A preliminary assessment has been distributed of what the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s (FWS) determination of a "Threatened" listing for the Northern Long-Eared Bat, accompanied by its interim 4(d) Rule, will mean for forest management, once it goes into effect on May 4. Although the published interim 4(d) rule is little changed from the one FWS originally proposed, FWS indicates that it expects to consider changes to it based on a another/forthcoming 90-day public comment period, due to conclude on July 1. FWS indicates the intention of publishing some revision of the interim 4(d) rule before the end of 2015, based on all comments received.

"The results of this legislative session and subsequent approvals by Governor Tomblin are a clear indication that West Virginia has turned a corner and is serious about jobs, economic development and better educational opportunities for our children. The work of this Legislature and the governor is, most likely, unprecedented in the last 100 years. West Virginia is going to reap the benefits of this legislative session for a long time." - West Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Here is the status of bills of interest to WVFA members that were awaiting the governor's signature, when we published the last "Legislative Update" (a members-only document):
Signed into law by governor -
HB 2010 - Nonpartisan election of the Judiciary
HB 2011 - Deliberate Intent
SB 12 - Wage Payment & Collection Act
SB 37 - Uniform Arbitration Act
SB 318 - Bi-monthly pay periods
SB 344 - Unmitigated front pay
SB 421 - Punitive damage limits
SB 423 - Amending Aboveground Storage Tank Act
SB 488 - Reestablishing Broadband Deployment Council
SB 542 - Consumer Credit & Protection Act

Still awaiting action by the governor -
HB 2726 - Product liability choice of law

In December, the West Virginia Forestry Association completed work to update contact information for WV tree farmers. Postcards and follow-up telephone calls were used to reach every tree farmer in West Virginia. Between 700 and 800 WV tree farmers were contacted; made possible by a grant from the American Tree aFm System.

Since our contact information is now corrected and the ATFS has had their databases updated for us. We are pleased to resume the quarterly West Virginia Tree Farm Newsletter. We hope that you enjoy reading it and catching-up on some of the WV Tree Farm news, since the last newsletter.