And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 01:08:47 EST >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: California Senator Burton sees no forest through the Pacific Lumber trees > > >Pacific Lumber Deal Imperiled >Safeguards sought by Sen. Burton >Greg Lucas, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau >Thursday, December 17, 1998 >�1998 San Francisco Chronicle > >URL: >http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/1 >2/17/MN91948.DTL > >The leader of the California Senate threatened yesterday to rescind the >state's share of a $495 million deal to buy a Headwaters Forest redwood >grove unless Pacific Lumber Co. agrees to stronger protections for >endangered species on their timberlands. > >The threat by Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, D-San Francisco, >raises the ante in negotiations between the lumber company and federal >officials over the scope of the company's habitat conservation plan, >which will govern logging practices on Pacific Lumber's 190,000 acres. > >``We put this money in to save the trees and to save the fish,'' Burton >told reporters. ``If we don't get our money's worth, we are not going to >pay the money.'' > >Burton said the introduction of legislation to withdraw the state's >share, about $245 million, is ``a distinct possibility.'' > >The agreement to purchase a 3,500-acre grove of old growth redwoods in >the Headwaters Forest and more than 5,000 additional acres of timberland >owned by Pacific Lumber was the last act of the Legislature this year. > >Six weeks after the deal was struck, the state suspended the company's >logging license, citing 128 violations of state forestry regulations >over the past three years. > >The purchase of the groves within the Headwaters Forest is contingent on >the company adopting a variety of protections for endangered fish and >birds like the coho salmon and the marbled murrelet, which inhabit >company land. > >Those protections are to be included in the conservation plan, which >will regulate logging of Pacific Lumber's holdings for the next 50 >years. > >The plan is in draft form and must be completed before March 1, the >deadline for spending the $250 million in federal money set aside for >the Headwaters purchase. > >``We need to wrap this up as soon as possible,'' said Tim Ahern, a >spokesman for the U.S. Department of the Interior. To meet the March 1 >deadline, Ahern said, talks with Pacific Lumber need to be completed >``by the end of this week.'' > >Some environmentalists were critical of the restrictions imposed by the >state as part of its purchase agreement. In particular, they said, a >prohibition on logging within 100 feet of any fish-bearing streams is >not strong enough, arguing that the no-cut zones should be broader. > >The talks with the company center on the desire of federal officials to >add further restrictions, including 30-foot, no-cut zones on both sides >of streams that run only during the rainy season. > >They also want the cutting of larger trees phased in over the life of >the conservation plan to provide more habitat for marbled murrelets over >the next few years. > >Sources said the company opposes the new restrictions, insisting it will >bankrupt them by taking away an additional 100,000 acres of their >logging lands. > >But Pacific Lumber spokeswoman Mary Bullwinkel, said, ``We don't have a >comment at this time on what the federal government is asking. As for >Senator Burton, I was not aware of his intentions. I'm sure we'll have >to take a look at that.'' > >One of the timber company's allies in resisting the additional federal >restrictions is Doug Wheeler, Governor Pete Wilson's Cabinet secretary >for resources. > >Wheeler said yesterday that imposing more limits on the company is >unnecessary and that the plan's current restrictions meet federal law. > >``I think it is unfortunate Senator Burton would choose this moment to >undercut the most significant conservation initiative currently under >way in California,'' Wheeler said. > >Burton accused Wheeler yesterday of shilling for Pacific Lumber and >suggested that Wheeler ``butt out'' of the negotiations. If Wheeler >``wants to work for (the company) I'm sure they'll give him a good job >for services rendered,' Burton said. > > > >�1998 San Francisco Chronicle >
