HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Resolution 526RESOLUTION N0. 526
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 1645 REGARDING
FURTHER STUDY ON THE NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL
WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to list
the Northern Spotted Owl (Stria Occidentalis Caurina), hereinafter
referred to as the "spotted owl", as a threatned species under the
Endangered Species Act;
WHEREAS, all timber sales containing old-growth timber in the spot-
ted owl's range have been blocked by the federal courts;
WHEREAS, old-growth forests on National Forest System lands in
Oregon and. Washington annually provide about 5 billion board feet of
timber to the Nation's economy;
WHEREAS, of the 6.2 million acres of old-growth in the national
forests of Oregon and Washington, 3.2 million acreas are already off
limits to logging, leaving only 3 million acres of old-growth timber
to help provide future timber supplies;
WHEREAS, if the. spotted owl was listed as a threatened species and
associated protection efforts were put in place -
1) 2.6 million acres of National L'orest System land. suitable for
timber production. in Oregon and Washington could be placed off-limits
to logging activity, resulting in significant economic displacement in
communities dependent on the forest products industry as well as
adversly affecting the Nation's timber supply;
2) land that would be removed from timber production would immedi-
ately reduce the annual national forest timber supply by 2.5 billion
RESOLUTION N0. 526 HR1645/RESO
(063089)
board feet (50 percent of supply);
3) 100,000 to 160,000 people would be put aut of work in Oregon
and Washington because of cancelled timber sale contracts and reduced
timber supply, plus additional losses in California and losses in
states that supply products to the Northwest, and that in the long-
term, 34,000 jobs will be eliminated in Oregon and Washington;
4) local governments in Oregon. and Washington could lose up to
$150 million annually, funds which are used for construction and main-
tenance of roads, schools, and vital services;
WHEREAS, studies concluding that the spotted owl is a threatened or
endangered species which are based in part on data collected by strap-
ping transmitters on the backs of juvenile and adult owls may be
faulty and may have contributed to a higher mortality rate and a lower
reproductive rate for young owls than observed in the field;
WHEREAS, additional studies conducted to date have largely ignored
surveying for the spotted owl in non-old-growth timber stands, and
there are many indications that suggest that while the spotted owl may
prefer old-growth, it is not dependent on it for survival, now, there-
fore,
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE. CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CENTRAL POINT that the City of Central Point, Oregon endorses legisla-
tion (H.R. 1645) introduced in the House of Representatives by Repre-
sentative Robert F. (Bob) Smith which:
A. requires additional comprehensive studies should be undertaken
to detmine the actual range and habitat requirements of the
spotted owl
B. states that there should be a 5 year exemption from the
RESOLUTION NO. 526 HR1645/RESO
(063089)
Endangered Species Act for timber sales and related. activites
during such studies, in order to protect the communities depen-
dent on the supply of Federal timber from a premature decision
on the status of the spotted owl and to allow sufficient time
to collect reliable data on the threatened. or endangered
status. of the spatted owl.
Passed by the Council and signed by me in authentication of
~~,~[, ~ I
its passage this ~"" " day of / 1989.
.. J.
l'1 ~~?ice _~F'
Mayor
ATTEST:
~i~~;~ , ~.~~ ,.er
Designated C'-ty Official
Approved by me this r~ day o
Mayor
RESOLUTION N0. 526 HR1645/RESO
(063089)