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EDITORIAL
Make a call, saYe an Industry
ll, HEN the spotted owl controversy first UU flapped into public consciousness, too few in this business saw it for the threat it became. Today our little feathered foe is all too familiar. Lumbermen at all levels are increasingly serious about the need to preserve the bird without destroying the lumber industry.
Industry-favorable legislation is now before the U.S. Congress and there is a quick, easy way to lend our support. The Forests and Families Protection Act of l99l was introduced by Robert Packwood of Oregon and is supported by a group of congressmen. lt is the only timber controversy legislation currently before the Congress. The numbers are SB 2463 and HR 1156.
Making your support of the bill known is easy. The American Forest Resource Alliance has a 900 telephone number program to streamline response. Just call (900) 230-0033. You'll hear a brief recorded message about the bill from Mark Rey, AFRA's executive direc- tor. Then you leave your name and address. That's all. A clearinghouse later sorts it all out by zip code and automatically sends a letter for you to your two senators and your representative in the House. Your total cost: $4.95. A number of businesses block the use of 900 numbers from company phones so you may have to make your call from a public or residential phone.
Basically the Packwood bill is a joint labor/ management proposal that takes a middle of the road stance, setting aside some land for the spotted owl while limiting the environmentalists' ability to cripple the supply of wood via Forest Service challenges and other disruptive tactics. The bill also provides economic aid for displaced loggers.
No need to stare at a blank piece of papet, wondering how to say what you think. Just pick up the phone and register your vote in our battle for a reasonable supply of wood from America's forests.
Trus Joist/MB Joint Venture
TJ International, Inc., Boise, Id., has signed a non-binding letter of intent for a joint venture partnership with forest products giant MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. to create what the two companies called "the world's preeminent engineered wood products company."
It will consist of TJI's Trus Joist Corp. division and Vancouver, Canada-based MacMillan Bloedel's start-up "Futurewood" businesses. The partnership is intended to begin operations this October with an estimated payroll oi $61 million, assets valued in excess oi$350 million. and annual sales of $250 million.
The joint venture technologies include Trus Joist's open-web trusses, wooden I-joists and Micro:Lam laminated veneer lumber (LVL). and MacMillan Bloedel's Parallam parallel strand lumber (PSL) and new PSL 300 structural composite lumber (SCL).
The partnership will headquarter in Boise and be 51oh owned by TJ International and 490h by MacMillan Illoedel. Trus Joist president Tom Denig will be president and ceo of the new venture.
MB's first $75 million PSL 300 structural composite lumber facility is nearing completion in Deerwood, Mn. Two Parallam PSL facilities are currently in operation, one in Vancouver. Canada, and another new plant in Colbert, Ga.
Both Parallam PSL and PSL 300 SCL complement Trus Joist's Micro:Lam laminated veneer lumber. which is used as residential headers and beams, scaffold plank, flange material for wooden I-joists and other specialty uses. The combination of Trus Joist's 1 I manufacturing facilities with the three MacMillan Bloedel plants will give the joint venture the largest manufacturing cnpacity in the engineered wood products industry.
Arrowood Plant Closed
Fibreboard Corp. at presstime said it would close its Roxboro. N.C., plant July 3, unless a purchaser is found. I)iscussions with several potential buyers are being conducted. Thc company issued a plant closing act notice to its Roxboro employees May 3, 1991.
The company announced it would record an esitmated $19 million pretax charge to operations in the second quarter. The charge includes writedown of the facility to its estimated realizable value. estimated shutdown costs and an estintated $3 million opcrating loss for the second quarter of I 991
The plant, which employs approximately 230 people and produces Arrowood. an engineered composite structural lumber product. has been in start-up since it was acquired in I 989 and has not yet achieved breakeven operating performance.
Fibreboard also said Lawrence C Hart, chairman. president and ceo resigned effective June 18, 1991. The board of directors announced that James D. Costello, v.p., wood products operations. has been elected interim president and ceo. Philip R. Bogue, a member of, the board, has been elected interim chairmirn of the board
