CLEAR-CUTS ABOVE HOMES OUGHT TO BE OUTLAWED, The Oregonian, 10Dec96

CLEAR-CUTS ABOVE HOMES OUGHT TO BE OUTLAWED
The Oregonian; Portland, Or.; Dec 10, 1996;

Sub Title:	[SUNRISE Edition]
Start Page:	B09

Abstract:
On Nov. 18, four of my neighbors died in a tragic landslide one mile from my home. Since then, I have learned that the timber directly above my home and six other homes is being readied for logging. These mountainsides are very steep and have a history of slides. It is much like the terrain above the home where my neighbors were killed.

Full Text:
Copyright Oregonian Publishing Company Dec 10, 1996

On Nov. 18, four of my neighbors died in a tragic landslide one mile from my home. Since then, I have learned that the timber directly above my home and six other homes is being readied for logging. These mountainsides are very steep and have a history of slides. It is much like the terrain above the home where my neighbors were killed.

Out of concern for my home and safety, I began to look into this proposed logging on privately owned land. land owned by Roseburg Forest Products. The spokesman The owner's spokesman stated that there are no immediate plans for logging, but I hardly believe that the company built new roads for recreational use.

Several times I have heard the Oregon Department of Forestry say that there is nothing to be done about it. It is private property. One home was even pointed out as being in the way of slides.

The Forest Practices Act is obviously inadequate to protect the lives and property of many rural residents. At this time I am completely helpless to protect myself, my home and all of my belongings. The law should not allow logging practices that produce at least three times the number of landslides than what occur in uncut forest, especially above private residences.

KAREN HENDERSON

Umpqua

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.