Clarification of a Recent Russian River Monthly Article

Editor
Russian River Monthly
P.O. Box 822
Guerneville, CA 95446

Oct. 2, 1996

Dear Editor,

I want to clarify remarks of mine mentioned in Jan Shade's article, "Neighbors Oppose Occidental Logging" (Oct. 1) about the Togneri THP (1-99-296 SON). Ms. Shade correctly quoted me about ("There are more damaging plans out there that need attention"), but she also said that I characterized the plan as a fairly *good* one. I actually said that it would likely be a fairly *benign* THP, if implemented after the expected mitigations -- being 13 acres of selective harvesting on fairly flat ground.

However, I do not want to claim that this THP is virtuous, as submitted. RRRAUL has written CDF and has discussed with CDF reworking this THP to eliminate its problems, inconsistencies and unclarities. E.g., a Class II crossing which needs engineering and a Streambed Alteration Agreement which should be discussed in the THP, as per a recent Court decision. Currently, CDF has delayed the review process and has asked the forester to correct such problems; it would have done better to reject this THP when it was first submitted.

Secondly, I would like to reinforce the notion that there are THPs in Sonoma County to which little attention is paid but which occasion massive environmental disturbance to sensitive watersheds -- the continuing program on the Gualala, conducted by Gualala Redoods, Inc., of clearcutting and burning being one important example. Please see the RRRAUL webpage for more information about this (cited below).

Thank you,

Jay Halcomb, Chair
RRRAUL
P.O. Box 2030
Guerneville, CA 95446
869-3302
http://www.rrraul.org/rrraul.html

Ed. Note: Jay Halcomb is correct. The reporter misquoted, for which we apologize.