Reports From The States

[Ron Scott]

Kentucky

Kentucky Considers Timber Theft Law

The Kentucky Legislature is considering a timber theft law that would require landowners to notify their neighbors before logging adjacent property. Logs would need to be branded to show their place of origin.

The E Forester

[Ron Scott]

Michigan's U.P.

Prehistoric Forest in a Farmer's Pond

A crew from the Michigan Department of Transportation was to take some fill from Dennis Myllyla's property near Arnheim, MI in the Upper Peninsula for a nearby construction project. In the process, they were to create a pond for Mr. Myllyla. As they dug, they encountered a hardwood forest about 15 feet below the surface
of the ground.

Consulting forester Justin Miller was there working on a management plan for nearby woodlands and saw the first logs to emerge. He notified Jim Schmierer at Michigan Tech, who came down to have a look. Schmierer and a colleague, Michael Hyslop, speculate the trees were either transported or mowed down by the last glacial advance, which happened about 10,000 years ago. They plan to carbon-date some samples of the wood.

[Ron Scott]

Montana

Apr 1st- A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit regarding road management in timber salvage sales in the Flathead National Forest. The Swan View Coalition and Friends of the Wild Swan filed the case claiming that the timber salvage projects violated road density standards for grizzly bear habitat. The US Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed the projects and determined that they would not affect grizzly bear populations. The case has been appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

For additional information visit: http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2008/04/02/news/news03.txt

[Ron Scott]

Washington

WSU Forestry Major "at Risk"

April 17 – The Daily Evergreen (Washington State University) has reported that "recent budget cuts and restructuring at Washington State University have put the forestry major at risk of termination. The cuts will affect the forestry undergraduate and graduate degrees and eventually the forestry extension and research programs."

According to the paper, part of the reason this is happening is because "there are misconceptions about foresters, what they do, and their continued importance as stewards of the natural environment."

To read more, visit The Daily Evergreen website.

The Forestry Source

[Ron Scott]

Nevada

Incline Lake in Nevada to Become Public Land

The Incline Lake Corporation and the Forest Service have finalized an agreement on May 21 to make more than 700 acres of land public by mid-summer as part of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Funding from the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (SNPLMA) will be made available for the Incline Lake acquisition. The scenic alpine lake is located on a ridge between Lake Tahoe and Reno, and offers spectacular views of Nevada. Incline Lake is the largest tract of private land on the Nevada side of Tahoe.

[Ron Scott]

Colorado

Judge Stops Colorado Pipeline Work

June 7 – The Aspen Times has reported that a coalition of environmental groups in Colorado has received an injunction to stops a natural gas producer from building a pipeline across national forestland in western Colorado. A coalition of environmental groups sought the injunction on the basis that the proposed pipeline would create eight miles of roads in what is supposed to be a protected roadless area. They claimed the approval by the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management violated federal law.

For more information, visit the Aspen Times website.

[Ron Scott]

Michigan's U.P.

U.P. WOODY BIOMASS WEBSITE IS LAUNCHED

The Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation & Development Council announces the launching of a new website, dedicated to promoting woody biomass as an alternative fuel source.  It's purpose is to stimulate the development of a sustainable woody biomass industry in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, by providing a central clearinghouse for information on all aspects of woody biomass production and utilization in the region.  You can access the site by going to: www.upwoodybiomass.org.

In addition, the website contains:
*       UP Woody Biomass Exchange - An free, interactive service for buyers & sellers of woody biomass in the UP
*       Woody Biomass Users - Information about schools & other facilities using wood for fuel in the UP
*       Woody Biomass Harvests - Information on past, present, and future woody biomass harvests in the UP as well as guidelines for maintaining the sustainability of woody biomass harvesting in the UP
*       Information Sets - A searchable collection of information on many aspects of woody biomass production & utilization, categorized into four main topics and 13 subtopics.

For Further Information, Contact:

Marilyn Shy, RC&D Coordinator
USDA - NRCS
Assisting the Upper Peninsula RC&D Council
780 Commerce Dr.
Marquette, MI 49855
ph. (906) 226-8871 ext. 124
marilyn.shy@mi.usda.gov

[Ron Scott]

Michigan's U.P.

Granholm Says Mascoma Agreement Puts Michigan at Forefront of Next Generation Fuels  

Historic investment set for production facility in U.P.s Chippewa County

LANSING: Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Mascoma Corporation CEO Bruce A. Jamerson today announced that the Massachusetts-based company has entered into a series of key strategic relationships to further Mascoma's efforts to build its first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Agreements with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), JM Longyear, and alliances formed with Michigan State University (MSU) and Michigan Technological University (MTU) will help bring the plant to Chippewa County, south of Sault Ste. Marie, where clean-burning, fuel-grade ethanol will be produced from wood fiber. The agreements build on Mascoma's decision announced last July to locate in Michigan.

[Ron Scott]

Michigan

July 10- A federal judge reversed a decision to allow oil and gas drilling near a forest and river in Northern Michigan.  Judge David Lawson ruled Thursday that the U.S. Forest Service was "arbitrary and capricious" during the permitting process to allow Savoy Energy LP to drill an exploratory well near the Au Sable River in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The judge ruled that the Forest Service did not consider the impact of drilling on the nearby Mason Tract wilderness area, the endangered Kirtland's warbler or tourism in the area. The suit against the Forest Service was brought by The Sierra Club and the Anglers of Au Sable.

The full text of this article is available on the web: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1822584,00.html

SAF Policy Update

[Ron Scott]

Michigan

Anglers of the Au Sable, et al. v. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
On July 10, 2008, Judge Lawson (United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division) issued his decision on Savoy Energy's project to drill an exploratory gas well to its subsurface mineral leases.  On June 8, 2005, the plaintiffs Anglers of the Au Sable, Tim Mason, and the Mackinac Chapter of the Sierra Club filed a complaint against the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).  The complaint alleged the Forest Supervisor's decision approving the Surface Use Plan for the South Branch Well was in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and the Mineral Leasing Act.  The proposed location (Crawford County, Michigan) includes a portion of the South Branch of the Au Sable River, a popular site for fly fisherman.  The plaintiffs' claims as they pertain to NEPA were upheld.  More specifically, 1) The Forest Service acted arbitrarily and capriciously in finding that Savoy Energy's project would have no significant environmental impact.  The Forest failed to adequately address the Council of Environmental Quality's intensity factors;  2)  The Forest Service did not consider an appropriate range of alternatives (i.e., did not take a "hard look" at the "No Action" alternative; did not consider alternative locations for the well's bottom hole).  In contrast, plaintiffs' claims related to the National Forest Management Act (i.e., the drilling project contradicts the Forest Plan) and the Mineral Leasing Act were denied.  The Forest Service and BLM are enjoined from taking action using the current Decision Notice/FONSI and Environmental Assessment. 

Chief's Newsletter

[BCCrouch]

What's your take on the Sierra Club, Ron?

[Ron Scott]

They are not advocates of Multiple Use Management. ;)

[TexasTimbers]

;D

[BCCrouch]

They are not advocates of Multiple Use Management. ;)

Awww, c'mon, Ron!  What's reaaallly lurking behind those bushy eyebrows?  The pot is there on the stove right in front of you and is absolutely begging to be stirred up a bit...     smiley_devilish

[Ron Scott]

Michigan's U.P.

Ottawa National Forest Celebrates Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness and Wild and Scenic River Land Acquisition

In FY 2008, the Ottawa National Forest (Upper Peninsula Michigan) will finalize one of its most significant land acquisitions by accepting the title for nearly 2,000 acres of land within the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness and Wild and Scenic River.  This land acquisition was made possible by support from the Trust for Public Lands (TPL), We Energies, Senators Stabenow and Levin, and Congressman Stupak.  August 15, the Forest will celebrate this land acquisition with a dedication ceremony.  Representatives from our partners and the Forest Service will be present.  This event will also commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers (W&SR) Act.  The Forest Service's ability to secure this wilderness and wild and scenic river inholding to preserve the character and namesake of the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness for future generations is a significant act of cooperation, support, and commitment to the natural resources. 

Chief's Newsletter

[Ron Scott]

New Hampshire

August 18th-The New Hampshire Sierra Club's attempt to halt two logging operations in White Mountain National Forest was unsuccessful. On August 15, Federal Judge Steven McAuliffe did not support the Sierra Club's argument that timber operations cause irreparable injury to the White Mountain National Forest.

However, The Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society and the Center for Biological Diversity called for timber operation to be suspended while they prepare an appeal to Judge McAuliffe's decision.

This decision follows an order issued by McAuliffe in June denying claims that the logging plan did not receive sufficient review by the U.S. Forest Service and other interested groups. He said that the possibility of harm to the environment does not guarantee irreparable injury. He added that if the courts were involved every time an environmental group in the United States argued potential harm, timber operations would not exist.

Full text of the article available on the web:
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?ID=/20080818/GJOPINION_01/23105

SAF Policy Update

[Tom]

McAuliffe is right, methinks. 

[SwampDonkey]

Well it good to know there are a few sensible judges. 

[Ron Scott]

Georgia

Two wood-to-electricity plants on tap for Georgia

September 19 – According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue recently announced that the state could get two more wood-burning power plants by 2015. Tucker-based Oglethorpe Power Corp., the nation's largest power supplier to co-ops, is ready to spend about $1 billion to build the plants. They would generate enough electricity from Georgia wood to power between 100,000 and 120,000 homes. A third plant is under consideration.

For more information, visit the newspaper's website.

[Ron Scott]

Montana

Federal Study Says Grizzlies Thriving in Montana

The Associated Press has reported that the grizzly bear, once thought to be headed for extinction, is now thriving in Montana. According to researchers with the US Geological Survey, there are approximately 765 bears in the northwestern part of the state. That's the largest population of grizzly bears documented there in more than 30 years, and a sign that the species is recovering.

For more information, visit the Yahoo News website.

For additional information, visit the USGS website.

[Ron Scott]

Michigan

MTU CONCLAVE MAKES ESPN

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/timbersports/news/story?id=3592705 ].

[beenthere]

Ron
I'd like to be there to watch...

Was about 50 years ago that I was at the Conclave near Ann Arbor, MI to do similar things.
No real talent, but had a lot of fun except for my attempts to win the tobacco spit contest.  : : : smiley_sick smiley_sick

[Ron Scott]

They are looking for volunteers to help with the event. ;)

[beenthere]

Too late...I shoulda driven up there yesterday to help today. 

[Ron Scott]

FORESTRY CONCLAVE AT MTU

Highlights of last weekend's conclave include:

-- Eight teams participated in the Midwestern conclave this year. Michigan Tech took third place overall. Southern Illinois University and University or Missouri placed first and second, respectively.

--Michigan Tech students placed in the following events: Men's bolt throw (4th place); Men's pulp toss (3rd); Women's pulp toss (2nd); Match split (1st & 2nd); Women's tobacco spit (3rd); Men's tobacco spit (3rd & 4th); Men's log roll (tied for 3rd); Wood identification (1st & 2nd); Dendrology (1st and 3rd);

--Typical of many conclaves, it drizzled and rained pretty much all day (but no snow). The students toughed out the weather to compete, and a number of people from around the area came to Alberta to watch the games.

--In the afternoon, one person from each school participated in the Stihl Timbersports series, which was taped by ESPN. Trevor Hahka competed for Michigan Tech in four events (standing block chop, stock saw, underhand chop, and buck saw) and tied for third place. And article on the results and photo galleries are online at:
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/timbersports/news/story?id=3614164