[20200427]IN11364_林业局宣布解除木材销售合同.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Forest Service Announces Timber Sale Contract Relief Anne A. Riddle Analyst in Natural Resources Policy April 27, 2020 On April 15, 2020, the Forest Service (FS) announced options for timber purchasers to extend the terms of their contract to harvest timber from the National Forest System (NFS). (Read the announcement here.) The FS, within the Department of Agriculture (USDA), sells timber to willing buyers in the private sector (timber purchasers) pursuant to specified contract terms. Although timber sales generally must be completed in a set amount of time, the FS may extend that time if it finds a “substantial overriding public interest” (referred to as a SOPI finding) in doing so. The SOPI finding articulated in the announcement is in response to global timber market impacts from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, ongoing trade disputes, and other factors. The FS contends that these flexibilities will prevent adverse impacts to timber markets and rural communities. Forest Service Timber Contract Relief The FS sells forest products from NFS lands to willing buyers (this product will refer to the most