Voices of Humboldt County » Lengthening time limit on Logging bill makes it to Senate: Demand a ‘NO’ vote on AB 1066

Humboldt Watershed Council

Lengthening time limit on Logging bill makes it to Senate: Demand a ‘NO’ vote on AB 1066

Written by: admin

AB 1066 the 5 year THP bill, which
also allows for two one-year extensions making THPs good for up to 7 years,
passed the Assembly late last month on a vote of 53-12 (17 abstaining). Originally proposed as a 10 year
(+2) THP bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Mendoza of Los Angeles, the bill was
amended in a compromise in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. Mendoza's
wife is from Santa Cruz and rumor has it that she has a family member who works
for the local mill. Local Assemblymembers Monning,
Beall and Ruskin opposed AB1066, thanks in part to calls and letters from their
constituents. Environmentalists still oppose the
bill that would increase the time a timber harvest permit is valid from 3 to 5
years. While this helps timberla nd owners by allowing for 'market-timing' and
submission of larger THPs, it only increases the risk of cumulative impacts to
watersheds, fish, wildlife and neighborhoods. And it can't be good for loggers,
log haulers or mill workers.

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