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67 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, September 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 12, 2004 Timber sales get another auction Two sales stemming from the Timbered Rock fire have received three sealed bids; more bids may be received through Friday By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune After receiving two sealed bids for one of two timber salvage sales proposed for forestlands burned by the 2002 Timbered Rock fire, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management plans to hold another oral auction for the sale. No bids were received for either sale during an oral auction on April 29 at the BLM’s Medford District office, prompting the call for sealed bids. In addition, the agency has extended the sealed bid period, according to John Bergin, a planner with the BLM’s Butte Falls resource area. The first sealed bid period ended Monday. "Once we got a bid, we decided to extend the sealed bid period until the end of Friday," Bergin said, later adding, "The sales are still open for a sealed bid." Advertisement The second oral auction will be held within 10 days of the end of the sealed bid period, he said. Officials announced last week they would hold another oral auction if more than one bid was received, citing efforts to be transparent. Under federal law, an oral auction must be held if two or more sealed bids are received, officials said. The 2002 fire burned some 27,000 acres in the Trail Creek watershed. About 12,000 acres are in the BLM district. Two sealed bids were received for the 6.8-million-board-foot Smoked Gobbler sale, which was appraised at $302,000. The third bid was for the Flaming Rock sale containing 10.2 million board feet of timber. It was appraised at $964,000. If another sealed bid is received for that sale this week, it will be offered again at oral auction. All three bids qualified by meeting or exceeding the appraised prices, Bergin said. The sales have been opposed by several environmental groups. The Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, which is concerned the salvage sales will include large trees, has threatened to appeal or litigate the salvage sales. All of the BLM forest burned by the Timbered Rock was designated late-successional reserve. Under the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan, such reserves were created to protect and enhance late- successional and old-growth forest ecosystems. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities