Reply #55: raw logs off of federal land [View All]

[mchill]

cannot be sent offshore. There was one exception in the past, and that was over 10 years ago, port-orford cedar, though now it is pretty much protected on federal lands, so not an issue.

This prohibition does not include processed lumber.

Most federal land managers do adhere to "caring for the land and serving the people", but they can be pressured via targets and budgets. In the past, there were little consequences for not meeting a cut target...they could always blame it on some environmentalist for appealing NEPA decisions. Under the new rules, from what I've read, they've removed the appeal process and give managers the leeway to make up their own timber cutting target, with some perfunctory monitoring on the side. I imagine the pressure to cut will come with real accountablity from the Bush administration, cut trees or we will cut your budget. The manager then chooses the enviornment or his/her personnel, and his/her own career.