A timber sale from fire-damaged forests in Oregon could cost US taxpayers more than US$100m, according to a new economic study.
The claim, by watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, relates to timber from the 2002 Biscuit Fire in southern Oregon – the largest fire in the state’s history affecting nearly 500,000 acres. Following the blaze, the US Forest Service proposed to sell 518 million board feet of timber from 27,000 acres, making US$24m.
The group’s study, conducted by ECONorthwest, says flooding the market with timber will dramatically reduce prices. It also claims the Forest Service has not taken into account associated costs of the sale, as well as underestimating administrative and clean-up costs by at least 70%.
