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Salvage logging may begin in July
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Trees were blackened by 'Rodeo-Chediski' fire
Anabelle Garay
Associated Press
Jun. 2, 2004 12:00 AM
Harvesting of dead trees charred by the largest wildfire in Arizona history could begin in July if environmentalists drop their challenge to a government salvage logging plan.
Two appeals filed by environmental groups with the U.S. Forest Service initially halted the logging project but were rejected May 20. The groups said Tuesday that they haven't decided if they will sue and seek an injunction to stop the plan.
Forest officials now plan to schedule a timber sale in early July and within two weeks begin logging trees burned in 2002 by the "Rodeo-Chediski" fire. About 6 million to 10 million board feet could be offered for sale, said Jim Anderson, a forest planning officer at the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
The Forest Service wants to salvage-log 41,059 acres of trees 12 inches in diameter or larger. Forest officials contend that salvage logging would remove fuel that can feed wildfires in the area. Harvesting the dead trees also would protect the soil and water, preventing runoff and erosion, officials say.
"This whole situation is really a test of the Arizonans' desire to get and maintain long-term forest health," Anderson said. "We've got an opportunity to accelerate its recovery."
But environmentalists disagree. Salvage logging hurts wildlife, promotes soil erosion and can increase the risk of fire because it leaves behind branches and smaller trees that fuel the blazes, said Sandy Bahr, conservation outreach director for the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon Chapter.
Instead of logging large trees, the emphasis and money should be used to thin smaller trees near communities at risk for catastrophic fires, environmentalists say.
"We would like to see a plan that doesn't waste the taxpayers' money on salvaging large trees in an area that's already burned ... which doesn't do anything to mitigate that fire danger to the communities," said Roxane George, outreach director for the Flagstaff-based Southwest Forest Alliance.
Forest Service estimates show the cost of operating timber sales and maintaining roads and building new temporary ones for use during the logging project will cost $1.8 million. The agency expects almost $1.7 million in revenue from the sale of the trees, along with the creation of 171 jobs.
Some of the plan's estimates could be modified because of the delay in starting the logging, Anderson said. Some of the trees have diminished in market value because of rotting.
Pinetop-Lakeside Mayor Larry Vicario hopes the start of the project will help attract more forestry-related businesses that can provide jobs for residents.
"They're dead, dying trees. Rather than let them go to waste, they should have been harvested a long time ago," he said.
Dennis
