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Agency official cites litigation and certainty as main barriers to expanding timber supply
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Summary
Agency respondent told the committee that sawmills seek certainty and predictability, that litigation (including a referenced Cottonwood decision) is a major barrier, and that the agency is exploring long-term contracts and state partnerships to increase timber production.
Committee questioning turned to timber production on federal lands, with Speaker 1 stressing timber harvesting’s role in fuel reduction, forest health and rural economies and citing a 25‑year average annual harvest of about 2,300,000,000 board feet from forest system lands.
Speaker 1 referenced recently enacted timber provisions in a congressional bill signed by President Trump and asked what still prevents higher timber outputs. Speaker 2 said the industry needs ‘‘certainty and predictability’’ and identified litigation as a persistent barrier, referencing the Cottonwood decision. Speaker 2 described mechanisms the agency is exploring, including longer-term contracts (noted in recent reconciliation language), a recently signed 20‑year agreement with Montana for state assistance in managing federal lands, and partnerships with Western states.
No formal commitments on specific contract terms or new program funding were announced at the hearing; Speaker 2 said the agency is looking at contracting options and state partnerships as opportunities to improve supply predictability.
