Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 20, 1995 TAG: 9506200086
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The contracts covered about 330 acres in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, with a total of $250,000 worth of timber remaining to be felled.
Logging on the three areas, and three other sites in the Clinch Ranger District in Scott County, was suspended last month when an internal forest investigation revealed inconsistencies between the contracts and the agency's environmental analysis.
The agency has taken responsibility for the problem and stressed that the loggers followed good forestry practices and adhered to their contracts.
But the unusual move by the Forest Service to cancel contracts has shaken some loggers' faith in the agency's land management policies.
"It gives us serious doubt as to what we can in good faith negotiate and bid on," said Terry Porter, who oversees operations in Appalachia for Tennessee-based B.A. Mullican Lumber & Manufacturing. "You've got to plan in this kind of business."
After the forest suspended logging May 15, about a dozen loggers were left without work because there was nowhere else for them to go, Porter said. Several are still unemployed.
Mullican had four of the six sales that were suspended. The company was allowed to finish one, another remains under agency review until the end of the month, and two were canceled Friday.
"Basically, we feel like that timber is gone," Porter said. Unless Mullican can find other timber on private lands, the company's sawmill in Appalachia will probably have a shortage this winter and possibly affect more workers, Porter said.
It is unclear how the Forest Service will make it up to the logging companies, he said.
As required by its own land management plan, the agency analyzed the six areas in 1992 to see how logging would affect water, wildlife and other resources. The decision to log the area allowed for cutting between three and 10 oaks per acre, said Jim Sitton, timber staff officer.
Other sections of the document were vague, however, and when the contracts were written a year later, loggers were allowed to cut more trees, including poplars and maples, Sitton said. In at least one case, they cut three times more than the original decision specified.
"It's not that it's bad forestry, it's just not what we said we'd do," said forest spokeswoman Donna Wilson.
Sitton added, "We need to do a better job of saying what we intend to do, and what we intend to leave after the harvest."
Forest supervisor Bill Damon has said that all future contracts will be closely reviewed for full compliance with environmental laws "both in the office and in the woods."
In the meantime, Sitton said he plans to start reviewing next week six other timber contracts in the Clinch district, including two that loggers are currently working. He said contracts in other districts would also be reviewed.
by CNB