The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will install a gym floor from domestically harvested wood species instead of a bamboo one after lobbying by the Hardwood Federation (HF) and domestic wood flooring industry leaders in North Carolina. Originally, bamboo was specified for the gym floor at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune in order "to meet a renewable mandate in the contract," according to a release from the HF. Also, the HF noted that the bamboo floor would have cost about $30,000 more than domestically harvested flooring.
In a letter to the DOD, Rep. Larry Kissell (N.C.) wrote that the language in the building contract favored bamboo for its environmental sustainability, but he also reminded DOD that U.S. hardwoods are "abundant, renewable and sustainable." In addition, Rep. Kissell pointed out that the contract may have violated "Buy American" policies for government contracts.
HF was originally alerted to the contract by Dan Corullo, owner of Action Floor Systems (Mercer, Wis.) and a member of the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association.
