Modification of Timber Sales Contracts Because of Inability To Obtain Access to Routes

An advance decision was requested concerning the propriety of modifying two timber sales contracts by lowering advertised and bid rates because the agency could obtain access to specified haul routes for the purchaser, and alternate routes will result in increased costs. The contracts may be modified to reduce rates to amounts agreed to by the agency and the purchaser, provided that the purchaser agrees that such action extinguishes any cause of action it may have as a result of its inability to use the original routes.