Steve Carter

             3514 w 25^th av

             Eugene, Oregon 97405

Andrea Matzke

Oregon DEQ—Water Quality Division

Regarding: public comments on DEQ Toxics Reductions Rulemaking Package

I am a forester with my BS of Forest Management from the Oregon State University School of Forestry, since before my graduation in 1976 and up until today I have been involved in forest management activities in Oregon.

The Oregon Forest Practices Act has been our guiding document for that entire time with science based changes and improvements over the past 35 plus years of its existence it has done and is doing a great job of protecting the productivity of all resources from our private forestlands.

Any proposed changes to involve the DEQ more in this forestry process I view as a land grab by the DEQ and would only result in regulation farther removed from on the ground solutions prevalent in our current operations which apply best management practices that have greatly improved water quality production from our forestlands today.

Any regulation and enforcement of forestry practices should come directly from the Oregon Department of Forestry and no other agency. It is critical that any water quality regulation of forestry operations remain under the direction and enforcement of the Oregon Department of Forestry.

I oppose DEQs establishment of TMDLs on forestlands in Oregon. Any attempt by DEQ to directly regulate forestry operations through any mechanism, particularly TMDLs would be in direct conflict with Oregon law.

Steve Carter