Winter 1999Issue 3

What a great day -- it was a day of learning and logging. People got to see Clifford Cox and Roy Morgan use their horses to log out selected trees without damage to surrounding trees and minimal damage to the soil. Thus, showing landowners that heavy machinery and clear-cutting are not the only ways to harvest timber.
They learned about native plants from naturalist, Doug Elliott.
They heard Native American tales and were given a basket weaving demonstration from Nancy Basket.
They took wagon rides from Henry Edwards with the help of Shelley Marquis and her horse, Billy the Kid.
They ate and visited and had a grand old time.
It just was a perfect day with God and the weather cooperating.
CCRC would like to thank everyone who came, and to give a special thanks to Donna and Rodney Robbins for the use of their trees and land.

Also, to all those who donated their time -- Thank you.

Each morning begins the usual way, waking up. Ater this the real work begins, bringing up and evaluating e-mail. Once the e-mail is sorted and evaluated (deleting the massive amount of junk), the phone calls begin.

There are calls to government officials concerning assessment studies or permit regulations, calls to state law enforcement agencies about logging truck safety, calls to committee members about plans for future community actions, calls to other chip mill groups or organizations, and calls to organize people to fight a chip mill in their community.

Then comes the letter writting -- that is letters to government official;s, state enforcement officials, members of the North Carolina Assessment Study, chip mill and lumber companies, and other environmental organizations fighting chip mills.

Then there is the arranging of trips to chip mill communities in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and monthly trips to Raleigh, NC to be on the Chip Mill Advisory Board.

One must not forget the office help (me). There is work to be organized, assigned, and completed -- phew; and to keep the organization solvent, there is the tedious task of grant writing, solicitation work, and other fundraising activities.

Once a week during the evening, attend a meeting with the local chip mill group to plan the upcoming week and during the day make trips for postage and mailings and also have copying done at the local copying company.

Remember one must have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes, this amounts to preparing and serving of same.

One must have interaction with family members and if one is unlucky enough to have children, arrange time for homework, after school functions, and fuctions such as swimming, soccer, and/or piano.

If this sounds impossible, it is not. My wife goes through this more times than not. Everyone who knows her tells her to slow down, but Lynne is determined and dedicated. Even though things have been hectic, chaotic, frustrating, exhausting, and humorous ath times, the bottom line is that I still love you.

Tim and Deborah mabe, who have given of themselves time and time again, through their actions, words, smiles, open doors and hearts, time, and dollats. We could never have fought this battle without them, our "knights" on the front line.

Bonnie Tuttle, whose service as Treasurer has been constant and dependable, loyal and true. Our $25,000 raised in the battle would mean nothing without her assistance in keeping track of all the donations, invoices, and legal payments. We could have never fought this battle without her, our "general" on the front.

If you have any questions and/or comments about the case, please do not hesitate to contact Meredith McLeod, Hickory Alliance Community Coordinator, at 336-854-9432 or email her.

On October 22, CCRC, along with the Hickory Alliance, and other groups attended the NC chip mill Advisory Committee Meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to hear presentations on the data that four researchers had collected. Thre researchers were 1) Dan Richter on inpacts of logging on road systems, stream zone management, Best management Practicces compliance, and erosion recovery rates, 2) James Gregory on general stormwater quality compliance of 12 chip mills participating in the study, 3) P.B. Aruna on tourism and the timber industry, and 4) Rex Schaberg on trends in softwood and hardwood pulp production in four areas of North Carolina and the correlation between chip mills and pulpwood harvest levels. The remaining researchers will present their data on December 17th in Raleigh.

The Study was commissioned in October 1996, began in 1998, and will be finished and sent to the Govenor inMarch 2000. Throughout the Study, it has become very evident to CCRC that trends in timber production are changing rapidly and citizens want to see sustainable communities and forestry become part of these trends. CCRC supports the following recommendations:

1. The Legislature should amend the Sedimentation Pollution and DControl Act to make Best Management Practices (BMPs) mandatory on all commercial timber harvests. This includes clarification of the state law to assure BMPs are required, monitored, and enforced on all timber sites. This would cover issues such as water quality, stream zone management/buffers, use of herbicides, and further educational information.
2. The Legislature's amendments to the Sedimentation Pollution and Control Act should requjire commercial timber harvesters to notify the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources (DFR) when they intend to harvest their timber. Prior notification would give DFR the opportunity to provide sustainable forestry information, conduct inspections, and enforce water quality laws on timbered sites.
3. Tax subsidies for the non-industrial private landowner replanting their forestlands with a variety of tree species and cultivating wildlife habitat.
4. Statewide registration of loggers; support of the Pro-Logger Course with state certification; and incentives for loggers who have passed the Pro-Logger Course and practice BMPs.
5. The Legislature should eliminate the state tax credit for exporting wood chips, or at least allow this credit to expire when it sunsets in 2001.
6. Sustainable incentives for communities that are dealing with distress and impacts of chip mills.
7. The DFR should be required to develop a plan to enhance the reforestation program to meet the goals of sustainable forestry throughout North Carolina.

The following researchers and others will be making presentations at the December 17th meeting in Raleigh. Sarah Warren on communities and socio-economics; Anthony Snider on non-inductrial private landowners; and George hess on wildlife species. After this, we will have a much clearer idea of what the entire study data will look like. ***Also, mark your calendars, and come to the Chip Mill Public Education Forum on January 18th. We will keep you posted.

Bill Belitskus moved to McKean County, Pennsylvania in 1981. He holds a degree i Osychology frin Duquesne University and a Masters in Education from the University of Pittsburgh.

Bill was in the Army, serving in Military intelligence in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, as did his tow older brothers. He was also a teacher in the Pittsburgh area.

In 1982, Bill moved to Lantz Corners where he homesteads on a 25 acre woodlot. He has worked as a private contractor doing construction, landscaping and woodworking. He is actively involved on the local, state, and regional levels to protect our air and water quality and to develop sustainable communities throughout the Appalacian Region.

In 1994, Willamette Industries began operation of a c hip mill in Hamlin Township, PA. The Township Supervisors approved the mill without citizen's knowledge. These citizens, led by Bill, formed PROACT to oppose operation of the mill. The litigation efforts by Bill have established new state law related to a citizen's rights to bring suit under the Clean Water Act, and requiring that corporation environmental compliance histories are considered when approving environmental permits for chip mills and related industries. Furthermore, his petitions to the EPA have resulted in Clean Air Act citations of the local Willamette Industries' paper mill that is supplied by their chip mill.

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