The Forest Resources Association Inc. is urging wood flooring industry professionals to contact members of Congress to fight to include a "Forest Roads" fix (without amendments) in the final version of a comprehensive Farm Bill.
Federal lawmakers could act as early as Wednesday to complete negotiations over provisions in the bill, which might include terms of the Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act. Since 1976, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's administration of the Clean Water Act has classified run-off from forest road construction or other silvicultural activities as non-industrial, "non-point" pollution sources for the purpose of federal enforcement-essentially leaving the regulation of such discharge to state authorities, with reporting requirements to the federal government. This regulatory system, in which states establish and monitor compliance with Best Management Practices for Water Quality, has been effective in controlling and reducing the impacts of forest practices on waterways, and is now at risk.
The terms of the Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act (S 971 and HR 971) are included in the House version of the Farm Bill. For more information, click here.
