Bob MacMullin to Speaker Bass

MacMullin Forestry and Logging
944 Hidden Pond Lane
McKinleyville, CA 95519
(707) 839-4751
(707)839-4761 FAX

October 30, 2009
Karen Bass
Speaker of the Assembly
California State Senate
Sacramento. CA

RE: Freshwater Tissue Company Fiber Supply

Dear Assemblywoman Bass.

I am a California licensed, Registered Professional Forester, working in Humholdt County since 1977.

I am writing this letter to encourage your active support to assist in the funding of the start up of the Freshwater Tissue Company (FTC) pulp mill in Humboldt County. As you consider your support. please recognize that an operating pulp mill provides tim her land owners opportunity to better manage their forests by profitably harvesting low value tanoak trees and other hardwoods. These hardwoods are increasingly crowding our redwood and Douglas-fir forests of northwest California. reducing future conifer growth and increasing the potential for catastrophic fire.

FTC has indicated they plan to source one half of the mill’s needed fiber. 18,350 loads annually, from tanoak trees. FTC should he able to operate at their sustained desired level of 18,350 truckloads of hardwood per year indefinitely, because of proven hardwood growth expectations. significant existing volumes of hardwoods and the existing economic infrastructure of forest landowners in the Redwood Region.

Over the past 32 years on the north coast, as a consulting forester and timber operator. I have been actively engaged in forest management and daily forest operations of private industrial and non industrial forest lands. [ served as President ofthe Redwood Region Logging Conference in 1991. I have provided testimony to the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture in Washington D.C. regarding timber legislation. I recently served three years on the BLM Northwest California Resource Advisory Committec (RAC). I have also provided expert testimony in several local municipal and superior court hearings regarding timber harvesting, violations and worker compensation issues.

As you review the Freshwater Tissue Company Business Plan I encourage you to pay special attention to the Fiber Supply Summary, consisting of Coastal Redwood Region. Pulp Chip Analysis and Forest Economics. I have reviewed both the Pulp Chip Analysis and Forest Economics sections, and in my opinion they are realistic and practical. The report states that, “The conservative estimate ofharvestable tanoak inventory in the region is 2.6 billion board feet (1.3 million acres commercial acres x 2,000 bf)”. It is my belief the actual hardwood volume is considerably higher.

Most timber volume evaluations (cruises) do not adequately measure hardwood because the focus is on the more valuable conifer species.

Typically when hardwoods are present and/or harvested in conjunction with conifers, the landowner’s hardwood yields are greater than anticipated. Forest landowners and managers consider conifers to be assets and hardwoods are seen as obstacles.

In short, I agree with the initial volume estimates presented in the Pulp Chip Analysis and Forest Economics section ofthe Business Plan.

If the Freshwater Tissue Company pulp mill becomes operational, the increased hardwood log price will encourage landowners and managers to convert hardwood stands to conifer forests by logging, thereby utilizing the fiber rather than killing the hardwoods with herbicides. Instead of wasting the fiber and increasing fuel loading and wildfire potential, a valuable paper product can be made by harvesting and trucking it to the pulp mill. Additionally in areas infected with sudden oak death, the disease can be effectively treated by profitably harvesting and trucking the diseased vegetation to the pulp mill.

The economic benefit will greatly enhance employment in all of our north coast communities.

Removal of significant amounts of hardwood trees in our Redwood Region will be economical only if this pulp mill is operational.

Please call if you have questions.

Robert MacMullin
RPF #2072