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<br />~ <br />. <br />. <br /> M E M 0 RAN 0 U M <br />,_- July 5, 1985 <br /> TO: City Council <br /> FROM: Elizabeth Cherry, Intergovernmental Relations <br /> RE: Maoleton Ranger District Timber Sale Injunction <br /> Backaround <br /> In April 1984, US District Court Judge Gus Solomon enjoined new timber <br /> sales in the Mapleton Ranger District of the Siuslaw National Forest <br /> because the National Forest Service failed to address certain requirements <br /> of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) in its seven-year timber <br /> sale plan. The Forest Service initially planned to appeal that decision <br /> on both factual and legal grounds, but has since withdrawn its appeal from <br /> the liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Compliance with NEPA will <br /> require approximately two to three years worth of additional analysis. <br /> Judge Solomon has made it known that if the parties to the suit agree on a <br /> compromise which would allow some timber sales in the district without <br /> environmental degradation, that he will partially lift the injunction. <br /> The timber industry in the area has worked hard to develop such a <br />. compromise without success, as the plaintiffs insist on more control over <br /> the terms of timber sales than the Forest Service is willing to yield. <br /> Harvesting of old (pre-injunction) sales have been allowed but those <br /> sales are being exhausted. Without new sales, the industry and <br /> local government estimate that up to 2.000 jobs could be lost and Lane <br /> County could lose up to $4 million annually in school and road revenues. <br /> Barring a lengthy appeal process or unlikely compromise between the <br /> parties, the only apparent solution is Congressional action. <br /> Position Statement <br /> Senator Hatfield is asking for support for an appropriations rider <br /> which would allow the Forest Service to resell contracts returned under <br /> last yearls federal buy-back program without violating the injunction. <br /> Under this plan, 245 million board feet could be harves~ed over 2 years. <br /> The Senate has passed the bill and the House will consider it after <br /> the July 4th recess. At Councilor Schue1s request, staff has prepared <br /> the attached position statement ror Council IS consideration. <br /> attachment <br />. aiecmti <br />