When completed, the mill will incorporate state-of-the-art technology to produce lumber from a wider array of log sizes than was possible under the older configuration, the company said.

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“We are investing in the future of this community,” said SPI area manager Ryan Land. “Lumber markets have improved modestly and by increasing the range of acceptable log sizes we will be able to bring family-wage jobs back to this area,” he added. SPI continues to invest in its forests and mills to grow more trees and enhance productivity while protecting the environment and creating jobs,” Land went on to say.He added that Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority Director Larry Cope has worked cooperatively with SPI to retool the mill and restore jobs to the community.

The Sonora mill closed in July 2009 amid weakness in the lumber market, reduced timber harvests on nearby national forest lands and increasing state regulatory burdens. In addition, the plant was configured to only accept larger-diameter logs.

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“When combined, these factors left us no choice but to close the plant,” Land said. At that time about 130 employees were affected by the closure. About that same number of employees will be hired when the retooled plant begins production in 2011.

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Sierra Pacific Industries is a third-generation family-owned forest products company based in Anderson. The firm owns and manages nearly 1.9 million acres of timberland in California and Washington, and is the second-largest lumber producer in the United States.

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Sierra Pacific Industries announced Tuesday that it will retool and reopen its sawmill in Standard, east of Sonora, updating an older mill that closed there in 2009.

Remodeling of the old plant is expected to begin by mid-July, and the updated facility is planned for operation in May 2011. This announcement does not impact the SPI cedar-fencing mill in Chinese Camp, which currently employs about 80 people.