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1Timber Bulletin May/June 2000

THE VOICE OF THE TIMBER INDUSTRY

TIMBERB U L L E T I N

Volume 56May/June 2000Duluth, Minnesota

IN THIS ISSUEComing Events ..............................................3________________________________________________________________________________

63rd Annual Membership Meeting .............4________________________________________________________________________________

2000 Legislative Session Ends.......................7________________________________________________________________________________

Forest Resources Association News..........11________________________________________________________________________________

Years Ago.....................................................14________________________________________________________________________________

Log A Load..................................................16_________________________________________________________________________________

Meet the Directors ......................................20

TIMBER PRODUCERSASSOCIATIONPresidentRAMON KILLMER1st Vice PresidentCLARENCE JOHNSON2nd Vice PresidentLOWELL PITTACKSecretary/TreasurerRICHARD OLSON JR.EditorWAYNE E. BRANDTGraphic Design, Editorial andMechanical ProductionSTEWART-TAYLOR PRINTING

MinnesotaTimber Producers

Association

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The Timber Bulletin is published six times annually,in February, April, June, August, October andDecember by the Minnesota Timber ProducersAssociation, located at 903 Medical Arts Bldg.,324 W. Superior St., Duluth, Minn. MinnesotaTimber Producers Association members receivethe Timber Bulletin at an annual subscription rateof $15 which is included in their membership dues.Periodicals postage paid in Duluth, Minnesota.Advertising rates and data on request. The viewsexpressed in the Timber Bulletin do not necessarilyreflect the views or opinions of the MinnesotaTimber Producers Association.

Postmaster: Please send address correctionsto TIMBER BULLETIN, Minnesota TimberProducers Association, 903 Medical Arts Bldg.,324 W. Superior St., Duluth, Minnesota 55802,Phone 218-722-5013.

No articles may be reprinted without written permissionfrom the Minnesota Timber Producers Association.

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hearing would center around foresthealth issues, the importance of thefederal timber program, forest planrevisions now underway in boththe Superior and Chippewa NationalForests, and the difficulties facingthe region as a result of a July 4,1999, windstorm that devastatedhundreds of thousands of acres offorest land both within and outsidethe Boundary Waters Canoe AreaWilderness (BWCA).”

The hearing is tentativelyscheduled to be held in GrandRapids on July 7.


I’m sure you have all read whatthe Washington, D.C., USDAForest Service thinks of loggers,as stated in the Roadless AreaConservation Internal BriefingDraft, Apr. 21, 2000, pages 3-190.If logging is “not a traditionallifestyle and occupationalculture” I don’t know what is.Do they think a logger cansucceed “without having a highlevel of education?” To me itdemonstrates how out of touchwith the “real” world the USDA

ForestService is,and thelengththey willgo to

justify theiractions.

On a brighternote, it is time tomake plans forthe North StarExpo at

Ironworld in Chisholm this year.A new feature this year is theold-time logging equipmentdisplay. The idea has beenaround for a few years and thisyear the mechanizationcommittee will give it a try. Idon’t think we will see anyhorses, but there will probably bean early version of a J.D. crawlerand vintage trucks. It is not toolate to get a piece of equipmentready for the display. Lookbehind the garage and help themechanization committee makethis event a success. If you needmore details, call the TPA office.

As always remember safety; agood motto may be: “we havetime to work safe.”

President’s

Column

Grams AnnouncesForestry Hearing inNorthern Minnesota“I believe this hearing will give us achance to closely examine all of theissues surrounding the July 4thwindstorm and the impact it will haveon the region for many years to come,”says Minnesota Senator.

U.S. Senator Rod Gramsannounced on May 24 that theSenate Energy and NaturalResources Subcommittee on Forestryand Public Land Management hasapproved his request for a fieldhearing in northern Minnesota toexamine issues including the impactof the July 4, 1999, windstorm andfederal land management policies.Grams talked with subcommitteechairman Larry Craig (R-ID) aboutthe problems facing northernMinnesota immediately after thewindstorm and formally requestedthe hearing earlier this year.

“I am thrilled that Senator Craighas accepted by request to hold anoversight hearing of hissubcommittee in northernMinnesota. I asked Senator Craig toconduct this hearing because of thegreat number of issues facing thenorthern part of our state. I believethis hearing will give us a chance toclosely examine all of the issuessurrounding the July 4thwindstorm and the impact it willhave on the region for many yearsto come. It will also give us achance to address a number ofother issues in the forest includingtimber harvesting and access forrecreation,” said Grams.

Grams also took the opportunityto thank Senator Craig for his helpin getting approval for the hearing.Grams said, “I have been workingwith Senator Craig to bring thishearing to northern Minnesota forover two months. As the chairmanof the forestry subcommittee,Senator Craig is one of the Senate’smost knowledgeable members onforestry issues and I appreciate hisinvolvement in this hearing.”

Grams requested the hearing in aletter to Senator Craig on Feb. 9,2000. In the letter, Grams wrote, “Iam writing to respectfully request afield hearing in northern Minnesotaof the energy committee’s forestand public land managementsubcommittee. The proposed


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I always have mixed feelingswhen good people retire. I’mhappy for them but apprehensiveabout the future. That’s the casewith LUA’s Minnesota operationshead Tom Hutchison retiring. Tomhas been coming to the Annual andboard meetings since long before Istarted. He’s been a straightshooter who has had a very strongcommitment to the TPA/LUAworkers compensation program.The last few years have been easywith decreasing rates and a healthyprogram. It was tougher 10 yearsago when rates were going up andthe program had a multi-year sevenfigure cumulative deficit.

Tom was the guy who stuck withus through thick and thin andmade the program work from theLUA side. I’m very happy for himand look forward to continueseeing him in the future. I’m sureour members feel the same.

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LUA has announced that TomHutchison will be replaced by JackAnderson. Jack has had a longcareer in the insurance business,the last 20 years here in Minnesota.He has extensive experience inworkers compensation and shouldbe an asset to our program. Welook forward to working with Jack.

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If you have internet access, checkthe industry’s new web site atwww.minnesotaforests.com. You’llfind sections for loggers andlandowners which include safetyalerts, a listing of MLEP membersand sources of information onforest management. As morethings come on line, you’ll be ableto check out past issues of theTimber Bulletin and find alerts oncurrent issues and letters that youcan send electronically to commenton them.

You may also want to check outthe DNR Division of Forestry’s site.Its address iswww.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/and it contains a wealth ofinformation. Look for futureharvest plans in your area, auctioncalendars, sale notices and detailedsale results.

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Mark your calendars for theNorth Star Expo which will be heldAugust 11 and 12 at Ironworld inChisholm, Minn. TheMechanization Committee has beenworking hard and it should beexciting to have the show at a newlocation. The committee is stilllooking for old time equipment toinclude in the show. If you have apiece that you would be willing tobring to the show, either restored ororiginal, contact Linda Dumonsauat the TPA office.

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If you missed the AnnualMeeting, check out the article inthis issue of the Timber Bulletin.We appreciated having the DNRregional foresters and county landcommissioners participate in paneldiscussions on their programs. Thestate and counties provide nearly85 percent of the public wood thatis sold each year. Having these keypeople at the Annual Meetingprovided a great opportunity forour members in attendance.

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Finally, with the change inseasons comes a change in safetyconsiderations. Things are differentin the summer than they are in thewinter. Take a few minutes toreview safety issues with yourcrew. The injuries you preventand premiums you save may beyour own.

We have gotten a lot of goodfeedback on DNR CommissionerAlan Garber’s keynote speech atthe TPA Annual Meeting. Peoplewere impressed with his straighttalk and direct manner. Thecommissioner followed his speech

by takingquestionsfrom theaudience.RogerLiimatta,RodBergstrom,

Harry Fisher andRuss Allen askedquestions abouttimber salevolumes, DNR staffallocations and

accountability, department decisionmaking and potential BWCAWland exchanges. Each of them gotan answer that was clearlyunderstandable, even though itmay not have been exactly theanswer that was sought.

We appreciate CommissionerGarber taking the time to come tothe Annual Meeting and lookforward to continuing to workwith him.

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On the topic of the DNR, we arevery pleased that timber salevolumes have increased during thefirst three quarters of the currentfiscal year. In fact, total salesvolumes through the third quarterare about 100,000 cords ahead ofthe previous fiscal year. This putthe DNR on pace to sell about thesame amount of wood as they soldin fiscal year 1998. The fiscal year1998 volume is about 100,000 cordsless than the volume sold in fiscalyear 1995 and about 200,000 cordsless than the total from their areaplans, but the increase from lastyear shows the DNR is headed inthe right direction.

We appreciate the efforts ofeveryone in the DNR, fromtechnicians and field foresters allthe way up to the commissioner’soffice, that have caused this tohappen. Implementing the DNRarea plans, including the timbersale volumes, is the right thing todo for the forest. It’s also the rightthing to do for the economy.

Executive VicePresident’s

Column

■ 30th Annual Hardwood LumberGrading Short Course, Aug. 29-31, 2000, Cloquet Forestry Center(20 miles southwest of Duluth).Sponsored by the NationalHardwood Lumber Assn.,Owens Forest Products, and theUniversity of Minnesota’sDepartment of Wood & PaperScience. Contact Tom Milton at612-624-5307 or [email protected] for moreinformation.

Coming Events

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The Minnesota Timber ProducersAssociation’s 63rd annualmembership meeting was heldFriday April 28, at Spirit MountainSki Resort in Duluth. PresidentRamon Killmer welcomed all themembers and made introductions.Executive Vice President WayneBrandt reported on theassociation’s activities for the pastyear including legislation affectingthe timber industry and therecently concluded legislativesession. The committee chairmenreported on the activities andconcerns addressed during the pastyear.

Chairman of the nominatingcommittee, Dick Walsh, reportedthat the committee had

recommended the nomination of 44current directors and the additionof the following members: BrianGiddings, Eveleth; Kent Jacobson,Cloquet; and Mike Warren, GrandRapids. There were nonominations to the advisorycommittee.

Mike Kilgore, executive directorof the Minnesota Forest ResourcesCouncil, started off the morningprogram with an overview, updateand the future direction of thecouncil.

Log A Load for Kids coordinatorJody Grau reviewed this year’sactivities. The program will donate$70,000 this year to the Children’sMiracle Network (CMN). Thesedollars will go to the GilletteChildren’s Specialty Healthcare in

Robin Walsh, winner of the chainsaw. Members listened and participated in the presentations.

A good time was had by all at the social hour and banquet.

President Ramon Killmerwelcomed everyone to the64th TPA Annual Meeting.

Minnesota. She then introducedKim Olson and her daughter,Randeena, who is three years old.Kim discussed the problemRandeena was having and whatGillette Children’s SpecialtyHealthcare has done for her and thefamily. Randeena was not verytalkative but she provided theemphasis to what her mother hadto say.

A panel of county landcommissioners including DaveEpperly, St. Louis; DennisHummitzsch, Koochiching; TomMartinson, Lake; Bob Milne,Beltrami; Norman Moody, Cass;and Garrett Ous, Itasca, discussed“County Timber Program Now andin the Future.” They eachaddressed the timber program in

Sixty-Third Annual Membership Meeting


their county and commented onwhere their programs are going.

Mike Turner provided anoverview and update on theMinnesota Logger EducationProgram. He reviewed this year’sprogram offerings and encouragedeveryone to participate.

Mike DonCarlos, DNR Wildlife,and Russ Peterson, U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service, provided theirperspective on the listing of theLynx and “Where Do We Go FromHere?” This topic, like severalothers, had lots of questionsfollowing their presentation.

Tim O’Hara, director of forestpolicy for Minnesota ForestIndustries, provided an assessmentof the DNR Timber Sale Program.His assessment showed the DNRhas failed to sell their annual

targeted volume for the pastseveral years. The volumes soldtrend has been on a downwardslope.

Darwin Anderson, Jim Brooks,Larry Hegstad and Chuck Spoden,DNR regional forest managers,DNR Division of Forestry,comprised the final panel of theafternoon program. They reviewedtheir Regional Timber Programsand then discussed where theywere headed. There were lots ofquestions.

The social hour and banquetprovided an opportunity to meetnew members and visit with oldfriends. Thanks to the followingsocial hour hosts:Bridgestone/Firestone C&F Store Cummins North CentralFryberger, Buchanan, Smith &

FrederickInterstate Detroit DieselLumberman’s Underwriting

AllianceNortrax Equipment Co.Rihm KenworthRoad Machinery & Supplies Co.Russell & Herder Advertising &

Public RelationsSkubic Bros. InternationalSt. Joseph Equipment Inc.Stewart-Taylor PrintingTree Farmer Sales, Inc.Two Harbors Machine Shop, Inc.Ziegler, Inc.

The banquet program consistedof recognizing those companiesthat participated in the TPA SafetyContest and completed the yearwithout any lost time accidents.They included the followingbusinesses:Logging DivisionCompany Name and LocationC & M Walsh Logging, Park RapidsC.O. Johnson Logging, BlackduckDoug Brenner Logging, Grand

MaraisDoug Foster Logging, ElyDukek Logging, BagleyFrenzel Logging, KelliherJSF Logging, BlackduckKillmer Bros., Big FallsKimball’s Sawmill & Logging, Park

RapidsLundberg Forest Products, SolwayM & R Chips, Grand RapidsMcCabe Forest Products, DuluthNorthwoods Chipping,

International FallsOlson Forest Products, BemidjiOlson Logging, Inc., OrrPalmer Logging, BarnumPittack Logging, BoveyRajala Mill Co., Bigfork

Several of the safety contest winners. Left to right, front row: Clarence Johnson,Johnson Logging; Marilyn Fellows, Land-O-Lakes Wood Preserving; KellyKimball, Kimball’s Logging, Inc. Back row: Paul Lundberg, Lundberg ForestProducts, Inc.; Tom McCabe, McCabe Forest Products Inc.; Steve Lof, Steve LofLogging.

Speakers on the county timber program were: Land Commissioner Tom Martinson, Lake County; Dave Epperly (notpictured), St. Louis County; Dennis Hummitzsch, Koochiching County; Bob Milne, Beltrami County; Norman Moody, Cass County; Garrett Ous, Itasca County.

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Root River Hardwoods, PrestonSkoe Lumber & Timber, NorthomeSpeck Logging, BemidjiTodd Wass, BigforkTwin Rivers Inc., BigforkVanHorn Logging, CrosbyWagner Forest Products, RemerSawmill DivisionCompany Name and LocationDeMenge Sawmill, McGregorLand O’ Lakes Wood Preserving,

TenstrikePage & Hill Forest Products, Big

FallsRoot River Hardwoods, PrestonStaggemeyer Stave Co., Inc.,

CaledoniaTrucking DivisionCompany Name and LocationC & M Walsh Logging, Park Rapids

Dick Walsh Forest Products, ParkRapids

Doug Brenner Logging, GrandMarais

Dukek Logging, BagleyFrenzel Logging, KelliherJSF Logging, BlackduckKimball’s Sawmill & Logging, Park

RapidsLake Nebagamon Trucking, Lake

Nebagamon Wis.Lundberg Forest Products, SolwayM & R Chips, Grand RapidsMcCabe Forest Products, DuluthNorthwoods Chipping,

International FallsOlson Forest Products, BemidjiOlson Logging, Inc., OrrPage & Hill Forest Products, Big

FallsPalmer Logging, BarnumPittack Logging, BoveyRajala Mill Co., BigforkRoot River Hardwoods, PrestonSkoe Lumber & Timber, NorthomeSpeck Logging Inc., BemidjiSpring Lake Trucking, Spring LakeStaggemeyer Stave Co., Inc.,

CaledoniaSteve Lof Logging, AkeleyThomas Long & Son Trucking, OrrTwin Rivers Inc., BigforkWagner Forest Products, Remer

The featured speaker,Commissioner Allen Garber, MNDepartment of Natural Resources,was the highlight of the eveningprogram.

The program concluded with thedrawing for the door prizes. RobinWalsh was the winner of the grandprize drawing of the chainsawdonated by Minnesota Forest

Industries. Thank you to thefollowing companies whocontributed door prizes:Carlton Saw & KnifeChampion InternationalFryberger, Buchanan, Smith &

FrederickInterstate Detroit DieselLindsay MachineryMinnesota Forest IndustriesNortraxPotlatch Corp.Rihm KenworthRoad Machinery & SupplySt. Joseph Equipment

Without your support andgenerosity the annual meeting andother activities would not be assuccessful as they have been.

Mike Don Carlos, DNR Wildlife, and Russ Peterson, U.S. Fish & WildlifeService, discussed the listing of the lynx.

Log A Load For Kids guest speakerKim Olson and her daughter,Randenna.

Mike North, vice president ofLumbermen’s Underwriting Alliance.

Tom Hutchinson informed theattendees of the TPA/LUA on theworker’s compensation insuranceprogram. He also introduced MikeNorth, vice president of LUA. Tom isretiring this summer and will bemissed by the Timber ProducersAssociation.


2000 Legislative Session EndsThe 2000 session of theMinnesota legislature adjournedafter completing its work on May18. Tri-partisan government causedthe session to linger later than mostpeople anticipated. While it wasneither a budget or major policyyear, there were a number ofactions taken by the legislaturewhich affect loggers, sawmillers,truckers and related businesses.Following is a summary of theseissues:

Forest Policy IssuesPublic Involvement in TimberHarvest PlansChapter 485, HF3213

Requires that by July 1 each year,the DNR must provide a completedescription of the publicinvolvement process for timberharvest plans to the chairs oflegislative committees withjurisdiction over natural resourcespolicy and finance. The processmust provide public notice andinput in affected areas of proposedannual harvest plans. This issuewas a very significant fight duringthe latter stages of the session.Environmental groups pulled outall the stops, even hiring additionalcontract lobbyists, to securepassage of language contained inthe House file that would havemandated sale by sale review of allstate and county timber sales. TPAchose to fight this battle in theSenate and was successful inpreventing the damaging Houselanguage from being enacted. TheSenate language, which becomeslaw, is rather benign.Timber SalesChapter 485, HF3213

Makes various changes in timbersale procedures including bondrequirements, length of permit,auction process, scaling, title andpayment. Following are the majorchanges in timber sales from thislegislation:

• Public Involvement Process(see above)

• Eliminates six sale limit forIntermediate Sales

• Eliminates three year limit onIntermediate Sales

• Reduces down payment to 15%• Allows purchaser to elect

paying for appraised volumeinstead of consumer scale ondesignated sales

• Eliminates 120 day time limitfor bonding sales - this willrequire various changes inDNR policy which the TPAExecutive Committee hasdiscussed and is reviewingwith the DNR

Consolidated Conservation LandsChapter 485, HF3213

These provisions designatecertain Consolidated ConservationLands as forestry or wildlifemanagement lands with certainuses in order to eliminate disputesabout the status of those lands,provide increased payment-in-lieuof taxes to support countyinfrastructure and provide astructure and forum for thecounties and DNR to resolve issuesand make commonrecommendations to the legislature.Standard Measurement of WoodChapter 297, SF2691

In the Department of Commercestatute regulating contracts for thesale of wood, a definition is addedfor the term “board foot.” If ameasurement or scale is made oflogs, Scribners’ decimal C rule isdeclared to be the standard rule fordetermining board feet log scale.Heritage ForestsChapter 337, SF2546

Authorizes the DNR to establishHeritage Forest Areas within thefollowing counties: the sevenmetro counties plus Blue Earth, LeSueur, McLeod, Meeker, Nicollet,Rice, Sibley, Waseca andWright. The county board mustpass a resolution delineating andrequesting establishment of theforest area. The DNR or a politicalsubdivision may acquireconservation easements in thedesignated forests. Privatelandowners may establish theirlands as heritage forest land byhaving a heritage foreststewardship plan prepared and bycompleting a stewardship

registration agreement.Wetland Law ConsolidationChapter 382, SF83

Amends state law relating to“public water wetlands” tosimplify and consolidate regulationof wetlands with the WetlandConservation Act of 1991. Thepublic waters wetlands affected are defined as all types 3, 4, and 5wetlands that are ten or more acresin size in unincorporated areas of 2-1/2 or more acres.

ForestryAppropriations/BondingSustainable Forest Resources Act& MN Forest Resources Council

During the deliberations over theEnvironment and NaturalResources Supplemental fundingbill, funding for the SustainableForest Resources Act & the MNForest Resources Council in thesecond year of the biennium waseliminated by the HouseEnvironment and NaturalResources Finance Committee.TPA lead the effort to restore thisfunding which ultimatelysucceeded in the House Ways andMeans Committee.

Forest BondingBonding Bill, Chapter 492, HF4078,Article 1, section 7, subdivision 14

$1 million in state bond funds isappropriated to the Department ofNatural Resources (DNR) for forestroad and bridge projects and forestryrecreation facilities. The moneywill be used for the reconstruction,resurfacing, replacement orconstruction of other capitalimprovements to state forest roadsand bridges and forest recreationfacilities throughout the state. TheDNR is required to determineproject priorities based on need.

Cloquet Forestry CenterBonding Bill, Chapter 492, HF4078,Article 1, section 2, subdivision 8

The University of Minnesotareceived $1,150,000 for research andoutreach centers. Money from thisappropriation will be used toremodel facilities and replace thesewage handling system at theCloquet Forestry Center.


Wildfire ResponseAppropriations Bill, Chapter 488,HF2699, Article 3, section 4

$1,459,000 is appropriated to theDNR for grants to Lake, Cook, andSt. Louis counties for emergencycommunications equipment,emergency response equipmentand emergency planning andtraining to respond to a majorwildfire. Of this amount, $227,000is for Lake County, $430,000 is forCook County, and $802,000 is for St.Louis County. St. Louis Countymust use a portion of the grant topurchase a NOAA warning systemthat can be used by all threecounties.

AgroforestryAppropriations Bill, Chapter 488,HF2699, Article 3, section 19

A new financial assistanceprogram for farmers who growshort rotation woody crops (hybridpoplar or other woody plants thatare harvested for their fiber within15 years of planting) is establishedin the Department of Agriculture.To be eligible for a loan, a farmermust be a member of a producer-owned cooperative that willcontract to market the crop. Thereis a maximum of $150,000 in loaneligibility for the life of theproducer. The accumulative loanprinciple must not exceed $75,000.The loan is intended to providetotal financing for planting up to160 acres and maintaining the cropfor the first three years and partialassistance for years four throughtwelve. The AgriculturalDevelopment Authority isauthorized to sell revenue bondsfor the program. Section 5 ofArticle 3 appropriates $200,000 forgrants to one or more cooperativeassociations to facilitate theprogram. These grants must bematched dollar-for-dollar by non-state money. Article 1, section 10,subdivision 4 of the bonding billappropriates $200,000 from thegeneral fund for loans to farmers.Notwithstanding the requirementof membership in a producer-owned cooperative, this moneymay be loaned to nonmembers, butat least 50 percent must be loanedto farmers who are members of acooperative.

Forestry AppropriationsLegislation was introduced to

provide additional funding foraccelerating and improving thecurrent forest inventory (FIA) andto provide additional funding forneeded activities related to theSustainable Forest Resources Act andthe MN Forest Resources Council.This legislation did not pass.

Business IssuesWorkers CompensationChapter 447, SF644

As a result of a surplus in theAssigned Risk Plan, a program thatsells workers compensationinsurance to employers unable topurchase the product in the privatemarket, $325 million isappropriated to pay for the state’songoing liabilities from twoworkers compensation benefitprograms that were repealed in1995. This is expected to reduce theWorkers Compensation Fundassessment rate for businesses from30 percent to 20 percent. The billwill also benefit injured workers byincreasing permanent partialdisability for the first time in over15 years.

OSHAAppropriations Bill, Chapter 488,

HF2699, Article 2, sections 11-14Permits a deceased employee’s nextof kin to receive information fromand to consult with the Departmentof Labor and Industry regardingthe department’s investigation ofOSHA citations against theemployer in connection with theemployee’s death. Also providesthat when any serious, willful orrepeated violations of OSHA rules,or any failure to correct a violationcauses or contributes to the deathof an employee, the minimum totalnonnegotiable fine which shall beassessed for all citations connectedto the death is $50,000 if there is awillful or repeated violation or$25,000 if there is no willful orrepeated violation.

Transportation IssuesTransportation FundingOmnibus Transportation Bill,Chapter 479, HF2891This landmark transportationfunding bill has a totalappropriation of $459 million. Hereare highlights:Trunk Highway ConstructionBonds: $100 million in state bonds

for replacement and reconstructionof key bridges, improvement of theinterregional corridor system,removal of bottlenecks andproviding highway-relatedadvantages for transit and right-of-way acquisition.State Road Construction:Appropriates $359 million to beavailable until June 30, 2003. $177million is for eliminatingbottlenecks in the seven countymetro area and $177 million is forinterregional corridors outside ofthe metro area. MnDOT mustreport to the legislature by August1st of each year on the status ofprojects funded with thisappropriation. Local Roads: $30 million isappropriated from the generalfund. Of this amount, $23.8 millionis for county state-aid highwaysand $6.2 million is for municipalstate-aid streets.Local Bridges: $39 million isappropriated for the general fundto replace and rehabilitate localbridges.Major Transportation ProjectsCommission: A new commissionis created to review and commenton proposed major transportationprojects (must be a MnDOT projectof more than $5 million that is acritical element of the system thathas a completed EIS). Membersare: the governor or designee, 4citizens appointed by the governor,7 senators and 7 representatives.MnDOT must report to thecommission by July 1 of each yearlisting candidate projects. Thecommission must make commentson the report to the governor andlegislature by September 30 of eachyear.

Tax IssuesSales Tax on Logging EquipmentPassed in 1998

The sales tax on loggingequipment will be totallyeliminated on July 1, 2000. Thiswas a top priority of TPA’s for anumber of years. The legislationthat reduced and now eliminatesthis tax on our members waspassed in 1998.

Forest Land Tax StudyTax Bill, Chapter 490, HF4127,Article 5, section 38


The Department of Revenue, incooperation with the ForestResources Council, is required tostudy the taxation of forest land inMinnesota. The study will includea review of the current applicationof property taxes to these lands anda review and comparison withother forest land tax policies. Thestudy will includerecommendations for changes intax policy to encourage forestproductivity, maintain land inforest cover, encourage theapplication of sustainable site levelforest management guidelines,address impacts on localgovernment revenues and changesin tax rates. $50,000 isappropriated for the study, whichmust be completed and submittedto the legislature by December 1,2000.Business Property TaxNo action was taken this year onbusiness property taxes. Reducingthe class rate on business property(from 2.4 percent to 2.0 percent onthe first $150,000 of value and from3.4 percent to 3 percent on valueover $150,000) was in the House

Tax Bill but fell victim to the three-way fiscal compromise. The Houseused almost all of the $175 millionfor permanent income tax cuts.Income taxes will be reduced by .15percent, .20 percent, and .15 percentrespectively in the high, middleand low tax brackets. The surplusrevenue that could have been usedfor business property tax reliefwent instead to lower motorvehicle registration taxes, a Venturapriority.

If you have any questions aboutthese issues, please contact the TPAoffice.


NATIONAL FOREST PLANALTERNATIVES

Whereas the Chippewa andSuperior National Forests arerevising their forest plans; and

Whereas five of the six newalternatives prepared reduce timberharvesting; and

Whereas none of the alternativesaddress the economies of localcommunities; and

Whereas TPA submittedalternatives that have not beengiven any consideration; and

Whereas the Chippewa andSuperior National Forests haveviolated their own planningprocess by including no harvestalternatives; and

Whereas the Chippewa andSuperior National Forests haveviolated their own planningprocess by producing limitedalternatives and failing to conductthe required benchmark analysis;now therefore be it

Resolved that TPA urges theChippewa and Superior NationalForests to:

1) direct their planners toconsider and prepare a fullrange of alternatives,including the alternativesubmitted by TPA;

2) address local communityeconomic impacts in allalternatives;

3) eliminate the no harvestalternative;

4) conduct the requiredbenchmark analysisimmediately; and

5) delay further forest planrevisions until these issues areaddressed.

TIMBER BULLETIN Subscription OrderPlease ENTER my subscription to the Minnesota Timber Bulletin (six issues peryear). Payment is enclosed for:

■■ 1 year $15 ■■ 2 years $28 ■■ 3 years $40Please type or print clearly.

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TPA BoardResolutions

As part of the TPA AnnualMeeting, the board of directorsconsidered, discussed and passedthe following resolutions:

RESOLUTION

DNR TIMBER PROGRAM

Whereas lands owned andmanaged by the MN Department ofNatural Resources (DNR) grow 1.3million cords of wood per year; and

Whereas the DNR’s plannedvolume of timber sales from 1986 -1994 was 920,000 cords per year;and

Whereas the DNR’s currentplanned volume of timber sales is846,000 cords per year; and

Whereas the DNR sold 534,000cords of wood in fiscal year 1999;and

Whereas the wood that the DNRhas not offered for sale continues toage, die, break up, blow down andcreate significant fire and foresthealth risks; and

Whereas the shortfall in DNRtimber sales is causing substantialhardship for TPA members andlocal communities in ruralMinnesota; now therefore be it

Resolved that TPA urges theDNR to prepare initiatives bothinternally and for the next biennialbudget that will allow it to offer itsfull planned volume of wood forsale.

RESOLUTION

FOREST PRODUCTIVITY

Whereas society continues todemand high quality forestproducts; and

Whereas there are manyopportunities to increase theproductivity of our forests throughsilvicultural and harvestingtechniques; and

Whereas increasing theproductivity of our forests canprovide more wood to makeproducts that the public demandsand improve the health of ourforests; now therefore be it

Resolved that TPA urges publicand private landowners, the forestindustry and the academiccommunity to undertake programs

to improve forest productivity; andbe it further

Resolved that TPA offers itssupport for such efforts.

RESOLUTION

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRYINITIATIVE

Whereas the Minnesota TimberProducers Association (TPA) has along-standing commitment tosound multiple use forest practices;and

Whereas TPA started up theMinnesota Logger EducationProgram in 1995 to improve thetraining available to loggers and todemonstrate to the public ourcommitment to professionallogging practices; and

Whereas TPA has endorsed theMN Forest Resources Council’snew Voluntary Site LevelGuidelines; and

Whereas the American Forest &Paper Association began theSustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)several years ago to demonstratesound forestry and logging; and

Whereas the SFI program hasbeen active in Minnesota with bothpublic and private landowners; and

Whereas the goals of SFI areconsistent with the goals of TPA;now therefore be it

Resolved that TPA supports theSFI program; and be it further

Resolved that TPA encouragespublic and private landowners toparticipate in and become licenseesof the SFI program.

RESOLUTION

CHIPPEWA AND SUPERIOR


Association’s National Forum andon the Wood Supply ResearchInstitute board, and he is vicepresident of the Southeastern WoodProducers Association.

Travis encourages all loggers totake an active role in shaping thefuture of logging. Travis’s advice tologgers regarding associations is,“If you are not a member – join! Ifyou are a member – be active!”

Travis Reed joins a growing listof National Outstanding Loggers,including Buck Williams ofPennsylvania (1990 winner) , M. M.Wright of Virginia (1991), RickLessard of New Hampshire (1992) ,Terry Peters of Wisconsin (1993) ,Buck Beach of Mississippi (1994) ,Don Paradis of Maine (1995) , TracyGunter of South Carolina (1996),Randy and Debby Blomberg ofWisconsin (1997), Joe and JanetCherry of Texas (1998), andMichigan’s Jim Carey (1999).Nominees for this year’s awardpassed through state-levelrecognition to regional awardprograms administered throughFRA’s technical division structure.The National Outstanding Loggeris selected by a jury consisting of 25national-level leaders in forestryand conservation.

The other nominees for this

Forest Resources Association, Inc.formerly known as The American Pulpwood Association Inc.

The following articles are reprintedwith permission from The AmericanPulpwood Association Inc. TheAmerican Pulpwood Association Inc.,soon to be known as the ForestResources Association Inc., is anonprofit trade association concernedwith the safe, efficient, and sustainableharvest of forest products and theirtransport from woods to mill. APArepresents wood consumers,independent logging contractors, andwood dealers, as well as businessesproviding products and services to theforest resource-based industries.

Travis Reed:NationalOutstanding Logger

The Forest Resources Associationhonored Travis Reed, of ReedLogging in Lincolnton, Ga., as theNational Outstanding Logger for2000 at its annual Awards Dinneron April 17 in Williamsburg, Va.FRA Chairman Bill Baughmanpresented Travis with an axeplaque and noted generous cashawards from Stihl and Husqvarna,as well as valuable equipmentvouchers from Franklin Equipmentand Tidewater Equipment.

Travis accepted the award,thanking first his father andmother, his wife, Gail, anddaughters Shelli and Whitney, inaddition to business partners FrankRiley and Hank Perkins, all ofwhom were present. He alsothanked “some folks who are oldfriends of mine. Although I’ve onlyknown them a couple of years” –both loggers and industrycolleagues, many involved withTravis in guiding the Wood SupplyResearch Institute.

“Our industry is changing, andthings are changing everywhere.And we must change what we do,”Travis told the assembly of 350loggers, forester, and their families.“but I won’t apologize for what Ido. I am a real environmentalist.”He presented the logger’sperspective by quoting Mark

Twain: “The guy who holds the catby the tail gets a whole lot moreinformation than the guy who justreads about it.”

Travis Reed’s company, ReedLogging, sets some of the higheststandards in the industry for safety,environmental compliance,business management, harvestingquality, and activism. ReedLogging’s state-of-the-artcommunications system helpsboost safety and productivity,resulting in zero lost-time accidentsin the past seven years.

Travis keeps detailed and up-to-date records for his loggingbusiness using Cost Trakker andTicket Trakker software. Travis wasso impressed with thiscomputerized record-keepingsystem that he became partners inTrakker Tech, the company thatmarkets these software packages tologgers.

George O’Brien, InternationalPaper’s vice president of ForestResources, says that “Travis Reedhas not only demonstrated that heis a forward-thinking loggingprofessional but has also seen fit to‘give back’ through his leadershipin advancing the causes of theforest industry.” Travis serves onthe American Forest & Paper

2000 National Outstanding Logger Travis Reed, left, with Forest ResourcesAssociation Chairman Bill Baughman.


year’s national award were: AndyArey, Arey Logging, Warren,Maine; Aaron Burmeister,Burmeister Logging, Seymour, Wis.;Jeff “Bodine” Dodgen, Jeff DodgenLogging, Inc., Marcoot, Ala.; JimDoll, Doll Lumber Co., New Hiram,Ohio; Bob and Joy Gardner,Gardner Logging & Trucking, Inc.,Chewelah, Wis.

The Outstanding Loggerprogram is designed:

1) to recognize outstandinglogging contractor performance;

2) to raise the visibility ofcompetent, professionalindependent logging contractors inthe forestry community;

3) to encourage otherindependent logging contractors toemulate the outstandingperformance of the award winners;and

4) to improve forester-loggerrelations by publicly recognizingoutstanding logging performanceas an essential element of everyplanned timber harvest.

HaningtonHonored for Safety

On April 17, the ForestResources Association conferred its2000 H. H. Jefferson MemorialSafety Award on Maine loggerSteve Hanington, in recognition ofhis operation’s innovative andthorough safety practices andprograms.

FRA Chairman Bill Baughmancongratulated Steve at FRA’sannual award dinner, inWilliamsburg, Va. Roger Legault ofDenharco added hiscongratulations, providing a specialplaque and cash award.

“You really can’t put a price onlife or death,” Steve told theassembled loggers and foresters. “Ithink of my children, Eric andDanielle, and I think that is thereason anyone in the forestproducts business should beconcerned about safety. Thinkabout your family.” He asked for amoment of silence in memory ofthose who have died following theprofession of logging.

Stephen Hanington is presidentof Hanington Brothers, a second-generation logging business in

Maine. In 1994, Steve set out toimprove Hanington Brothers’logging safety program byconducting regular safety meetingsfor their 44 employees and 11subcontractors.

In 1996, the company formed asafety committee, comprised ofboth company supervisors andemployees. Twelve employeesvoluntarily completed a 30-hourOSHA compliance course. Allemployees have been trained inadvanced first aid methods, wellbeyond basic first aid and CPRtraining requirements.

Recently, Hanington Brothersconducted the Logger RescueProgram, which teaches ways oftransporting injured workers safetyout of the woods, on all loggingoperations. To improve theprogram’s effectiveness, Stevepurchased two utility trailers andoutfitted them with emergencyequipment. The cost of each traileris approximately $5,000, but Stevereiterates that the differencebetween life and death has no pricetag.

Forest Resources Association Chairman Bill Baughman, left, congratulates SteveHanington, winner of FRA’s 2000 H. H. Jefferson Memorial Safety Award.


Log Truck Driver Safetyworkshops were held the week ofApril 17 in Bemidji, Cloquet andInternational Falls. One hundreddrivers attended the three sessions.For the first time those attendingthe workshops could get eighthours of credit for MLEP training.With the conclusion of the threeworkshops this year, 921 drivershave completed the training.

Russell Howard, with NorthlandInsurance Co., reviewed the “SixSecond Rule” with a series of slidesand questions. He also presented aseries of slides showing first-timeaccidents for drivers with over 20years of experience. Theconclusion of his program includedan excellent video, “A Driver’sStory,” which covered severalsafety areas and the emotionalsuffering of a driver who wasinvolved in a fatal accident.

The State Patrol and theCommercial Vehicle Inspectorswent over the Commercial VehicleSafety Alliance (CVSA) “Out ofService Criteria,” and other safetyinspection concerns. They alsospent a considerable amount oftime going over truck weight laws,tiedown requirements, spring roadrestrictions and postings. As usualthere was considerable interest bythose in attendance.

Trucks were provided byLundberg Logging for the Bemidjiworkshop, Ron Beckman TimberHarvesting for the Cloquetworkshop and Mannco Trucking atthe International Falls workshop.The support by the logging andtrucking businesses has beenexcellent and is appreciated.

Guy Wold, Dave Amundson,Kevin Dalhman, Bob DeRoche,Dick Olson and Bruce Drotts all diden excellent job as discussionleaders for the workshops. Theseindividuals have been involved inthe program for many years. Theyhave been major players in makingthis program a success.

The Truck Driver SafetyProgram is in need of several morediscussion leaders. At present ifone of these individuals is unableto participate we will not be ableto provide this program as we have

in the past. If you are interested orknow of someone who would beinterested in being involved in

this program contact the TPA officeor one of those individualsmentioned above.

Truck Driver Safety Workshops

One half of the participants at the Bemidji workshop.

Greg Lind going over some of the out-of-service criteria as they look over thetruck.

Russ Howard asked the workshop attendants some questions about what theysaw in the slide. There was not always agreement as to what was in the picture.


Frank Fixmer died April 3. After graduating from theNew York State College of Forestry at SyracuseUniversity in 1933 with a degree in forestry, he workedfrom 1933 to 1938 with the USDA Forest Service in itsCivilian Conservation Corps program and on theNicolet National Forest. He went on to work for sixyears with the Wisconsin Conservation Departmentand assisted in the development of Washburn andBurnett County forests in northwest Wisconsin. In1944, he became Mosinee Paper Co.’s first forestmanager, a position he held until retirement in 1978.Fixmer was a co-founder of the Forest HistoryAssociation of Wisconsin in 1976 and served theorganization in the positions of secretary-treasurer(1976-96), executive board (1996-99), and emeritusboard member and archivist. He was inducted into theWisconsin Forestry Hall of Fame in 1997. Fixmerjoined the Society of American Foresters in 1935 andwas elected SAF Fellow in 1984.

Obituary

00014

20 YEARS AGO■ Edwin F. Erickson was elected Potlatch Corp. vice

president and general manager of the NorthwestPaper Division by the company’s board of directors.Erickson will replace Richard N. Congreve, whowas elected a group vice president by the directors.

■ St. Regis Paper Company breaks ground at theirSartell mill for a 200 million dollar expansion whichwill triple production and increase the permanentwork force by 200 positions.

■ J. C. “Buzz” Ryan’s new book “Early Loggers inMinnesota – Vol. III” is being published.

30 YEARS AGO■ William M. MacConnachie Jr., vice president of

lands and timber for Northwest Paper Co., Cloquet,has been elected president of the AmericanPulpwood Association. He is the past chairman ofMinnesota’s Forest Industries InformationCommittee and past chairman of the TPA unionnegotiating committee.

■ Jay H. Craven, U.S. Forest Service, deputy regionalforester named Eastern Regional Forester. He willreplace George S. James, who will retire after 37years with the U.S. Forest Service.

■ Gerald J. Bach will be the new instructor for theForest Harvesting Technician course at the DuluthArea Institute of Technology. The past two yearsMr. Bach has been a forester for ConsolidatedPapers, Inc., headquartered at Sugar Loaf landingon the North Shore.

Roadless - Mindless - Clueless

In a stunning move, the Clinton Administration andtheir ideologically driven appointees in the U.S. ForestService have announced that nearly 60 million acres ofNational Forest lands (61,000 acres in Minnesotaimmediately and potentially an additional 700,000acres) will be off limits and designated as “roadless”areas. The thinking behind this proposal is best shownby the following passage from the DraftEnvironmental Impact Statement (chapter 3-190)which pretends to describe loggers and ruralcommunities:

“Even reasonably prosperous timber-dependentcommunities are among the least prosperous ruralcommunities, having high seasonal unemployment, highrates of population turnover, high divorce rates and poorhousing, social services and community infrastructures.Moreover, timber industry jobs are dangerous, having highinjury and mortality rates. Many people enter the woodproducts industry because it provides opportunities to earnhigh wages without having a high level of education. Forthese people, what is at stake is not a traditional life styleand occupational culture, but rather an accessible route to amiddle class lifestyle.”

Years Ago


Loggers from 30 states, workingin coalition with forest productsbusinesses and forestry dealers,raised over $2.75 million for localChildren’s Network (CMN)hospitals during the 2000 Log aLoad For KidsTM campaign.Monticello, Ark., logger Joe Griffithand National Log A Load AdvisoryGroup Chairman Betsy Luoto ofCarlton, Ore., presented a $2.75million check to CMN host JohnSchneider during the CMNChampions National TelevisionBroadcast from Walt Disney Worldon June 4. Luoto told America’schildren watching the broadcast:“When you pass a log truck, be sureto wave, because that logger maybe carrying that load just for you.”

Log A Load For Kids is an annualcampaign which encourages loggersand other forest products people todonate the value of a load of logs tolocal non-profit Children's MiracleNetwork hospitals and to conductfundraisers to support them. “Weraise funds for CMN hospitalsbecause, although the trees weharvest are a renewable resource,children are our most preciousresource. We have a big heart forkids!” Griffith told CMN’s nationalaudience. The Log A Load programgenerates significant media coveragein some local and regional markets.

North Carolina’s Log A Loadprogram led the way again thisyear, raising $526,000. Alabama wassecond with $460,000 and Arkansasran a close third, with $450,000.Total funds raised by the end of theJune 4 broadcast follow, withsponsoring organizations noted.This year’s 30 states include first-time participants Connecticut,Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas.

The Forest Resources AssociationInc. (FRA) is the Log A Load ForKids program’s national sponsor.FRA, formerly the AmericanPulpwood Association Inc., is anonprofit trade associationconcerned with the safe, efficient,and sustainable harvest of forestproducts and their transport fromwoods to mill. FRA representswood consumers, independent

logging contractors, and wooddealers, as well as businessesproviding products and services tothe forest resource-based industries.

Log A Load 2000 FundraisingExceeds $2.75 Million

Arkansas logger Joe Griffith, left, andLog A Load For KidsTM NationalChairman Betsy Luoto of Oregonproudly display the $2.75 millioncheck they presented June 4 on behalfof the Log A Load across the U.S.A.

Alabama (Alabama Forestry Assn./Ala. Loggers Council) $460,000Arkansas (Ark. Forestry Assn./Ark. Tbr. Producers Assn.) 450,000California (Associated California Loggers) 33,000Connecticut (Timber Producers Assn. of Connecticut) 2,000Florida (Florida Forestry Association) 115,000Georgia (Georgia Forestry Association) 107,150Idaho (Intermountain Forest Association) 5,400Indiana (Indiana Forest Industry Council) 22,071Kentucky (Kentucky Forest Industries Association) 12,150Louisiana (Louisiana Loggers Council) 22,655Maine (Professional Logging Contractors [PLC] of Maine) 40,000Maryland (Maryland Forests Association) 2,063Mich./Wis. (Timber Producers Assn. of Mich. and Wis.) 131,364Minnesota (Minnesota Timber for Humanity Foundation) 70,000Mississippi (Mississippi Loggers Association) 40,000Missouri (Missouri Forest Producers Association) 1,600Montana (Montana Logging Association) 24,920New York (Empire State Forest Producers Association) 6,321N. Carolina (North Carolina Forestry Association) 526,000Ohio (Ohio Forestry Association) 110,284Oklahoma (Oklahoma Forestry Association) 15,000Oregon (Associated Oregon Loggers, Inc.) 121,000Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Forestry Association) 20,000S. Carolina (South Carolina Forestry Association) 97,812Tennessee (Tennessee Forestry Association) 100,851Texas (unsponsored) 900Virginia (Virginia Forestry Assn./Virginia Loggers Council) 107,572Washington (Washington Contract Loggers Association/

Log Truckers Conf.) 65,000West Virginia (Mountain Loggers Inc.) 60,000________

NATIONAL TOTAL $2,770,113


Wednesday, May 3, was abeautiful day. The sun was out andthe weatherman was predictingtemperatures in the high 70s as Iturned east from Rutledge oncounty road 33 and followed thesigns to the landing. This projectwas the combined effort of threemajor organizations, Habitat forHumanity, the Society of AmericanForesters (SAF), and the Log ALoad for Kids, they will log anddeliver the wood to the mills,where it will be processed intolumber and other products. Theseproducts will be donated towardsthe construction of homes for lowincome families. Yes, everythingincluding the construction of thehome is donated. Families that areselected are required to donate a setnumber of hours in theconstruction of Habitat forHumanity homes. Their mortgageis based on the family income.

Starting with the stumpage,which in this case is jack pine andaspen, donated by two privatelandowners, Carl and Estella Wolfeand Mark Hanson, the harvestingwas primarily a salvage cut whichincluded ice- and wind-damagedtrees along with some green timber.The intent of the harvest was toprovide for both natural regenerationand planting along with the reductionof fuels in case of fire. The loggingis being done by Birchem Logging,Ron Beckman Timber Harvesting,Pittack Logging and Reiger’sLogging. Each of these companieshave provided a cut-to-lengthsystem for this job. The haulingwas donated by a large number oflogging and trucking companies.All the logging companies andtheir employees are donating theirtime and equipment. The value ofthe wood delivered will be dividedbetween Log A Load for Kids andHabitat for Humanity. The millsinvolved in this project are PotlatchCorporation, Rajala Companies andConsolidated’s Lake Superior PaperIndustry mill in Duluth.

Consolidated Paper Inc. willmatch the dollar value of the woodup to $10,000, which will go to Log

Log A Load for Kids Timber Harvestby Bruce Barker

After opening the timber harvest, DNR Commissioner Allen Garber, on theright, visited with TPA Director Mike Reiger, owner of Reiger’s Logging.

Scott Pittack of Pittack Logging processes another jackpine as the harvestingmoves forward.

Timberjack harvester fells another tree. The timber in the background containssome of the trees that were damaged by the 1995 ice storm and others damagedby blowdown last year.


A Load for Kids. PotlatchCorporation and Rajala Companieswill donate a volume of theirproduct, equal to the amount ofraw material they receive, toHabitat for Humanity. Theseproducts (lumber, OSB, etc.) will beused by Habitat for Humanity inthe construction of the homes.Boise Cascade Corp. alsocontributed funds to this project,which helped to make it successful.

DNR Commissioner AllenGarber welcomed the attendees atthe harvest site and commendedthose individuals from the DNRand industry for their efforts in thisworthwhile program. He supportsforest management and harvestingon both public and private land. Hebelieves we are doing a good job ofmanaging and harvesting andencourages us to continue using theBMP’s and guidelines in our activities.

Fred Ebel, Society of AmericanForesters, commended those

involved in this project for theirefforts. As a result of Minnesota’sForest for Humanity Program, theSAF has adopted the programnationally. Needless to say, theMinnesota program is still one ofthe most active in the country.

Other speakers includedChildren’s Miracle Network,Champion Family, Rory and KimOlson and their three year old

daughter Randeena. Habitat forHumanity and Log-A-Load forKids are both worthwhileprograms. TPA would like to takethis opportunity to thank all thosewho participated in this projectThis activity speaks volumes for allthose involved in forestmanagement, timber harvestingand the forest products industry.

From left to right:Jeff Schommer,Mike Reiger, BillHensel, RonBeckman, and hiswife, Barbara, takea moment to visitduring a lull in theactivities.

Minnesota’s Log A Load Donates $70,000

Minnesota’s Log A Load ForKids donated $70,000 to GilletteChildren’s Specialty HealthServices during the Children’sMiracle Network telethon whichwas broadcast in early June.

This year’s contribution fromMinnesota’s logging communityexceeded the non-profit’s goal by$10,000 and represents an increaseof $20,000 from last year. Log A LoadFor Kids ranks fifth among the top10 contributors to CMN statewide.

Don Evans, a volunteer Log A

Load For Kids board member fromGrand Rapids, and Kris Anderson,a logger from Effie, presented thecheck during the June 4 broadcastfrom KMSP-TV studios in EdenPrairie.

“This is an outstanding effort bymany people in the loggingcommunity and it deservesrecognition,” said Evans. “It’s justone more example of the value thatloggers bring to all the people andcommunities of Minnesota.”

The biggest share of Log A LoadFor Kids’ contributions this yearfocused on two week-long

volunteertimberharvests.Loggers,landowners,equipmentdealers andtruckers alldonated theirlabor, suppliesand goods forthe benefit ofchildren withchronic healthproblems whoare treated atGillette’s mainfacility in St.

Paul and at outreach clinicsconducted regularly throughout thestate. Individual donations of loadsof timber and cash by independentloggers made up the second largestshare of the $70,000 total, followedby a variety of fund raising eventsconducted by Log A Load For Kidsand its timber industry supporters.

Minnesota is one of 30 Log ALoad For Kids chapters working toraise money for children’s hospitalsthroughout the nation. The nationalLog A Load For Kids effort wasstarted by a single logger in SouthCarolina in 1988. Today, individuallogger donations continue to makeup the heart of this charitableorganization. All donations remainwithin the state in which they wereraised.

During 1999, Minnesota Log ALoad For Kids was reorganized andis now operated under the auspicesof Minnesota Timber for Humanity,a non-profit corporation qualifyingfor 501(c) 3 tax exempt status. Avolunteer board of directors workswith a part-time coordinator basedin Bemidji to carry out its annualfund raising efforts.

More information may beobtained by contacting Jody Grau,state coordinator, at 218-759-4751.

0 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 200018 Timber Bulletin May/June 2000

April 27, 2000

Mr. Wayne Brandt

Executive Vice President

Minnesota Timber Producers Association

903 Medical Arts Building

Duluth, MN 55802

Dear Mr. Brandt:

I want to take this opportunity, on the occasion of your annual meeting, to thank you and the Minnesota

Timber Producers Association for the leadership you provide to policy-makers in Washington and Minnesota

on matters so important to the future of our state.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have been fortunate to work with the Timber Producers Association and

its members on a broad range of issues important to the timber and paper industry in Minnesota. I have

visited your facilities and walked in your forests. I have seen first hand the dedication of Minnesota’s timber

and paper mills to their employees and a quality product. I know the commitment you have made to the

communities in which you operate and to the health of the forests which supply your operations.

Those are just some of the reasons why I have felt compelled to defend and support the timber and paper

industry in Washington, D.C. Your industry is so important to many of the things Americans take for granted

in their daily lives. Little do people realize that the work done in and around Minnesota's forests can

dramatically impact so many of the most basic things in a family’s life.

Despite the importance of the work you do, however, there are those in our nation who would like to end

logging on federal land and impose increasingly restrictive federal regulations on logging and manufacturing

activities. Not long from now, Congress will once again be debating annual funding bills and the federal

timber program will come under its yearly attacks. I want you to know that I am committed to once again

fighting these attacks and standing up for the timber and paper workers of northern Minnesota.

I am also committed to fighting the Environmental Protection Agency’s unending appetite for expanding its

regulatory reach to forestry activities and reversing 30 years of considering forestry activities as a non-point

source. I have already written to the EPA asking them to withdraw the regulations and I am currently

reviewing legislation that would prevent the EPA from acting while the National Academy of Sciences

studies the issue and completes a report to Congress.

Finally, I know northern Minnesota will be faced with tremendous challenges in the coming years due to the

July 4th windstorm in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The tremendous damage created by that

storm is a tragic testament to what can happen when our forests are left without proper forest health

management. I only hope that we can work to ensure those areas of our forests that lie outside the BWCA are

not managed in a way that makes the windstorm of 1999 pale in comparison to a windstorm in the future.

Again, thank you for your cooperation and friendship. I look forward to working with you in the future to

protect the health of northern Minnesota’s forests and the economic viability of the timber and paper industry

for years to come.

Sincerely,

Rod GramsUnited States Senator


by Mimi Barzen, Roots, May 2000,Minnesota Department of NaturalResources

Ever hear of a derecho? Maybe,but then again, maybe not.However, thousands of peopleknow it if you give them a date. TryJuly 4, 1999. A derecho, while not atornado, can seem like one. Inreality, it is a severe thunderstormaccompanied by extended periodsof high-speed, straight-line winds.Supposedly they are rare innorthern Minnesota, but after twoderechos in only four years, thatdoesn’t seem to be true anymore.

While much of the storm-damaged trees from 1995 have beensalvaged, the same cannot be saidfor the timber downed in 1999.Because of this, we now have a bigenough problem to garner attentionfrom seven different publicagencies including the MinnesotaLegislature and the Office ofTourism.

Fuel and PeopleThe biggest threat is wildfire.

With the “downed” trees stacked inplaces up to 20 feet deep, not muchis touching the forest floor. With thetrees suspended in the air, even alarge-diameter tree can lose enoughmoisture to burn readily if ignited.Considering that more than 350,000acres of trees are uprooted,snapped off, or tipped, the fuelload is incredible. Estimates go ashigh as 150 tons of fuel per acre inblowdown areas.

When you consider that theaverage fuel load in a prescribedburn is no more than 15 tons, this isa vast sea of kindling. Add to theequation the influx of 12,000visitors per day to the BoundaryWaters Canoe Area Wilderness(BWCAW), many of whomconsider the wilderness experienceincomplete without a campfire,and a volatile situation is theresult.

To add “fuel to the flames,” 650cabins and resorts are scatteredalong a 50-mile long, two-lane,dead-end road that rests in themidst of the blowdown areaoutside of the wilderness.

North of Grand Marais, in

Canada, is a vast stretch of timberthat is on contract with 70 loggingcompanies. Ontario plans to havethe trees harvested in the next fiveyears or so and doesn’t want to seeits resource go up in flames.

Past ExperienceIs this much to do about

nothing? Paul Tiné, fire specialistfor the U.S. Forest Service, stated,“it’s not a matter of if a fire willoccur but when.” Past experiencecertainly points in that direction. Afew years ago, inattentive campersleft a campsite with a fire stillsmoldering in a fire grate onRomance Lake. There had beenlittle precipitation over the courseof several weeks. All it took was astiff wind to ignite a fire thatburned through a healthy forest formore than 10,000 acres. It began inMinnesota, consuming 4,000 acresof timber along the way, but wasnot contained until it had burnedeven more land in Canada.

Prescribed burns in the SuperiorNational Forest have burned for 45days due to the heavy duff orground cover. A wildfire, with itsintense heat, would burnsignificantly longer.

The ImpactWhat this all means is that on

any given day during the snow-freeseason, a large-scale fire is adefinite possibility. According to anexecutive summary put out by theSuperior National Forest, any timethere is below normal precipitationfor three to eight months, belownormal relative humidity for 10days, or above normaltemperatures for 10 days, fuels aredrying rapidly. This creates apotential for fire-behaviorproblems. If two of the above occurat the same time, any new firestarts in the blowdown areexpected to create fire behavior thatwill defy all containment actions. Ifwinds at the time of the fire startare above 10 miles per hour, firescould spread more than sevenmiles a day. Worse yet, a fire withinthe blowdown could easily becomeplume-dominated.

A plume dominated fire soundsimpressive, but not something youwant to be around to experiencebecause this type of fire creates its

own weather. Smoke columns canrise anywhere from 30,000 feet to50,000 feet. As the smoke rises, itwill draw in more air from theperimeter of the fire, fanning theflames. Eventually, the rising hotair will cool, changing the strongupward pull of air downward.Wind speeds can reach 40 miles perhour as air rushes back to theground, sending fire brands in alldirections. Spotting can take placethree miles or more beyond theplume.

The OffenseBecause of this, fires within the

blowdown area of the BWCAWwill be treated differently. Groundcrews will only be allowed tofight fires if the fire danger islow. Air support will go out onevery fire unless called off by thecrew boss.

In areas most severely impactedby the blowdown, crown fireswill not be a problem, but fires willbe more intense, spread faster, andbe harder to control. Crown fireswill still be a problem in areaswhere only a portion of the timberis affected. Spot fires are also athreat.

Action to reduce the risks ofwildlife are already in motion.Special approval was given to theSuperior National Forest last yearto harvest timber along theGunflint Trail where resorts andcabins are located. Mastication orshredding of some of the trees hasalso occurred as has rearrangingthe fuel, getting the wood closer tothe ground so it can rot.

Yet to come is prescribed burnswithin the wilderness area. ForestService officials hope to burnbetween 30,000 and 60,000 acresover the course of the next severalyears. Burn units will be between500 and 1,000 acres, dependingupon natural boundaries. The ideabehind the burning is not to stoplarge fires from occurring, but toslow the rate of spread by burningin a patchwork pattern.

The wheels may seem like theyare turning slowly, but not whenyou consider the Forest Service hasto prepare four environmentalimpact statements before anyburning takes place. If approved,

BWCAW in Transition

0 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 20000 Timber Bulletin May/June 2000

In the last few months severaltransportation issues have beenraised. These issues deal withcommercial motor vehicles andpertain to logging trucks. Thisexplanation is based on MinnesotaStatutes at the conclusion of the1999 legislative session. In the pastseveral years Minnesota hasadopted into statute major portionsof the Federal Motor Carrier SafetyRegulations as prescribed by theU.S. Department of Transportation,Federal Highway Administration.

Does a log truck driver need to havea medical certificate and a commercialdriver’s license (CDL)?

Yes, a log truck driver must havea medical certificate and a CDL ifhe is driving a commercial motorvehicle (a vehicle with a gross vehicleweight of 1,001 pounds or more).

Are there any exemptions that a logtruck driver could qualify under thatwould not require him/her to have a

CDL and a medical card?Yes, if the truck is registered as a

“farm truck” as defined inMinnesota Statute 168.011, subd. 17and is driven by the owner whichis either, farmer or logger whoharvests and hauls forest productsonly, to transport logs, pulpwoodchips, railroad ties and other rawand unfinished forest productsfrom the place of production to anassembly yard or railhead when thetransportation constitutes the firsthaul. There is another reference toStatute 171.02, subd. 2, (1) that talksabout “farm trucks” operated bythe owner, immediate familymember, an employee not primarilyhired to drive truck, within 150miles of the farm, or an employeehired to drive the truck during thefirst, continuous transportation ofagricultural products from theproduction site to a place ofproduction within 50 miles of theproduction site or storage site.

These four types of drivers maydrive the “farm truck” on a class Clicense. It is important that themileage restrictions be noted inthese and other statutes thataddress this issue.

Are loggers also covered under thefarm definition in the Federal MotorCarrier Safety Regulations?

No, farmer means any personwho operates a farm or is directlyinvolved in the cultivation of land,crops, or livestock which areowned by that person, or are underthe direct control of that person.FMCSR Part 390.5.

TPA Group HealthPlan AnnouncesIncreased Rates

Increased health benefit paymentsfor TPA members, employees andtheir dependents have caused theTPA Group Health Plan trustees toannounce rate increases effectiveJuly 1. Benefit payments for thefirst five months of 2000 were 50percent more than they were for thefirst five months of 1999.

Healthcare costs nationwide havebeen spiraling upward for the pastseveral years. Most group healthplans increased rates 20-50 percentin 2000. Some plans havediscontinued offering coverage andsome large employers have quitproviding any coverage.

“Our plan trustees reviewed thismatter very carefully. We did notfeel that it would be fair to changewhat the plan pays for in themiddle of the year. The trusteesvoted to raise the rates so that wecould run the plan on a break evenbasis again,” said Dick Olson,junior chair of the TPA GroupHealth Plan trustees.

“We built our reserves up forseveral years and then lost moneyin both 1999 and the first half of2000. We’ve weathered storms likethis before and we will weather thisone. It is very important that weoffer coverage that is affordable toour members, many of whomcannot get coverage from otherplans,” Olson concluded.

The announced rate increasesrange from 10 percent to 26 percentfor the various options and types ofcoverage contained in the plan.


Minnesota Timber Producers Association

Meet the Directors

Director Lowell Pittack wasborn in Pierce, Neb., where he didnot do much logging until afterhe moved to Minnesota. By thistime he had completed highschool and two years of collage.He presently lives in Bovey,Minn., with his wife, Judith.They have two daughters and ason. At last count there were sixgrandchildren.

Lowell got into the loggingbusiness around 1980. Presentlyhe is the owner of PittackLogging Inc. He is very active inTPA, serving on thetransportation committee and aschairman of the membershipcommittee. Lowell was elected tothe TPA Board of Directors in1992 and as an officer of theassociation in 1997. He ispresently serving as 2nd vicepresident.

Lowell has been active in thedevelopment of the Minnesota

Logger Education Program(MLEP) and served as the firstchairman of the MLEP Board ofDirectors. He also serves onBlandin’s Advisory Board onCommunity Issues.

Hunting and traveling withtheir 5th wheel camper are two ofLowell’s favorite pastimes whenhe isn’t working. We alsounderstand that he does somefishing when Judith can drag himaway.

Commercial Driver License andMedical Certificate Requirement

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The fate of approximately260,000 acres of ConsolidatedConservation (Con-Con) Lands inseven northwestern counties hasbeen determined. A thoroughpublic input process during thepast year, led by the Department ofNatural Resources (DNR), wasdesigned to determine themanagement and use of theseCon-Con Lands. That processculminated when Gov. JesseVentura signed a bill designatingapproximately one-half of the landas state forests and one-half aswildlife management areas.Legislators, county and localofficials, and individual citizensparticipated in a process that led tothe land use determinations thathave now been signed into law. Thebill, which also includes revisionsto timber sale rules and ATV useon public lands, passed bothhouses of the legislature byoverwhelming margins.

Con-Con Lands are state-ownedlands that Minnesota received inexchange for paying off ditch

bonds issued by seven Minnesotacounties in the early 1930s.According to state law, these landsare to be used for “conservationpurposes” and managed by theDNR. Over the years, much of theland has been designated asmanagement units or sold toprivate landowners. Approximately100,000 acres of Con-Con Land,provisionally designated as wildlifemanagement areas by then-retiringDNR Commissioner Joe Alexanderin 1991, must still go through thelegislative process to legallydetermine the permanent fate ofthose acres.

The bill signed into law Mondaywas a compromise that consideredinterests of local governments,motorized vehicle users, andenvironmental, recreational andhunting organizations, accordingto DNR Commissioner AllenGarber.

“This successful effort showswhat can happen when people withstrongly divergent views worktogether rather than dig in theirheels,” Garber said. “This issue

would never have been resolvedthis legislative session withoutsome skilled legislative leadershipand a willingness to compromiseamong all interests. The leadershipamong DNR staff during thisprocess makes me proud.”

DNR Deputy CommissionerSteven Morse, a former statesenator who works closely with thelegislature, said, “This bill is amajor achievement for this agencyand the people of the state, and weought to pause and reflect at leastbriefly on our success.”

During the coming year, theDNR will begin a process thatwill lead to recommendeddesignations of the remainingCon-Con Lands.

Con-Con Land Designations Determined for260,000 Acres in Northern Minnesota

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Closed Forever

In early May the Forest Serviceproposed the Roadless AreaConservation Rule that wouldprohibit the construction orreconstruction of roads withininventoried roadless areas.Nationwide the proposed rulewould reserve 43 million acres frommultiple use. In Minnesota, theproposed rule would prohibitconstruction of roads and timbermanagement on 77 acres on the

website. These comments can besent electronically to the ForestService. We encourage you toaccess the MFI website and send anelectronic postcard to the ForestService opposing the proposedroadless area rule or clip and mailthe comments below to the ForestService. The MFI website can beaccessed atwww.minnesotaforests.com.Comments on the rule must bereceived by the Forest Service byJuly 17. Below are the commentsthat are posted on the MFI website.

Chippewa National Forest and60,802 acres on the SuperiorNational Forest.

A second portion of the rule directsnational forests to identify unroadedareas during forest plan revisions.Given the vagueness of the definitionof an unroaded area this couldpotentially be any acre outside aroadbed. Additionally, the proposedrule may limit access to non-federalpublic and private forest lands.

TPA has prepared somecomments and posted them on theMinnesota Forest Industries

USDA Forest Service–CAETPost Office Box 221090Attention: Roadless Areas Proposed RuleSalt Lake City, Utah 84122

I oppose the Forest Service Roadless Area Conservation Proposed Rule and urge the Forest Service to withdrawthe rule due to the proposal’s biases, lack of credible data analysis, and not recognizing the local variability offorests and forest management practices across the nation. The type of analysis and information needed to makedecisions regarding the management of roadless areas must be developed at the local level in order to besuccessful in conserving and managing national forest lands.

The Forest Service failed to address a broad range of alternatives in the draft environmental impact statement.Virtually all the alternatives, excluding the no action alternative, are identical. The Forest Service dismissedalternatives that would allow for the full consideration of road construction in project and forest level planning forall roadless areas. The Forest Service dismissed these alternatives by claiming that they did not meet the directionprovided by the president. This dismissal of legitimate alternatives indicates that the outcome of the proposedrule was predetermined and the Forest Service has prepared documentation to justify a predetermined outcome.

The Forest Service failed to provide adequate analysis to make reasonable decisions. The draft EIS wasprepared within nine months. Very little data analysis was performed over this period and little credible data wasprovided to make reasonable decisions regarding the impact of the proposed rule. No information was providedon the values of roadless areas, the types of flora and fauna being protected within these areas, or even the size orconfiguration of these areas on specific national forests. The Forest Service also chose to ignore research thatshows the value of forest management for wildlife species, or include research that shows that most recreationtakes place within the proximity of roads. It’s ironic that the Forest Service can develop a proposal that reserves 43million acres of forest land in a shorter time period than it takes to develop an EIS to salvage blowdown on theSuperior National Forest or provide access to private property.

The Forest Service has proposed a top down one-size-fits-all policy. The Forest Service administers land allacross the United States. The forest types, tyopgraphy, and climate all blend to make each forest virtually differentfrom one another. In Minnesota, for example, most forest roads are built in the winter and hardly discernable aftertimber harvest is completed. Additionally, monitoring of water quality best management practices in the stateshow over 90 percent compliance and that the guidelines are 99 percent effective in protecting the water resource.We fail to see the Forest Service rationale that road building to access managed forests has detrimental effects onwater quality in Minnesota. A predetermined one-size-fits-all policy developed in Washington, D.C., does little torecognize the variability of forests across the United States or the hard work of the forest resource professionals todevelop sustainable forest management practices. The types of data analysis and information needed to makedecisions regarding the management of unroaded areas must be made at the national forest level to mosteffectively manage and conserve our national forests. Further, I fail to see the value of non-federal public orprivate forest landowners in collaborating with the Forest Service to improve or develop statewide forestmanagement practices when the management of these lands is dictated from Washington, D.C.

I strongly object to the offensive and derogatory language on page 3-190 of the draft EIS. The Forest Servicecharacterizes forestry workers as uneducated, unstable and unmotivated. It states that many people enter theforest products industry because it provides opportunities to earn high wages without having a high level ofeducation and would take another job if one were available. This type of language serves no useful purpose in thedocument and only serves to promote negative public perception about the hard working people in the forestproducts industry.

Again, I urge the Forest Service to withdraw the proposed roadless area rule and allow decisions regarding themanagement of roadless areas to be made at the national forest level.

Sincerely, ____________________________________________________ Date:___________________________

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