A big step forward
MAXXAM/Pacific Lumber Reach Agreement in Principle With U.S., California on Habitat Conservation, Sustained Yield Plans
HOUSTON and SCOTIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 1998-- -- MAXXAM Inc. and its forest products subsidiary, The Pacific Lumber Company, announced they have reached an agreement in principle with the federal government on a multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and with the state of California on a Sustained Yield Plan (SYP) covering the more than 200,000 acres of timberlands in Humboldt County, California, that Pacific Lumber will continue to own and manage after the Headwaters transaction is fully implemented.
While a number of other specific actions relating to the overall Headwaters Agreement need to be taken, including California's funding of its share of the acquisition and the submittal of a draft Environmental Impact Statement and draft Environmental Impact Report, the accord announced today is a major milestone that allows the parties to stay on a schedule for consummating the Headwaters preservation in early 1999.
The overall Headwaters Agreement was signed in September of 1996 by the companies and representatives of the United States and California governments. Once implemented, it will permanently preserve 7,500 acres of forest land, approximately 5,600 of which (including the Headwaters and Elk Head Springs virgin old growth forests and protective buffer zones) will come from Pacific Lumber. The other approximately 1,900 acres to be preserved will be acquired by the government from a third party and will provide additional habitat and buffering, including increased protection of the South Fork of the Elk River for the coho salmon and steelhead trout.
In addition, the HCP will require that most of Pacific Lumber's so-called lesser or remnant stands of virgin old growth redwood be restricted from harvesting, including salvage logging, until and unless scientific studies indicate that logging will not endanger or jeopardize the continued existence of the marbled murrelet, a coastal seabird designated as threatened. Also, stream-side buffer zones of various widths according to what the terrain dictates will be established throughout the watersheds on Pacific Lumber's land to ensure conservation of habitat important to numerous aquatic and amphibious species, including coho and chinook salmon and steelhead trout. Science-based watershed assessments will be performed to determine how protections can be most effectively implemented.
The "set-aside" of a substantial majority of the areas which, to some, have become known as the "lesser cathedrals," was not contemplated by the original, September 1996 Headwaters Agreement.
"This agreement in principle represents major concessions by MAXXAM and Pacific Lumber," said Charles E. Hurwitz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MAXXAM. "We agreed to the concessions in the interests of protecting the marbled murrelet, providing habitat for other wildlife and fish, and continuing the productivity and viability of a company that has been a mainstay of the California North Coast economy for nearly 130 years.
"Today's agreement is the result of enormous effort by federal and state regulators and company representatives relying on best-available science and a shared commitment to bringing the historic Headwaters Agreement an important step closer to successful conclusion," Hurwitz said.
John A. Campbell, President and CEO of Pacific Lumber, said, "The HCP described in this agreement -- and the aquatics strategy, in particular -- will be the most comprehensive, ecosystem management plan ever implemented on private timberlands in California. Once the HCP and SYP are finalized, we will have provided a reasonable level of security for our company and our employees while, at the same time, recognized and protected the special environmental characteristics of Pacific Lumber's forest lands.
"A number of governmental representatives have played key roles in reaching this agreement, including, on the federal level, United States Senator Dianne Feinstein, Deputy Secretary of Interior John Garamendi, and team leaders Mike Spear, Bill Hogarth, and Tom Tuchmann, and, on the state level, California Governor Pete Wilson and California Resources Secretary Doug Wheeler," Campbell said. "We appreciate their efforts and those of Congressman Frank Riggs and other members of Congress; their continued involvement and commitment is essential to the finalization of the Headwaters Agreement and its implementation." |
