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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Police: Man driving federal vehicle taken from Burns refuge arrested ... State ethics commission will investigate Breidenthal ... Investigators still trying to determine what caused Butte Creek Mill blaze ... Police: Man driving federal vehicle taken from Burns refuge arrested ... State ethics commission will investigate Breidenthal ... Investigators still trying to determine what caused Butte Creek Mill blaze ... OREGON FOREST TRUST LANDS Counties threaten to sue Oregon for $1.4 billion over Forest Trust mismanagement Class-action suit would seek $1.4 billion Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 13, 2016 at 3:35 PM Updated Jan 13, 2016 at 4:41 PM By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 13, 2016 at 3:35 PM Updated Jan 13, 2016 at 4:41 PM » Social News SALEM — A county that claims the state mismanaged Oregon Forest Trust Lands and cost it and others millions of dollars in lost revenue for schools and public safety is threatening to file a class-action lawsuit seeking $1.4 billion. Linn County notified the governor and state forester of its plans to sue on behalf of 14 other counties over breach of contract. It says Oregon has failed to live up to decades-old contracts that allow counties to receive payments based on annual timber harvests on state-managed lands. The payments go toward local law enforcement, schools and other special county districts to help cover basic services. "This breach of contract has had devastating effects on local communities that have seen both poverty and unemployment rates skyrocket in the last two decades as a result of current practices," Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist said at a news conference. Josh Laughlin, executive director of Cascadia Wildlands in Eugene, said the county's claims lack merit and called the arrangement of clear-cutting forests to fund essential services archaic. "It appears the counties missed the memo that the state is not required to log to infinity in these state lands," Laughlin said. "They also have a duty to protect clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and other values held closely by Oregonians." The state manages about 654,000 acres of Forest Trust Lands it purchased from the counties several decades ago. Linn County officials say a forest management plan adopted in 2001 emphasized improvements to fish and wildlife habitat and other conservation measures, which reduced logging and slashed timber revenue by half. "We believe over time a delta has developed: the difference between what these lands could produce ... versus the production that is occurring," said John DiLorenzo, an attorney at the Portland law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP who is representing Linn County. The price tag of that gap comes to $1.4 billion, including roughly $35 million in annual revenue owed since 2001, future damages of a similar amount and interest, according to DiLorenzo and county officials. The governor's office declined to comment on the potential lawsuit. A State Forester's spokesman did not immediately return a call for comment. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 13, 2016 at 3:35 PM Updated Jan 13, 2016 at 4:41 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501