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    H E A D W A T E R S  .  F O R E S T  .  A C T I O N  .  A L E R T
    09-04-99

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    1
    URGENT ACTION: BY TUESDAY!
    Send in comments on governor's logging proposals

On September 14, the CA Board of Forestry will vote on Governor Davis'
proposed changes to the state's logging rules. The deadline for written
comments on this plan is 5pm Tuesday, September 7. THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S
LAST CHANCE to ensure that adequate protections for fish, water, and
wildlife are provided.
    The governor's proposals would continue to allow endangered salmon to
be killed by logging operations. They ignore scientific consensus that
200-300 foot buffer zones along streamsides are necessary for the recovery
of salmon. They even ignore the recommendations of a science panel of
experts convened by former Governor Pete Wilson.
    Our best chance to improve these rules, which will determine the way
logging is done in California for perhaps decades to come, is by bringing
substantial public pressure to bear on the board. We know that board
members are receiving reams of comments from timber companies opposed to
any new regulations. PLEASE LET THEM HEAR FROM YOU!
    Urge the board to insist that any new rules comply with the Endangered
Species Act and Clean Water Act. Ask them to consider an alternative
version of the rules explicitly designed to comply with state and federal
endangered species and water laws. This "Alternative for Meeting Legal
Standards for Water Quality and Salmon" was submitted to the board by a
Sierra Club reprensentative.
    Comments received by 5pm will become part of the official record, and a
copy will be sent to each board member. Following is a sample letter.
Please personalize it and fax it ASAP to:

    fax 916-653-0989


Sept. 3, 1999

Members of the Board
California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
P.O. Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244

Re: Governor's proposed logging rules

Dear Board Members,

I am writing regarding the upcoming decision that you will be making on
proposed revisions of California's logging laws. I am very concerned that
the rules changes Governor Davis has proposed are insufficient to meet
basic legal requirements under the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water
Act. However, there is still time to improve the proposed changes so that
fish, wildlife, and water quality get the protection they need.
    As written, the rules changes proposed by Governor Davis fall far short
of scientific consensus on measures needed to protect imperiled salmon and
the state's water quality. The stream protection standards in the rules
package also fall far short of the minimal standards that the governor
insisted on just a few months ago as part of the Headwaters Agreement.
Furthermore, the Davis package fails to implement critical recommendations
made by an independent state-appointed science panel convened by the
California Resources Agency (under Governor Pete Wilson) and the National
Marine Fisheries Service.

The problems with the proposed rules changes can be summarized as follows:

1. According to members of the state appointed science panel, the
Governor's forestry package will not prevent salmon from being killed by
logging operations. The state Board of Forestry and the California
Department of Forestry cannot authorize logging operations that violate the
federal Endangered Species Act.

2. The Governor's rules package ignores the broad consensus among
government scientists that no-cut buffer zones along streamsides are
necessary for the recovery of salmon. The package improvements fail to
include any consistent no-cut buffer zones. This is far removed from
government scientists' recommended 200-300 foot no-cut buffer zones on
Class 1 (fish bearing) streams, and from Davis' own insistence just a few
months ago on 100 foot no-cut buffer zones in the Headwaters Agreement.

3. The Governor's rules package ignores cumulative impacts even though the
state-appointed scientific review panel determined this to be an area in
need of immediate attention. The Board should heed the warning of the panel
by addressing this important issue in any new rules package.

Fortunately, there is a set of proposed rules changes that does address the
above-mentioned concerns, the "Alternative for Meeting Legal Standards for
Water Quality and Salmon." Please seriously consider this package in your
deliberations.
    Thank you for taking the time to review this letter.

Sincerely,
(your name and address)





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T H E S E  .  U P D A T E S  .  are prepared by Headwaters Sanctuary Project
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