Resolution
To the President of the United States, US Senate, US House of Representatives, and Secretary of the Interior:
We the Oregon Logging Conference, respectfully represent and request actions as follows:
Whereas, on September 10, 2001, Judge Michael R. Hogan of the United States District Court in Eugene, Oregon ruled in Alsea Valley Alliance v. Evans that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) violated the Endangered Species Act in 1998 when it listed the Oregon coastal coho salmon as a threatened species, and
Whereas, NMFS had listed the natural stocks of coastal coho without listing the hatchery stocks that are also part of the same “evolutionarily significant unit” (ESU) of the salmon, and
Whereas, in Alsea Valley Alliance Judge Hogan found that the decision to list the natural stocks in the Oregon coastal Coho ESU and not to list nine hatchery stocks in theESU conflicted with the plain language of the ESA, which forbids the listing of any population of a species smaller than a distinct population segment, and
Whereas, salmon and steelhead returns to Northwest rivers and streams are breaking records dating back to the construction of 1930’s dams and,
Whereas, “excess” hatchery salmon carcasses are being thrown into rivers and streams or donated to food banks.
Be It Resolved by the Oregon Logging Conference:
Directs that natural and hatchery salmon stocks be considered equal.
Resolved that copies of this resolution be sent to President, honorable members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the appropriate Committee Chairman, the Washington and Oregon Congressional delegations, and the Governors of the states of Washington and Oregon.