A bill to boost logging on national forests, including a provision aimed at producing more money for Oregon timber counties, is facing a possible White House veto.
The Statement of Administrative Policy issued yesterday says if the bill were presented to President Obama, his senior advisors would recommend a veto.
It says the measure would harm national forests and the government's obligations to manage them by sidestepping environmental laws, which would lead to more conflict and delay.
The bill includes a provision developed by members of the Oregon delegation to turn over half the so-called O & C lands in Western Oregon to a state-appointed trust that would manage them for timber production.
The administration says that would harm habitat for endangered species, and increase the chance of lawsuits.