Timber Firm Rejects Property Offered in Trade for Forest

An array of properties offered by the state as part of a $380-million trade to protect the ancient Headwaters Forest was rejected Tuesday by timber company officials, who said they prefer cash.

Pacific Lumber Co. of Scotia and its corporate parent, Texas-based Maxxam Corp., said none of the parcels suggested by the state were acceptable in the plan to save the redwoods. But they stopped short of saying the deal had been killed.

The state properties, valued at more than $130 million by state appraisers, include vacant pieces of agricultural land, an abandoned rock quarry, a 140-acre conservation camp in Shasta County, a state food testing lab in Alameda County and Department of Motor Vehicle offices in Roseville and Redding.

There was no immediate comment from the Wilson administration, which apparently was caught by surprise by the announcement.

Pacific Lumber and Maxxam declined to discuss specifics of the properties. They only said that some were legally encumbered and the use of others had sparked public opposition.

About $250 million in federal properties that were proposed as part of the agreement were not discussed in the companies’ statements.