Mike's Gulch Roadless Logging: Scorned, Sold and Sued

June 9 - Medford, OR - Two major victories were scored today for Mike's Gulch, a threatened forest in Oregon's largest roadless area, the South Kalmiopsis. The area's Congressman clearly stated his opposition to logging and the State's Governor announced he is filing a lawsuit in Federal Court to block the sale.

Only one week ago the Bush Administration announced they were selling timber in a roadless forest for the first time since overturning the Clinton-era rule protecting 59 million acres of roadless forests from logging. People across the country quickly moved to be heard and to convince the two public officials to take serious action in favor of wildland protections.

Forest lovers are celebrating today because it worked.

In announcing his decision to seek a temporary restraining oorder to halt logging, Governor Kulongoski said, "this timber sale, coming four years after the Biscuit Fire occurred, is unneeded and unwise. Opening this particular roadless area to salvage logging now ­ when we are in the process of preparing a petition to the federal government on the proper management of those areas- contradicts the assurances the Bush Administration has made that the governors' opinions on such issues will be respected."

Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), representative for the district that includes Mike's Gulch, sent a letter this week to Mark Rey, the former timber lobbyist, now Undersecretary who runs Bush's Forest Service. The letter says in part:

"I do not believe you should be auctioning any timber sales in inventoried roadless areas until you have given Governor Kulongoski the courtesy of making a final decision on his petition, and given the courts a chance to make a decision on the merits of his case.

"You stated in a letter to the editor of the New York Times that 'we are providing interim protection to roadless areas, pending the development of state-specific rules provided for in our 2005 rulemaking.' I note, in the event that you are not aware, that you have not yet developed a state-specific rule for Oregon.

"You asked for the governor's input in managing roadless areas. Governor Kulongowski is giving you his. Given the circumstances, it is disingenuous of you to conduct this auction while giving lip service to the inclusion of the governors through the petition process and to protecting roadless areas in the interim."

Earlier this year, Oregon and three other states filed suit in federal court over the repeal of the 2001 roadless rule and the adoption of the 2005 Bush rule. Briefs have been filed and the case is slated for oral arguments in Federal District Court on August 1, 2006. A temporary restraining order to be sought by the Governor next week would preserve the status quo during the court proceedings and prevent any irreparable harm that would result from the logging.

Nonetheless, the Forest Service auctioned off the area today. The high bidder was Silver Creek Timber Company, a previous Biscuit Project front organization for Portland's Columbia Helicopters and banking mogul and timber baron Allyn Ford's private company, Roseburg Forest Products.

Additionally, Silver Creek is the same company that illegally logged in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area in 2004 and the Babyfoot Lake Botanical Area in 2005, both under contract for previous Biscuit Project timber sales. The Forest Service must decide next week, whether to award the sale to a company with such a record.

Mike's Gulch sold for less than half of the already ridiculously low average price for Biscuit project timber sales: $32 for a thousand board-feet or about $150 for a loaded log truck. All the tress chopped and hauled will be old-growth trees greater than 30" in
diameter.

What's Next

This has been one of those weeks where thousands of people with nothing more than their phones could make a difference because they were organized and dedicated. Our influence is growing daily and now is the time to increase the pressure. We've got the ball rolling. Now we aim for a strike!

Please (please!) make at least TWO of the following calls each day this week (making all of them probably takes five to ten minutes total!):

Everyone:

First take a moment to call either Governor Ted Kulongoski [Phone: (503) 378-4582, Fax: (503) 378-6827] or Congressman Peter DeFazio [Phone: (541) 465-6732, Fax:(541) 465-6732 (in DC):(202) 225-0032 Toll free in Oregon: 1-800-944-9603] and thank one or both for the actions that they have taken. That kind of phone call is a nice change of pace and can have real impacts.

Across the country:

Call Dale Bosworth, Chief of the Forest Service [Phone: 202/205-1661; Fax: 202/205-1765].

Tell him that Mike's Gulch should not be awarded to Silver Creek Timber Company due to past contract and legal violations.

Oregonians:

Call Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) [Phone:(503) 326-7525, Fax:(541) 431-0610 (in DC):(202) 228-2717]

Ask him to immediately fax Chief Bosworth and request the sale remain unawarded due to past contract and legal violations by Silver Creek Timber Company.

Willamette Valley residents:
Call at least one of the following Members of Congress:

Earl Blumenauer [Voice: 503-231-2300 FAX: 503-230-5413 DC Phone: 202-225-4811 DC Fax: 202-225-8941]

David Wu [Voice: 800-422-4003 FAX: 503-326-5066 DC Phone: 202-225-0855 DC Fax: 202-225-9497]

Darlene Hooley [ Voice: 503-588-9100 FAX: 503-588-5517 DC Phone 202-225-5711 DC Fax: 202-225-5699]

Ask them to support the strong positions taken by Governor Kulongoski and Representative DeFazio.

Great thanks goes to all of you who picked up a phone or otherwise got involved!

Stay tuned to http://o2collective.org for on-going updates.

Mike's Gulch Update - June 8

Wow! The people’s response to roadless logging is really taking off. Inside word from politician’s offices is that they are receiving calls in the hundreds every day. And a couple of big national alerts are still just hitting or about to hit the in-boxes. A radio ad is now playing in Portland asking Oregonians to call the Governor and thank him but also ask him to do more. Mark Rey, Bosworth’s boss in DC, was confronted over Mike’s Gulch at a Portland appearance last night.

Newspaper stories about Mike’s Gulch appeared today in places like Los Angeles and Seattle. And even in faraway Pennsylvania a small newspaper editorialized in favor of protection. Tomorrow is the auction. If you are local, below you’ll find info about attending. If you can’t make it, please dial up one more round of phone calls and keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow.

The First Roadless Area Timber Sale, Mike's Gulch, is scheduled to be auctioned this Friday, June 9th.

This precedent-setting act not only threatens the pristine beauty of the the Siskiyous, but Roadless Areas and ancient forests across the country.

Come to the Federal Building in Medford where the auction will be held, and let the Forest Service and the Bush Administration know that you will not stand for the destruction of public lands and the last ancient forests!

Where: Medford Federal Building
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest headquarters, 333 West 8th Street Medford, OR
When: 9:00am
What: A fun, theatrical, family friendly rally!

Roadless Red Alert!

Every once in a while, an opportunity arises that demands our attention. We have been talking to you all for almost four years about the tragedy of the biscuit fire logging scam. This week, the forest service intends to up the ante. With the help of the Bush administration, they are moving ahead with controversial roadless forest logging, attempting to set a precedent that will jeopardize forests all across the country. Please, read the alert composed by our allies in the movement. And take action. Thanks!

Roadless Red Alert!
Imminent Logging Threatens Oregon’s Largest Roadless Area

Breaking news: The Bush administration is planning to auction the controversial Mike’s Gulch roadless logging project this Friday, June 9th. Logging could begin within days after the auction.

The Mike’s Gulch timber sale would saw into the largest roadless forest in Oregon: the 105,000-acre South Kalmiopsis Roadless Area. In addition to harming the South Kalmiopsis, Mike’s Gulch would set a dangerous national precedent by logging roadless forests for the first time since the 2001 Roadless Rule was approved.

More Info: In a move to gut the Roadless Rule, the Bush administration has asked state governors to complete complicated petitions to protect roadless forests in their states. While some anti-conservation governors are not participating in the process, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski is currently creating a petition. Despite a promise to provide “interim protections” to roadless forests while petitions are being completed, the Bush administration is moving ahead with roadless forest logging in Oregon.

By charging ahead with roadless forest logging, The Bush administration is breaking their promise, and wrecking the very process they set up. In addition to the Mike’s Gulch timber sale, the Bush administration is proposing to saw into the 90,000-acre North Kalmiopsis Roadless Area later this summer with the Blackberry timber sale.

TAKE ACTION
Please contact Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski
1. Thank him for speaking up on behalf of Siskiyou roadless areas;
2. Ask him to seek a court injunction against the Mike’s Gulch and Blackberry logging projects

Governor Kulongoski
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, Oregon 97301-4047
Phone: (503) 378-4582, Fax: (503) 378-6827

Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Peter DeFazio have not weighed in on the logging of the North and South Kalmiopsis Roadless Areas.

Call them and ask them to:
1. Stand with Governor Kulongoski and publicly oppose the logging of roadless forests in the Siskiyou
2. Pressure the Bush administration to cancel the Mike’s Gulch and Blackberry logging sales

Senator Ron Wyden
1220 SW 3rd Ave., Suite 585
Portland, OR 97204
Phone:(503) 326-7525, Fax:(541) 431-0610 (in DC):(202) 228-2717

Representative Peter DeFazio
151 West 7th, Suite 400
Eugene, OR 97401
Phone: (541) 465-6732, Fax:(541) 465-6732 (in DC):(202) 225-0032
Toll free in Oregon: 1-800-944-9603
Call Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth and tell him to:

1. Immediately withdraw all roadless logging proposals in the Siskiyou National Forest including the Mikes Gulch and Blackberry logging sales.
2. Stop breaking your promise! Restore a moratorium on roadless area logging while state specific roadless petitions are developed.

Forest Service Chief Bosworth
USDA Forest Service
1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-0003
Phone: 202/205-1661; Fax: 202/205-1765; Email: dbosworth@fs.fed.us

Thanks for helping us protect America's Roadless Forests!