Q: Please help us understand why current workers comp (WC) carriers appear to be declining to write WC insurance for logging companies with small annual premiums; effectively placing them into the Adverse Risk Pool.

A: Historical claims experience indicates that the logging industry has consistently been one of the most hazardous industries in the United States. With increasing medical and indemnity costs as well as low investment income, many workers’ compensation carriers are not willing to accept the potential risk that a logging policy may incur for the amount of premium they are allowed to charge.

The "tailoring" rule contends that wood-burning emissions have the same negative air-polluting effects as fossil fuels emissions.

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, 5-4, that EPA cannot require that power plants and other facilities seek building or operating permits based solely on the fact of their greenhouse gas emissions. But it ruled 7-2 that any plant (or other stationary source) that already emits impermissibly high levels of other, traditional pollutants can be required to also obtain permits related to greenhouse gas emissions.

The ruling does not affect President Obama’s latest proposed rules for greenhouse gas emissions that would require states to reduce their total emissions by 30 percent. Those rules are still in draft form and are subject to comments and revisions over the next several months.

The Court held that EPA can require facilities that are already under its permitting authority for other pollutants make use of so-called "the best available control technology" (also known as BACT) to reduce greenhouse gases. But Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the majority, warned the EPA that it should tread carefully in seeking to impose restrictions on such facilities.

We have received several forms that were generated from a link we distributed via this newsletter a couple of weeks ago. So it seems good and proper to repeat that action for those who may have misplaced their registration form or similar.

But, everyone should now have registration forms for the WVFA 2014 Annual Meeting. The event will once again be held at Canaan Valley, July 11-12. Speakers will address how the Affordable Care Act will affect us all and what we can expect from the new West Virginia law to regulate "aboveground chemical storage tanks." We also plan OSHA and stewardship courses for continuing education credits, where applicable. Please complete the form and return it to us ASAP. We would be happy to answer your questions at 1-888-372-9663 or WVFA@WVFA.org.

And don't forget about all the family friendly fun and events. Make our meeting a part of your family's summer tradition... as so many have, for so long. Come to Canaan, the place for "Ideas that keep growing"!

WVFA WOOD PRESERVATION RECERTIFICATION WORKSHOP at 
Canaan Valley Resort & Conference Center, Davis, WV
July 10, 2014
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Program – Four (4) recertification credits in Category 8D
Registration Fee:
$20.00 per person – WVFA Member
$45.00 per person – NON-Member

Dear WVFA Member:

Our Annual Meeting is set for July 11-12, 2014, at Canaan Valley Resort, Davis, WV. Each year we enjoy the many banquet door prizes and the WV Tree Farm Committee Silent Auction. The success of these activities is all due to you, the members, contributing the many items.

We are requesting that you contribute a banquet door prize or an item to be used in the WV Tree Farm Committee Silent Auction. The door prizes usually range from $15 to $25.

We suggest you submit wooden items for the Silent Auction. However, we do receive a wide variety of items such as quilts, toys, safety equipment, tools, pictures, and wooden craft items. Auction items can be of any value and will go to the highest bidder.

Once again this year, we are having the WV Tree Farm Committee Silent Auction for the children ages 3 through 12. We need items donated within the price range for children. This allows the children to be involved in all the fun by bidding on an item they would like to purchase.

Would you please notify our office by July 2, 2014, if you plan to donate to any of these activities. For your convenience, we have added a link to the 'Door Prize & Silent Auction Form', below .

Sincerely,
Frank Stewart
Executive Director