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Regional Water Board to Consider Logging Levels in Maxxam/Pacific Lumber's Impaired Waters
On Wednesday, March 16, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) will hold a public hearing in Santa Rosa to consider demands by Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Co. (PL) for authorization to conduct extensive logging in two of its severely fractured watersheds, Elk River and Freshwater Creek.
IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEARING! ATTENDANCE NEEDED!
DATE: Wednesday, March 16, 2005
TIME: The hearing will begin at 9 am. Come early to get a seat!
We recommend being there by 8 am. See http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/agenda/03_2005/03_2005.html for the agenda.
PLACE: North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
5550 Skylane Blvd., Suite A, Santa Rosa (directions below)
Regional Water Board to Consider Logging Levels in Maxxam/Pacific Lumber's Impaired Watersheds
On Wednesday, March 16, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) will hold a public hearing in Santa Rosa to consider demands by Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Co. (PL) for authorization to conduct extensive logging in two of its severely fractured watersheds, Elk River and Freshwater Creek. These watersheds, listed as impaired under the Clean Water Act, are already seriously damaged by landslides and sedimentation caused by PL logging. Downstream residents, human and other species alike, have for many years suffered the effects, including severe flooding, loss of clean drinking water, and habitat decimation.
At this important hearing, the Board will decide to either uphold or overturn a February 25 decision by NCRWQCB Executive Officer Catherine Kuhlman to allow 50% of the logging the company had been pressuring the agency to approve. That decision was made after a hearing in Eureka when Kuhlman heard testimony from both PL officials and watershed residents. (see BACH 2/21 AND 2/26 alerts).
Maxxam/PL, threatening dire economic consequences without its high levels of logging, wants to use the General Waste Discharge Requirements (GWDRs), which were designed for normally functioning watersheds, as a loophole so they can log trees in the impaired watersheds. In late February, the NCRWQCB's Executive Officer enrolled 50% of the timber it sought in the two impaired watersheds under the GWDRs, an obvious response to political pressure brought by PL.
Watershed activists and other concerned members of the public will demand at the hearing in Santa Rosa that the Board rescind this decision and allow no more logging in these watersheds without specific scientific assurance that the watersheds will be protected. These assurances must be developed through the more site-specific Watershed-Wide Waste Discharge Requirements (WWWDRs), which the NCRWQCB decided in 2003 were necessary for these watersheds. Because PL failed to provide requested landslide data the NCRWQCB has been unable to complete that process and appears poised to reward PL for its deliberate delay.
A strong, positive showing by concerned members of the public will help counterbalance Pacific Lumber's anticipated presentation in support of its destructive logging. Let the Water Board know that the public supports good science in the service of the recovery of these watersheds, not Pacific Lumber's political "tobacco" science!
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE COME TO SANTA ROSA on Wednesday the 16th, and *encourage* our friends at the Water Board to do the right thing and deny PL Lumber additional Timber Harvest Plans without assurance that they will not cause further degradation of the watersheds.
We will demand:
- No more THPs in Elk or Freshwater until adequate WWWDRs have been developed;
- Support real peer-reviewed science to inform decision making over Timber Harvest Plans in impaired and sensitive watersheds;
- Support policies and programs that reverse degradation and promote sufficient recovery trends to restore the beneficial uses of water in these watersheds.
You can submit WRITTEN COMMENTS, but they should be in by 5 pm MONDAY MARCH 14 to be considered. Reference agenda item #7 (Whether to direct the Executive Officer to enroll additional Timber Harvesting Plans in Elk River and Freshwater Creek watersheds under Order No. R1-2004-0030, General Water Discharge Requirements for Discharges Related to Timber Harvest Activities on non-Federal Lands.)
Fax to (707) 523-0135 or email to rklamt at waterboards.ca.gov
Directions:
Hwy. 101 north to Santa Rosa. At the north end of S.R., take the Airport Blvd. exit, go RIGHT on Skylane to 5550. Aprox. 60 miles north of Berkeley/Oakland/SF
CALL THE BACH OFFICE TO CARPOOL! 510-548-3113
--
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH)
2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702
phone: 510 548 3113
email: bach at headwaterspreserve.org
http://www.HeadwatersPreserve.org
DATE: Wednesday, March 16, 2005
TIME: The hearing will begin at 9 am. Come early to get a seat!
We recommend being there by 8 am. See http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/agenda/03_2005/03_2005.html for the agenda.
PLACE: North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
5550 Skylane Blvd., Suite A, Santa Rosa (directions below)
Regional Water Board to Consider Logging Levels in Maxxam/Pacific Lumber's Impaired Watersheds
On Wednesday, March 16, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) will hold a public hearing in Santa Rosa to consider demands by Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Co. (PL) for authorization to conduct extensive logging in two of its severely fractured watersheds, Elk River and Freshwater Creek. These watersheds, listed as impaired under the Clean Water Act, are already seriously damaged by landslides and sedimentation caused by PL logging. Downstream residents, human and other species alike, have for many years suffered the effects, including severe flooding, loss of clean drinking water, and habitat decimation.
At this important hearing, the Board will decide to either uphold or overturn a February 25 decision by NCRWQCB Executive Officer Catherine Kuhlman to allow 50% of the logging the company had been pressuring the agency to approve. That decision was made after a hearing in Eureka when Kuhlman heard testimony from both PL officials and watershed residents. (see BACH 2/21 AND 2/26 alerts).
Maxxam/PL, threatening dire economic consequences without its high levels of logging, wants to use the General Waste Discharge Requirements (GWDRs), which were designed for normally functioning watersheds, as a loophole so they can log trees in the impaired watersheds. In late February, the NCRWQCB's Executive Officer enrolled 50% of the timber it sought in the two impaired watersheds under the GWDRs, an obvious response to political pressure brought by PL.
Watershed activists and other concerned members of the public will demand at the hearing in Santa Rosa that the Board rescind this decision and allow no more logging in these watersheds without specific scientific assurance that the watersheds will be protected. These assurances must be developed through the more site-specific Watershed-Wide Waste Discharge Requirements (WWWDRs), which the NCRWQCB decided in 2003 were necessary for these watersheds. Because PL failed to provide requested landslide data the NCRWQCB has been unable to complete that process and appears poised to reward PL for its deliberate delay.
A strong, positive showing by concerned members of the public will help counterbalance Pacific Lumber's anticipated presentation in support of its destructive logging. Let the Water Board know that the public supports good science in the service of the recovery of these watersheds, not Pacific Lumber's political "tobacco" science!
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE COME TO SANTA ROSA on Wednesday the 16th, and *encourage* our friends at the Water Board to do the right thing and deny PL Lumber additional Timber Harvest Plans without assurance that they will not cause further degradation of the watersheds.
We will demand:
- No more THPs in Elk or Freshwater until adequate WWWDRs have been developed;
- Support real peer-reviewed science to inform decision making over Timber Harvest Plans in impaired and sensitive watersheds;
- Support policies and programs that reverse degradation and promote sufficient recovery trends to restore the beneficial uses of water in these watersheds.
You can submit WRITTEN COMMENTS, but they should be in by 5 pm MONDAY MARCH 14 to be considered. Reference agenda item #7 (Whether to direct the Executive Officer to enroll additional Timber Harvesting Plans in Elk River and Freshwater Creek watersheds under Order No. R1-2004-0030, General Water Discharge Requirements for Discharges Related to Timber Harvest Activities on non-Federal Lands.)
Fax to (707) 523-0135 or email to rklamt at waterboards.ca.gov
Directions:
Hwy. 101 north to Santa Rosa. At the north end of S.R., take the Airport Blvd. exit, go RIGHT on Skylane to 5550. Aprox. 60 miles north of Berkeley/Oakland/SF
CALL THE BACH OFFICE TO CARPOOL! 510-548-3113
--
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH)
2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702
phone: 510 548 3113
email: bach at headwaterspreserve.org
http://www.HeadwatersPreserve.org
For more information:
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/a...
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Is this a new spelling for the word "intimidate"?
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE COME TO SANTA ROSA on Wednesday the 16th, and *encourage* our friends at the Water Board to do the right thing and deny PL Lumber additional Timber Harvest Plans without assurance that they will not cause further degradation of the watersheds.
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE COME TO SANTA ROSA on Wednesday the 16th, and *encourage* our friends at the Water Board to do the right thing and deny PL Lumber additional Timber Harvest Plans without assurance that they will not cause further degradation of the watersheds.
It is in fact loggers, miners, ranchers, and others who destroy the Earth who intimidate public agencies, both in public and illegitimately behind the scenes. Environmentalists simply try to make their case.
On March 10, we alerted this list regarding the Wednesday, March 16 North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) public hearing in Santa Rosa to consider demands by Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Co. (PL) for authorization to conduct extensive logging in two of its severely fractured watersheds, Elk River and Freshwater Creek.
That hearing is still taking place, but has been moved to a larger venue. Earlier agenda items will be heard at the regularly scheduled venue (Regional Board Hearing Room, 5550 Skylane Boulevard), starting at 9 am.
The Regional Board will reconvene for the public hearing at 12 noon at The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa.
Directions: Take River Rd. exit toward Guerneville; after a quarter mile, turn RIGHT on Mark West Springs Rd. Go 1/10 mi. further.
You can call the Regional Water Board offices with questions at (707) 576-2220 or go to their website at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/
That hearing is still taking place, but has been moved to a larger venue. Earlier agenda items will be heard at the regularly scheduled venue (Regional Board Hearing Room, 5550 Skylane Boulevard), starting at 9 am.
The Regional Board will reconvene for the public hearing at 12 noon at The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa.
Directions: Take River Rd. exit toward Guerneville; after a quarter mile, turn RIGHT on Mark West Springs Rd. Go 1/10 mi. further.
You can call the Regional Water Board offices with questions at (707) 576-2220 or go to their website at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/
On the far east side of the Sacramento Valley Sierra Pacific Industries continues clearcuts on the sensitive slopes of Lassen's volcanic soil. The soil particulates are very fine and easily blow away like dust in the wind. Lack of trees also increases velocity of raindrop impact and can speed erosion into rivers. This is not thinning of underbrush, but taking of old growth incense cedars and ponderosa pines..
There are many sensitive plant communities on the slopes of Lassen dependent on a healthy forest ecosystem. They are uniquely adapted to the volcanic soil and alpine climate of the Lassen slopes. Clearcutting is a short term gain at the expense of future forest productivity..
The land being logged is east of Shingletown off the 44, very close to Lassen National Forest. PG&E claims ownership and is leasing the land 2 SPI. Seems like PG&E keeps sinking further into debt and will sell off to the highest bidder, SPI. Maybe shutting down Hunter's Point polluting powerplant would save more money than sacrificng a volcanic ecosystem's health..
The same problems Humboldt redwoods activists witness with Maxxam's clearcutting are seen in the Sierra/Lassen slopes with SPI. Red Emerson, the CEO of SPI uses the same tactics as Maxxam/PL's CEO Charles Hurwitz. Both are making billions at the expense of jobs and future forest productivity by utilizing clearcut, herbicide spraying and other proven non-sustainable harvest methods..
Would like to propose a trans-valley coalition to demand both Red Emerson (SPI) and Charles Hurwitz (Maxxam/PL) cease and desist from clearcut and herbicide spraying..
It would also be in the interest of the people and the forests to have both SPI and Maxxam/PL's claim of property ownership revoked and the forests returned to either the community or local indigenous tribes that had their land stolen early on by settlers and timber corporations. It is more outrageous for a corporation to claim ownership of huge parcels of land than 4 the local community to share in the care of the forest..
Sierra Nevada Alliance homepage;
There are many sensitive plant communities on the slopes of Lassen dependent on a healthy forest ecosystem. They are uniquely adapted to the volcanic soil and alpine climate of the Lassen slopes. Clearcutting is a short term gain at the expense of future forest productivity..
The land being logged is east of Shingletown off the 44, very close to Lassen National Forest. PG&E claims ownership and is leasing the land 2 SPI. Seems like PG&E keeps sinking further into debt and will sell off to the highest bidder, SPI. Maybe shutting down Hunter's Point polluting powerplant would save more money than sacrificng a volcanic ecosystem's health..
The same problems Humboldt redwoods activists witness with Maxxam's clearcutting are seen in the Sierra/Lassen slopes with SPI. Red Emerson, the CEO of SPI uses the same tactics as Maxxam/PL's CEO Charles Hurwitz. Both are making billions at the expense of jobs and future forest productivity by utilizing clearcut, herbicide spraying and other proven non-sustainable harvest methods..
Would like to propose a trans-valley coalition to demand both Red Emerson (SPI) and Charles Hurwitz (Maxxam/PL) cease and desist from clearcut and herbicide spraying..
It would also be in the interest of the people and the forests to have both SPI and Maxxam/PL's claim of property ownership revoked and the forests returned to either the community or local indigenous tribes that had their land stolen early on by settlers and timber corporations. It is more outrageous for a corporation to claim ownership of huge parcels of land than 4 the local community to share in the care of the forest..
Sierra Nevada Alliance homepage;
For more information:
http://www.sierranevadaalliance.org/public...
"The goal of our Sierra Watersheds Program is to ensure that Sierra watersheds have active, informed efforts to restore and protect their rivers, lakes and streams thereby protecting critical habitats and restoring watershed health. The Sierra Nevada Alliance watershed program works to build the organizational capacity and technical abilities of watershed efforts to achieve maximum watershed protection and restoration. We do this by providing networking, information, fundraising support, trainings, consultation and inspiration"
Sierra Navada Alliance mission statement says nothing about trumping private property rights and condeming the land of Maxxam or SPI, to return it to Parks, local community, or the indiginous people. please don't link your ridiculous statments to our organization.
Sierra Navada Alliance mission statement says nothing about trumping private property rights and condeming the land of Maxxam or SPI, to return it to Parks, local community, or the indiginous people. please don't link your ridiculous statments to our organization.
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