In special session, the WV legislature overwhelmingly approved a bill to clarify legislation passed in the regular session (and reported here, earlier) increasing the state's minimum wage to $8.00 an hour in 2015 and $8.75 in 2016. The special session bill assures federal law regulating maximum work hours or overtime hours are not replaced by the new state law.

In reaction to past and possible designations, H.R. 1459, the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act - introduced by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) - has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would require public participation before a presidentially declared National Monument is made official. Under a century-old law, the 1906 Antiquities Act, presidents can unilaterally designate National Monuments without any input or involvement of the American public, community leaders, or elected officials. This authority, enacted prior to the establishment of today's land management laws, was intended to be used in emergencies to protect historic artifacts and sites of scientific value from imminent threat and "confined to the smallest area" necessary. Since its establishment 108 years ago, the Antiquities Act has at times been misused for political purposes. In most circumstances of abuse, large-scale designation are intended to limit specific uses, activities, and access to vast areas of America's public lands. This has hindered viable uses of land that benefit local communities and support industries and livelihoods, including education, energy production, farming, ranching, mining, and recreation. H.R. 1459 would guarantee the American people an opportunity to participate in the decisions that impact their communities and ensures that the designation process is transparent through the application of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Most, if not all, major public land-use decisions are statutorily required to go through the NEPA process. National Monument designations deserve public input from the people and communities who are directly impacted. To treat presidents differently and allow designations to be done in secret is anything but transparent.

It was very helpful to sit down with the committee working on the Forestry & Wood Produces Exhibit for the upcoming October Forest Festival in Elkins. At that time, we found that they want to secure more cash sponsors to cover prizes for the winners of the Lumberjack Competition at the festival. The festival awards about $11,000 in cash prizes to the competition winners; at this time they have Suddenlink, Myles Lumber, First Energy, Larry Barger and others. In-kind support from a few different companies is another way they receive donations.

Forest Festival representatives have requested that we solicit support of our readers, which they indicate is greatly appreciated. To participate, please contact us at wvfa@wvfa.org or 304-372-1955.

Letter to the West Virginia Tree Farm Committee:

At a recent staff meeting it was revealed that our agency is starting fiscal year 2015 with a cut of just $700,000 in general revenue funds.

In an effort to maintain vital services to the forestry community, we have had to make some hard decisions as to how we will utilize our limited manpower to provide for these services.

With declining state funding, USFS state and private forestry grants will drive our landowner program. The recent West Virginia Restoration Venture project provides funding for stewardship plans and EQIP practices which involve our LOA staff whether writing plans, reviewing consultant written plans, or reviewing and approving EQIP practices.

At the same time, the American Tree Farm system is undergoing a transition in its program to forest landowners through a process described as State’s Voice, State’s Choice. During this process, each state’s Tree Farm Program has been asked to engage in a collaborative discussion to make an informed decision and select a pathway relative to third-party certification. Currently the West Virginia Tree Farm committee is soliciting input from its tree farmers in an effort to make the right decision for the state.

Our role in Tree Farm has been to provide support and promote the program among forest landowners under the direction of the West Virginia Forestry Association and the committee leadership by forest industry and private landowners. It will be up to WVFA and committee leadership to determine what decision Tree Farm will take in the state.

This being said, I am directing the DOF staff to fulfill any outstanding inspection commitments to the Tree Farm committee as soon as possible. We will not take on any additional Tree Farm work going forward and limit our involvement on the committee to one representative, if desired by WVFA.

Our decision is driven by resource limitations due to the changing economic forces in the state of West Virginia. If at some future time the Tree Farm program needs our involvement, we will be happy to do what we can to support the committee.

Bob Radspinner, Assistant State Forester
Forest Mgt. & Stewardship
WV Division of Forestry

As you may have read in "The Forestry Monitor," the West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame (WVAFHF) Foundation has selected five outstanding individuals for induction in 2014. These individuals will be honored at the WVAFHF annual banquet at Jackson's Mill, Saturday, July 19, 2014. A reception will begin at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at the Jackson's Mill dining hall at 6 p.m.

Inductees for 2014 are: Robert Barnitz, Richard McClung, Mark Alan Metz, Roscoe Plumley and Jack Sturgill.
The WVAFHF Banquet is open to the public. Tickets are $30 each, and the deadline for reservations is July 10.

Tickets can be purchased from:
WV Forestry Association, 304-372-1955
June Mandel, WV Division of Forestry, 304-558-2788, ext. 51762
LeVera Gillum, WV Farm Bureau, 304-472-2080, ext. 302
Denise Hunnell, WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, 304-293-2395
Robin Gothard, WVDA, 304-558-3550
Erin Gregory, WVU Cooperative Extension Service, 304-293-5694

Enshrinement in the WVAFHF is reserved for those individuals, businesses, organizations, institutions and foundations that have made outstanding contributions to the establishment, development, advancement and improvement of the agricultural, forestry and family life of West Virginia.

The WVAFHF Foundation was chartered in 1974. In 1976, the Board of Governors voted to include forestry professionals in the Hall of Fame.