From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Aug 11 08:07:26 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:07:26 -0700 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Forest Biomass Work Group meets August 22 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601FF6FE411@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS BRIEF Forest Biomass Work Group meets August 22 in Salem August 11, 2011 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 A workgroup of representatives from state and federal government, forest industries, renewable energy development and the environmental community will meet in Salem on August 22 to talk about the role of Oregon's forests in providing energy production from wood. The Forest Biomass Work Group will meet on Monday August 22 at 10:00 a.m. in the Administration Building (Tillamook meeting room) of the Oregon Department of Forestry complex, 2600 State Street in Salem. Time is provided in the agenda for a working lunch - participants may bring their own lunch or contribute money towards a shared lunch. Members of the public attending the meeting are encouraged to bring a lunch. The proposed agenda for the meeting includes discussion about emerging opportunities for development of aviation biofuels markets in the Pacific Northwest, updates from topic-area work teams, and discussion about development of a Woody Biomass Rural Development Strategy for Oregon. Members of the public are invited to participate in the meeting. The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at (503) 945-7427. Forest biomass is a renewable source of energy, as wood biomass is generated as a by-product of active forest management. Additional information about the Oregon Department of Forestry is available on ODF's web site, www.oregon.gov/ODF. ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer ODF Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Aug 24 09:13:47 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:13:47 -0700 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Forestry Board to discuss fire economics, biomass at Lakeview meeting Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601FF755CD7@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY - News Release Forestry Board to discuss fire economics, biomass at Lakeview meeting For immediate release Major media distribution August 22, 2011 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Dan Postrel, 503-945-7420, dpostrel at odf.state.or.us The economics of wildfire protection, management of federal forestlands, and use of forest biomass are among topics that the Oregon Board of Forestry will take up at its Sept. 7 meeting in Lakeview. On Sept. 8, the board will tour a large area of insect-killed timber on federal and private forestland. SEPT. 7 - BOARD OF FORESTRY MEETING Wildfire economics project - The board will hear a presentation on the U.S. Wildfire Cost-Plus-Loss Economics project, an effort to better assess the true costs of fighting wildfires. The project has developed an improved method for defining the economic effects of wildfires on people's lives and livelihoods, structures and cultural and natural resources. Federal Forestlands Advisory Committee - The board will receive an update on the work of a public/private partnership to implement the committee's recommendations for management of the federally owned forests in Oregon. The recommendations are contained in the board's report, "Achieving Oregon's Vision for Federal Forestlands," adopted in January 2009. Oregon forest biomass - A panel will discuss the use of forest biomass (such as tree limbs, mill residuals and other byproducts of forest management) in Oregon and examine future opportunities. Projects currently underway in the state use forest biomass to generate electricity, heat buildings, produce specialized fuels and provide other forest products. At the direction of Senate Bill 1072 (2005 legislative session), ODF seeks to foster an environment in which Oregon's forest biomass industry can flourish while improving forest health conditions. Wildfire funding issues/opportunities - The board will hold a follow-up discussion with ODF staff of various wildfire protection funding-related items that were discussed at its June meeting. Biological diversity policy responsibilities - ODF staff will describe how current statutes and administrative rules influence biological diversity through department programs. This discussion is follow-up to a white paper, "An Overview of Contemporary Biological Diversity Conservation in Oregon," that was presented to the board in March. Executive session - At the conclusion of its public meeting, the board will hold an executive session to discuss the State Forester's regular performance review. The Sept. 7 meeting is open to the public, and comments will be received on forestry-related items not included in the agenda during a general comment period shortly after 8 a.m. Members of the public wishing to comment on specific agenda items will have an opportunity to address the board during the time each item is scheduled. Meeting time and location - The board meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Lakeview Interagency Office, Fremont-Winema National Forest Headquarters, in the Lost Forest/Crane Conference Rooms, located at 1301 S. G St., in Lakeview. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assistance can be arranged by calling the department's Agency Affairs Office at least 48 hours before the meeting, 503-945-7200, text telephone 503-945-7213. SEPT. 8 - BOARD OF FORESTRY TOUR At 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, the Board of Forestry will tour the "red zone," a large tract infested by mountain pine beetle, located primarily in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. The dead and dying trees pose a significant wildfire hazard to the National Forest as well as adjacent private lands. Tour speakers will discuss the challenges affected landowners face and the response of wildland fire agencies to the added risk. Members of the public are welcome to join the tour but must provide their own transportation. The tour will depart from the Oregon Department of Forestry office, located at 2290 North Fourth St., in Lakeview. A tour briefing will be held at 8 a.m. Members of the public wishing to join the Board are asked to bring their lunch and provide their own transportation. More information on the Board of Forestry can be found at: www.oregonforestry.gov. Background information on the Sept. 7 meeting, including staff reports, is available through the 2011 "Meeting Schedules" link on the website. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: