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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4C: Resolution Regarding BLM Proposal ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Adoption of Resolution 4923 Concerning Protection of Mature and Old Growth Forests in the State of Oregon Meeting Date: January 14, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 4C Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Brenda Wilson www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-8441 ISSUE STATEMENT This is an action item to adopt a Resolution setting out the City’s position on the harvesting of old growth and mature forests. BACKGROUND On August 10, 2007, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the revision of the Resource Management Plans of the western Oregon BLM Districts. The draft EIS analyzes the impacts of four Alternatives: maintaining the current plans (“No Action” Alternative) and three new Alternatives. The BLM had originally allowed 90 days for the public to comment on the draft EIS. In October, because of the extensive nature of the analysis in the draft EIS, the BLM extended the public comment period for an additional 30 days, until January 11, 2008. Comments and suggestions from the public along with ideas from cooperating agencies will be used by the BLM to craft proposed resource management plans that will be analyzed in a final EIS. Since the plan revision and the draft EIS were released last year, over 200 meetings have been held with a variety of groups, organizations, public officials, other federal agencies, scientists, tribal representatives, the State of Oregon and representatives of western Oregon counties. Last fall, two day- long public technical sessions were held in Medford and Eugene to allow interested parties to learn more about the analysis in the draft EIS from BLM specialists. In December 2007, the Mayor, at the request of a constituent, asked the members of the IGR Committee if one or more of them had an interest in moving the discussion of the draft EIS forward and perhaps looking at writing either a letter or adopting a Resolution regarding the draft EIS. Both Councilors Bettman and Pryor stated they needed more information to fully understand the four Alternatives set out in the BLM’s draft EIS in order to take a specific position. Councilor Pryor further advocated for a full ” “reasonable, inclusive, and deliberatedialog on the issue. Unfortunately, Council Winter Break began before any consensus could be made on how to move this issue forward and then the membership of the IGR Committee changed. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080114\S0801144C.doc On January 3, 2008, the subject of the draft EIS was placed on the IGR Committee’s first meeting agenda in order to obtain direction on the issue. After a brief discussion regarding the looming deadline for public comment, the IGR Committee directed that a general Resolution opposing the harvesting of old growth and mature forests and addressing environmental protections be drafted and presented to the full 1 City council as soon as possible. RELATED CITY POLICIES Adoption of the is the making or affirming of the City of Eugene’s policy with respect to Federal and State legislative issues or such other matters as may come to the council from the committee. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may adopt, modify, or decline to adopt the Resolution Concerning Protection of Mature and Old Growth Forests in the State of Oregon. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends adoption of the Resolution Concerning Protection of Mature and Old Growth Forests in the State of Oregon. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to adopt Resolution 4923 concerning protection of mature and old growth forests in the state of Oregon. ATTACHMENTS A. Proposed Resolution FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Brenda Wilson Telephone: 682-8441 Staff E-Mail: brenda.s.wilson@ci.eugene.or.us 1 The IGR Committee noted that the January 14, 2008 meeting appeared to be the earliest the Full Council would be able to consider the Resolution. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080114\S0801144C.doc ATTACHMENT A RESOLUTION NO. _______ A RESOLUTION CONCERNING PROTECTION OF MATURE AND OLD GROWTH FORESTS IN THE STATE OF OREGON. The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that: A. The public federal forests in Oregon support the quality of life for citizens of Eugene and the State of Oregon by providing superb recreational opportunities, sustainable economic development and clean drinking water. B. Public federal forests in Oregon should be managed for the greatest good for the greatest number of people over the longest time. C. It is in the public interest to protect federal forests in Oregon as municipal water sources, recreation areas, an amenity to driver tourism, and habitat for old-growth dependent wildlife. D. In the past, federal agencies have clear-cut old growth forests and built extensive logging road systems in federal forests in Oregon, putting drinking water for Oregon residents at risk. E. Logging and road building in mature and old growth forests in public federal forests continue to threaten Oregon residents’ quality of life. F. In order to preserve and enhance Oregon residents’ quality of life, the Council desires to take steps necessary to protect federal lands in the State of Oregon and the City’s interests in these public federal forests. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COULCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows: Section 1. The Council requests greater protection of mature and old growth forests on federal lands in the State of Oregon in the form of congressional legislation or administrative rulemaking. Such action should further direct the federal government to: 1.1Protect all mature and old growth forests on federal lands in the State of Oregon; 1.2Cease and prohibit road building and logging in mature and old growth forests on federal public lands in the State of Oregon; 1.3Establish and fund scientifically-based priorities for restoration, monitoring, and protection projects on federal public lands for mature and old growth forests. Section 2. Pending the enactment of such a policy, the Council requests that the United States Government, including all federal agencies in charge of public federal lands in Oregon, make necessary changes in any of its timber sales, plans, or policies to Resolution - Page 1 of 2 08 Protection of Old Growth Resol. (00190101) protect mature and old growth forests. As used in this Resolution, “old growth forests” are defined as forests stands at least 180 years old, and “mature forests” are those stands between 80 – 180 years of age. Section 3. The City reaffirms its intent to maintain a strong working relationship it has developed with the federal agencies in charge of public federal forests in Oregon. Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. th The foregoing Resolution adopted the 14 day of January, 2008. __________________________________________ City Recorder Resolution - Page 2 of 2 08 Protection of Old Growth Resol. (00190101)