What critics are saying about Sierra Pacific Industries

Fundinguniverse.com:

“The largest timber company in California, Sierra Pacific Industries harvests and mills timber in northern California. During the late 1990s, Sierra Pacific produced an estimated 1.3 billion board feet annually, ranking as the third-largest producer of lumber in the country behind Weyerhaeuser and Georgia-Pacific. The timber to produce the lumber was logged from 1,332,000 acres of land controlled by the company and its owners, the Emmerson family. At the head of the family was "Red" Emmerson, who began the business with his father. By virtue of the vast tracts of prime timberland owned by Sierra Pacific, Emmerson ranked as the largest private landowner in the country, a distinction he attained by eclipsing media mogul Ted Turner in 1997. . . .

“Nearing his seventies as the 1990s drew to a close, Emmerson had developed a voracious appetite for land late in life. The intensity of his desire for land was perhaps the single most important factor in Sierra Pacific's existence. With the next generation of Emmersons working beneath him at Sierra Pacific, Red Emmerson likely was imparting the importance of land ownership to his children: the inheritors of his business and the probable leaders of Sierra Pacific's future.

http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Sierra-Pacific-Industries-Company-History.html

George Draffan

“It is ironic that SPI uses the square-mile checkerboard pattern and the danger of forest fires as rationales for clearcutting, since both are fundamentally reasons for not clearcutting. The checkerboard pattern of clearcuts destroys the ability of alternating checkerboard forest to provide habitat for old growth-dependent species, since square-mile forest is essentially all edge. And while the majority of forest fires are caused by nature (lightning), most large forest fires, those which cause the most damage, are caused by logging operations.”

http://www.forestethics.org/downloads/SPI_Profile.pdf

(George Draffan is co-author with Derrick Jensen of Strangely Like War: The Global Assault on Forests (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2003). His website is http://www.endgame.org).

The Watershed (Forests Forever)

“A recent tour of the central Sierra in Calaveras County, conducted by members of the nonprofit environmental group Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch (EPFW), revealed to one writer a forest in crisis.

“Past EPFW president, marathon bicyclist and former NASA researcher Bruce Castle led the tour to survey the extent of damage inflicted on the range by Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI). This giant West Coast timber company has been rapidly clearcutting its vast landholdings in the Sierra since the mid-1990s.

“The logging method has left deep scars across the land. . . .”

http://www.forestsforever.org/WtrshdF08.FINAL.pdf


“More of the Sierra Nevada has been clearcut by SPI than by anyone else– and the company plans to clearcut 50 to 60 percent of its holdings over the next century, denuding 750,000 to 900,000 acres of Sierra forests. . . .

“The clearcuts left by SPI are turned into even-aged tree plantations, an agricultural approach to forestry that leans heavily on application of pesticides to clear competitive species that might slow the growth of commercially valuable treews.

“These single-species plantations lack completely the biodiversity found in a natural forest. Because of this, plantations make poor wildlife habitat.”

http://www.forestsforever.org/*WtrshdSP08.FINAL.pdf

Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch

“The only downside to clearcutting that SPI has ever acknowledged is that it is ugly. The only purpose of variable retention is to improve the view. It does improve the view (barely). . . .

“Jerry Franklin, the scientist who developed the process of variable retention, intended that between 10 and 40% of the trees be left, and that they include all the structural elements of a natural forest: different ages and sizes of trees, animal habitat, snags, and downed logs. The forest would be severely reduced, but still remain forest. SPI’s version involves cutting about 95% of the trees. What is left is no longer forest. It is not intended to be forest. It is intended to be a tree plantation. New trees will be planted, of uniform size and species. The forest will be a farm. Whether the initial chop is clearcut or variable retention, the goal is the same: forest removed; tree plantation installed. It is called even-aged management.”

http://www.epfw.org/documents/newsletter/Spring03.pdf

A Letter to SPI

Do you want to know why
We’re fighting, SPI?
It’s because we want to freeze
your destruction of our trees
We all have a fear
of forests cut so clear
That nothing can exist
in a desert in our midst!
From a human perspective
we want cutting that’s “selective.”
We would gladly forgive
if you’d live and let live.
But wanton destruction
will provoke our reaction
and in spite of your might
we’ll challenge and fight!
We want your attention
Not “variable retention.”
…
If you love U.S.A.
Then do as we say:
“Give the forests a break
For our grandchildren’s sake.
Reconsider and give.
Let our green forests live!”

Paul Fairbrook, Arnold, CA
September 15, 2003

http://www.epfw.org/documents/newsletter/Newsletter1203.pdf

“In public testimony in 1993, SPI claimed that clearcut-ting was good for the Spotted Owl, saying that it uses clearcuts and other even-age methods of har-vesting so “that we can provide the necessary types of habitat for the owl on a sustained basis.”

http://www.epfw.org/documents/newsletter/EPFWFall06.pdf

American Lands Alliance:

“Is every single aspect of Sierra Pacific Industry’s forestry operations ecologically damaging and unsustainable? Most likely not. However, it is clear that SPI’s forestry practices are systematically destroying and degrading many of the most critical ecological values associated with California’s forests, while also having some significant social impacts. Among other things, SPI is: converting relatively natural forests to ecologically impoverished pine plantations, eliminating habitat for imperiled species, logging rare old growth and late successional forest areas, seriously degrading streams and water quality, applying toxic chemicals at excessive and unnecessary levels, clearcutting at excessive rates and in forests better managed through selection forestry, logging sensitive areas in our National Forests while defrauding the public of the full value of this timber, beginning to convert its forests to residential sprawl and other nonforest land uses, and reducing competition within California’s forest products industry.

“Consumers should think twice when they see Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) or AF&PA Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) marketing claims and product labels. Clearly, SPI and its products should not be considered ‘sustainable,’ contrary to SPI’s marketing and product labelling claims -- including claims based on SPI’s certification under the AF&PA SFI. The fact that SPI has been certified under the AF&PA SFI demonstrates that the SFI lacks environmental and social credibility, and is not an adequate measure of sustainable forestry.”

http://credibleforestcertification.org/

LawyersandSettlements.com

“Anderson, CA: (Jun-26-07) The Office of the California Attorney General, the Air Resources Board, and the Placer County Air Pollution Control District brought charges against Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), alleging violations of air permits that began in 2001. The dispute arose over the misconduct of SPI employees who manipulated air emissions monitoring equipment at a boiler that generates electricity by burning wood waste in Lincoln, California. The practice was discovered in March 2001, by SPI management who immediately stopped and reported it to local, state and federal officials.”

http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements/08532/emission-manipulation.html

Air Resources Board (California Environmental Protection Agency):

“In late June, 2007, the California Air Resources Board, the Placer County Air Pollution Control District, and the California Attorney General reached a nearly $13 million civil settlement of a jointly prosecuted air pollution enforcement case against Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), a timber operations company and California’s largest private landowner. SPI, headquartered in Anderson, agreed to settle a civil complaint brought in 2004 alleging numerous violations of air pollution regulations. The complaints alleged that SPI operated sawmills and wood-fired boilers at their Lincoln, Quincy, Loyalton, and Susanville (now closed) facilities in violation of their air pollution control permits. . . .”

http://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/casesett/sierrapacific.htm

High Sierra Rural Alliance:

“As Sierra Pacific Industries’ change their focus from harvesting timber to real estate development, the forests of the Sierra Nevada face a new threat. According to CAL FIRE (previously California Department of Forestry), the rezoning of prime timberland from the timber production zone to a district which allows development could lead to a decrease in the productivity of adjoining timberlands, a decline in forest health, habitat fragmentation and increased wildfire hazard. . . .”

http://www.highsierrarural.org/Home/announcements/high-sierra-rural-alliance-sues-to-protect-timberland


“Some have questioned the timing of the High Sierra Rural Alliance’s challenge of Sierra Pacific Industries rezone of over 7000 acres of land zoned Timber Production to General Forest. Since SPI has not stated its specific intentions for the parcels, the logic goes HSRA’s challenge is based on the speculation that development will occur. SPI has stated the rezoned parcels will continue to be managed for timber production. But, the reality of that statement is just as speculative. . . .
“HSRA believes the rezone is contrary to the fundamental goals of the General Plan and threatens the pattern of rural clustered development the Plan embraces. The rezone is a policy level decision that would allow some form of development to occur in an area where virtually no development was possible. . . .”

http://www.highsierrarural.org/Home/announcements/why-is-the-challenge-to-sierra-pacific-industries-rezone-important

San Francisco Chronicle:

“The company owns so much of California - 1.7 million acres of the state's forestland - that its properties put together are well more than twice the size of Yosemite National Park. Company officials say it's a responsibility they take seriously. But some activists say Sierra Pacific Industries causes untold damage with their logging practices. . . .”

http://www.sfchroniclemarketplace.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/29/BAE7UTPD6.DTL

Los Angeles Times:

“In recent years, the privately held company has come under withering criticism over clear-cuts from elected leaders and residents in several Sierra counties. Although timber once dominated the Sierra economy, tourism is a leading fiscal engine–and forest beauty a prime concern.

“The company’s clear-cuts in Calaveras County along a scenic highway and astride a reservoir used for drinking water caused an uproar. Last year, Sierra Pacific halted operations there and launched a review of its cutting practices.

“Farther north in Nevada County, a pack of activists known as the Yuba Nation bedeviled the company, using acts of civil disobedience in hopes of thwarting logging along the Middle Fork of the Yuba River.”

http://articles.latimes.com/2001/apr/20/news/mn-53299

“The nearby sawmill has long since been demolished and you can dine on tofu with peanut sauce and a glass of Calaveras County red wine at a popular local restaurant.

“But logging trucks still rumble down winding California 4. And it’s hard to find anybody in this mountain community–which caters to retirees, second-home owners and tourists–who thinks cutting down trees is a sin.

“’This,’ noted county Supervisor Merita Callaway, ‘is not a Sierra Club kind of town.’

“So it’s with some surprise that little Arnold finds itself in a fight with the biggest private timberland owner in the state, Sierra Pacific Industries. The giant lumber company has begun logging a patchwork of about 50 clear-cut parcels above a local reservoir, and the town’s 4,000 year-round residents are in an uproar.

“Arnold’s reaction is evidence of growing concern over Sierra Pacific’s plans to eventually clear-cut the majority of its timber holdings, which have swelled in the last decade to 1.5 million acres in California, or about 1% of the entire state. . . .”

http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jul/07/news/mn-49047

Sierra Nevada business leaders:

“As business leaders and admirers of the forests of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, we are deeply concerned about the clearcutting of one of America’s premier ecological treasures and plans to clearcut over one million acres in this century. . .

“We strongly urge you to
• Stop clearcut-style logging
• Obtain Forest Stewardship Council certification on your forests, the only credible standard for sustainable logging.
• Identify and stop logging of all Endangered Forests in the Sierra Nevada; Endangered Forests being some of the most important and unprotected habitat remaining including intact forest landscapes and areas for focal conservation species.

“Signed by [123 businesses] in Alpine, Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties:”

http://www.epfw.org/documents/business_letter.pdf

The Union-Democrat (Sonora, CA):

Sonora, California, October 14, 2008:

“Sierra Pacific Industries Standard mill has moved to a four-day, 32-hour work week because of a slumping housing market, SPI spokesman Mark Pawlicki said.

“‘The down market has forced us to make changes,’ Pawlicki said.

“The Standard mill handles the area's larger logs most often sold for houses, Pawlicki said. Timber inventories have stacked up as the housing market has slumped with the economy.”

http://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=27829

Red Lodge Clearinghouse

“The Quincy Library Group [founded in part by Sierra Pacific Industries] burst onto the national stage on July 9, 1997, when the U.S. House of Representatives approved, 429-1, a forest management plan developed by this rural consensus coalition to manage 2.4 million acres of northeastern California’s national forest land. . . .

“While loggers and local environmentalists in the Quincy group get along much better, new antagonism between QLG supporters and critics now divides the community. Forming QLG may also have destroyed the local Friends of Plumas Wilderness, which planted the seeds for the QLG plan. . . .

“It is as a collaborative that the Quincy Library Group is troubling. Many who have tried to participate have felt ostracized. And although it is developing policy for managing federal lands, the coalition has demonstrated little concern for involving the broader public in its process. . . .

“In its drive to deliver the protected roadless areas promised to environmentalists and the timber harvests promised to loggers, the QLG took a top-down, federally mandated approach that has limited participation in the program.”

http://rlch.org/content/view/238/36/

What SPI has to say for itself:

“Sierra Pacific Industries owns and carefully manages nearly 1.7 million acres of forest land in California, and over 230,000 acres in Washington. Harvested areas are replanted within a year, ensuring sustainable forests for future generations. To assure that we’ll always have forests in the future, we plant an average of six million seedlings each year. It’s a policy that’s not just good for the environment, it’s good for business.”

View SPI’s corporate website at: http://www.spi-ind.com/