CLICK to download a pdf of this article

IN THE NEWS

9th Circuit Court Says Yes to Thinning in Idaho

Two environmental advocacy groups—Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Friends of the Clearwater—tried to block a 2,598-acre thinning project by appealing a lower court’s decision. The groups claimed the project could have a significant negative effect on several species that live in the area.

This January, the Ninth Circuit Court rejected the appeal to block the Little Slate Project in Idaho’s Nez Perce National Forest, affirming the court’s decision that a proper and adequate environmental assessment was performed.

Timber on Wyden and Merkley’s docket

Oregon’s U.S. Senate contingent brought some state-focused bills to the table.

The Portland Business Journal reported that Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Jeff Merkley reintroduced two bills in January. The O&C Lands Act would more than double the timber harvest on Oregon & California revested lands while conserving one million acres-plus of forest.

“The bill would ensure more timber to Oregon mills without waiving bedrock environmental laws or giving away vast swaths of public lands, two approaches that the president has promised to veto,” the pair wrote in a release.

Interfor purchases four Simpson mills

Interfor recently acquired four Simpson sawmill operations located within geographic proximity of Interfor’s sawmills in the U.S. Southeast and Pacific Northwest. The newly-acquired mills are in Meldrim, Georgia; Georgetown, S.C.; Longview, Wash.; and Commencement Bay, Wash.

The four sawmills have a combined annual lumber capacity of 750 million board feet and were expected to produce 555 million board feet in 2014. As a result of the transaction, Interfor’s total capacity will increase 30 percent to 3.1 billion board feet, reinforcing its position as the fastest growing lumber company in the world, says a company news release. The company’s lumber capacity in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest will total 1.2 billion board feet and 900 million board feet, respectively.

Interfor purchased the mills for $94.7 million cash, plus working capital and contingent future payments.

OSU Begins Initiative for Forest Science Complex

Oregon State University (OSU), which is internationally recognized as a leading natural resources university, has begun an initiative to build a $60 million complex to accelerate its forestry education programs and research on advanced wood products.

The Oregon Forest Science Complex will encompass renovation of existing OSU campus facilities as well as new construction; showcase innovative uses of wood in building design; and allow the College of Forestry to help meet the world’s growing demand for energy efficient, tall buildings made from sustainable building products.

The project includes a $30 million fundraising goal. Once philanthropic commitments are secured, OSU will seek matching bonds from the state. Bonding for the project was included in the governor’s capital budget for consideration in the upcoming legislative session.

The initiative was announced in early January in Portland at the Oregon Leadership Summit of the Oregon Business Plan, by Thomas Maness, the Cheryl Ramberg-Ford and Allyn C. Ford Dean of the College of Forestry.

“We are excited about leading a new national effort to advance the science and technology necessary to primarily use wood in the construction of 5- to 20-story buildings,” Maness said. “Developing these new, competitively priced, environmentally friendly products will not only increase the value of Oregon’s natural resources, but also grow jobs in our rural communities, with substantial benefits for our state.”

Forest Service Offers 600 Temporary Jobs

In January the Forest Service began advertising more than 600 temporary jobs in national forests in Washington and Oregon.

The jobs are in areas such as fisheries, trails, recreation, archeology, and fire suppression, and applicants can apply through www.usajobs.gov.

The first opportunity to apply was Jan. 6-12 for temporary fire-related positions plus some jobs in trails, recreation, engineering, wildlife, timber, fisheries, and botany. The second round of applications, however, will be accepted Feb. 4 through 10. The third opportunity will be in March.

Find out more at www.fs.usda.gov/main/r6/jobs.

January/February 2015