Emergency Salvage Law

It appears there is little hope for your editorial staff to understand natural resource and land management issues (“ ‘Reform’ Bills for the Round File,” editorial, Feb. 26).

First, the emergency salvage law is not “logging without laws” as environmentalists claim, but a streamlining of the cumbersome and litigious process of approving timber sales on the most unhealthy and fire-prone forests on federal lands, rather “logging without litigation.” It is a short-term environmental and economic fix that President Clinton signed last year.

Second, HR 2032, which would offer states the opportunity to manage Bureau of Land Management lands, brings government closer to people who can most effectively make land-use decisions. Currently, states are rendered impotent in making decisions affecting their own cultures and economies where federal lands occupy up to 80% or more of the land base. You refer to recreation being a loser in this bill. Why then do many recreation groups overwhelmingly support it?

Finally, HR 2081, the “Rights-of-Way Settlement Act” would protect family farms, ranches and municipalities from losing road access to their property. In states like Utah, Nevada, Alaska and parts of California, small islands of private property are surrounded by expansive, often barren federal land. Roads are already being closed and the Clinton administration wants more.

DONN ZEA, Vice President

California Forestry Assn.

Sacramento