Frank Riggs: “I really believe this is our last best chance to see this particular forest land acquisition become a reality. I am…”

“I really believe this is our last best chance to see this particular forest land acquisition become a reality. I am concerned when I see newspaper headlines, and I intend to insert these articles in the Record under general leave, but I am concerned when I see newspaper headlines as recently published: ``Activists' Demands Jeopardize Deal for Headwaters Forest;'' ``Headwaters Forest Plan Has Politicians at Loggerheads,'' again referring to the State budget deliberations in Sacramento. As recently as late February, negotiators trying to complete public purchase of the target tract of ancient redwoods in private ownership were patting themselves on the back, confident the North Coast's longest running environmental controversy had been resolved. Four months later, a $380 million agreement to buy Headquarters Forest from Pacific Lumber Co. is on the verge of collapse, the result of the increased demands by environmental leaders who felt frozen out of the process and vanishing patience on the part of a tough Texas tycoon who owns the trees.”