Hampton Lumber Announced Indefinite Shutdown of Banks Sawmill

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Hampton Lumber announced that its Banks sawmill will remain shut down for an indefinite period, due to shortage of timber availability. The sawmill, which employs 58 people, was closed earlier.

Hampton Lumber had purchased the sawmill facility way back in 2016. The prevailing log supply restrictions is likely to present a bleak future for the mill. Randy Schillinger, CEO, Hampton Lumber stated that the potential adoption of Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), intended to arrest the decline of endangered wildlife in compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act, will led to significant reduction in the volume of timber that can be cut on state forests.

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In a statement, Schillinger thanked Banks employees for their professionalism and hard work over the past several years. The company is very much aware of the detrimental impacts on employees, their families and the surrounding community, due to the closure. Meantime, the company will continue to operate its other three Northwest Oregon sawmills in Willamina, Tillamook and Warrenton, he added.

However, environmental groups alleged that Hampton Lumber was using the HCP as an excuse to close the aging mill. They pointed out the $150 million investment by the company in the nearby Williamina sawmill.