Comments

Last week, NASF submitted comments to US Fish and Wildlife regarding the potential listing of northern long‐eared bat as an endangered species. The letter outlined concerns about regulations that may be imposed on forestland owners that will have little to no effect on the cause of the bat's diminishing numbers due to  the fungus‐caused disease, [read more]

NASF provided comments this week regarding the Standard used by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.® (SFI®). They launched the process of revising their current standard to develop the SFI® 2015-2019 Standard in June.  SFI®  reached out to more than 10,000 stakeholders for input. In the comments, NASF spoke highly of the current SFI Standard and [read more]

Last week, NASF submitted comments to the USDA regarding their efforts to adapt to a changing climate as laid out in its 2012 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan. The comments advanced the concepts approved by NASF as part of the policy statement, NASF Adaptation and Mitigation: Concepts for Forest-Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Legislation and Administrative Policy. [read more]

This week NASF submitted comments to GSA regarding green building certification systems. NASF asked that GSA recommend the use of inclusive green building certification systems that recognize wood as a preferred green building material, which will help stimulate the economies of rural, forest-based communities. The comments also highlighted the importance of giving equal credit to [read more]

Last week NASF submitted comments on the sixth draft of LEED standards. The comments addressed the use of sustainably sourced wood in building design and construction, interior design and construction, and existing buildings and neighborhood development, while taking into account the current draft language's exclusion of all but one certification system. NASF's comments recommend taking [read more]

NASF delivered comments alongside the NAASF regarding Advice from the FSC related to the evaluation of nurseries under the FSC standard. State forestry agencies responsibilities’ often include the operation and management of nurseries that produce millions of seedlings for reforestation efforts on both public and private forest land.  NASF comments indicated that implementation of the [read more]

On October 3, NASF submitted joint comments with the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about their notice of proposed rulemaking regarding revised stormwater regulations specific to permits not being required for stormwater discharges from logging roads. NASF and ACWA comments support EPA’s proposal that multi-sector National Pollutant Discharge [read more]

On Wednesday, NASF sent comments to the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding their request for public input on how it can strengthen incentives and voluntary partnerships for landowner conservation of wildlife (Docket #FWS-R9-ES-2011-0099). NASF communicated its concerns over how the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been administered since its passage. The letter [read more]

Last week NASF, as part of the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition, sent comments on the House Agriculture proposed Farm Bill to committee leadership. The Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition represents millions of forest owners, conservationists, hunters, anglers, forest product manufacturers, and natural resource professionals. The Coalition communicated that they understand the Committee’s [read more]

NASF submitted comments to the Office of Procurement and Property Management on July 2, in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement amendments. The comments stated that NASF has a strong interest in the inclusion of forest products, particularly wood, in the Biobased Markets Program. The [read more]