On Thursday the U.S. House of Representatives passed a new version of the Farm Bill by a narrow 216-208 margin. The bill omits the contentious food stamp provisions that divided the House in June, but includes key provisions supportive of the forestry industry. The bill includes the Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act and requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Biobased Markets Program to include forest products.
The Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act limits the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate forest run-off, meaning the EPA must continue to treat forestry operations, including logging roads, as non-point sources of pollution under the Clean Water Act.
Under the USDA's BioBased Markets Program, the industry will benefit from increased federal buying of forest products, and manufacturers can participate in the voluntary "USDA certified biobased" labeling program.
Senate leadership has indicated that it will block any House bill that does not provide for a robust food stamp program.
