KANE – Once again, officials of the Allegheny Forest Alliance
voiced concern about the fact that PL 106-393 has not been
re-authorized, particularly since the last payment will be made
this spring

The Act, also known as Secure Rural Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act, is funding from timber receipts in
“guaranteed payments” from the federal government, rather than a 25
percent funding method which would mean that Forest, Elk, Warren
and McKean counties would split a prorated share of 25 percent of
the total timber harvest receipts.

Allegheny National Forest Supervisor Kathleen Morse said Monday
night that the payment this year will be $6.49 million, up a
“smidge” this year from last.

This funding is dispersed by the government to the counties
which in turn pass it on to the school districts and
municipalities.

“We know that John (Peterson, R- Pa.) is still working on
getting re-authorization of that bill,” said Jack Hedlund,
executive director of the AFA at Monday’s annual meeting at the
Kane Middle School.

“There is no benefit to the 25 percent payment,” added
Hedlund.

He said members of AFA and Sue Swanson of Allegheny Hardwood
Utilization Group had been meeting with Friends of Allegheny
Wilderness people because it is “important to see where they are
coming from.”

“There is no ‘tit for tat.’ We give and don’t get … slowly, our
resources are being taken away from us,” said Heldund, referring to
meetings with FAW. “They have an insatiable appetite that can’t be
quenched until the forest is taken.”

FAW has proposed that more wilderness be designated in the new
forest plan to be completed in March. Wilderness areas are those
that are not trammeled and those that will not be harvested of
timber.

AFA is a non-profit coalition of school districts, townships,
recreation groups, and businesses that supports sustainable
forestry, environmental stewardship and multiple-use management of
the ANF.

U.S. Rep. John Peterson, the first speaker of the evening, said
that in order for the Secure Rural Schools Act to be reauthorized,
funding needs to be found to support it.

“We’d like to fund the Secure Rural Schools Act. We need more
discussion, the first chance we get, the first opportunity, we will
discuss it,” Peterson said.

Peterson said his office realizes that “we have a gem here” in
the Allegheny National Forest.

“It’s my opinion that America depends on foreign oil with
unstable countries – unstable governments. We are not competitive
on energy prices,” he said. “America needs to realize our own
natural resources.

“If America stays in this mode, we will not compete … this
country will not have a future,” added Peterson ,saying that he
also supports aggressive timbering and agriculture practices.

Undersecretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and
Environment Mark Rey was also on hand at the meeting. He started
his talk with letting members of the AFA know that many committee
members have changed with the new democratically controlled
Congress. He discussed the potential for those changes to affect
decisions made by Congress.

“You will also see an attitude change in the career civil
servants in wildlife (areas) and the Environmental Protection
Agency … they may believe they can be more aggressive to pursue
their own agendas,” said Rey.

Rey said that the Congress needs to learn how to work across
party lines. He provided examples such as the 2005 Energy Policy
Act and the Farm Bill.

Rey added that in 2007, one big item to be worked on is the farm
bill as forestry is tied to it. He added that the bill includes
incentive programs for landowners to plant trees.

He also agreed with Peterson that to re-authorize the Secure
Rural Schools Act, they need to find funding.

“Finding funding is not easy,” he said.

Morse addressed the AFA members and told them she looked over
more than 500 letters they received as comments regarding the
proposed Land and Resource Management Plan and the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement.

“I (recognize) the passion and good knowledge (in the letters).
I took them home and looked them over,” she said. “I believe we can
make most of you “pretty” happy.”

Morse is talking about the forest plan which is to be unveiled
sometime in mid-March.

“There will be changes, but they won’t be sweeping,” added
Morse.

Speaking of her arrival a little over a year ago Morse said,
“When I first got here (I heard) the timber program had dried up. I
promised a steady increase to get back on step. That year there was
a sale of 29 MMBF, and this year, which started in October, and (by
the end of) February will be 35 MMBF – that’s the highest level
offered since 1997.”

She also explained that if the municipalities and school
districts had relied on the 25 percent payment plan, that they
would have received $1 million less this year than last.

During the question portion of the evening, Morse was asked what
worried her the most regarding the health of the forest.

“I am concerned about things that are not in our control,” she
said, explaining that she meant the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and the
Emerald Ash Borer, pests that threaten the health of the
forest.

“When it comes to the age of trees, we can get control,” she
added. “Beyond our borders there are more concerns.”