Comments

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]

NASF and the Association of Clean Water Administrators submitted comments in a joint letter today supporting Environmental Protection Agency`s notice of intent (NOI) to revise stormwater regulations to specify that a Clean Water Act (CWA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is not required for stormwater discharges from logging roads under Phase I of [read more]

NASF recently submitted formal comments to the U.S. Green Building Council regarding the draft LEED 2012 standard, which continues the practice of rewarding one forest certification program at the expense of other credible programs. "USGBC can expand and support the sustainable production and supply of environmentally beneficial green building materials by equally rewarding all credible [read more]

NASF recently submitted a response to the Vibrant Cities & Urban Forests Task Force regarding their  recommendations regarding the future of urban forestry in the United States. NASF's comments intend to (re)emphasize the important roles state forestry agencies have played in building community capacity to plant and maintain urban and community forests and are based [read more]

NASF and several partner organizations recently submitted comments to the Green Building Advisory Committee (GBAC) as it reviews green building certification systems. The groups urged the use of wood as a preferred green building materialand laid out principles for wood in green building certification systems.