By Andrea Calcagno & Associated Press
 
November 19, 2008
 
GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- The debate surrounding a plan to boost logging on 2.6 million acres of federal lands in Western Oregon continues.
 
On Thursday community members held a meeting in Grants pass to discuss the Western Oregon Plan Revisions, or WOPR, with a panel of experts.
 
Late last month, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management changed its mind on fast-tracking a decision about the WOPR. Faced with a lawsuit from conservation groups, the agency decided to allow the public 30 days to voice protests over the plan.
 
In an environmental impact statement released in October, the BLM said the WOPR assures an increased but sustainable timber harvest and the protection of federally listed wildlife. The report detailed the anticipated affects of increased logging on BLM managed O&C lands.
 
The WOPR is the result of an out-of-court settlement between the timber industry and Bush administration officials.
 
The timber industry sued the federal government because timber companies had not been reaching agreed upon harvest quotas established under the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan, during President Bill Clinton's administration.
 
WOPR will replace the Northwest Forest Plan.
 
The BLM has been working out this plan for five years. It proposed four different alternative plans last year, and reviewed over 30,000 public comments before making its final report in September.
 
When community members asked Josephine County for permission to hold the forum, the only requirement was that they include a balanced group of panelists.
 
"I think it puts out on the table the expertise of a variety of people," says Panelist Roger Brandt.
 
Brandt says the WOPR will increase logging but hurt the tourism and recreation industries.
 
"Basically trying to create jobs for the timber industry by taking away the values in the forest that are important to the economic stability of the other industries," says Brandt.
 
However, those in favor of the WOPR say it is essential to the growth of the state's economy.
 
"We are sitting at this moment with a terrific natural resource that could be used for production into an economy. And we're just sitting on it," says Panelist Jack Swift.