Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski is asking the federal Bureau of Land Management to delay its sweeping plan to increase logging. Rob Manning reports.

The governor’s letter details eight problems he has with the BLM’s Western Oregon Plan Revision - or “whopper.”

The critique ranges from insufficient oversight of the plan, to inadequate planning for climate change.

Kulongoski spokeswoman, Jillian Schoene, says the governor also believes the BLM skirted federal law, by ending consultation with scientific experts.

Jillian Schoene: “We believe that the approach that the BLM takes is legally inconsistent with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act.”

Kulongoski says the WOPR's shortcomings mean it cannot be finalized until the Obama Administration takes over.

Environmentalists cheered the governor’s letter as the death knell for the WOPR.

But the governor's office says the timber industry also supports aspects of the letter. In it, the governor backs the WOPR's  logging increase - if wildlife and water quality in southwest Oregon can be protected.