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Current Issues
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For
Immediate Release February 29, 2008
TRADITIONAL USE GROUPS APPEALS RESULT IN ALLOWABLE TIMBER
SALES INCREASE ON GREEN MT. NATIONAL FOREST
Allowable timber sales will be increased significantly in the
Green Mt. National Forest as a result
of appeals against the 2006 Green Mt. National Forest Plan
filed by three traditional use groups.
The
Vermont Traditions Coalition and two of its member groups, the
Vermont Forest Products Association and Associated Industries
of Vermont, filed appeals of the National Forest Plan in
2007. The Ruffed Grouse Society and Vermont Agency of Natural
Resources intervened on behalf of the traditional use groups
appeals.
In
2007, the United States Department of Agriculture Forest
Service Washington Office appeal review team required the
Green Mt. Forest Service to re-calculate allowable timber
sales quantity. The U. S. Forest Service announced this week
that the re-calculation increased allowable timber sales by
3.3 million board feet annually. The increase ranges from
18-35% according to various calculations of the Forest
Service.
Norm
Arsenault is a retired top level U. S. Forest Service
executive who also serves as Chairman of the Board of
Selectmen of the Town of Granville, which includes a large
chunk of the Green Mt. Forest. Arsenault serves as
the Vermont Traditions Coalition Project Leader on Green Mt. National Forest issues.
"It's
an important victory. The appeal decision raises the timber
cutting goal of the Forest Service, and increasing goals
generally increases performance," declared Arsenault.
"Cutting more timber creates healthier forests, more abundant
wildlife, more sustainable rural jobs, and more locally grown
wood."
"It's
extremely rare for appellants to be successful at the national
administrative appeal level," stated Northeast Biologist Paul Karczmarczyk of the Ruffed Grouse Society.
"We're heartened that the Forest Service recognized the error.
The decision will lead to improved habitat for wildlife."
"The
Forest Service correction confirms what forestry professionals
have long known our National Forest is capable of producing
far more raw material for Vermont workers than we've been
allowed to take," said Vermont Farm Bureau Forestry
Chairperson, Bruce Shields.
Timber cutting in the
Green Mt. National Forest virtually
stopped between 2000-2005. By 2007, Forest Service cutting
had increased to just under 5 million board feet per year.
However, between 1961-1988, timber sales generally ranged from
10 million board feet--19.7 million board feet per year. Law
suits by environmental groups and bureaucratic gridlock due to
complex and convoluted regulations caused the drop off.
"Times change," declared Vermont Traditions Coalition
Executive Director Steve McLeod. "With societal changes such
as increased biomass demand and increased recognition about
buying locally, it becomes important to increase allowable
timber sales to meet potential future needs and to be
scientifically correct."
"This
is a step in the right direction for improving utilization of
our national forests to support our rural economy," added Ed
Larson, Executive Director of the Vermont Forest Products
Assn.
Contact
Information: Norm Arsenault (767-3853) VTC; Bruce Shields
(888-5165) Farm Bureau; Steve McLeod (434-3346) VTC Exec.
Director; Ed Larson (224-9177) Vt. Forest Products Assn. Exec.;
Paul Karczmarczyk (802-558-0884) Ruffed Grouse Society
Subject: Municipal
government; police power of municipalities; burning refuse
Now it's imperative
that we the people act TODAY by contacting the members of the House Fish and
Wildlife Committee and encourage them to move this onto the
floor for a vote. We have a chance to restore some of
Vermont's constitutional right to hunt and fish. The
committee has the bill and we need to let them know that we
want it passed this session. Below are the names of the
committee members.
COMMITTEE ON FISH, WILDLIFE & WATER RESOURCES (Room 47)
Representative Deen of Westminster, Chair
ddeen@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Shaw of Derby, Vice-Chair
lshaw@leg.state.vt.us
Representative McCullough of Williston
jmccullough@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Adams of Hartland
stevenadams@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Anderson of Montpelier
janderson@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Courcelle of Rutland City
gcourcelle@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Johnson of Canaan 802-277-8329
Representative Martin (Cynthia) of Springfield, Clerk
cmartin@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Randall of Troy
802-744-2417
As it
stands right now if someone gets caught burning trash without
a permit a citizen can loose their driver's license and
hunting & fishing license. Burning trash has nothing to do
with hunting & fishing. Call today.
Paul Beaudry
Swanton,
Vermont
***
Urgent!! Conte Refuge: Comprehensive Conservation
Planning
Your Written Public Comments are needed! The U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service is starting work on a comprehensive
conservation plan (CCP) for the Silvio O. Conte National Fish
and Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The plan will establish
management goals and objectives for all refuge programs over
the next 15 years.
The Center for Biological Diversity and other environmental
groups want to shut down the snowmobile trail system, close
the 40 mile road system, ban timber management, and turn this
26,000 acre federal portion of the former Champion Lands into
a federally designated "wilderness" area that shuts down
public access. Target shooting needs to be restored, the road
system and snowmobile trails need to be stay, and the land
needs to be timber managed so as to create more abundant
wildlife.
The Vermont Traditions Coalition needs you to say
exactly that to the Conte Refuge Service. For more talking
points, contact us at:
sbmcvt@aol.com
Please send your written comments to
Andrew_French@fws.gov.
If you want to visit the Conte Refuge, go to
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Conte/ccphome.html.
Your comments will make a difference! Don't let the
extremists take away your heritage!
***
Lead Bill: A bill in the
House of Representatives will require eradication of lead
paint associated materials on houses and a bill in the Senate
outlaws consumer products with unsafe lead components. These
bills, if left in their current form, could prevent use of
lead ammunition, and negatively impact hunting, shooting
ranges, and home re-loading. Last year, VTC negotiated an
exemption to this bill with the Attorney General's office and
worked in association with the Hunter, Angler, Trapper Assn.,
Vt. Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Gun Owners of Vt., and
NRA to win approval of the exemption by the House General &
Military Committee. This bill has since moved to the House
Human Services Committee. Long-time traditional use advocate,
Rep. Mary Morrissey (R-Bennington), who is a member of the
Human Services Committee, spoke at the January 9 meeting about
the need to vigilantly defend the exemption in the bill as it
now stands and to ward off any attempts to water down this
exemption or end run it with the Senate Bill. VTC will work
closely with Rep. Morrissey and others along these lines.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/database/status/summary.cfm?Bill=
H%2E0352&Session=2008
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/database/status/summary.cfm?Bill=
S%2E0152&Session=2008
***
Riparian Buffer Bill:
Testimony and drafting of this bill has taken place every day
from the beginning of the Legislature through Friday, January
25. VTC has been at all committee proceedings, and we are
working on a number of exemptions for traditional use
activities from the restrictions the bill imposes. As it is
written now, this bill would place a 50 foot buffer zone from
the "top of the slope" on both sides of every lake, pond, and
stream (even intermittent streams) in Vermont. Alteration of
vegetation within the buffer zone will be prohibited unless
allowed by Agency of Natural Resources rules. These
restrictions are the reason VTC has become so involved in
seeking exemptions from the requirements of the bill.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/database/status/summary.cfm?Bill=
H%2E0549&Session=2008
***
Fish & Wildlife Funding
Bill: This bill that would provide new sources of funding
for the Dept. of Fish & Wildlife is not moving at all right
now. VTC is involved in this bill to make sure that the
department is adequately funded, but also to make sure that
the Department's focus doesn't shift away from fishing,
hunting & trapping.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/database/status/summary.cfm?Bill=
H%2E0543&Session=2008
***
Green Mountain National
Forest: The Vermont Traditions Coalition, Vermont Forest
Products Association and Associated Industries of Vermont
Forest Policy Council filed separate appeals of the Final
Green Mt. Forest Plan.
The VTC appeal opposes the Plan's wilderness designation and
raises five related grounds of appeal. The AIV appeal
reiterates most of the VTC grounds of appeal and charges the
Green Mt. Forest Service with failing to fulfill its
obligations pursuant to a litigation settlement of appeals
involving the 1987 GMNF Plan.
The VTC Appeal Team believes these appeals make a provocative
statement that stand a reasonable chance of success on the
merits.
More to come!!
***
Committee on the Future of
Vermont State Parks: VTC delegates Stevens and McLeod were
appointed to this Commission by Governor Douglas. We have put
forward several proposals including a recommendation that the
Commission call for accelerated timber cutting on all Agency
of Natural Resources Lands. Our recommendation is consistent
with Governor Douglas's recent directive to the Agency to make
more land available for timber cutting and to accelerate the
cuts. Game populations and the rural economy will come out the
winner as well as other wildlife species.
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/site/cfm/TVWF/taskforceinfo.cfm?
taskforce=SP
If you want to help with
any of these issues, please contact us.
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