Wyoming State Forester Bill Crapser testified last week before the House Natural Resources Committee regarding “The Impact of Catastrophic Forest Fires and Litigation on People and Endangered Species." Mr. Crapser spoke on behalf of the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and the Council of Western State Foresters. During his testimony, he called for improved [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]
WASHINGTON—In response to today’s adoption of the 2012 Farm Bill in the United States Senate, the National Association of State Foresters finds that the bulk of the legislation is consistent with their platform. “While no Farm Bill can be perfect, we greatly appreciate the Senate providing many of the tools necessary for improving and maintaining [read more]
NASF joined more than 40 organizations that represent business owners, forest landowners, sportsmen and women, outdoor recreation enthusiasts and conservationists to urge the Senate to vote down Amendment #2313 to the Farm Bill. Amendment #2313, introduced by Sen. Mike Lee, would eliminate the Forest Legacy Program (FLP), which has successfully grown by 21 percent over [read more]
This week NASF signed on to the "Hold the Line" letter along with more than 500 other organizations. The "Hold the Line" letter urges congress to make no additional cuts to funding for the Conservation Title of the bill beyond the level approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee on April 26, 2012. As Congressional proceedings [read more]
NASF joined more than 90 other organizations in a coalition letter to support the permanent reauthorization of Stewardship Contracting Authority, with no changes, in the 2012 Farm Bill. First enacted as a pilot program in the FY1999 Interior Appropriations bill and then reauthorized for another 10 years within the 2003 Omnibus Public Lands bill, stewardship [read more]
NASF as part of the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition, signed on to a letter to request that the bi-partisan Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, be brought before the full Senate for consideration in an open process, as soon as possible. The coalition believes that the Senate should take up a [read more]
