Art Harwood
June 9, 2009
Congressman Mike Thompson
317 3rd Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Dear Mike:
I am writing to express my support of the Freshwater Pulp Companies’ plan to reopen the pulp mill in Samoa. An operating pulp mill on the north coast is a strategic infrastructure component of an economically viable forest products industry. A viable forest products industry is essential if we are going to have health ecosystems, living wage jobs and maintain a community infrastructure that provides the quality of life that we are seeking in this region.
As a non-industrial timberland owner, a former sawmill operator and Executive director of the Redwood Forest Foundation which owns 51,000 acres of timberland in Mendocino County, I know first hand the challenges facing the forest products industry and communities in the Redwood Region. The business plan put forth by the Freshwater Pulp Company is a regional approach that will make the Samoa pulp mill a success, benefit timber landowners and most importantly help promote a region wide vision and the cooperation that is critical to our region’s competing successfully in a global forest products industry.
The Freshwater Pulp Companies’ business plan is based on cooperation of all segments of stake holders located on the north coast including the forest products industry, environmentalists and the communities located here. Its endorsement of Forest Stewardship Council principles and environmental initiatives will help to pull north coast communities together to work toward a common goal. This will also position the forest products industry in the Redwood Region to market its products to “green conscious” consumers that will add value and will complement the many other “green” initiatives taking place on the north coast.
The approach that Freshwater Pulp Company is taking in its business plan has been sorely needed for years. I urge you to do whatever you can to help them make this a success.
Yours truly,
Art Harwood
Executive Director
Redwood Forest Foundation Inc.
