The Forest Service rejected an Office of Inspector General recommendation for the creation of a national cadre as a streamlined hub of training and expertise for significant regional staff as part of a new national timber theft investigation effort. Regions have assembled their own units of trained personnel committed to major timber theft investigation. In many regions, Forest Service law enforcement may not even initiate investigations without permission of Forest Service line managers or timber management staff. This white paper highlights one major timber theft investigation that the Forest Service has obstructed. The 'Rodeo case,' a two prong investigation of multi-million dollar theft through abuses of salvage sales in California and Oregon.
Problems are ongoing.
Illegal export of unfinished Forest Service timber, costing American mill workers their jobs. The white paper recommends the establishment of a national program to prevent, detect and investigate commercial timber theft. The white paper also calls for an end to retaliation against the Forest Service special agents and investigators who brought these concerns to light.