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1996 FWOC
Resolution
No. 13:
PLUM CREEK LAND EXCHANGE
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Efforts are being made to
arrange a land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and the Plum
Creek Timber Company (located in the Cascade Mountains of Washington)
to improve the management of the ecological and recreational resources
of this area. Such an exchange plan should contain the following
provisions.
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1. The Plum Creek
Timber Company should offer (for exchange) 40,000 acres of land between
Mount Rainier and Alpine Lakes, to include major roadless areas
(approximately 36,000 acres) and river corridors.
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2. The Company
should defer logging for at least two years in the roadless areas in
the exchange. Any other logging on "offered" lands should only be
selective cuts with no road construction.
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3. The Company
should agree to comply with landscape plans, or Habitat Conservation
Plans (HCPs) for forest lands that it receives in trade. Such
plans should be prepared with full public involvement.
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4. The Company
should agree to sell lands to the Forest Service, if such federal funds
are available.
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5. The Company
should donate unroaded lands adjacent to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
(e.g., Scatter Creek) to add these lands to the designated wilderness.
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6. The Forest
Service should identify as candidates for trade federal forest lands
that are already roaded and/or fragmented forests. These should
be limited to lands within the Cascades or the State of Washington.
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7. The Forest
Service should utilize "cash equalization" funds to reduce the amount
of national forest lands required for the trade.
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8. The Forest
Service should prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement on any
exchange.
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The Federation of Western
Outdoor Clubs supports the above proposals as set forth in the
Checkerboard Project of the Cascade Chapter of the Sierra Club.
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...................................................................................................................
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Federation members and Member Clubs who
wish to support this land exchange should send a copy of the above
Resolution, along with comments of their own on this issue, to:
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The Plum Creek Timber Company (Address to
be provided)
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Chief, U.S. Forest Service (See
Listing at the end of these Resolutions)
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Regional Forester, Pacific Northwest
Region USFS
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Governor, and Congressional Delegations
for the State of Washington
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Superintendent of Public Lands, State of
Washington
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