Under the program, timber companies will perform forest maintenance projects for the Forest Service in exchange for timber. Burns said he hopes this is a first step toward a long-term approach that will allow forest managers to take the health of ecosystems into account. Second, Burns insisted to Furnish that the Forest Service quickly reestablish an expedited review process for time-sensitive timber sales or smaller sales with minimal environmental impacts. Burns told Furnish he expects the Forest Service to move a new CE rule through the federal rulemaking process soon. Stepping up timber sales will improve forest health and put some of our towns back on their feet.
Every step counts to Montana's timber communities that are dying on the vine.
Burns is a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which oversees the Forest Service.