PUMP Opposes House Bill 3072

I wanted to provide information to mountain bikers in regards to Oregon House Bill 3072 (http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/docs/April_20_2009/2_Att_1.pdf) and PUMP's opposition to it.  This bill is crafted to re-define the meaning of Greatest Permanent Value of our State of Oregon forest lands.  The idea is to turn the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests into industrial timber farms and to remove any other purpose from these lands.

You may be asking yourself, what is "Greatest Permanent Value"?  I certainly wondered what the meaning of this term was the first time I heard it spoken by the long time mountain biking advocate for state forest lands, Wayne N.  Wayne explained to me that through several years of public comment periods and meetings with the State Forest Advisory Committee that a balanced "three-legged stool" was defined for the purposeful use of state forest lands, and that this was termed the Greatest Permanent Value.  The three-legs that balance the uses of our state forest lands are Social, Economic, and Environmental benefits.  The actual definition reads "Greatest Permanent Value - Healthy, productive, and sustainable forest ecosystems that over time and across the landscape provide a full range of Social, Economic, and Environmental benefits to the people of Oregon" (http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/STATE_FORESTS/docs/finalgpvbrochure.pdf).

I am attaching an overview of House Bill 3072 and also House Bill 3249.  PUMP opposes House Bill 3072 and supports House Bill 3249.

In addition to PUMP opposing House Bill 3072, the Westside Trail Federation (http://www.westsidetrailfederation.org/), Board of Forestry, Editorial Board of the Oregonian and The Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon), among others, oppose this bill.

Here are links to some of those letters:
Board of Forestry Letter of Opposition: http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/docs/April_20_2009/2_Att_3.pdf

Oregonian Editorial Board Letter of Opposition: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/04/oregons_state_forests_are_not.html

The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) Editorial Board Letter of Opposition: http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/opinion/12506956-47/story.csp

Below is a copy of the letter that was submitted on behalf of PUMP to Committee Chair Clem, House Speaker Hunt, and Committee Administrator Patrino:

Attn: Committee Chair Clem, House Speaker Hunt, and Committee Administrator Patrino
 
Regarding House Bill 3072:
 
As the Mountain Bike Community Representative for the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Tillamook Recreation Advisory Committee (TRAC; http://www.orgeon.gov/ODF/TSF/TRACRecruit.shtml), a member of the Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP; www.pumpclub.org), and an active mountain biker in the Tillamook State Forest I hereby notify you of PUMP's and my opposition to House Bill 3072.
 
Several years were spent developing the definition of greatest permanent value, through public meetings involving the State Forest Advisory Committee (SFAC), as "Healthy, productive and sustainable forest ecosystems that over time and across the landscape provide a full range of SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, and ENVIRONMENTAL benefits to the people of Oregon" (http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/STATE_FORESTS/docs/finalgpvbrochure.pdf; emphasis added).  Greatest permanent value is not obtained solely by timber production and our state forest lands do not exist to subsidize a minority of counties.  They are state wide assets.  Other vital forest uses, including recreation, fish & wildlife habitat, conservation for clean water, and protection from development contribute to the SOCIAL, ECONOMIC and ENVIRONMENTAL benefits important to current and future Oregonians.
 
We ask that you vote to oppose House Bill 3072 if it should pass committee and reach a legislative vote.
 
We also hope that the funding sources for ODF's recreation program can be secured for long term sustainability.  We have been increasingly disappointed during our attendance of ODF meetings to learn that the recreation program budget will suffer heavy financial cuts which may lead to nearly 40% staff reductions, campground facilities that will remain closed throughout the peak summer use period, and trails that will remain under closure from winter storm damage.  Recreation in the form of trail use, fishing and hunting, and camping is a critical need for Oregonians.  And, the Tillamook State Forest provides the closest state forest recreation opportunities to the population of the Portland Metropolitan area.
 
We Oregonians love our landscape and we want to enjoy our time exploring it with our families.  Forest recreation provides a large draw for local in-state tourists as well as out of state tourist.  Given the current economic times it is projected that many tourists are going to stay closer to home on their trips.  It is important to provide local opportunities for recreation and to create sustainable funding sources for these opportunities.
 
Thank you for supporting the People and the Lands that make this a beautiful State.
 
Ryan W. Kilgren
Tillamook Recreation Advisory Committee:
Mountain Bike Community Representative
AND
Member of the Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP)