Timber Exec Wants To Rev Up Lands Debate

A timber industry official fears a committee studying state management of federal lands could hit a rough road because it currently is not provoking much internal debate.

Joe Hinson, executive vice president of the Intermountain Forest Industry Association, said Wednesday there will not be a lot of disagreement among the state Land Board task force’s 18 members on what to suggest.

But he is afraid the members are simply postponing debate until after the recommendation comes out next summer. Then the group runs the risk of having “a big fight” instead of arriving at consensus, Hinson said.

Task force co-chairman, Republican state Sen. Judi Danielson of Council, said members are educating and expressing themselves. They started focusing on what is practical in May, but they are far from a final recommendation, she said.