NACD president defends EQIP in NYTimes
Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2010In a letter to the New York Times, National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) president Steve Robinson offers a reminder that the Environmental Quality Incentives Program goes beyond the cattle industry, and "helps farmers, ranchers and forest owners carry out conservation practices that provide countless public benefits." The program has recently been at risk for cuts that would shift funding to school nutrition programs.
Lawmakers want to protect U.S. paper industry
Posted on Friday, August 6, 2010Oregon Senator Ron Wyden is pressing the Obama administration to act against Chinese subsidies that he says are unfairly hurting the U.S. paper industry. More than 100 members of Congress sent a letter to President Obama on Wednesday, seeking an in-depth examination of Chinese subsidies to its paper industry.
Dems pull the plug on climate bill
Posted on Friday, July 23, 2010The effort to advance a major climate change bill through the Senate this summer collapsed this week. Senator (D-NV) said the Senate would not take up legislation intended to reduce carbon emissions blamed as a cause of climate change, but would instead pursue a more limited measure focused on responding to the in the Gulf and tightening energy efficiency standards.
Scientists urge use of renewable biomass to meet energy and climate goals
Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010More than 100 scientists signed a letter to House (PDF) and Senate (PDF) leaders this week expressing their concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency's "Tailoring Rule" and other policies that equate emissions from biomass energy with fossil fuel emissions. According to the Society of American Foresters, the letter reaffirmed the sentiment of many members of Congress that biomass has an important role in our nation's renewable energy policy and that EPA regulations are impeding the existence and potential development of renewable biomass energy sources.
MORE: NASF weighed in with other over 160 organizations on the EPA Tailoring Rule last month.
NGA survey shows state budgets still in decline
Posted on Friday, July 16, 2010Findings from the biannual report, "The Fiscal Survey of States," released by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) last month, show fiscal year 2010 presented the most difficult challenge for states' financial management since the Great Depression. To address falling revenues and meet balanced budget requirements, states have dramatically reduced spending from $687.3 billion in fiscal 2008 to $612.9 billion in fiscal 2010. States will have to make additional spending cuts or increase taxes to close their budget gaps, according to the report.
Ag appropriations bill passes with conservation funding intact
Posted on Thursday, July 1, 2010The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously approved a $23 billion Agriculture appropriations bill this week. It keeps intact major spending boosts for energy and conservation that lawmakers set two years ago, and rejects significant cuts that threatened the Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Grasslands Reserve Program, Farmland Protection Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.
Ag secretary selects advisory committee to evaluate collaborative forest landscape restoration proposals
Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2010Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the selection of 15 advisory committee members to evaluate Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration proposals as authorized by the Forest Landscape Restoration Act. Congress appropriated $10 million this year in a national fund that will supplement local resources and leverage non-Federal support for carrying out the projects under the CFLR Program.
Biomass definition in Senate climate bill follows House version
Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010The climate bill released this week by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) includes a definition of renewable biomass that is nearly identical to what was included in HR 2454 passed by the House last June (E&E News -- subscription req'd). The definition identifies the types of biomass that can be used by energy facilities without being subject to mandated greenhouse gas reductions.
The definition identifies areas on federal lands (e.g., old-growth, late-successional forests, roadless) where biomass—if harvested—would not be considered “renewable." On private lands, the bill would recognize any organic matter available on a renewable or recurring basis, including trees, other plants and leftovers from the agriculture, forest and forest products industry. The Kerry-Lieberman definition of renewable biomass can be found on p.486 of the bill (PDF).
MORE: The bill also would require EPA, Interior and Agriculture to collaborate on a study reviewing the impacts of harvesting and combusting biomass including the net greenhouse gas benefits. The bill also requires EPA and USDA to work with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study to evaluate how renewable biomass contributes to the goals of energy independence, protecting the environment and reducing greenhouse gas pollution. The study will include recommendations for any necessary changes to the definition of renewable biomass.
Climate bill expected next week
Posted on Friday, May 7, 2010Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) will unveil their long-awaited energy and climate bill Wednesday even as their former Republican partner claims it has "become impossible" to pass the measure now in light of immigration politics and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
MORE: Read NASF's recommendations on the role of forests in climate legislation.
Wyoming state forester testifies on forest health issues
Posted on Wednesday, May 5, 2010Wyoming's state forester Bill Crapser testified before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee during a field hearing in Cheyenne this week focused on the bark beetle epidemic, forest health and conservation of farm and ranchland.
