County to intervene in salvage logging lawsuit

The Flathead County commissioners agreed to intervene in a timber lawsuit on Thursday, saying they want to "send a message" in support of local sawmills.

The lawsuit was filed earlier this month by the Swan View Coalition and Friends of the Wild Swan.

The groups have asked for a preliminary injunction halting work on nine salvage logging sales, which together involve about 64 million board feet of timber burned in massive fires during 2003.

Ron Buentemeier, general manager of Stoltze Lumber Co., said the projects represent millions of dollars in wages and fees for the local economy, as well as much-needed raw material for local mills.

"To me, this is a very important economic factor in Flathead County," he said. "It means a lot of dollars to our community."

The Montana Wood Products Association and several timber firms, including Stoltze, intervened in the lawsuit on behalf of the Flathead National Forest, which was named as defendant.

Buentemeier asked the commissioners for their support as well.

Commissioners Gary Hall and Bob Watne approved the request after Hall blasted the environmental groups for what he viewed as their long history of filing "frivolous" lawsuits.

"We've been watching them do this for 20 years now," Hall said. "They're attempting to keep even salvage logging from taking place. These lawsuits have nothing to do with reality. It's basically a no-cut philosophy, and our county has suffered tremendously as a result."

Citing the lost wages, lost

tax revenue and lost federal payments that stem from reduced timber harvests, he said county taxpayers ultimately bear the burden for this no-cut approach.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman was present at Thursday's meeting, but declined to vote on Buentemeier's request. He said he was concerned that it would worsen the situation and make finding a solution even harder.

"I absolutely agree that those logs need to come out, and they need to come out this summer," he said. "My question is, what's the best way to help make that happen? I think if the county intervenes in the lawsuit, it won't help and it might actually work against us."

Brenneman said he thought mediation offered the best chance for a quick resolution.

"I called the different parties involved [in the lawsuit], and nobody said they don't want these logs taken out," he said. "The issue is the manner in which they're taken and what happens afterwards."

At the time the lawsuit was filed, Swan View Coalition Chairman Keith Hammer noted that the timber sales involve helicopter logging after June 1 in core grizzly bear habitat - an area that's supposed to be closed to motorized use during the nondenning season, which runs roughly from April to November.

The lawsuit also makes several other claims related to road-closure guidelines and forest plan amendments.

Hall said he had little faith that Friends of the Wild Swan or the Swan View Coalition are truly interested in resolving this dispute.

"We've been here before," he said. "These groups sue, and negotiation isn't part of their consideration. I think by intervening, we can send a message that we support what Stoltze and the other mills are doing. It's time we intervene, and in the future I think we need to be even more involved."

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com