Reprinted from "The Charleston Gazette," p.1, August 28, 2014

"West Virginia’s top two legislative Democrats moved Wednesday to put more pressure on Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to call a special session to delay the deadline for owners of chemical storage tanks across the state to certify to regulators that those tanks are safe.

Senate President Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, and House Speaker Tim Miley, D-Harrison, issued a joint statement urging the governor to schedule the special session during the Legislature’s next round of interim meetings, set for Sept. 8-10. Kessler and Miley said 'it has become apparent' that the Jan. 1, 2015, deadline for tank safety certifications "is unattainable."

'Extending that deadline will allow the state Department of Environmental Protection to put in place, with public input, agency rules to fairly and effectively govern the inspection and certification process,' Kessler and Miley said. 'Any continued delay in taking action on this matter only causes uncertainty within affected industries and the families that rely on them for employment.'

A Message From the SFI, Inc. President & CEO

"SFI stands at the intersection of sustainable forests and sustainable communities. You are part of the SFI community, whether you are adding value through managing forestlands, elevating the impact of conservation research, working with youth or learning from elders, broadening market leadership through responsible purchasing, or even if you're simply a consumer trying to make the right choices. We thank you for the work you do to ensure a future with healthy, vibrant forests. While SFI staff work hard to ensure your efforts are recognized, it is the SFI Program Participants and our larger community who actively promote conservation across the one-quarter billion acres that are certified to the SFI Standard and the many more acres that are positively affected as a result of SFI's fiber-sourcing requirements. Through SFI chain-of-custody certificate holders, the good work done by forest managers and procurement organizations is communicated through the supply chain to end users and ultimately consumers.

Certification to the SFI Standard constitutes an investment by our Program Participants in the future of our forests - an investment that in turn depends on market recognition today. Spanning the supply chain from landowners to brand managers, the SFI community understands that healthy forests require healthy markets. When brand managers say yes to SFI, they are sending a signal to landowners, land managers and their customers that they care about responsible forest management. It is organizations like Time Inc., the National Geographic Society, Macmillan and Pearson - SFI Founding Forest Partners - who are making a difference by investing in the growth of certification and responsible supply chains.

Area 1 - Steve Cerullo - Northwest Hardwoods Inc.
Area 2 - Mark Sturgill - Huffman Logging
Area 3 - Chris Shields - Weyerhaeuser
Area 4 - Bryan Humphreys - BT Humphreys Logging
Area 5 - James C. Smith - CLC Hardwoods
Area 6 - Joe Garrett - Glatfelter
At Large - Randall Johnson - Plum Creek Timber Company
At Large - Bill Burnside - Burnside Timber