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Rep. McClintock to Lead Community Forum in Quincy May 11 on the Human Cost of Environmental Over-Regulation

April 29, 2009

April 29, 2009. U.S. Representative Tom McClintock (R-Granite Bay) announced today he will lead a community forum in Quincy on May 11, focusing on the human cost of environmental over-regulation.

The forum will be held May 11 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Tulsa E. Scott Pavilion at the Plumas County Fairgrounds.

Rep. Wally Herger and Rep. Rob Bishop, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Forests and Public Lands will participate on the panel.

In 1992, Congress passed the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Restoration Act, promoting forest tree-thinning to prevent massive wildfires in eight Northern California counties. Nine lawsuits and at least 157 timber sale appeals have blocked efforts by the Quincy Library Group to manage the forests. As a result, large forest fires have plagued the area for years and decimated the livelihood of local residents. Earlier this year, Sierra Pacific Industries announced the closure of its sawmill in Quincy, California because regulatory and litigation costs now exceed SPI’s profit margin. As a result, 150 jobs have been lost in Quincy – a town of 450 families.

“There is nothing more damaging to the ecosystem of a forest as well as to the livelihood of nearby residents than a forest fire,” McClintock said. “I look forward to examining the testimony of those involved in the effort to re-establish responsible forest management practices in order to outline a solution to remove the obstacles in their path.”

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