Legislative Accomplishments and Activities: 2005-2006 Legislative Session
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Opposition by PFPA and other groups prevented the creation of new taxes on emissions and by-products from manufacturing processes to finance repayment of the recently enacted Growing Greener environmental bond. These proposed taxed would have cost secondary wood processors about $1 million annually.
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PFPA helped secure the restoration of funding for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Hardwoods Development Council. The Governor's 2005 budget proposal included plans to cut HDC funding by nearly one-third.
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PFPA testified on forestry and wood industry issues before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Environmental Resources and Energy Committee in August.
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In September, PFPA sponsored a forest and mill tour for members and staff of the House of Representatives Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and House Timber Caucus.
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PFPA is monitoring and commenting on a variety of revisions related to DCNR's planning and land management policies. This includes the Bureau of Forestry's revised plan to promote forest stewardship on private lands, DCNR's new land acquisition strategy and the Department's plan for dealing with invasive species in State Forests and State Parks. PFPA also continues to work with the Bureau of Forestry to improve the economics of state timber contracts and increase the harvest of economically valuable timber on State Forests.
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PFPA supported legislation enacted this summer that provides a more streamlined adjudication process for legal disputes between farmers and townships over the legality of local ordinances seeking to regulate agricultural operations. The statute's definition of normal agricultural operations includes many forestry and timber harvesting operations.
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PFPA is working to increase weight limits for trucks transporting logs from the woods to the mill.
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PFPA is monitoring and commenting on numerous bills and proposals which have been introduced during the first year of the two-year legislative session.
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PFPA participated in the review of DEP's new Timber Harvest Field Guide to ensure that it was consistent with BMP's and the two existing publications the new guide replaced.
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PFPA is a key participant in the on-going planning process related to the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) Forest Plan Revision.
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