Up until 1982 it was called, Timber Sharing Revenue, it was never a tax on the Fed...it was a VOLUNTARY (not a local tax, dammit) 25% contribution by the Fed in recognition of the huge volume of land held out of the tax base and profit from timber being cut. Back in those days, amazingly, the USFS actually sold profitable timber sales. But, the USFS because of a huge bloated bureaucracy, no longer is able to sell but a tiny fraction of what is rotting and burning every summer. The USFS is not even able to salvage the burnt timber after a fire on their land.
Why not, they used to do it? Back in the 80's a Fed rule was passed, the USFS had to break even or make a profit on sales. But, there was such a boom in hiring 'ologists, that so many people were involved in the sale, they couldn't possibly make a profit. It is estimated that in the USFS 24 expert 'ologists have to sign off on a harvest plan...minimum. My son's employer produces timber harvest plans with 4 people, start to finish, and as quick as the law allows. Private companies begin reforestation BEFORE logging is finished. Private companies begin logging after a fire, before the smoke clears. They go in, log it, prepare for erosion, replanting and are out before the snow flies...a new crop in the ground.
