Our Work to Improve Federal Forest Contracting

AOL and purchasers of federal timber are working to shape how the US Forest Service creates a new $5 billion program aimed at increasing national forest wildfire fuels reduction projects in the next 3-4 years.  New USFS dollars were authorized by Congress in its $1.2 trillion bipartisan ‘Infrastructure & Jobs Act”.  The FS in November began planning increased wildfire fuel reduction to 3-5 million acres per year nationally, including nearby non-federal lands under state-managed Good Neighbor Authority (GNA).  To steer this new increase, this winter the agency rolled-out its major initiative, ‘Wildfire Crisis Strategy; 10-Year Implementation Plan.’

Loggers Discuss Urgent Changes with US Forest Service.  AOL and our industry partners during the past several months have personally met with US Forest Service leaders to urge accelerated national forest management at a greater scale.  More Forest Service leadership meetings are proposed, where AOL will participate to voice contractor interests.

These frequent meetings with AOL participation, bring forest industry solutions to the agency’s beleaguered administration.  We have recommended many constructive alternatives supporting modernization of agency policies and practices.  Industry-led meetings are crucial opportunities to influence USFS decision makers -- as we recommend agency project solutions necessary for small business investment to do federal forest contracting work.

The past eight months, Amanda Sullivan-Astor and I have engaged to directly voice logger recommendations and concerns for improved national forest actions in Oregon and across the US.  We personally shared our input directly with US Forest Service key staff, Chief Randy Moore, Deputy Chief Chris French, and/or USDA Undersecretary of Natural Resources Homer Wilkes -- at the following meetings:

• Federal Timber Purchasers Committee meeting-- Sacramento, CA, in-person, May 17 &18

• USFS Regional Forester Glenn Casamassa, AOL meeting-- Portland, in-person, May tbd

• American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) meeting-- Stevenson, WA, in-person, April 21

• USDA NR Undersecretary Homer Wilkes, American Loggers Council-- virtual, April 8

• USFS Wildfire NW Region Roundtable, National Forest Foundation-- virtual, April 5 &6

• Federal Forest Resource Coalition (FFRC) board meeting-- Wash., DC, in-person, March 15

• USFS 10-Year Strategy Director, Brian Ferebee, meet with FFRC-- virtual, February 10

• USFS Wildfire Crisis Strategy Roundtable, National Forest Foundation-- virtual, Feb. 3 &9

• FFRC board meeting-- Denver, CO, in-person, Dec. 14, 2021

• AFRC board meeting-- Vancouver, WA, in-person/virtual, Dec. 9, 2021

• FFRC coalition letter to Chief Moore, wildfire crisis, co-signed by AOL-- Nov. 12, 2021

• Industry work group convened by Federal Forest Resource Coalition-- virtual, Oct. 20, 2022

Sudden USFS Announced Reductions.  Contrary to the Forest Service receiving extra funding, the agency unexpectedly announced reduced programs.  In early-April, we learned that the Forest Service Region 6 (Oregon & Washington) is planning to reduce its sawlog timber sale program in 2022 and beyond.  This sudden reversal of agency rhetoric about “increased projects” is a red flag indicator that foretells Biden Administration aim to diminish commercial outcomes from national forests.

• Forest Service unexpectedly-announced timber sale volume planned target for fiscal year 2023 is 33% less than the 720 million board feet offered in FY2020, for Region 6 (decrease of 235 mmbf/year).And the timber target for FY2024 is 29% below the 2020 offer volume.

This announced FY2023-24 timber volume reduction is unacceptable for Oregon’s forest sector; and its unacceptable for AOL members.  At a time when the Forest Service is receiving historic increased funding from Congress – combined with a 10-year Wildfire Strategy that calls for quadrupling acres treated, the announced Forest Service outputs should be increasing, not decreasing.

Our industry partners and AOL are having conversations with Region 6 leadership (Regional Forester Glenn Casamassa), and agency headquarters in Washington, DC., to oppose and clarify the harmful impact of any such reductions.

• Stay tuned for AOL updates about how members can take action to urge increased commercial timber and contract offerings from Oregon’s US Forest Service.Read AOL’s The Chaser e-News to receive current updates about this and other timely issues.

AOL Work for Federal Timber Supply.  AOL will continue to work with industry allies, as we urge the importance of reliable federal contract programs, reforming procedures to create new expedited projects, modernize contract terms, improve economics that would sustain forest sector infrastructure (mills & contractors), and adding accountable sawlog and service contract targets that motivate private sector investment.

Because federal forests comprise 60% of Oregon’s forest landscape, AOL continues our efforts in public forestry and timber supply.  The national scope of this effort necessitates that AOL join with other like-minded industry groups to expand our voice, by adding lobby and regulatory expertise in ways that AOL staff alone could not accomplish. 

AOL member voice about federal forest policy is leveraged through our nationwide coalition efforts and investments together with five association partner organizations: American Forest Resource Council, Federal Forest Resource Coalition, American Loggers Council, Federal Timber Purchaser Committee, and Forest Resources Association.  AOL is an active member of these five vital organizations, each which serves a focused niche in federal lawmaking and regulation.  Amanda and I work regularly with these partners in pursuit of better forest contract outcomes and greater federal forest management opportunities for AOL members.