Prairie Wood Products Closes Due To FS Transport Grant Dispute
Claiming that a change in policy concerning the use of Forest Service grant money for transportation costs, Prairie Wood Products in Prairie City, Ore. suspended operations in March citing a disagreement with FS officials. Company officials are currently working with the FS to resolve the matter and get back to work.
The mill received an FS Timber & Biomass Transportation grant from the FS in December 2023 with the understanding the grant would provide matching funds to help cover transportation costs for timber sales the company was working on the Malheur National Forest. However, after submitting paperwork in February, company officials were told the grant money wasn’t eligible for reimbursement for current sales.
In a statement to all parties involved, Grant County Commissioner Jim Hamsher noted a key purpose of the grant is to ensure that wood products industry infrastructure “is maintained into the future” and the FS decision not to allow reimbursement affects that infrastructure. He added that the company is in the process of re-permitting, upgrading and restarting a cogeneration plant on site. The facility would play a key role in utilizing the large amount of biomass generated by thinning and other forest treatments to improve forest health.
Latest News
Oregon Town Gets Biomass Project Grant
City officials in Prineville and Crook County, Oregon are one step closer to building a biomass power plant in their central Oregon town after the U.S. Forest Service (FS) recently awarded a $1 million grant to the city and its Prineville Renewable Energy Project (PREP)…
Idaho Loggers Take Issues To The Capitol
The annual “Loggers and Haulers Day at the Legislature” was a success as 20 Idaho loggers made the trip to Boise for the March event sponsored by Associated Logging Contractors-Idaho. According to a report from ALC-Idaho President Mark Mahon, the group met with members of the Idaho Land Board, worked with the Idaho Dept. of Lands and Idaho Dept. of Transportation and also met with key officials including the speaker of the house, lieutenant governor and governor…
WANT MORE CONTENT?
Spanning seven decades since its inception in 1952, Timber Harvesting highlights innovative and successful logging operations across the U.S. and around the world. Timber Harvesting also emphasizes new technology and provides the best marketing vehicle for the industry’s suppliers to reach the largest number of loggers in North America and beyond.
Call Us: 800.669.5613