90 



8 



must verbalize this in a way to justify the ROD and the goal of preserving the LSR. 

 Meanwhile, the public will not support wa.ste and dcteiioration of thb important part of 

 the Jackson Count}' landscape, economy and recreational area. The wood could go to our 

 mills and keep workers in valuable jobs. We can create a valuable product. And wc can 

 preserve our forest ecosystem. If we wait too long lightning strikes will ignite the forest and 

 wc have all wasted our resource and a valuable part of our community to fire. The 

 regulation is overly prescriptive and the process too long when you have a significant 

 natural destructive event such as this. Regulation stops action and Inaction most certainly 

 will mean destruction. 



The Medford BLM has written a letter to confirm that swift action has been taken to do 

 what they can to remove 80mbf of windthrown timber. There is no estimate of the total 

 volume, but the letter indicates, the BLM ^ill leave the prescribed down woody debris 

 (because it was not naturally there) before they remove any more from other areas. I 

 believe the managers are working hard to meet the requirements of the ROD and to 

 remove what they can. I also believe they will be blamed if the resource is lost to fire or 

 bug infestation. 



I think the process required by the ROD, while has merit, slows do\«°n the managers in 

 making the required decisions and as always they take a conservath'e approach with the 

 constant threat of lawsuits. In cheeldng with agency people in higher official capacity, one 

 indicated there was no way any wood could be removed from LSR's. Another clearly 

 stated that the local supcrv isors would be responsible for the decisions under their 

 jurisdiction. The supervisors say the decision rests with the R£0 office. There is some 

 indication that with it being an election year there might be interference with the process 

 from the ecosystem office in the White House. I have a meeting scheduled with them to 

 verify what their interest and involvement will be with the implementation of the ROD and 

 the event of forest disturbance in Jaclvson County. 



If the Forest Service and BLM Receipts came to the counties, instead of the counties being 

 in a safety net the revenue would help to maintain county services. As it is, it will help save 

 jobs and families and community- stability. The desire of Jackson County is not to remain 



