Port Commissioner Colleen McAleer called the meeting to order a little after 10 a.m. and told the audience that the meeting would be informal and encouraged attendees to interact with questions and comments as things went along. Port Commissioners Connie Beauvais and Steven Burke also were in attendance.

In opening statements by the commissioners, McAleer said that they all had just returned from attending the Logging Conference in Victoria and said if there was one theme at the conference, it was that “industry needs to come together” and promote the sustainable aspect of timber.

Beauvais said, “I see us moving into a new era with timber, we need to find a better way to manage our forests.”

The newest commissioner Burke said he was in a learning mode and was looking to “absorb” what he could about timber industry issues.

Mike Nimmo, marine terminal and log yard manager for the Port and Karen Goschen, interim executive director for the Port, gave a presentation on an Action Plan for Promoting Advanced Wood Products Timber Advocacy.

Port planning

In the 2016 budget, the Port has budgeted $50,000 for a timber strategic initiative. They are looking to promote Advanced Wood Products (AWP) which includes Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and engage in timber advocacy. The plan would promote innovative value added wood products manufacturing while working to achieve a reliable and sustainable timber harvest. Again the key factor is a reliable timber supply through an increase in sustainable timber harvests on DNR and Federal managed timberlands.

 

 

Current activities

The Port is participating in timber advocacy through participation in the Trust Lands Advocacy Committee (TLAC). The goal is to continue to engage with the DNR in hopes of fulfilling the trust lands objective and explore the advantages of re-conveyance of state trust lands back to Clallam County.

Rod Fleck, City of Forks Attorney-Planner, next addressed the group. Fleck talked about the loss Forks has seen with the closing of the mills, most recently Allen’s. Fleck said these are good family wage jobs that will not be easy to get back, again citing the unpredictable timber supply as a contributing factor to the loss of these jobs.

Fleck spoke of the building of the new Rainforest Arts Center and the desire to use AWP in its construction, “Although the outside of the RAC is other materials, the RAC is an all wood building.” Fleck said. He spoke of a pilot project at the ONRC that would use CLT and be a joint project with the City of Forks. Commissioner McAleer asked, “What is needed to move forward?” Fleck said permitting could be streamlined but that a main issue would be supply of the products.

Matt Comisky, American Forest Resource Council, represents 50 mills in five western states. Comisky updated on timber harvest numbers, the marbled murrelet, the Washington State Experimental Forest and collaborative activities.

Joe Murray, with the Trust Lands Advisory committee, updated on the progress the new group has made. Murray’s biggest complaint was that he can’t get inventory numbers from the DNR. Murray said, “We really need the inventory,” adding he had asked back in December and still has not gotten the information.

Phil Kitchel, former District 3 county commissioner, thanked Fleck for all the work he has done on staying up to date on the timber arrearage issue. Arrearage is the difference between how much was planned to be harvested and actual harvest. The arrearage is not only a factor in the unpredictable timber supply, it is affecting schools, hospitals and other entities as they are not receiving these tax dollars.

McAleer discussed Gov. Jay Inslee’s new Clean Air Cap Rule that will go into effect in September. She also said she possibly would seek forming a timber industry advisory group to help the commissioners make decisions that they may not have the expertise to make.

She added, “We would like to make decisions that are in the best interest of all.”