Local officials say they support a proposal to split up the timberland once owned by the Oregon and California Railroad, with half used for timber production and half treated as forest preserves.

Environmental leaders, however, say they oppose any plan to set aside public land specifically for timber production.

The proposal is being developed by U.S. Reps. Greg Walden, a Republican, and Democrats Peter Defazio and Kurt Schrader, all of Oregon. They are yet to provide details about the proposal, but released a joint statement last month saying they were developing a plan to balance the need to produce timber revenue and protect Oregon's forests.