Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) today announced it will permanently close its iLevel™ Trus Joist® TJI® joists plant in Claresholm, Alberta, effective Aug. 30, 2007.

  (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040116/WYLOGO-a)
  (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040116/WYLOGO-b)

The decision to close the plant that employs 85 people was difficult, according to Cathy Slater, Weyerhaeuser's vice president of Veneer Technologies.

"Weyerhaeuser made the difficult decision after a strategic review of the company's TJI® joist business," Slater said. "The decline in housing starts in the North American market provides the impetus for this decision. After careful consideration of all the options, a decision was made to close this plant."

The company will provide the affected employees with severance pay as well as job-transition services and counseling, consistent with company policy.

"Our first priority is supporting the people who will be affected by this shutdown," Slater said. "Our associates work diligently to make our plants safe and competitive. Today's announcement is a reflection of the challenging business environment we face."

The Claresholm plant was built by Trus Joist in 1966 and acquired by Weyerhaeuser in 1999. With annual production capacity of 30 million lineal feet, the Claresholm plant is the smallest of the seven TJI® joist facilities Weyerhaeuser owns.

Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY), one of the world's largest forest products companies, was incorporated in 1900. In 2006, sales were $24.8 billion ($21.9 billion US). It has offices or operations in 18 countries, with customers worldwide. Weyerhaeuser is principally engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber; the manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products; and real estate construction, development and related activities. Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, has Exchangeable Shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol WYL. Additional information about Weyerhaeuser's businesses, products and practices is available at http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/.

  For more information contact::
  Canadian media - Wayne Roznowsky (780) 512-1372; (780) 539-8832
  U.S. media - Frank Mendizabal (253) 924-3357
  Trade publications - Shawn Watson (253) 924-4691

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SOURCE: Weyerhaeuser Company

CONTACT: Canadian media, Wayne Roznowsky, +1-780-512-1372,
+1-780-539-8832; or U.S. media, Frank Mendizabal, +1-253-924-3357; or Trade
publications, Shawn Watson, +1-253-924-4691, all for Weyerhaeuser Company

Web site: http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/