ODF: Cuts coming due to lawsuit over endangered species
COOS COUNTY, Ore. -- The Oregon Department of Forestry is cutting six to seven jobs at its Coos District office.
According to ODF spokesman Rod Nichols, the cuts will come from those working with the Elliott State Forest Management Plan.
They say it is a response to timber harvests being reduced from 40 million board feet to just 15 million board feet.
Nichols says they will try to give those employees other positions within the department.
Officials say there is a lawsuit that halted logging in 11 forests, including Elliott, because of a threatened species, the Marbled Murrelet.
So, the projected 40 million board feet that they were going to be able to harvest in the Elliott State Forest for 2013-2014 has been reduced to 15 million board feet.
There are 23 total positions with the Elliott State Forest Management Plan. They actually have to cut 9 to 10 positions, but three of those are currently vacant.
As long as they r not shooting the ducks, clear cutting entire forest and replant same species of trees I see no reason in stopping the original board of feet amount being cut.
I think this law suit can be won by the forest service and that they need to fight these Eco terrorist law suits. This has been the problem, is that the forest service and other federal land management agencies have settled out of court and been a funding source for environmental groups.
  The environmentalists get there way and modify these restrictive environmental policies without an honorable judgement as to the rights of the people and the intent of congress. It is a malicious policy of these organization,and very dishonorable for a free nation. Â