Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Obama Administration pleased both environmental and timber industry groups with its pick of a new chief for the U.S. Forest Service.

A career forester in the agency named Tom Tidwell gets the nod. 

Tidwell started his career in the Boise National Forest 32 years ago and has steadily worked his way up, mostly in mountain West. 

Timber industry association president Tom Partin of Portland says Tidwell is familiar with wildfire fighting, bug kill, and other regional issues.

Tom Partin: “I think Tom will be a good manager.  I think he understands our issues. Not sure why Abigail Kimball is stepping down, but I think it will be a seamless transition and we’re looking forward to working with Tom.”

Partin has a different reaction to another piece of news from the federal government Wednesday. 

He’s disappointed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is keeping a seabird called the marbled murrelet on the threatened species list.  Last year, the American Forest Resource Council and others petitioned for delisting of the murrelet. 

They hoped it might open up some coastal federal timberlands currently off-limits for logging.  Instead, the status quo prevails.