Jim Doran, J.D., IBDR

Community Forestry Resources

P.O. Box 888

Twisp, WA  98856

(ph) 509-997-2295

(cell) 509-293-1535

(fax) 509-997-2192

jimdoran@mymethow.com

                                                                       

 

                                                                        November 1, 2006

 

Representative Greg Walden

1210 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC   20515

 

            Re: Forest Health Subcommittee:

 

Honorable Greg Walden:

 

Thank you for your letter dated November 1, 2006.  I was pleased to have the opportunity to testify before the subcommittee in Omak last month.  Thank you for listening attentively.

 

Since the hearing date I have been involved with a group of diverse stakeholders who have come together in a collaborative effort to support the salvage of materials from the Tripod Fire in Okanogan County.  We have met with the Wenatchee-Okanogan National Forest, taken a field trip into the burned area and had many discussions about what could best be done on a salvage project.  The result of these deliberations has been a Collaborative Action Team (CAT) Report date October 27, 2006.  I enclose a copy for your review.

 

This CAT Report brings several environmental organizations, industry representatives, loggers and local citizens together in a unified and very progressive position on the salvage project.  These details and timelines were formulated with the expertise of the Forest Service.  The overall idea is to salvage as much material as possible on a cushion of snow this winter.  The larger trees would not have to come out before spring, but the small diameter material 12Ó and below will be ruined by April 2006.  Time is of the essence to maximize the products.

 

Unfortunately, the Wenatchee-Okanogan National Forest has stated that it cannot get the project processed in time to award a bid in January, 2007.  There is no date set yet by the Forest for when the Òscoping letterÓ that starts the process will be sent out.  Further, even attempts through the CEQ to shorten the timeframes for NEPA will not remedy the situation.  I have been told personally that there is no scenario in which the Wenatchee-Okanogan Forest can process the project before June or later in 2007.

 

The reason I am contacting you with this story is because of the nature of the hearing that was held in Omak.  There continues to be a call for re-vamping the NEPA process.  This Tripod failure demonstrates quite clearly that it was not the NEPA process that caused the problems, at least in this instance.  The Wenatchee-Okanogan Forest has had this project handed to them on a silver platter, as they say, and yet they cannot muster the talent or resources to get this done on time.  I personally believe that it is the leadership that fails and not the men and women on the front line doing the analysis.

 

There may be need to change NEPA in some regards, but I have witnessed this kind of institutional failure far too many times to use NEPA as the scapegoat.  When the Òcommunity collaborationÓ authorities came into affect, we were able to use them as a lever to get the Forest Service to perform on the Colville National Forest.  Thankfully, a new Supervisor, Rick Brazell, came on board there and has wholeheartedly supported collaboration and the ÒWe can do itÓ attitude.  I believe he deserves a congressional citation for his efforts there.  Nevertheless, the issue seems to revolve around the ability of the Forest Service to get the work done in a timely manner.

 

I am not convinced that it is entirely a funding or staffing issue for the Forest Service, although that is part of the limitations.  Sometimes it all depends on confidence and a willingness to move forward quickly.  This is an unusual proposition for the Forest Service, but it can be done.  In the Tripod instance, I cannot see how or why the energy cannot be generated to succeed except for an attitude of failure.  I know there are a few in the Wenatchee-Okanogan Forest who advocate for the revamping of NEPA.  It worries me to think that maybe those key personnel would use a failed Tripod Salvage project to further this campaign.

 

The CAT Report will mark a place in time where all of the critical and essential players were at the table and offered a success to the Wenatchee-Okanogan National Forest.  I expect to bring this Report to bear upon the issues at a later date when the public is outraged at the failed project.  I will not let them blame the ÒenvironmentalistsÓ or the ÒindustryÓ.  We need, on the other hand, to concentrate on how to fix the Forest Service.  I am going to make a trip to Finland this June to ask their ministers how they are able to make forestry work there.  Maybe I will bring back some good ideas.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.  I would be happy to help in any way I can to solve these institutionalized problems.  I am confident that we can do it and it is good creative work with a potential for amazing positive results.

 

                                                                        Sincerely,

 

 

                                                                        Jim Doran – Collaboration Facilitator

                                                                        Community Forestry Resources