by Roy C. Hengerson - Jan-Feb-2001
The Governor’s Chip Mill Advisory Committee ended its work and completed its report in August, 2000. The recommendations contained in the report are mostly weak – voluntary measures that may gradually improve the state of forest management in Missouri, but that are completely incapable of controlling the massive damage to forest eco–systems in areas with high capacity chip mills.
Since the report was released, Missouri’s environmental community has quietly been discussing ideas and planning actions that would pick up where the Advisory Committee left off. Particularly, there is broad agreement that some state legislation is needed to protect Missouri’s forests from large scale industrial forestry. An initial meeting was held on September 10 to begin the work of crafting legislation, finding sponsors for a chip mill bill or possibly several bills, and developing strategies for achieving passage of such bill(s). Additional meetings are scheduled.
There are two main ideas for state legislation. One is a bill that would focus exclusively on large chip mills. The other is for a more comprehensive forest practices act that would insure minimum standards are met when trees are logged, whether on public or private lands. Several states already have such forest practices laws, such as Washington and Oregon. A number of southeastern states, also faced with the threats from large chip mills, have enacted various proposals directed specifically at chip mills.
Working groups have been formed to make progress on a citizen’s campaign to enact legislation to control industrial forestry operations. These include a media team, an outreach team, a team to work on writing legislation, and teams working on development of campaign materials and action networks. The Ozark Chapter of the Sierra Club is working with other organizations and individuals in this effort. If you have an interest in protecting Missouri’s forests from the threat of high capacity chip mills, please let me know. We will add you to the network of citizens we are developing.
Contact: Roy Hengerson at 573–635–8066 or by e–mail at roy.hengerson@sierraclub.org