Sierra Pacific Industries Hopes Ruling Will Deter California Regulators
A top resource official for timber giant Sierra Pacific Industries says he hopes a judge’s scathing ruling in the company’s favor will deter overzealous state regulators.
Retired Superior Court Judge Leslie C. Nichols found the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection guilty of “egregious and reprehensible” actions while investigating the 2007 Moonlight Fire and ordered the agency to pay more than $30 million in penalties and legal fees, The Associated Press reported.
Nichols, who was appointed to the case by the state Supreme Court, said Feb. 4 that Cal Fire’s efforts to blame SPI and other landowners were corrupt and tainted, according to the wire service.
Dan Tomascheski, SPI’s vice president in charge of resources, said the company’s relations with the state’s firefighting agency have been positive.
“There are a lot of good, professional and ethical people working at Cal Fire,” Tomascheski said in an interview at the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference here on Feb. 6. “They’re one of the world’s best firefighting agencies and we need their support. This was about I think a few individuals who, in pursuing financial gain, let their vision get clouded by the prospect of extracting a large settlement from us,” he said. “I think their investigations going forward are going to be carefully done and be meticulous. There won’t be a rush to judgment. They’ll do their job.”
From Capital Press: capitalpress.com.
RELATED ARTICLES
Sierra Pacific Buys Oregon’s Seneca
Sierra Pacific Foundation Grants Scholarships
Latest News
Freres Lumber Representatives Visit Japanese Wood Products Manufacturers
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1548381510056-0’); }); One of the best aspects of our industry is how open and inviting other producers are to visitors. It is a fact that in the wood products industry some of our…
Pacific Northwest Weyerhaeuser Employees Vote On Union Strike Authority
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1548381510056-0’); }); About 1,200 Weyerhaeuser Co. employees in Washington and Oregon voted overwhelmingly to give the regional woodworkers union strike authority, paving the way for a work stoppage if negotiators continue to disagree…
Katerra Merges With KEF Infra, Already Has $3.7 Billion In Bookings
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1548381510056-0’); }); Offsite design-build company Katerra and India-based manufacturing technology company KEF Infra have announced a merger that will see the newly formed KEF Katerra begin conducting operations in India and the Middle…
Massachusetts Sawmill’s Planned Biomass Plant Met With Opposition
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1548381510056-0’); }); A long-planned wood-gasification plant for Roberts Brothers Lumber Co. has drawn fire from dozens of residents around the region, even though the business says it has no firm plans at this…
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.
Subscribe/Renew
Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.