WVFA eNews Weekly

Beginning Thursday, WVFA staff will man a variety of exhibits at the YMCA building in Elkins for the 2015 Mountain State Forest Festival. Here, at West Virginia's largest festival, we can be found through our display times. Come see us and enter our drawing for a chance to win one of the large rocking chairs that we regularly give away at the festival each year.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=341386&issueID=41987 to view the full article online.

A letter on the neutrality of carbon was sent to germane federal government agencies by concerned U.S. Senators, in June. Our thanks to our Senators is belated, but the issue is still current; here's an opportunity to familiarize ourselves with it.

Background
In its 2010 Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule, EPA for the first time failed to distinguish biogenic CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and thus did not exclude biogenic CO2 from its Clean Air Act permit program for stationary sources. However, because bioenergy has a uniquely different profile than fossil fuels, in 2011 EPA imposed a three-year deferral of regulating biogenic CO2 pending a scientific review and the development of an Accounting Framework for Biogenic CO2 Emissions from Stationary Sources. EPA’s original draft, Accounting Framework, issued in September 2011, recognized the greenhouse (GHG) gas reduction benefits of bioenergy produced from forest product mill residuals and byproducts. Yet, because the deferral of biogenic emission regulation expired, biogenic CO2 emissions are counted the same as fossil fuel emissions under EPA’s current and proposed greenhouse gas regulations.

On Nov. 19, 2014, after an extensive four-year review, EPA issued its revised draft accounting framework, 14 technical appendices, and a related policy memorandum to EPA’s regional offices.

Key Points from EPA
• In the policy memorandum, EPA makes a preliminary finding that the use of certain forest-derived
industrial byproducts and waste-derived feedstocks for energy is carbon neutral.

• In the appendices, EPA unequivocally finds that black liquor is carbon neutral.

• In addition, EPA indicates that the use of whole trees, or roundwood, for energy may be carbon neutral
so long as they are "sustainably derived," but it is unclear how that determination would be made.

The framework and the accompanying memorandum provide a step in the right direction on the carbon neutrality of some types of biomass; however, the paper and wood products manufacturing industry needs greater certainty regarding the carbon neutrality of some forest products manufacturing residuals, waste-derived biomass, and how EPA will determine whether trees that may be used for energy are "sustainably derived."

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/pdf/Carbon_Neutrality1.pdf to view the full article online.

Associated Press - Tuesday, September 15, 2015
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A Boone County logging company faces $42,000 in civil fines for safety violations at a worksite. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration says Ross Logging of Seth exposed workers to safety hazards at the worksite in Elkview.

The agency says in a news release that inspectors found workers were drop starting chain saws while felling trees. Drop starting is dropping the chain saw with one hand while pulling the starting cord with the other hand. Workers also didn’t wear cut-resistant boots or socks while operating chain saws. The agency issued 11 citations to the company, including two for willful violations. A willful violation is one in which an employer either knowingly disregarded a legal requirement or acted with indifference to employee safety.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=341384&issueID=41987 to view the full article online.

In a recent study, the non-profit National Association of State Foresters (NASF) confirmed that the best management practices used by harvesting professionals and required by forest certification standards are paying off in maintaining the water quality in our forests that translates into the clean water coming out of our faucets.

"Best management practices are an effective way of protecting water quality and preventing pollution," Florida State Forester Jim Karels said. "Much of the nation’s drinking water originates from forests, and these measures ensure that those lands continue to provide such an important societal need."

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is one example of a certification standard with requirements to implement best management practices for water quality. In the recent study, NASF recognized the role of SFI in advancing water quality in managed forests, and promoting improved harvesting practices: "...SFI [has] made important contributions to improved best management practices implementation through logger training, landowner outreach and water quality requirements."

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=341382&issueID=41987 to view the full article online.

Project Learning Tree has partnered with a game developer to plant real trees by nurturing virtual ones. The developer, Zig Zag Zoom, has just updated and expanded its Tree Story game. Now both Android and iOS users can play the mobile game that plants REAL trees. When you first start the game, you pick between three types of tree seeds that will become your pet tree. You then pick the project you would like to play for. There are a variety of fun facts, forest-themed actions to complete and puzzle games. For example, you can fend off nasty Asian Long Horned Beetles and other harmful pests to keep your trees safe and happy!

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=341385&issueID=41987 to view the full article online.