West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Cabinet Secretary Randy Huffman told the West Virginia Legislature Sept. 8 that despite months of doubts, the department should be able to comply with Senate Bill 373.

DEP provided lawmakers with an update on the so-called "tank bill," which was crafted in response to the Jan. 9 Freedom Industries chemical leak.

Huffman said although DEP employees, including himself, believed the legislation would be impossible for officials to implement, the department is working hard to make sure the law is complied with before all upcoming deadlines.

Looming deadlines include Oct. 1, the deadline for companies and individual tank owners to register their tanks with DEP; Dec. 3, when spill prevention and response plans are due; Dec. 31, when inspections and certifications have to be complete and submitted to DEP; and Jan. 1, when the law takes effect.

American Woodmark Corporation (NASDAQ: AMWD) today announced a $30 million expansion of its South Branch manufacturing facility located in Moorefield, West Virginia. The expansion will increase the size of the current facility by 100,000 square feet and add 80 new jobs. Upon completion of this investment, American Woodmark will have 655 total employees at the South Branch Facility.

The House Select Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development’s Listening Tour meetings will be held in the following locations. The members of the Committee "listen" to ideas from people about how the state might improve the business atmosphere for their kind of business. They have, as yet, not heard from the forest products industry and are particularly interested in hearing from loggers.

Wednesday, September 24, 6 p.m. – Elkins – Davis & Elkins College

Thursday, September 25, 10 a.m. – Moorefield – Eastern Community Technical College

Tuesday, October 14, 6 p.m. – Martinsburg – Holiday Inn

Tuesday, October 21, 6 p.m. – Parkersburg – WVU Parkersburg

If you're in business—and we all are—continuing to learn is an important part of what you do. Here's quick way to find whether you'd like to read a famous business book.

WVFA allies, the American Loggers Council and the Forest Resources Association, are working together on a project to help men and women considering a career in logging understand what logging work is like and link them with the connections they need to find employment.

A four-color brochure, Is Working As A Logger For You?, describes basic qualifications for logging employment, characterizes several logging configurations, and presents statements from employers about what to expect from employment in logging. It provides a link to a page on ALC’s website, which provides state association contacts who can connect motivated individuals to employers and training opportunities.