SW Oregon Regional Forest Practices Committee, Oct. 24

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The Southwest Oregon Regional Forest Practices Committee will meet Thursday, Oct., 24 at the Oregon Department of Forestry office, 5357 Monument Drive in Grants Pass starting at 9 a.m. Topics to be covered include: Selection of Operator of the Year; Updates on a variety of other topics, including: Reforestation implementation study; Siskiyou project; Western Oregon Desired Future; Condition/Large-wood project; Interagency work on water quality and mercury levels; Wildlife food plot rules; Interagency agreements regarding fish passage; Marbled murrelet protection rules. There will be an opportunity for public comment near the beginning of the meeting. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to Susan Dominique at 503-945-7502 or susan.dominique@oregon.gov. Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens – mandated under Oregon law – that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry on current forestry issues and forest management approaches. Three Regional Forest Practices Committees, serving the Eastern, Northwest and Southwest regions of the state, were created by the 1971 Oregon Forest Practices Act. Under Oregon law, a majority of the committees’ members must be private forest landowners and logging or forest operations companies. Oregon’s forests are among the state’s most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic and social benefits. Additional information about ODF’s Regional Forest Practice Committees is available on the Oregon Department of Forestry’s web site: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/RFPC.aspx.