WVFA eNews Weekly

There were indications this summer that the federal Department of Transportation would shortly release a preliminary "technical" report of its Congressionally mandated investigation into the impacts of various configurations of productive trucks. Since there are several indications that this report will be favorable to the terms in the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (HR 612), forestry allies had hoped to have it available to build support during the final weeks of the 113th Congress. At this point, there is no new estimate for a release date, although it could be any day.

Meanwhile, the main antagonist of truck weight reform—the rail interest—has been under heavy criticism from both shippers and legislators for poor service and high prices, apart from news accounts of several disastrous train wrecks. According to the September 15 Transport Topics, "Statistics show that during 2014, freight rail hasn’t worked well. Nationwide, freight trains ran 11% slower year-over-year during a three-week period in mid-August, continuing a pattern that began in the winter"—according to information delivered to the American Association of Railroads. The general decline in efficient freight handling seems to be common to all of the major (Class One) carriers, and shippers are vocal that this decline is affecting their profitability. At a mid-September U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing, both Committee Chair Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia) and ranking member John Thune (R-South Dakota) criticized rail industry witnesses for the deteriorating situation.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=290850&issueID=40925 to view the full article online.

The WV Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) Implementation Committee has unanimously voted in favor of the proposed 2015 budget, so invoices are being prepared using their new, self-imposed assessment rate multiplied by their annual consumption.

Today, the SIC State Coordinator is attending a meeting of the SFI Forest Partners Program. This effort seeks to enlist the support of the SIC in their efforts to recruit landowners to become certified to the SFI Standard.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=290793&issueID=40925 to view the full article online.

With nearly 80 percent of West Virginia covered in trees, a colorful fall driving tour is a sure bet. West Virginia is still the third most forested state in the nation and whether you take a week’s vacation to explore different regions of the state or plan a weekend road trip closer to home, be sure to get out there and take in fall events and activities that celebrate the season, as well as many recreational opportunities all situated in a picturesque setting.

Visit http://www.wvcommerce.org/travel/thingstodo/by_season/fall/default.aspx to view the full article online.

MeadWestvaco is an integral member of the West Virginia Forestry Association. It was created by the merger of the paper company Mead and Westvaco, a company with a long history in West Virginia. The company began in 1888, when William Luke founded the Piedmont Pulp & Paper Company at what is now Luke, Maryland, near Piedmont in Mineral County. In 1889, Luke opened a pulp mill on an island in the North Branch of the Potomac opposite Piedmont and incorporated the company under the new name of the West Virginia Paper Company. The company opened its headquarters in New York City in 1894 and in 1897 consolidated various businesses to form the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company. In addition to the mill near Piedmont, West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company had mills in Davis, West Virginia, Tyrone, Pennsylvania, and Covington, Virginia.

Visit http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1153 to view the full article online.

On Sept. 17, the Forest Resources Association’s Appalachian Region honored David King, a forester for Glatfelter in Washington, West Virginia, and WVFA Board member, with its Second Place Technical Writing Award for 2014. This annual award recognizes the best serial publications from FRA’s quarterly magazine, the Forest Operations Review.

King authored FRA Technical Release 13-R-22, Ohio Contractor’s Logging Mat Service. This Technical Release shows how an Ohio Logger—Kenny Adkins—provides a turnkey logging mat installation and removal service for other loggers in southeastern Ohio and northwestern West Virginia. This "logging mat rental service" has been very well-received by the logging contractors who use his custom-built mats to improve their haul road access. Adkins builds his own mats with a superior design, and he often lays them crosswise to improve traction and durability.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=290855&issueID=40925 to view the full article online.