senator Bob Packwood:
"The General Accounting Office's findings reinforce the need for a permanent ban
on log exports from federal lands and the closing of loopholes in current log export
regulations.'
Franklin Delano Roosevelt on logging on the Olympic Peninsula, 1937:
"I hope the son-of-a-bitch who logged that is roasting in hell!"
U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio:
"Our future is being shipped overseas."
"They are making obscene profits by exporting our natural heritage. Their profits
come first and our workers and communities, second."
"It's stupid, it's bad policy, and it's got to stop."
16
I. quotes
Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota:
"The days have ended when the forest may be viewed only as trees and trees
viewed only as timber. The soil and the water, grasses and the shrubs, the fish and
the wildlife, and the beauty that is the forest must become integral parts of resource
managers' thinking and actions."
New York Times article, March 20, 1989:
"Smokey the Bear has become Mr. Lumberjack, some say."
I. quotes
17
Ancient Forest Recent Chronology
January 1987
Initial petition filed for listing the northern spotted owl under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA).
August 1987
29 environmental groups file second petition to list northern spotted
owl as "threatened."
October 1987
11 environmental organizations filed suit in U.S. District Court in
Portland seeking injunction against further logging around 289
spotted owl habitats pending completion of supplemental
environmental impact statements by Bureau of Land Management for
western Oregon lands that analyze new data on northern spotted owl
(Portland Audubon Society V. Hodel "PAS").
November 1987
The Department of Interior's (DOI) expert on population viability,
Dr. Mark Shaffer, concludes that all evidence "argues strongly for
listing (the owl) as threatened or endangered at this time."
December 1987
Department of Interior refuses to list spotted owl as "threatened."
April 1988
Portland District Court dismisses lawsuit against BLM (PAS) on
grounds that FY89 Interior Appropriations Act bars judicial review
of outdated forest management plans. Environmental plaintiffs
immediately appeal.
May 1988
25 environmental organizations file suit in U.S. District Court in
Seattle against the Department of Interior to have northern spotted
owl listed under the Endangered Species Act (Northern Spotted Owl
v. Hodel).
May 1988
U.S. Court of Appeals issues temporary injunction to halt logging of
all Oregon Bureau of Land Management old growth pending review
of citizen claims in PAS case.
November 1988
U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly rules in the Northern Spotted Owl
case that the decision not to list the owl under ESA is arbitrary and
capricious and contrary to law. "The Service disregarded all the
expert opinion on population viability, including that of its own
expert, that the owl is facing extinction, and instead merely asserted
its expertise in support of its conclusions." The Court gave the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service until May 1, 1989 to reconsider its
decision.
I. chronology
19
December 1988
U.S. Forest Service issues new owl management plan that scientists
call "a prescription for extinction of the owl."
February 1989
Nine environmental organizations file suit in U.S. District Court in
Seattle challenging the Forest Service "prescription for extinction"
owl management plan. The court is asked to halt all USFS timber
sales in owl habitat until a scientifically and legally sound plan is
prepared.
March 1989
Injunctions are granted in Seattle Audubon V. Robertson halting 163
planned sales of old growth on national forests in Washington and
Oregon. U.S. District Court Judge William Dwyer rules that USFS
owl management plan probably violates federal environmental laws.
April 1989
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declares spotted owl warrants
listing as threatened under Endangered Species Act and announces
intention to issue proposed rulemaking.
October 1989
Congress adopts Section 318 of the FY 1990 Interior Appropriations
Act, which insulates Forest Service and BLM timber sales from
judicial review. The Forest Service is given a "one-year breather"
from the court-ordered ban on timber sales in old-growth forests and
is ordered to revise its owl protection plan by September 30, 1990.
October 1989
Environmental groups file a new suit challenging the constitutionality
of FY90 Interior Appropriations Act which barred judicial review of
agency actions relating to timber sales in Washington and Oregon.
December 1989
U.S. District Court Judge Helen Frye dismisses Portland Audubon
Society V. Hodel on grounds that FY90 Interior Appropriations Act
bars judicial review of agency actions.
January 1990
Environmental groups appeal dismissal of Portland Audubon V.
Hodel and request injunction pending ruling on constitutionality of
Section 318.
April 1990
The Thomas Committee (the Interagency Scientific Committee whose
report is known as the "Thomas Report,") submits its report,
"Conservation Strategy for the Northern Spotted Owl," to Congress
and proposes a plan to establish Habitat Conservation Areas in
northern California and western Washington and Oregon to protect
the northern spotted owl. The report acknowledges that their
strategy would probably result in loss of 50 percent of remaining owl
population before stabilizing in 50 years.
20
I. chronology
May 1990
The Portland Oregonian reports that the Administration pressured
regional agency heads from the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land
Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and others not to sign a
joint letter endorsing the Interagency Scientific Committee's
"Conservation Strategy."
June 1990
USFWS formally proposes listing the northern spotted owl as a
threatened species across its entire range in northern California,
western Oregon and Washington but refused to designate critical
habitat as required by the Endangered Species Act.
June 1990
Bush Administration establishes interagency task force, headed by
(then) Secretary of Agriculture, Clayton Yeutter, to examine
economic impacts of spotted owl listing and proposes exempting
USFS and BLM from compliance with major environmental laws
regulating logging on public lands.
July 1990
A letter signed by 15 State Attorney Generals is sent to House
Speaker Thomas Foley and Senate Majority Leader George
Mitchell asking them to prevent reenactment of legislation
limiting judicial review.
August 1990
Environmental groups ask Judge Zilly to order FWS to designate
critical habitat as mandated by the ESA.
September 1990
A letter signed by 458 law school deans and professors is sent to
House Speaker Foley and Senate Leader Mitchell urging them to
oppose legislation reenacting limits on judicial review.
September 1990
U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rules that Section 318 banned
judicial review and is unconstitutional.
September 1990
Yeutter task force issues two-and-a-half page "report" outlining
proposed alternatives to spotted owl listing, including invoking
Endangered Species Committee to seek exemption for USFS and
BLM from law so logging can continue in owl habitat.
September 1990
BLM announces the "Jamison Strategy," which ignores key
provisions of the ISC report and allows logging levels much greater
than would be permitted by the ISC.
October 1990
Judge Dwyer is asked by conservation groups to order the Forest
Service to formally adopt an owl management plan-as required by
Congress and NFMA.
1. chronology
21
February 1991
Secretary of Interior Manuel Lujan appoints 13-member spotted owl
Y
recovery team which is made up primarily of lawyers, economists
and administrators.
February 1991
Judge Zilly rules that the Fish and Wildlife Service abused its
discretion, acted arbitrarily and capriciously-and violated the
Endangered Species Act-when it refused to designate critical habitat
concurrent with its listing of the owl as threatened. FWS is put on a
timetable for complying.
February 1991
Judge Zilly rules in favor of environmentalists and orders the Fish
and Wildlife Service to designate critical habitat for the spotted owl.
April 1991
A lawsuit is filed challenging the Bureau of Land Management's
failure to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the
spotted owl impacts of its two-year timber sale plan, called the
"Jamison Strategy."
May 1991
Judge Dwyer issues injunction against 171 timber sales on 66,000
acres of spotted owl habitat in national forests because the Forest
Service "deliberately and systematically violated key environmental
laws."
June 1991
Conservationists submit petition to the Fish and Wildlife Service to
list the marbled murrelet as a threatened species.
July 1991
A letter signed by 24 state Attorneys General opposing Congressional
attempts to limit judicial review is sent to Foley and Mitchell.
August 1991
Agriculture Secretary Edward Madigan tells reporters:
"We think we could manage (our national forests) better if we were
free from the interference of the federal courts. Only the Congress
of the United States can free us from that interference. We hope
they will do that and do that expeditiously."
September 1991
A top Forest Service official admits in court that the agency was
instructed by the Bush Administration to disobey an Act of Congress.
A letter from nearly 600 law school deans and professors opposing
legislation limiting judicial review of federal government activities is
sent to Foley, Mitchell, and other members of Congress.
September 1991
U.S. District Judge Robert Jones rules that the BLM violated ESA by
failing to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service on the Jamison
Strategy.
22
I. chronology
September 1991
The Bureau of Land Management asks Interior Secretary Lujan to
convene the Endangered Species Committee ("God Squad") in order
to exempt 44 timber sales in western Oregon from the requirements
of the ESA.
December 1991
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upholds Judge
Dwyer's May 1991 ruling and injunction in the SAS case:
"[The Forest Service's] systematic refusal to follow the law in the
past, as chronicled by the district court, is not an excuse for avoiding
the concurrent requirements of the NFMA and ESA in the future."
December 1991
In a letter to the Bureau of Land Management's Oregon State
Director, the Environmental Protection Agency declares that BLM
has not complied with NEPA in preparing its timber sale program.
December 1991
The Fish and Wildlife Service asks the God Squad to terminate the
exemption proceeding because the Bureau of Land Management
didn't carry out the statutory prerequisites of consulting on the
Jamison Strategy "in good faith" on the 44 timber sales for which it
sought an exemption.
January 1992
Judge Frye temporarily bars BLM from selling any timber in owl
habitat because the Bureau has not prepared an environmental
impact statement analyzing the impacts of its timber program on
spotted owls and their habitat.
February 1992
Lujan announces that he will ignore the draft recovery plan for the
spotted owl prepared by his own hand-picked team of economists,
policy-makers, and scientists, because he believes it will result in too
many lost jobs. Instead, he appoints a new work group to develop
yet another set of "spotted owl management options." The work
group is directed to develop new options that "would not necessarily
meet (the) requirements imposed by current law."
March 1992
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds Judge Jones' September,
1991 ruling that "without a doubt" the BLM violated the ESA by
refusing to consult with FWS on the Jamison Strategy. The court
also enjoins any future BLM timber sales until the Bureau consults
with FWS on the individual sales, on the Jamison Strategy, and on
any other owl conservation plan, including the existing timber
management plans. The court's ruling directly undermines Interior
Secretary Lujan's decision to convene the ESA's God Committee.
1. chronology
23
March 1992
Secretary of Agriculture Edward Madigan proposes elimination of
the Forest Service appeals process in part because the administration
views the current process as "procedurally onerous and
confrontational.'
Forest Service signs decision document implementing spotted owl
management plan but ignores new evidence of a 7 to 10-fold increase
in the rate of decline of owl populations. Injunction against timber
sales is lifted and SAS case closes.
Eleven environmental organizations file suit in federal district court
in Seattle challenging the legality of a the new Forest Service plan
for the spotted owl because the new plan allows the continued
logging of publicly-owned ancient forests and threatens the survival
of the spotted owl.
Supreme Court rules that Sec. 318 of the FY90 Appropriations bill
(banning judicial review) was constitutional.
April 1992
Five organizations send a demand letter to the Forest Service calling
for changes in fish habitat management and an economic analysis of
the loss of salmon habitat and associated jobs.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to cut by
approximately half the number of salmon that can be fished off
California, Oregon, and Washington during the 1992 season.
Six committee and subcommittee chairs (of the House Interior,
Agriculture, and Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committees and
relevant subcommittees) jointly introduce new ancient forest
protection legislation. The bill (H.R. 4899) would establish old-
growth forest reserves in the Pacific Northwest and restrict
commercial logging on Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management lands.
24
I. chronology
Myths and Facts
General Myths
in an area with a 300-tree goal,
ber industry's rate of cutting far
the Forest Service reports a
exceeds all re-vegetation pro-
100% survival rate even if 600
grams. Retiring Regional For-
Myth #1
trees were planted to achieve
ester James Torrence acknowl-
this objective.
edged that the new Forest Plans
Trees are a renewable resource.
According to Forest Service
continue these unsustainable cut
FACT:
reports, survival rates for trees
levels.
The ancient forests' ecosystem
planted in EPA Region 6 (Ore-
is a continuing resource until
gon and Washington) range
from 61% to 83% (FY 1991).
humans destroy it. Neither re-
search nor innovative forestry
Our old growth forests are
has solved the erosion and soil
valuable ecosystems with trees
older than our country. In place
depletion problems caused by
of these lush forests with im-
Myth #4:
clearcutting. If current logging
mense age and species diver-
practices continue, our forests
Old-growth virgin forests are
sity, the timber industry plants
will be gone. And once they are
unhealthy, disease-ridden, and
an even-aged, single-species
gone, they're gone forever.
insect-infested. If we don't cut
crop. This is called a tree farm,
and replant them, they're just
not a forest.
going to die anyway.
Replanted areas lack the bio-
logical capital and nutrients
FACT:
Myth #2:
provided by the long, natural
Since the Ice Age, our old-
cycle of forest growth and de-
growth forests have thrived
"America has over 20% more
cay; the large doses of chemical
through their own indigenous
trees than it had 20 years ago.
fertilizers and herbicides often
processes. They have evolved
[We] plant 6,000,000 trees a
applied to these areas can't re-
into some of the healthiest,
day."
place this natural cycle.
most resilient ecosystems on
-Weyerhaeuser Paper Com-
In addition to clearcutting's
earth. They are not, all of a
pany advertisement
devastating effects, the timber
sudden, going to fall down and
industry has added a new-and
rot away.
FACT:
growing-practice: some timber
All species in the forest are
The number of trees in the
companies are selling their
interdependent: seedlings, for
country isn't the measure of our
logged-over land for develop-
example, require the shaded
forests' value, and planting tree
ment rather than replanting it.
canopy of mature trees because
crops can't replace or re-create
they need cool temperatures.
forests.
Without the strength and di-
In addition, replanting isn't
versity of native forests, many
always successful. The Forest
tree or fiber plantations will
Service acknowledges that in
suffer from unnatural levels of
order to meet replanting goals,
Myth #3:
insect infestation, disease,
they must replant up to twice as
America will never run out of
drought, or fire.
many trees as they want to have
trees: national forests are cut
At present logging rates,
standing five years later.
on a sustained yield basis.
America will run out of its
The Forest Service then uses
remaining unprotected national
survival rates based on the tar-
FACT:
forests in the next twenty years.
get number rather than the ac-
Even if tree farms did re-
tual number of trees planted; if,
semble natural forests, the tim-
for example, 300 trees survive
I. myths and facts
25
Owl Myths
Economic Myths
Myth #5:
Myth #7:
FACT:
We've already set aside enough
The people of the Pacific
Timber corporations them-
land in the Pacific Northwest to
Northwest depend on the timber
selves have been ruining re-
protect the spotted owl and
from public land for economic
gional economies for years by
other species.
survival.
exporting timber and starving
domestic mills.
FACT:
FACT:
The number of timber jobs
Most of the region's low-
Only 4% of jobs in Wash-
already is decreasing, and
elevation forests-the most pro-
ington and Oregon are timber
economists project the timber
ductive forest and best wildlife
dependent.
industry will support even
habitat-were not set aside
The economic survival of
fewer Northwest jobs in the
when they could have been;
Pacific Northwest communities
future.
over the last 30 years they have
depends on protecting, not
The downward trend in tim-
been converted into industrial
liquidating, the region's last
ber jobs began in the 1980s; it
tree farms. Most land that is
ancient forest ecosystems, most
was due primarily to the mod-
protected (wilderness areas and
of which are on public land.
ernization of mills and the ex-
national parks) is largely rock
Many vital sectors of the
port of unprocessed logs over-
and ice. However scenic these
Northwest's economy, how-
seas. Workers in Oregon and
parks and preserves may be,
ever, depend on the public's
Washington lost more than
most were not designed to pro-
ancient forests-and the wildlife
25,000 timber-related jobs in
tect wildlife diversity, fisheries,
and water they provide. The
the 1980s-at a time when the
and the integrity of ecosystems.
economic centers that depend
industry was cutting a record
amount of timber from the na-
on protecting the ancient forests
tional forests.
include fishing, farming, and
tourism:
If exports are banned and all
cutting on virgin forests on fed-
In 1989, 6.8 million out-
Myth #6:
eral lands ceases, the Northwest
of-state visitors spent
will have as much timber for its
Pacific Northwest timber makes
$2.3 billion in Oregon
mills as it has now. Responsible
up 30% of all the timber used
alone.
companies are now re-tooling
in the United States. If we pro-
The Pacific Northwest's
their mills for the second-
tect the northern spotted owl,
fishing industry produces
growth timber on private lands,
our nation will have a timber
more than $1 billion in
and developing new products of
shortage.
personal income per year
equal quality and function.
and has a 60,000 job im-
FACT:
pact.
Protecting the spotted owl
Scenic beauty, wildlife,
will affect only federal lands.
and abundant outdoor rec-
Even though the Northwest
reation are essential in at-
provides a significant portion of
tracting business invest-
Myth #9:
the nation's timber supply, 63%
ments to the region.
of Washington and Oregon's
The timber industry in the
total timber production from
Northwest is highly dependent
1979-1987 was from non-fed-
on timber from federal lands.
eral lands.
FACT:
Myth #8:
Most of the timber cut in the
Unless timber corporations
Northwest is cut from private
have access to the public's for-
lands, not federal lands:
ests, regional economies will be
ruined.
In 1988, the Pacific
Northwest timber industry
26
1. myths and facts
employed some 250,000
States comes from old-growth
workers. Of these, only
Myth #11:
forests.
20% (or 50,000) were de-
Our nation needs the wood we
If, as the Forest Service
pendent on federal forest
get from clearcutting our na-
predicts, lumber prices increase
land.
tional forests.
by 15% due to ancient forest
In Washington state, 62%
protection and the elimination
of the 1988 timber cut was
FACT:
of subsidized timber sales, the
from private lands, 11%
The timber industry is try-
cost of a new home now priced
from state lands, and only
ing to have it both ways. Tim-
at $98,500 would rise by only
21% from federal lands.
ber companies export a sub-
$724 (less than 1% of its total
From 1980-1985, private
stantial percentage of the timber
cost). The average mortgage
lands provided 90.2% of
they cut on private lands, but
payment on a new home would
the softwood saw timber
they claim they need the wood
rise by only $4.80/month.
cut in Northern California,
from national forests (public
Our export policies also af-
and 51% in Western Ore-
lands) to meet domestic demand
fect the cost of housing. One
gon.
and provide jobs.
out of every four logs from the
Overall, for the western
More than 25% of all timber
Pacific Northwest is shipped
portion of these states (the
cut in the Northwest goes over-
overseas. Because we send so
area most affected by the
seas as raw logs or unfinished
much wood out of our country,
spotted owl/ ancient forest
raw materials. Sending raw logs
we are importing logs from
issue) private lands pro-
overseas costs us American
Canada-and this imported
vided 62.4% of the soft-
jobs. If we keep our logs here,
lumber carries a 14.8% tariff.
wood saw timber cut dur-
processing them in America and
ing the period 1980-1985.
creating American products, we
can save timber-related jobs
and help the communities that
depend on them.
Myth #10:
Water Myths
Timber sales overall make a
profit for the federal treasury.
Myth #13:
FACT:
Myth #12:
Logging and associated road
The Forest Service timber
Protection of the spotted
building doesn't silt up streams
program has lost $5.6 billion
owl/ancient forests would raise
anymore.
over the past decade (document-
the cost of lumber 20% and add
ed in an analysis performed at
$55 billion to consumer debt.
FACT:
the request of the House Gov-
The dream of affordable hous-
Today, logging and associated
ernment Operations Subcommit-
ing would disappear.
road building are the major
tee of Environment, Energy,
causes of stream siltation and
and Natural Resources).
FACT:
water quality loss in Pacific
According to The Wilder-
The dream of affordable
Northwest forests. At least 106
ness Society, in recent years,
housing depends on more than
populations of West Coast sal-
timber sales on about two-thirds
the price of lumber. In fact,
monids (salmon, steelhead,
of the national forests cost tax-
lumber represents only 7% of
trout, and char) have been
payers more than $1 billion in
the cost of building a house;
driven to extinction and more
tax subsidies. In 1990, The
costs of construction labor, land
than 210 additional populations
Wilderness Society estimates
prices and mortgage rates have
are currently at risk of extinc-
that 98 of 120 national forests
a greater affect on housing af-
tion.
required taxpayer subsidies of
fordability.
$257 million.
Less than 9% of all lumber
used to build new homes and
other facilities in the United
I. myths and facts
27
Talking Points
90% of America's ancient forests already are gone, and much of the remaining 10%
are threatened.
Big timber companies, with help from our own Forest Service, are destroying our
precious ancient forests.
A part of our national heritage-as important and spectacular as the Grand Canyon, Old
Faithful, and Yosemite Park-is at stake.
When these forests are gone, they're gone forever.
When the forests are gone, so are precious water, lifesaving medicines, more than 200
animal species, and countless plant species.
We need to save the ancient forests now so our children will be able to enjoy them.
We're not talking about saving all the trees-just some very special forests.
At the same time big timber companies say that they need the wood from our ancient
forests, they are exporting one quarter of the timber they cut on private lands to Japan
and other countries at enormous profit. Last year we exported 3 billion board feet of
raw logs from Pacific Northwest ports. If we processed these logs in the United States
instead of exporting them, we could generate up to 18,000 direct timber jobs.
Timber jobs in the region are declining more because of automation and the recession
than because of environmental protections.
Protecting the ancient forests and watersheds will also help save a fishing industry that
produces more than $1 billion in personal income per year and has a 60,000 job
impact.
Ancient forest protection is supported by a broad coalition of environmentalists,
fishermen, scientists, lawyers and others.
Time is short; we've got to act now if we want to save a critical part of America's
heritage.
I. talking points
29
Supporters of Ancient Forest Protection
The Ancient Forest Alliance is the major coalition of organizations seeking greater protection
for the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest. A broad-based coalition, the alliance includes
major national environmental groups as well as environmental and other citizen action
organizations in Oregon, Washington and northern California.
The Ancient Forest Alliance includes:
National Organizations
Lane County Audubon Society
Lighthawk, The Environmental Airforce
Americans for the Ancient Forests
Loowit Chapter, Sierra Club
National Audubon Society
Lower Columbia River Audubon Society
National Wildlife Federation
Madron Audubon Society
Natural Resources Defense Council
Many Rivers Chapter, Sierra Club
Sierra Club
Marble Mountain Audubon Society
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund
Matolle Restoration Council
Western Ancient Forest Campaign
Mendicino Environmental Center
The Wilderness Society
Mother Lode Chapter, Sierra Club
Mt. Diablo Audubon Society
Mt. Hood Study Group
Regional and Local Organizations
Mount Rainier National Park Associates
Mt. Shasta Audubon Society
Ancient Forest Defense Fund
The Mountaineers
Audubon Society of Portland
Native Forests Council
Blue Mountain Audubon Society
Native Plant Society of Oregon
California Native Plant Society
North Cascades Conservation Group
California Wilderness Coalition
Northcoast Environmental Center
Cascade Chapter, Sierra Club
Okanogan Wilderness League
Cascade Holisitic Economic Consultants
Olympic Park Associates
Columbia Chapter, Sierra Club
Oregon Chapter, Sierra Club
Davis Audubon Society
Oregon Environmental Council
Earth First!
Oregon Natural Resources Council
Environmental Protection Information Center
Oregon Wildlife Federation
Forest Alliance
Pilchuk Audubon Society
Forest Issues Task Force
Puget Sound Chapter, Sierra Club
Friends of Del Norte County
Redwood Chapter, Sierra Club
Friends of Ecological Reserves
Rogue Chapter, Sierra Club
Friends of Opal Creek
Sacramento Audubon Society
Friends of Plumas Wilderness
Salem Audubon Society
Friends of the Greensprings
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Gifford Pinchot Task Force
Santiam Wilderness Committee
Headwaters
Save the Redwoods League
Hells Canyon Preservation Council
Seattle Audubon Society
Inland Empire Public Lands Council
Sierra Club of Western Canada
Kalmiopsis Audubon Society
Siskiyou Audubon Society
Kern Kaweah Chapter, Sierra Club
Siskiyou Park Supporters
Kettle Range Conservation Group
Siskiyou Regional Education Project
I. supporters
31
South Fork Trinity Watershed Association
Tolyabe Chapter, Sierra Club
Spokane Chapter, Sierra Club
Tulare County Audubon Society
Spokane Audubon Society
Umatilla Forest Resource Council
Tahoma Audubon Society
Washington Native Plant Society
Tatoosh Chapter, Sierra Club
Washington Wilderness Coalition
Tawona Chapter, Sierra Club
Western Canada Wilderness Committee
Tehepite Chapter, Sierra Club
Western Natural Resources Law Clinic
Ten Mile Creek Association
In addition, a variety of other groups have expressed support on ancient forest issues. These
groups include:
Scientists, who support a science-based solution to maintaining our last old
growth ecosystems
Close to 100 scientists from 30 universities and scientific organizations signed a
letter expressing support for efforts to protect America's last ancient forests.
These forests, the letter states, "are without equal they harbor over 200
species of vetebrates and an uncounted number of plants, fungi, and bacteria.
Together, they form an ecosystem whose richness and complexity we are just
beginning to understand. These forests represent an irreplaceable, world-class
resource."
Attorneys, who are working to preserve individuals' right to protect the ancient
forests through litigation against law-breaking federal agencies.
More than 600 deans of law schools and legal scholars across America signed a
letter to Speaker of the House Tom Foley stating their opposition to "attempts
to undermine existing environmental laws by restricting the ability of courts to
review and enforce them." The letter said that "several bills that may be acted
upon this year would undermine the courts and, with them, one of the
cornerstones of our system of governmental checks and balances."
In addition, 24 attorneys general have stated that they oppose restrictions on
judicial review.
Physicians, who support protecting the ancient forests to preserve taxol and the
other lifesaving treatments the ancient forests can provide.
Members of the medical community have written to Speaker of the House Tom
Foley expressing concern about the "ongoing mismanagement of the [ancient]
forests, which have irreplaceable value."
32
1. supporters
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Copyright 1991 The Washington Post
The Washington Post
August 4, 1991, Sunday, Final Edition
SECTION: FINANCIAL; PAGE H1
LENGTH: 2176 words
HEADLINE: The Owl's Golden Egg:
Environmentalism Could Boost Lumber Profits and Prices
SERIES: Occasional
BYLINE: John M. Berry, Washington Post Staff Writer
DATELINE: EUGENE, Ore.
BODY:
It is sometimes hard to tell the winners and the losers, and why each is
winning or losing, in the war over timber cutting on federal land in the Pacific
Northwest.
The regional timber industry has sought to portray itself as a clear loser if
environmentalists get their way and the timber harvest is sharply curtailed to
protect recreational uses, scenic vistas, water quality, fisheries and wildlife
such as the officially endangered spotted owl
Nevertheless, a few weeks ago Mark S. Rogers, a wood industry analyst at
Prudential Securities Inc. in New York, declared in a headline on a research
paper, "What's Good for the Spotted Owl Is Great for the Wood-Products
Industry."
"No tonic could be better for the depressed wood-products industry than a
decrease in capacity coinciding with an increase in demand," Rogers wrote.
"Thanks to the controversy over the spotted owl, industry capacity is almost
certain to be cut just as the housing recovery begins to stimulate demand."
Rogers said the lumber industry has been plagued for more than a decade with
too much production capacity, a condition that has kept profits low. Reduced
harvests in this region will lead to a cut in industry capacity of 5 percent to
10 percent and a rebound in profits, he predicted.
This follows a decade in which national lumber production surged, rising from
31.8 billion board feet in 1981 to 49 billion board feet in 1989, as
construction boomed around the country. This means the reexamination of the role
of the national forests as a wood reserve is taking place at a time when the
industry already is undergoing change.
The adjustment is easier for the big national companies such as Weyerhauser
Co. and Georgia-Pacific Corp., which in the 1950s and 1960s made big investments
in the Southeast, where land was relatively cheap and it is possible to grow
southern pine like a crop that is harvested every 30 or so years. The five
Southeastern states of Georgia, Florida, Virginia, South Carolina and North
Carolina already supply about a quarter of the nation's timber, more than the
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The Washington Post, August 4, 1991
western coastal region of Oregon, Washington and California.
Jeff Olsen, an economist with the Wilderness Society, one of the
environmental groups seeking to protect the remnants of this region's ancient
fir and hemlock forests, also argues that the biggest firms in the industry
began years ago to shift the focus of their operations away from the Pacific
Northwest after they had cut the bulk of the mature timber on their own land.
The symbol of that shift is the tower in downtown Atlanta that houses the
headquarters of Georgia-Pacific, which moved there from Portland, Ore., in 1982.
Olsen said that between 1978 -- long before the spotted owl became an issue
-- and 1990, Georgia-Pacific and the six other largest lumber firms operating in
the Northwest reduced their combined mill capacity in the region by one-third.
Meanwhile, the seven companies were increasing their mill capacity in the South,
where fast-growing, privately owned pine forests provide the bulk of the raw
material, by 121 percent.
This shift has provoked regional political frictions.
Private timber interests in the Southeast contend that the timber coming off
the public lands of the Pacific Northwest depresses the price of their lumber,
and they have made no secret of their support for environmental groups seeking
to restrict the harvest in the national forests.
Sen. Wyche Fowler Jr. (D-Ga.) last year combined environmentalism and support
for Georgia's private timber interests when he proposed cutting $ 100 million
from the U.S. Forest Service's budget for road building. The road network
provides access to uncut stands of timber on the federal lands.
The amendment, which was strongly backed by environmental groups, was
narrowly defeated.
Neither the commercial nor environmental arguments for reducing the Northwest
harvest are persuasive to the loggers, mill workers and contractors who cut and
haul logs in the forests of Oregon or Washington. Many see their livelihoods in
danger if the timber harvest on federal land is curtailed. Small- and
medium-sized lumber and plywood companies, which fear they may not be among the
survivors as industry capacity declines, are pressing members of Congress to
save their businesses rather than owls.
Among those that may not share in the profits is Bohemia Inc., a company
based here that has 2,100 employees turning out about $ 300 million worth of
lumber, plywood, laminated beams and other products annually at a dozen mills in
Oregon and California. Bohemia, founded 75 years ago on the nearby Row River,
decided late last year to liquidate itself rather than subject its stockholders
to year after year of substandard profits.
With almost everyone conceding that the amount of timber cut on federal land
is going to be reduced at least by half and maybe by much more than that, many
companies. including Bohemia, can no longer count on having enough logs at a
price they can afford to run their mills profitably.
"We are caught in the middle and we see no way out," said L.L. "Stub"
Stewart, a director and retired chairman whose father helped found the
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The Washington Post, August 4, 1991
company. "You hate like hell to see this happening after having been in business
for 75 years."
While Bohemia's workers may come out losers, Bohemia's stockholders may not.
Ironically, the same forces that convinced Bohemia's president, Richard D.
Tinney, and its board to sell out have made the company far more valuable.
swly
Bohemia has 48,000 acres of woodland in Oregon and California that are now
worth enough that analysts expect the company's shareholders to receive three or
four times the $ 8.25 per share its stock was selling for when the firm's
liquidation was announced last December.
N
Other owners of softwood timber. whether in large stands or small, both here
and in the South, should see a similar windfall. While they may not have
who
noticed, individual landowners in Virginia or along the coast of South Carolina
who have stands of pine likely are a bit wealthier because of the cutting
restrictions here.
and Ther
Those restrictions, the full extent of which is still being thrashed out in
Congress and the federal courts, has already sharply increased selling prices
for logs from both federal and private land in this area. In similar fashion, as
lumber production in the Southeastern United States rises to offset the lost
output here, some of the tens of thousands of timber jobs being lost here will
reappear in that region.
The larger companies, such as Weyerhauser, also benefit. Lynn Michaelis,
chief economist for the company, agreed that "to a certain extent, we benefit
from higher prices" for logs. However, those higher prices have the same impact
on the profitability of some Weyerhauser processing operations as those of
companies that do not own their own timber, he said. Some Weyerhauser mills
already have been shuttered.
Michaelis said excess capacity in the industry held down the price of lumber
during the 1980s to the point that it rose about 15 percent less than prices of
goods and services generally. In other words, the real cost of lumber fell about
15 percent over the decade, making the cost of building homes lower than it
otherwise would have been.
Now Michaelis believes the cutting restrictions are likely to provide a
one-time 10 percent boost in lumber prices. With basic lumber and plywood
accounting for 3 percent or so of the cost of an average house, restricting the
cut on federal land here would raise the price of a $ 100,000 home by about $
300, he said.
Richard Haynes, an economist at the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest
Research Station in Portland, has come up with figures that are even smaller,
about $ 200 for an average home.
"That's the rub," Haynes said. "The cost to you, or me, is very small
The economic impact is felt most in the region. What is causing the political
impact is the localized effect.
Places like Sweet Home could be losing its
entire manufacturing base." Sweet Home is a town of about 7,000 at the western
edge of the Cascade Mountains northeast of here.
PAGE
5
The Washington Post, August 4, 1991
'80s Legacy Continues The job losses and business closings that are on the
way will hurt even more because they are a continuation of what happened here
during the 1980s
While the fight over the spotted owl is only now coming to a head, the
struggle over old-growth forests has been a long-running battle.
"The basic turmoil has been a 20-year process we have been going through on
land allocation," said Steve Paulson, who is in charge of timber sales at the
Forest Service's regional headquarters in Portland. "The owl is only a
surrogate for the land allocation issue."
Nevertheless, until recently, the efforts by environmentalists to reduce
cutting of the region's remaining old-growth forests to enhance other uses such
as recreation and to protect wildlife, including the owl, had not actually
much affected the amount of timber being cut on federal land. During the latter
half of the 1980s, more than 5 billion board feet was harvested each year. In
fact, the cut on federal land rose to an all-time peak, according to Haynes.
Falling Payrolls Despite the size of the federal cut, however, between 1979
and 1989 employment in the lumber and wood products industries in Washington and
Oregon fell from 133,800 to 109,000. As mill owners who could afford it poured
millions of dollars into their facilities to improve their efficiency, their
payrolls fell. The mill owners who could not afford the investment shut down,
and those jobs were lost as well.
In a nutshell, the industry showed the same pattern of increased production
and efficiency and declining employment that appeared in most parts of the
manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy in the 1980s.
10n #
Paul F. Ehringer, a former timber industry executive who is now a consultant,
tracks mill closings in the region. Since the beginning of 1980, Ehringer said,
205 mills turning out lumber, plywood, veneer and other products have closed in
Washington and Oregon, costing about 18,800 jobs.
The Forest Service's Haynes estimated that saving most of the remaining
old-growth forest will cost the region about the same number of jobs it lost in
the past decade for purely economic reasons.
"We are speeding up a decade of changes, ". the Forest Service's Haynes
declared. "The spotted owl compresses it into a couple of years."
This process is playing itself out in the Willamette National Forest east of
here, where Bohemia, seeing no way to avoid a shortage of large logs, closed its
lumber mill on Culp Creek. Some of the 350 employees who lost their jobs had
been with the company for more than 35 years, Stewart said.
Some have since found new jobs. Some are training at the community college
here for new careers in high-technology jobs. Many, however, are still
unemployed, and others have retired years before they planned to put their feet
up.
The mill itself, its equipment auctioned this spring partly at scrap prices,
stands deserted with gaping holes in its roof and no prospect it will ever
operate again. Its payroll has been lost to the community and most of its
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The Washington Post, August 4, 1991
value has disappeared from the tax base of
Lane County
an area the size of the
state of Connecticut that produces more timber than any other area in the
nation.
Bohemia's Stewart and other company executives, such as Gene Stevens, who
oversees their Oregon logging operations, all are resigned to what is coming.
But they all also regard it as a waste.
Flying over land east of here owned by Bohemia, Weyerhauser and other firms,
the two men pointed out the mosaic of mature trees ready to be cut, areas
recently stripped of timber and replanted plots with trees ranging from
seedlings up to trees 25 or 30 years old. To them, the land was like a farm
raising a crop with an exceptionally long growing season.
Ragged Forests The Willamette National Forest was a mosaic, too, with clear
cuts and replanted areas. But there, many of the mature trees were part of the
old-growth forest trees 160 to several hundred years old. The old-growth
forest had a ragged appearance, with trees missing tops, standing dead snags and
many trees down on the forest floor.
On Hill's Creek near Wolf Mountain, Bohemia was hauling out timber bought
from the national forest and cut last fall. The old-growth trees, with an
average of 1,500 to 2,000 board feet of timber each, were worth about $ 400 per
thousand board feet, Stevens said.
The logs were heading for Bohemia's sawmill in Coburg, just north of here, to
be turned into lumber or to be peeled into thin panels for making plywood. "This
is real tree-growing country, exclaimed Stewart, whose grandfather homesteaded
land not far away and whose father bossed a logging camp in another valley.
Now, after a century and a half of intensive harvesting, timber is taking a
back seat in the Pacific Northwest. The southern pine plywood available for sale
in lumber stores here is clear evidence of that.
GRAPHIC: PHOTO. A LOGGING OPERATION IN OREGON. SOME INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAY SHARP
CUTBACKS IN HARVESTING TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT COULD BOOST PRICES JUST AS A
HOUSING INDUSTRY RECOVERY BEGINS TO STIMULATE DEMAND. JOHN GIUSTINA FOR TWP
TYPE: NATIONAL NEWS, FEATURE
SUBJECT: FORESTRY AND LUMBER INDUSTRIES; ENDANGERED SPECIES; ECOLOGY AND
ENVIRONMENT; PROFITS; BUSINESS MANAGEMENT; OREGON; WASHINGTON
ORGANIZATION: WEYERHAUSER CO.; GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORP.
ENHANCEMENT: OWL
B
with
OF
THE
SEAL
of
PRESIDENT
STATES
JANZIGER
The Christian Science Monitor
Christian S. 9/18/92
Of Owls and Politics
RESIDENT Bush thrust the northern spotted
On one side are aggrieved citizens, wood-prod-
P
owl into the campaign this week. Addressing
ucts companies, land developers, and others who
a crowd in Colville, Wash., he called for put-
argue that the act is rigid and oblivious to economic
ting brakes on the Endangered Species Act and
need. On the other are environmental groups who
giving more weight to economic concerns.
cite the animals saved by the act - from alligators
The president's words were cheered. Lumber-
to bald eagles - and say the law already includes
mill towns throughout the Far West bristle with
ways of accommodating economic interests.
resentment over federal efforts to protect the owl
The issue won't be resolved before the election,
by placing large tracts of virgin forest off-limits to
and it may have little impact on voters' decisions,
loggers.
except in pockets of the West. It's a subject of con-
The resentment is fanned by other economic fac-
siderable importance, however, in setting a course
tors. Automation in the timber industry has done
for the United States as it heads into a new century.
away with many mill jobs, and tree harvesting in
The protection of species won't fade as an issue.
remote parts of the Western forest has become
Works like the new book by Harvard biologist Ed-
more expensive, turning companies toward less
ward O. Wilson, "The Diversity of Life," will keep it
mountainous stands of pine in the Southeast.
squarely in view:
But discontent has centered on the endangered
Mr. Bush has staked out his position, and the law
owl - and by extension on hundreds of other rare
may in fact need some adjusting. But the act's cen-
creatures that inhabit the country's woodlands. The
tral purpose - protecting nature's. riches against
imminent reauthorization of the Endangered Spe-
obliteration by industry and development - remains
cies Act, first passed in 1973, will be a showdown.
valid. It needs careful preserving.
C
412 REU 09-14-92 17:04 EDT 193 Lines. Copyright 1992. All rights
reserved.
BC-TEXT-CAMPAIGN/BUSH/LUMBER-MULTITAKES
PRESIDENT BUSH ADDRESS TO EMPLOYEES AND FAMILIES AT THE
VAAGAN BROTHERS LUMBER COMPANY
Location: Colville, Wash.
Time: 4 p.m. EDT
September 14, 1992
+++++
The editor of the report is Steve Ginsburg. Tim Ahmann,
Eric Beech, Peter Ramjug and Paul Schomer also are available to help
you. If you have questions, please call 202-898-8345. For service
problems inside the District of Columbia, call 202-898- 8355; outside
D.C., call 1-800-537-9755.
+++++
+++++
This transcript is provided by News Transcripts, Inc. If questions
of content arise, call 202-682-9050
+++++
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all very much. What a wonderful
welcome!
(Cheers and applause)
And may I thank your very special senator, Senator
Slade Gorton, for that introduction, and much more for all he does for
this great state back in Washington, D.C. You have an outstanding
senator.
(Cheers and applause)
And thanks to Duane Vogin (phonetic) and all of the rest of
u for letting us visit here today. I know we've disrupted not only
is wonderful facility but a lot of things around town. And I'm
grateful to the mayor, Mayor Scott, and the police officials and
everybody else who assist in the planning and the success of a visit
like this.
I'll tell you, I really enjoyed flying in here in that
helicopter, and for those of you who haven't been up there, there are a
lot of trees around here, so don't listen to the, some of the crisis--
(Cheers and applause)
You know last week in Detroit I released an agenda for
American renewal, I see a sign back there on that, and the agenda was
based on a fundamental premise, that the challenges America faces,
foreign, domestic, and economic, and yes, environmental, are connected,
they're linked. And the solution to one cannot be divorced from the
lution to the other. We need an integrated approach and we need to
Bring this integrated approach to the relationship between the economy
and the environment.
Environmental protection and economic growth must go hand in
hand. They can't be divorced from each other. And this morning, down in
southern California, I spoke about ways to bring them together.
But frankly, I believe that when it comes to the Endangered
Species Act and its application here in the northwest, the balance has
simply been lost.
And like many of you, I love to hunt, and hike, and fish, and
I love the outdoors.
(Cheers and applause)
And like you I have learned through a lifetime of experience
ppreciate and respect the wilderness and I know that you and you
I've chosen to live in this beautiful part of the country respect and
vere these forests as others never can.
(Cheers and applause)
And you resent the implication that earning your livelihood
here with sound management of the forests makes you less of a
conservationist than the city dweller or the suburbanite.
(Cheers and applause)
And for the past--and I am proud of this record although I
don't have the endorsement of some of the extreme environmental groups.
But for the past four years we've worked hard to protect our precious
environment and we've accomplished a great deal.
Four years ago I promised Americans a new Clean Air Act. For
over a decade no one could get it done, but we did, and my Clean Air
Act reduces smog in our cities and gets toxic pollutants out of the
air, and will cut acid rain in half.
And four years ago I promised I would protect the
vironmentally sensitive areas off our coasts from the excesses of
offshore drilling, and today there will be no drilling off the coast of
California or Washington, and Oregon, not far from here, off the
Florida Keys, off the New England coast. We have banned ocean drilling
until the year 2000.
Four years ago I promised to be a good steward of our public
lands, and we've added thousands of miles of trails for Americans like
you who love the outdoors.
We're reopening and upgrading camp sites all across America,
and we've added 1.5 million acres to our national parks, wildlife
areas, forests and recreation lands.
And the fact is that every American cares about the
ironment and most consider themselves environmentalist, and that is
ticularly true here in the Pacific Northwest. And yet Americans
oday realize that we can protect our lands while also using them for
people's benefit.
(Cheers and applause)
They understand the need for wilderness and recreation areas
as well as the need for paper for our schools and offices, and timber
for new homes. Being out here in the great Pacific Northwest, I'm
reminded of Teddy Roosevelt, the very first president to focus
attention on the nation, of the nation on the condition of our natural
resources.
And Teddy Roosevelt once said this: Wise forest protection
does not mean the withdrawal of forest resources from contributing
their full share to the welfare of the people.
What President Roosevelt had in mind and what the American
people have always wanted is balance, and not far--
(Cheers and applause)
--not far from here is a timber town called Forks. And like
leville, Forks supported a mill and the mill supported a community.
And because of a lack of timber the mill had to close, and today
unemployment in Forks is at 20 percent. And the car dealership is
closed, the clothing store gone, movie theater shut down, domestic
violence complaints have doubled just in the past year.
And Forks is in crisis for a simple reason. The balance that
I was talking about, that balance has been lost. And I've come here
because we must restore the balance. Now--
(Cheers and applause)
--listen to senator, Oregon's Senator Mark Hatfield, who was
a co-sponsor of the original Endangered Species Act back in 1972.
This year he wrote: There is no question that the act is
being applied in a manner far beyond what any of us envisioned when we
te it 20 years ago.
The Endangered Species Act was intended as a shield for
species against the effects of major construction projects like
ighways and damns, not a sword aimed at jobs and families and
ommunities of the entire regions like the Northwest.
(Cheers and applause)
But today, when harvesting on federal timberland is stopped
outright by 13 different lawsuits, under seven different statutes, each
in consistence with the other, the balance has been lost and it's time
to fight for jobs, families and communities.
(Cheers and applause)
And the time has come, the time has come to talk sensibly.
When 100s of mills have been shut down, thousands of timber workers
been thrown out of work, and revenues for schools and other local
services have been slashed, the balance has been lost, and it's time
for fight for jobs, families and communities.
(Cheers and applause)
And SO as I say we must talk sense about the Endangered
Species Act, about the spotted owl and about the management of our
forests, because it is my firm belief that people and their jobs
deserve protection.
MALE VOICE FROM AUDIENCE: George, what about AIDS? (Cheers
and applause)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me--
MALE VOICE FROM AUDIENCE: What about AIDS? What are you. going
to do about AIDS? Why do you hide from it, George?
PRESIDENT BUSH: If you'll let me--
MALE VOICE FROM AUDIENCE: (inaudible)
PRESIDENT BUSH: --let me digress for one minute. (Shouting
ensues from audience) (''Four More Years'')
MALE VOICE FROM AUDIENCE: What about AIDS, George?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me digress. This man has asked a
question here. I wasn't planning to discuss this. His question is--
MALE VOICE FROM AUDIENCE: What about your own national
commission reports?
PRESIDENT BUSH: If you'll listen, sir, I'll explain to you
what about AIDS. AIDS is a serious problem. Under my administration
ve appropriated $4.3 billion--
MALE VOICE FROM AUDIENCE: That's a lie (inaudible) are
lying; that's a lie--
PRESIDENT BUSH: --ten times as much per victim as for
cancer. We've asked for 4.9. We are the leaders in research and we're
going to keep on fighting until we get this thing whipped.
(Cheers and applause) (Shouts of ``Four More Years'')
Now--now let me, let me go back to the Endangered
Species Act, and let me be clear. The basic purpose of the Endangered
Species Act is good and noble--to save the rare and threatened species
this country.
PRESIDENT BUSH (continuing) : But today, the act and
other laws are being used by people with extreme views, particularly
ere in Washington and Oregon, to achieve in the courts what no sane
official would ever have voted for--the complete lock-up of the most
productive forest in the entire United States. And the Endangered
Species Act is rigidly interpreted by some courts and is driven by the
Congress, has forced an extreme approach and created an unnecessarily
tragic situation here in the Northwest.
Massive areas of federal land are being set aside for the
owl, virtually ignoring the fact that two-thirds of the Northwest old
growth forest are already designated as parks, wilderness, or other
classification.
(Applause)
Other classifications that prevent harvesting. And
each pair of owls--listen, America--gets 3,500 acres to itself while
jobs, families and communities are being wiped out in the process.
(Applause)
And the other side has been talking about a false choice.
They claim that this timber crisis is just politics, and the simple
fact is this: The false choice is being driven by extremists who are
twisting the Endangered Species Act and its application to the northern
spotted owl.
(Applause)
So I came up here to set the record straight, and let's do
that for the entire country, right here. We have always worked within
the parameters of the law to address this problem, but I can tell you
this: the law is broken and it must be fixed.
(Applause)
We have asked the United States Congress for funds to cut
enough timber in this region to keep people employed. But these
conflicting laws allow challenge after challenge, so this year we sent
Congress an alternative plan, a preservation plan that would save
1,000 jobs compared to the recovery plan required by the act. And
Congress has simply failed to act.
My friends, it is time to consider the human factor in
the spotted owl equation.
(Applause)
My opponent talks about putting people first. Well,
we can start right here in the Pacific Northwest. And so here's what I
propose, here's what I propose. First, I will not sign an extension of
the Endangered Species Act unless it gives greater consideration to
jobs.
(Applause)
And to families and to communities, too. And I will not sign
it without a specific plan in place to harvest enough timber to keep
mber families working in 1993 and beyond. It is time to make people
more important than owls.
(Applause)
And, second, I will fight to end the injunctions that it put
an economic stranglehold on the Northwest in order to free up the
timber that we need today, because the families and the timber
communities of the Pacific Northwest need relief now.
And I call upon Congress to pass my plan to produce 2.6
billion board feet of timber from Forest Service lands in the northwest
region next year, and to pass language that prevents lawsuits from
stopping reasonable harvests with reasonable species protection.
(Applause)
It is time to put people ahead of process. Third, my
administration will speed the harvesting of
dead or dying timber that has been dangerously building up during a
seven-year drought. And one step is our new rule to allow more timber
lvage operations to occur without triggering some of the
time-consuming requirements that are blocking progress. This will
reduce the risk of fire, it will provide up to 450 million board feet
of timber for the mills in the near term, and it's time then to protect
jobs with timber that's available now.
(Applause)
And, fourth, we will make sure that 100 percent of the raw
logs from Washington state-owned public lands are processed here. It's
time to put the mills back to work.
(Applause)
And, finally, I call upon Congress to pass the spotted owl
preservation plan, and that's Senator Gorton's bill, which he calls the
Northern Spotted Owl Preservation and Northwest Economic Stabilization
t of 1992. It's time to preserve both owls and jobs. And that's
what Slade Gorton's act does, and he helps the families in the process.
(Applause)
Now, the senator mentioned my opponent, SO I will, too. My
opponent's approach to this problem, to your jobs, is double-speak, and
when Bill Clinton spoke in Pennsylvania he said what the Sierra Club
wanted to hear. They concluded that Governor Clinton was, quote,
promising the protection of old growth forest in the Pacific
Northwest--and then, when he heard I was coming here, Mr. Clinton
cynically held out false hope to timber families by promising--get
this: another meeting. There have already been more than 40
bipartisan meetings of the Northwest congressional delegation on this
issue for three years.
Now, here--you wondered what these are--these are the
studies. Look at them. We don't need any more studies of this
roblem. We need action in the United States Congress. Good heavens.
I mean, come on.
(Applause)
We produced a pile of studies and proposals this high, and
the best thing for the timber industry is all the trees it took to
print these reports.
(Laughter)
No more studies--let's change the law, let's change
the law.
And the difference on this is clear, the difference on
this is clear. It's as simple as this. My opponent will not fight to
change the law, to restore the balance. And now I know that he's
getting famous for being on both sides of every issue.
Do you want to know the real views of the other ticket?
Senator Gore wrote it in black and white in his book before he knew
that he'd be looking for your votes, and in his book Senator Gore said
and I quote:
``I helped lead the successful fight to prevent the
overturning of protections for the spotted owl And Senator Gore
wrote--and I quote:
The jobs will be lost anyway.
I challenge Governor Clinton: Do you agree with your running
mate? Do you endorse the book that you once called 'magnificent''?
It is time we worried not only about the endangered species but about
endangered jobs, jobs in the timber industry and in agriculture and in
transportation and in recreation as well.
(Applause)
All of those are threatened by the Endangered Species
Act.
I've come here to tell you that I'm a candidate who
respect wild life, yes, but who will also fight for jobs and
families and communities. And I've come here to tell you that I will
not stand for a solution that puts at least 32,000 people out of work.
I can tell you: that solution will not stand.
(Applause)
And I've come here to tell you that we haven't forgotten
about the human factor, because in the end, no matter how you look at
it, that's the most important factor of all. I've come here today to
tell you that we can restore the balance, and we must restore the
balance. And with your help we will restore the balance.
Thank you, and may God bless you, and may God bless the
United States of America. Thank you all very much.
(Applause)
SEP-16-1992 06:46 FROM BIOSCIENCE/TECH
TO
912022282611
P.02
Bush lumbers along
Stumping against owls won't save jobs
On the environment, George Bush
(rather than U.S.processed) logs,
has been a man for many seasons. In
and a decline in home building were
1980, when he was campaigning for
causing worker layotis long before
the Republican nomination in Penn-
the spotted owl became a cause cele-
sylvania's depressed coal towns. Mr.
bre. Indeed, jobs dropped despite rec-
Bush liked to say federal environ-
ord timber harvests during the 1980s.
mental laws were the reason that
The story is the same across the
workers were hurting. "In light of
country: Shifting technology, foreign
the harsh realities of this new eΓa."
competion and the economic down-
he told the miners of Bigler, Pa., "itis
turn - not measures like the 20-year-
time to review the basic environmen-
old Endangered Species Act - have
tal laws themselves - the Clean Air
wrought the havoc. The question is
Act. the Clean Water Act
not owls versus people, it's whether
Then he was beaten by Ronald
Mr. Bush has a credible plan for
Reagan and consigned to the vice.
economic recovery against the real
presidency - only to re-emerge eight
threats.
years later (after Reagan's assault on
The fact of the matter, according
environmental safeguards) as - sur-
to a study just released by the Envi-
prise! - the "environment Presi-
ronmental Defense Fund, is that it
dent."
is exceedingly rare that projects
But the other day Mr. Bush was
are halted because they violate the
back to his old tune. this time blam-
Endangered Species Act. Moreover,
ing the Endangered Species Act for
California, Florida and Hawaii
the hurt that out-of-work Washing-
have managed rapid growth even
ton state loggers are feeling. He said
though they're home to more than
it's time to make people more impor-
half the species on the endangered
tant than owls; to worry about "cn-
list.
dangered jobs" that are threatened
Finally, though Mr. Bush would
by the act.
have his audiences believe other-
We'd submit that if the President
wise. the act already allows exemp-
wants to talk about endangered jobs,
tions for economic hardship. His ad-
he's setting up something of a straw
ministration, in fact, has approved
man (or, perhaps, straw cwl).
one allowing the cutting of several
Throughout the Pacific Northwest, parcels in the Northwest's majestic
automation. the export of raw old-growth forests. owls or no owls.
PAGE
A14
Wednesday
September 16 1992
Seattle Post-Intel
The voice of the Northwest since 186
Editorials
Owls and jobs:
Not that simple
he campaign visit by
Service has yet to comply with a
most
President George Bush to
court order to devise a harvest
Colville Monday offered
regime that follows the law.
overly simplistic solutions to a
None of this is to suggest that
(mplex timber supply problem
enforcement of the Endangered
the Northwest woods.
Species Act will not cause fewer
Bush tried to cast the issue as
trues to be harvested and fewer
one of "jobs VS. owls." But this
jobs in mill towns. And none of it
portrayal ignores what really has
is to suggest that presidential
been happening to jobs and trmes.
candidates should not bestir
of pages
Sealtle
themselves to address the painful
The facts are that too many
concerns of people who are out
trees - and thus too many jobs -
of work. Too little has been done to
have been exported, bypassing
respond to the needs of the
local mills. The facts are that too
timber towns affected by this
From
Co.
Phone
Fax
many mills were unable to adapt
controversy.
to modern demands and thus they
closed. The facts are that many
But we submit that there will
mills successfully modernized -
be no resolution of the timber
employing new automated
crisis in the Pacific Northwest
equipment which meant they
unless everyone involved is willing
employed fewer workers.
to accept the economic and
The facts are that when the
ecological facts of the situation as
Endangered Species Act finally -
they are and to make a good faith
Post-It™ brand tax transmittal memo 7671
effort to negotiate a solution based
To Co. Rich Happe
and properly - was invoked to
on a rational comprehension of
end overcutting, there were too
many mills caught by surprise,
these facts.
Dept.
Fax
forced to compete for too few logs.
The people of the Northwest
do not want their economic misery
The facts are that for too long,
used against them as a "wedge
too many trees were cut too fast
issue" to divide them for political
and with too careless a disregard
purposes. They do want an
"the effect on streambeds. water,
ecologically sound solution. forest
09/18/92
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1ST STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Copyright 1991 The Washington Post
The Washington Post
August 4, 1991, Sunday, Final Edition
SECTION: FINANCIAL; PAGE H1
LENGTH: 2176 words
HEADLINE: The Owl's Golden Egg:
Environmentalism Could Boost Lumber Profits and Prices
SERIES: Occasional
BYLINE: John M. Berry, Washington Post Staff Writer
DATELINE: EUGENE, Ore.
BODY:
It is sometimes hard to tell the winners and the losers, and why each is
winning or losing, in the war over timber cutting on federal land in the Pacific
Northwest.
The regional timber industry has sought to portray itself as a clear loser if
environmentalists get their way and the timber harvest is sharply curtailed to
protect recreational uses, scenic vistas, water quality, fisheries and wildlife
such as the officially endangered spotted owl.
Nevertheless, a few weeks ago Mark S. Rogers, a wood industry analyst at
Prudential Securities Inc. in New York, declared in a headline on a research
paper, "What's Good for the Spotted Owl Is Great for the Wood-Products
Industry."
"No tonic could be better for the depressed wood-products industry than a
decrease in capacity coinciding with an increase in demand," Rogers wrote.
"Thanks to the controversy over the spotted owl, industry capacity is almost
certain to be cut just as the housing recovery begins to stimulate demand."
Rogers said the lumber industry has been plagued for more than a decade with
too much production capacity, a condition that has kept profits low. Reduced
harvests in this region will lead to a cut in industry capacity of S percent to
10 percent and a rebound in profits, he predicted.
This follows a decade in which national lumber production surged, rising from
31.8 billion board feet in 1981 to 49 billion board feet in 1989, as
construction boomed around the country. This means the reexamination of the role
of the national forests as a wood reserve is taking place at a time when the
industry already is undergoing change.
The adjustment is easier for the big national companies such as Weyerhauser
Co. and Georgia-Pacific Corp., which in the 1950s and 1960s made big investments
n the Southeast, where land was relatively cheap and it 1s possible to grow
outhern pine like a crop that is harvested every 30 or so years. The five
Southeastern states of Georgia, Florida, Virginia, South Carolina and North
Carolina already supply about a quarter of the nation's timber, more than the
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The Washington Post, August 4, 1991
western coastal region of Oregon, Washington and California.
Jeff Olsen, an economist with the Wilderness Society, one of the
environmental groups seeking to protect the remnants of this region's ancient
fir and hemlock forests, also argues that the biggest firms in the industry
began years ago to shift the focus of their operations away from the Pacific
Northwest after they had cut the bulk of the mature timber on their own land.
The symbol of that shift is the tower in downtown Atlanta that houses the
headquarters of Georgia-Pacific, which moved there from Portland, Ore., in 1982.
Olsen said that between 1978 long before the spotted owl became an issue
-- and 1990, Georgia-Pacific and the six other largest lumber firms operating in
the Northwest reduced their combined mill capacity in the region by one-third.
Meanwhile, the seven companies were increasing their mill capacity in the South,
where fast-growing, privately owned pine forests provide the bulk of the raw
material, by 121 percent.
This shift has provoked regional polítical frictions.
Private timber interests in the Southeast contend that the timber coming off
the public lands of the Pacific Northwest depresses the price of their lumber,
and they have made no secret of their support for environmental groups seeking
to restrict the harvest in the national forests.
Sen. Wyche Fowler Jr. (D-Ga.) last year combined environmentalism and support
for Georgia's private timber interests when he proposed cutting $ 100 million
from the U.S. Forest Service's budget for road building. The road network
provides access to uncut stands of timber on the federal lands.
The amendment, which was strongly backed by environmental groups, was
narrowly defeated.
Neither the commercial nor environmental arguments for reducing the Northwest
harvest are persuasive to the loggers, mill workers and contractors who cut and
haul logs in the forests of Oregon or Washington. Many see their livelihoods in
danger if the timber harvest on federal land is curtailed. Small- and
medium-sized lumber and plywood companies, which fear they may not be among the
survivors as industry capacity declines, are pressing members of Congress to
save their businesses rather than owls.
Among those that may not share in the profits is Bohemia Inc., a company
based here that has 2,100 employees turning out about $ 300 million worth of
lumber, plywood, laminated beams and other products annually at a dozen mills in
Oregon and California. Bohemia, founded 75 years ago on the nearby Row River,
decided late last year to liquidate itself rather than subject its stockholders
to year after year of substandard profits.
With almost everyone conceding that the amount of timber cut on federal land
is going to be reduced at least by half and maybe by much more than that, many
companies. including Bohemia, can no longer count on having enough logs at a
rice they can afford to run their mills profitably.
"We are caught in the middle and we see no way out," said L.L. "Stub"
Stewart, a director and retired chairman whose father helped found the
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The Washington Post, August 4, 1991
company. "You hate like hell to see this happening after having been in business
for 75 years."
While Bohemia's workers may come out losers, Bohemia's stockholders may not.
Ironically, the same forces that convinced Bohemia's president, Richard D.
Tinney, and its board to sell out have made the company far more valuable.
Bohemia has 48,000 acres of woodland in Oregon and California that are now
worth enough that analysts expect the company's shareholders to receive three or
four times the $ 8.25 per share its stock was selling for when the firm's
liquidation was announced last December.
Other owners of softwood timber. whether in large stands or small, both here
and in the South, should see a similar windfall. While they may not have
noticed, individual landowners in Virginia or along the coast of South Carolina
who have stands of pine likely are a bit wealthier because of the cutting
restrictions here.
Those restrictions, the full extent of which is still being thrashed out in
Congress and the federal courts, has already sharply increased selling prices
for logs from both federal and private land in this area. In similar fashion, as
lumber production in the Southeastern United States rises to offset the lost
output here, some of the tens of thousands of timber jobs being lost here will
reappear in that region.
The larger companies, such as Weyerhauser, also benefit. Lynn Michaelis,
chief economist for the company, agreed that "to & certain extent, we benefit
from higher prices" for logs. However, those higher prices have the same impact
on the profitability of some Weyerhauser processing operations as those of
companies that do not own their own timber, he said. Some Weyerhauser mills
already have been shuttered.
Michaelis said excess capacity in the industry held down the price of lumber
during the 1980s to the point that it rose about 15 percent less than prices of
goods and services generally. In other words, the real cost of lumber fell about
15 percent over the decade, making the cost of building homes lower than it
otherwise would have been.
Now Michaelis believes the cutting restrictions are likely to provide a
one-time 10 percent boost in lumber prices. With basic lumber and plywood
accounting for 3 percent or so of the cost of an average house, restricting the
cut on federal land here would raise the price of a $ 100,000 home by about $
300, he said.
Richard Haynes, an economist at the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest
Research Station in Portland, has come up with figures that are even smaller,
about $ 200 for an average home.
"That's the rub," Haynes said. "The cost to you, or me, is very small.
The economic impact is felt most in the region. What is causing the political
pact is the localized effect.
Places like Sweet Home could be losing its
tire manufacturing base." Sweet Home is a town of about 7,000 at the western
edge of the Cascade Mountains northeast of here.
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The Washington Post, August 4, 1991
'80s Legacy Continues The job losses and business closings that are on the
way will hurt even more because they are a continuation of what happened here
during the 1980s.
While the fight over the spotted owl is only now coming to a head, the
struggle over old-growth forests has been a long-running battle.
"The basic turmoil. has been a 20-year process we have been going through on
land allocation," said Steve Paulson, who is in charge of timber sales at the
Forest Service's regional headquarters in Portland. "The owl is only a
surrogate for the land allocation issue."
Nevertheless, until recently. the efforts by environmentalists to reduce
cutting of the region's remaining old-growth forests to enhance other uses such
as recreation and to protect wildlife, including the owl, had not actually
much affected the amount of timber being cut on federal land. During the latter
half of the 1980s, more than 5 billion board feet was harvested each year. In
fact, the cut on federal land rose to an all-time peak, according to Haynes.
Falling Payrolls Despite the size of the federal cut, however, between 1979
and 1989 employment in the lumber and wood products industries in Washington and
Oregon fell from 133,800 to 109,000. As mill owners who could afford it poured
millions of dollars into their facilities to improve their efficiency, their
payrolls fell. The mill owners who could not afford the investment shut down,
and those jobs were lost as well.
In a nutshell, the industry showed the same pattern of increased production
and efficiency and declining employment that appeared in most parts of the
manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy in the 1980s.
Paul F. Ehringer, a former timber industry executive who is now a consultant,
tracks mill closings in the region. Since the beginning of 1980, Ehringer said,
205 mills turning out lumber, plywood, veneer and other products have closed in
Washington and Oregon, costing about 18,800 jobs.
The Forest Service's Haynes estimated that saving most of the remaining
old-growth forest will cost the region about the same number of jobs it lost in
the past decade for purely economic reasons.
"We are speeding up a decade of changes," the Forest Service's Haynes
declared. "The spotted owl compresses it into a couple of years."
This process is playing itself out in the Willamette National Forest east of
here, where Bohemia, seeing no way to avoid a shortage of large logs, closed its
lumber mill on Culp Creek. Some of the 350 employees who lost their jobs had
been with the company for more than 35 years, Stewart said.
Some have since found new jobs. Some are training at the community college
here for new careers in high-technology jobs. Many, however, are still
unemployed, and others have retired years before they planned to put their feet
up.
The mill itself, its equipment auctioned this spring partly at scrap prices,
stands deserted with gaping holes in its roof and no prospect it will ever
operate again. Its payroll has been lost to the community and most of its
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value has disappeared from the tax base of Lane County, an area the size of the
state of Connecticut that produces more timber than any other area in the
nation.
Bohemia's Stewart and other company executives, such as Gene Stevens, who
oversees their Oregon logging operations, all are resigned to what is coming.
But they all also regard it as a waste.
Flying over land east of here owned by Bohemia, Weyerhauser and other firms,
the two men pointed out the mosaic of mature trees ready to be cut, areas
recently stripped of timber and replanted plots with trees ranging from
seedlings up to trees 25 or 30 years old. To them, the land was like a farm
raising a crop with an exceptionally long growing season.
Ragged Forests The Willamette National Forest was a mosaic, too, with clear
cuts and replanted areas. But there, many of the mature trees were part of the
old-growth forest trees 160 to several hundred years old. The old-growth
forest had 8 ragged appearance, with trees missing tops, standing dead snags and
many trees down on the forest floor.
On Hill's Creek near Wolf Mountain, Bohemia was hauling out timber bought
from the national forest and cut last fall. The old-growth trees, with an
average of 1,500 to 2,000 board feet of timber each, were worth about $ 400 per
thousand board feet, Stevens said.
The logs were heading for Bohemia's sawmill in Coburg, just north of here, to
be turned into lumber or to be peeled into thin panels for making plywood. "This
is real tree- growing country,' exclaimed Stewart, whose grandfather homesteaded
land not far away and whose father bossed a logging camp in another valley.
Now, after a century and a half of intensive harvesting. timber is taking a
back seat in the Pacific Northwest. The southern pine plywood available for sale
in lumber stores here is clear evidence of that.
GRAPHIC: PHOTO, A LOGGING OPERATION IN OREGON. SOME INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAY SHARP
CUTBACKS IN HARVESTING TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT COULD BOOST PRICES JUST AS A
HOUSING INDUSTRY RECOVERY BEGINS TO STIMULATE DEMAND. JOHN GIUSTINA FOR TWP
TYPE: NATIONAL NEWS, FEATURE
SUBJECT: FORESTRY AND LUMBER INDUSTRIES; ENDANGERED SPECIES; ECOLOGY AND
ENVIRONMENT; PROFITS; BUSINESS MANAGEMENT; OREGON; WASHINGTON
ORGANIZATION: WEYERHAUSER CO.; GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORP.
ENHANCEMENT: OWL
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
Copyright Times Mirror Company 1992
DATE: SUNDAY February 9, 1992
EDITION: Home Edition
LENGTH: LONG
PART-NAME: Business
PAGE: 1
PART-NUMBER: D
COLUMN: 5
DESK: Financial
SOURCE: MICHAEL PARRISH
TIMES STAFF WRITER
WESTERN DEBATE HIDES TIMBER'S FLIGHT SOUTH FORESTS:
WOOD-PRODUCTS COMPANIES ARE LEAVING THE NORTHWEST FOR
ECONOMIC REASONS. THE RETREAT HASN'T EASED TENSIONS BETWEEN
LOGGERS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS.
The public debate over U.S. forests has a distinctly Western flavor.
Throughout the West, loggers and environmentalists are wrangling over
protection for the northern spotted owl, logging techniques and harvest rates.
The wood-products industry claims that up to 100,000 timber-related jobs could
be lost in Washington, Oregon and other Western states by tighter logging
rules.
And compromise seems as rare as an endangered species. Only Thursday,
California legislators killed Gov. Pete Wilson's controversial Grand Accord, a
package of bills designed to bring peace between most of the state's loggers
and conservationists.
Yet all this may be missing the timber for the trees.
The heart and much of the future of the forest products business is no
longer in the West; it has quietly been migrating to the South.
U.S. timber companies have found the South hospitable because of its low
land and labor prices, modern mills, proximity to two-thirds of the U.S.
market, productive climate and forests that are 90% privately owned, thus
exempt from many federal environmental regulations.
The result: Southern wood is 26% cheaper to produce.
"We don't believe that there is anywhere else in the world where you can
grow a tree and make it into a product more efficiently than in the wood-
basket area of the South," says Sheila Weidman of Georgia-Pacific Corp.,
the largest U.S. timberland owner which a decade ago moved its corporate
headquarters from Portland, Ore., to Atlanta.
Yet the fact that the largest wood-products companies--for economic reasons
--have for years been retreating from the Pacific Northwest has hardly
eased tensions between West Coast loggers and environmentalists. Both sides
have dug in, particularly on the public relations front, over the last stands
of old-growth trees.
Industry representatives say the contention that large economic forces are
the real culprit offers little solace to loggers about to lose their jobs. The
argument only gives comfort to old-growth advocates.
"It's a red herring that preservationists are using to generate public
support," said Ralph Saperstein, vice president of the Northwest Forestry
Assn., which represents forest products manufacturers in Oregon and
Washington.
Environmentalists respond that the shift is proof of the Western forests'
growing competitive disadvantage, now that 80% of the old growth has been cut.
It also means, they say, that the timber industry has become a far less
bedrock economic force in the West--quite apart from environmentalists'
efforts to protect old growth and endangered species.
Beyond this, environmentalists contend that the West's old growth--the
invaluable remains of the world's only temperate-zone rain forest--is but a
fraction of the 483 million acres of U.S. timberland. Blaming their efforts to
save the trees, they say, is a ploy by the timber industry to divert the
attention of loggers and their families from the larger transition to a
second-growth timber economy.
"It's easy to point the finger at environmentalists," said Jeffrey T.
Olson, a forest economist with the Washington-based Wilderness Society. 'But
these changes began long before the spotted owl was even an issue."
How much the West's role has already declined is apparent from a* Wilderness*
*Society* report released last fall, written by Olson and H. Michael Anderson, a
forest planning specialist.
Between 1978 and 1990, according to the study, the seven largest U.S.
lumber and plywood companies reduced their manufacturing capacity in the
Pacific Northwest by 34% while increasing capacity in the South by 121%.
Lumber industry investment in the Northwest fell 60% during those dozen years.
As wood-processing capacity continues to shift from the West to the South,
the former region's share of the lumber market among major U.S. and Canadian
producing regions is likely to drop to 35% by the year 2000 from 44% in 1976,
according to a separate report prepared last year for John Hancock Mutual Life
Insurance Co., one of the largest institutional investors in U.S. timberland.
Western industry representatives are quick to point out that there still
will be logging in Western states.
Increased investments in the South are "just good business," says Con
Schallau, a forest economist with the American Forest Resource Alliance, an
industry group. "But to say that we have abandoned the Pacific Northwest is
just not true."
Still, investments by some of the biggest forest products companies reveal
the faith they have put in Southeastern forests--a preference that for some
took hold as long as 15 years ago:
*
Most of Georgia-Pacific's operations are in North and South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. The company
has 56 wood-processing facilities in Washington, Oregon and California,
compared to 230 in the South.
*
New York-based International Paper Co., the world's largest wood-products
company in terms of sales, has recently divested some of its Western holdings,
leaving only 6% of its timber property in the West--compared to 69% in the
South.
*
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. may still be based in Portland, but it has been
reducing operations in the Pacific Northwest for 10 years. As of 1990,
Louisiana-Pacific had 940 million board-feet of lumber capacity in the West,
compared to 1.2 billion in the South.
*
Even Tacoma, Wash.-based Weyerhaeuser Co.--a name historically associated
with the Western timber industry--now has half its timberland holdings in the
South.
Most industry groups blame the slowdown in Western logging on
environmentalists' efforts to preserve old-growth forest. They say plenty has
been set aside already--by industry count, about 5 million acres of old growth
in wilderness areas, national parks and other reserves in Oregon, Washington
and California.
Not knowing which trees will be preserved next and what the cutting rules
will be, say the timber companies, discourages long-term investment.
"If there is a shift, it is because of the regulatory uncertainty," said
Andrea Tuttle, an Arcata, Calif.-based environmental policy specialist and
former consultant to the state Senate Select Committee on Forest Resources.
But others see environmentalists being used as scapegoats for such industry
mismanagement as over-cutting of timber stocks.
"It really bothers me when I see all these reports blaming the woes of the
timber industry on environmentalists," said Jim Pfeifer, a Boise, Ida.,
strategic-planning consultant who worked on the Wilderness' Society study.
"It's just not true," said Pfeifer, a veteran of 15 years as a planner
with large wood-products companies. "As they cut out their timberlands, they
closed down facilities."
Beyond these arguments, however, is a major factor that few dispute: The
South's timber-friendly climate.
With about 230 frost-free days a year--compared to 134 in a typical central
Oregon forest--intensively farmed Southern forests grow trees twice as fast.
Genetic improvements in Southern trees are also considered ahead of the rest
of the nation. So-called "super trees" there can be profitably harvested in
15 to 30 years, compared to the 60-to-80-year growth cycle in the Pacific
Northwest.
The South is harvesting its fourth generation of efficient "plantation"
forest. The old growth that might have provoked preservationist sentiment is
long gone with the wind.
Estimates vary widely about the coming timber shortage in the West, but
there is little optimism.
"If you look across the board at the changes we're thinking of in the
West, we're looking at drops in harvest of 10% to 25%," said Brian J. Greber,
a forest economist at Oregon State University in Corvallis. "And I don't see
the market share shifting back and growing again on the West Coast to any
extent."
The industry cites 263 mill closings since 1980 in Oregon, Washington,
Idaho and California--which threw 24,430 people out of work.
"Until very recently, our members have been making major capital
improvements," says Don Zea, a spokesman for the California Forestry Assn.
"They have had to shut down mills in some regions where they simply can't
get the trees."
Industry critics counter that as mills designed to handle large-diameter
old-growth trees have run out of big logs, some larger companies have been
reluctant to invest in expensive retooling to adjust to the smaller trees of a
second-growth forest.
"There does seem to be a split between national companies that have lands
elsewhere and the ones that I think are really determined to make a go of it
in California," says Robert A. Ewing, program manager of the state Forest and
Range Resources Assessment Program.
Meanwhile, calls by loggers to amend the Endangered Species Act already
have increased since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommended that
almost 7 million acres be preserved for the northern spotted owl.
In the end, though, all sides agree that logging will continue in the West.
Some innovative regional companies, such as Sierra Pacific Industries--the
largest private timber owner in California--"hope to carve out a niche for
themselves in a certain size of timber and certain kind of product,"
consultant Tuttle says. Even the big companies, she notes, "are not entirely
fleeing. They have retained residual capacity here."
Olson, of the Wilderness Society, sees a better, if diminished, future for
Western logging.
"There will be an industry here 20 years from now--an industry that will
be much better equipped to deal with market changes that are coming on at a
rapid rate," he said. "But the pattern that emerges is inescapable: It's a
basic redeployment of capital to the South."