The following publication contains the resolutions adopted by the National Association of State Foresters at our 78^th Annual meeting, which was held from September 19 – 23, 1999 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The resolutions are guidance on forestry issues and policy matters, which are used by the Executive Committee and the National Office staff.

This year, we also adopted a number of policy statements. These will be published separately by the Association over the course of the next year. In addition, two of the resolutions adopted this year amended the Association’s bylaws. A revised edition of the bylaws will be published before the end of the calendar year.

Resolution 99-1: Silvicultural contributions to State nonpoint source water quality planning.
Resolution 99-2: To consolidate functions of Woodsy Owl Liaison Committee into the NASF Conservation Education Committee (Amends Bylaws).
Resolution 99-3: Management of Federal Lands (Policy Statement).
Resolution 99-4: Forest Certification and the non-industrial private forest landowner.
Resolution 99-5: Establishment and Management of forests under USDA Conservation Programs.
Resolution 99-7: Adopting "Taxation and Forest Sustainability: Recommendations for Positive Change" as a Policy Statement of the Association (Policy Statement).
Resolution 99-8: Standardizing the format of NASF Resolutions (Amends Bylaws).
Resolution 99-9: Restoration of the Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP).
Resolution 99-10: Fire Weather Forecasting.
Resolution 99-11: Changes to Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualifications System Guide.
Resolution 99-12: EPA’s Proposed TMDL Rule Change Regarding Regulation of Silviculture.
Resolution 99-13: Recognition of Association Sponsors and Exhibitors
Resolution 99-14: To recognize the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry staff.

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

NASF Water Resources Committee

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Silvicultural contributions to state nonpoint source water quality planning

BACKGROUND:

Forested landscapes play a vital role in affecting the quality and quantity of our nation's water. The demand for wood fiber from the 488 million acres of State and Private land is increasing, creating an urgent need to address nonpoint source water pollution that may result from silviculture activities.

In addition to timber management, the non-industrial private forest landowner often cites scenic values, wildlife, recreational opportunities, and quality of personal environment as reasons for owning forest land. If improvements to water quality on non-industrial private forestland are to be made, landowners need to be encouraged to practice good forest stewardship, and be shown that active silviculture practices, including timber harvests, can be conducted as part of, and in full support of, their overall forest management goals.

Strong partnerships between State Foresters and State water quality agencies are needed to ensure nonpoint source water pollution from forestry activities are kept to a minimum and reduced where possible. It is also possible to use forestry expertise to reduce nonpoint source impacts from other land use activities.

The State Foresters, with their connections and access to private forested watersheds, and State Nonpoint Source Water Quality Coordinators, with their intimate knowledge of the Section 319 program (nonpoint source pollution) and their ability to fund high-priority projects, will be valuable and effective allies.

RESOLUTION:

The NASF Water Resources Committee recommends to the NASF full endorsement of the following action;

State Foresters need to proactively engage their respective State NPS Coordinators in State Nonpoint Source Water Quality Control Plan development. This will ensure that silvicultural interests are better represented in state NPS Control Plans and subsequently provide more funding opportunities for forestry related water quality projects through Section 319 grants and Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans under the Clean Water Act.

Furthermore, the development of the Watershed Forestry Initiative (new S&PF line-item) is vital to providing the resources necessary to ensure State Forester participation and contribution to state nonpoint source water quality planning efforts. NASF will aggressively pursue the establishment of this line-item and the development of strong water quality and watershed management capabilities within the State and Private Forestry branch of the Forest Service.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-2

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

NASF Conservation Education Committee

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

To consolidate functions of Woodsy Owl Liaison Committee into the NASF Conservation Education Standing Committee.

BACKGROUND:

Woodsy Owl has been the most recognizable symbol for pollution prevention in the US. His image has supported the successful "Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute" slogan, and, more recently, the slogan "Lend a hand, care for the land." The National Association of State Foresters has been long-term supporters of Woodsy Owl, including working with the Forest Service on the message and media campaigns and by producing Woodsy Owl educational materials through our NASF Educational Materials Project. The management of Woodsy Owl has been supervised by various branches of the Forest Service. NASF has traditionally named a small liaison committee (pursuant to Article XIX, Section 5, Subsection (g) of our bylaws) to oversee our involvement with Woodsy Owl.

The Forest Service has expanded the message of Woodsy Owl to "Lend a hand, care for the land," implying a broader message of conservation education rather than simple pollution or litter prevention. The Forest Service is also in the process of refocusing and expanding it’s Conservation Education Staff, which has been given responsibility for the management of the Woodsy Owl image and program. NASF should realign it’s committee structure to reflect these changes.

RESOLUTION:

To accomplish this end, the members of NASF Amend the by-laws by repealing Article XIX, Section 5, Subsection (g).

The members further direct the Executive Committee to assign liaison responsibility for Woodsy Owl to the NASF Conservation and Natural Resource Education Committee, a standing committee provided for by Article XIX, Section 3, Subsection (g).

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-3

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

NASF Federal Lands Committee

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Management of Federal Lands (Policy Statement)

BACKGROUND:

The USDA Forest Service and the USDI Bureau of Land Management manage about one fifth of the land area of the United States. Their history of land stewardship is a proud one; although frequently criticized, these agencies have made possible great strides in land management in areas such as watershed protection, grazing, and forestry.

State Foresters have particular interests in the relationship between federal forest lands and state and private lands. These interests include fire protection, forest health and productivity, sustainability, and consideration of entire landscapes irrespective of ownership.

The State Foresters have been working in active collaboration with these agencies, (the Forest Service in particular) for over 70 years. We are proud of what we have accomplished in that partnership. However, in recent years conflicting mandates in Federal environmental protection, planning, and management statutes have increasingly led to gridlock in the management of BLM and USFS federal lands, particularly forest lands. Some have suggested that alternative management schemes should be investigated. Others have suggested that administrative reforms can also reduce this gridlock. To a certain degree, NASF agrees with both of those statements.

To increase efficiency and to align with other sectors of government entering the next century, it appears federal land management is inexorably headed toward a stronger emphasis on adaptive management of federal forests. Adaptive management relies less on prescriptive regulation and more on flexibility, incentives, monitoring and evaluation, and significant, meaningful public involvement. State Foresters have for the most part embraced adaptive management and support application of the concept to federal lands.

NASF has recently investigated internal efforts within the Forest Service to reform the agency bureaucracy, most notably through improvements in strategic planning, budget reform, and forest planning regulations. NASF supports these reform efforts and offers specific recommendations related to reform efforts.

Solutions that lead to improved federal land management can be pursued through both administrative action and legislative action. In our view, the following legislative and administrative actions could resolve problems on these lands.

RESOLUTION:

Legislative Issues: Integration of federal natural resource laws

NASF will, through appropriate organizations, associations, state and tribal governments, promote and advocate an initiative to:

NASF will also undertake this analysis internally and share its findings with Congress, federal agencies, states, and all interested parties.

NASF will work with the National Governors Association (and its regional associations) and Congress on federal natural resource law revision. NASF believes Congress should pass legislation creating a more concise mission statement for the Forest Service and the BLM.

NASF believes federal lands are best managed through an adaptive management model. This approach is characterized by strong accountability through adequate monitoring, evaluation, and public involvement. NASF believes a proper mix of incentives, regulations, investment, and flexibility leads to stewardship above and beyond the results of regulation alone.

NASF endorses the concept of pilot projects in states concerning alternative forest management mechanisms in management of federal lands. NASF supports adequate funding for pilot projects.

NASF supports joint efforts by the states and the federal government to assess forest ecosystem conditions within each state or region. Consequently, NASF supports joint state/private/federal efforts to manage entire landscapes, especially concerning cooperative forest health and fire management matters. NASF also recognizes that in coordinated resource management efforts, the state, federal, or private landowner makes final management decisions on their own land. NASF will actively support USDA Forest Service and Congressional legislative efforts to improve and streamline the federal land exchange process.

Administrative Actions Related to Forest Service Reform

Strategic Planning

Forest Planning Regulations

Conclusion:

The USDA Forest Service and the State Foresters have a long relationship that includes many successes. NASF believes that the Forest Service has played an important role in history of America forestry, and with proper and clear guidance from Congress and state legislatures that it will continue to be leader in forestry and land management. Internal agency reform efforts will contribute to improvements in federal land management.

This resolution replaces Resolution Number 96-12. It will also be published as a separate policy statement of the Association.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-4

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

NASF Forest Resource Management Committee

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Forest certification and the non-industrial private forest landowner

BACKGROUND:

In the past five years, numerous efforts have been made to create forest certification systems, which provide standards and review processes for the management of forests. Six of these certification systems, commonly known as certification schemes, were reviewed recently by a Society of American Foresters task force, which was co-chaired by Missouri State Forester and Former NASF President Marvin Brown. This task force report provides a comprehensive overview of each certification scheme, highlighting the challenges each faces. One of the primary conclusions of the report is that "the utility and appeal of any of these programs to non-industrial landowners are uncertain."

The ultimate success of forest certification schemes depends upon whether they can economically provide a source of certified wood products to an educated segment of the market. At this point, the viability of certified lands as a source of material, and the viability of a market niche for these materials, are as yet unproven. Practitioners of certification and landowners interested in pursuing it may have to bear substantial costs to obtain certification with uncertain market rewards for their efforts. However, forest management is a long-term proposition, and many investments in forest lands are made without a guarantee of future returns.

The State Foresters are the primary public agency contacts with the nation’s more than 9 million non-industrial private landowners. Forest certification schemes can be a tool to increase their interest in forest management. However, participation in forest certification schemes present many difficulties to non-industrial private landowners in particular. Challenges such as tracking certified products from small ownerships, the high initial cost of certification, and standards that may not suit small ownerships all diminish the potential value of certification schemes to NIPF landowners.

RESOLUTION:

This resolution does not endorse any specific forest certification process or organization. Forest certification is an evolving field. The National Association of State Foresters should pursue an appropriate role in this evolution. This should include the following actions:

1. NASF should continue to be involved with, and have representation on the American Forest and Paper Association’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Expert Review Panel.
2. State Foresters should be encouraged to work with the SFI State Implementation Committees.
3. NASF should seek greater participation in the Forest Stewardship Council’s United States program, and explore opportunities for State Foresters to participate in regional FSC efforts.
4. NASF and State Foresters should support efforts to train forest certification verifiers, that is, the field foresters who actually examine forest management to determine whether it meets the standards set by various certification schemes. Current efforts on this front include those by the Society of American Foresters and the Sustainable Forestry Partnership at Pennsylvania State University and Oregon State University.
5. NASF should explore opportunities to have forest certification organizations recognize the Forest Stewardship program and other publicly assisted planning programs as meeting certification standards.
6. NASF should do further research into forest certification in order to prepare a policy statement that will provide:

   a) recommendations to forest certification schemes to help address problems specific to NIPF landowners, such as chain of custody and scale-appropriate standards;
   b) policy guidance to State Foresters and the NASF Washington Office;
   c) additional information on the current state of forest certification.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/23/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-5

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters

Southern Group of State Foresters

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Establishment and Management of forests under USDA Conservation Programs

BACKGROUND:

Over the past several years, new guidelines for the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetland Reserve Program have been issued which discourage the planting of forest stands, and encourage the creation of forest edge habitat through the planting of thin, understocked stands of trees and shrubs. Many of these low-density plantings fail or perform poorly. This reflects poorly on the forestry profession and is a poor investment of public and private funds.

In addition, the Farm Services Agency of USDA adopted rules which required premature thinnings of stands planted under CRP. This rule would have forced landowners to make uneconomical, precommercial thinnings of stands planted under CRP, much earlier than their original contracts called for. The FSA adopted these rules at the urging of interest groups ostensibly interested in improving wildlife habitat, while the fact is the practices recommended will provide only marginally better habitat which would have developed after commercial thinnings as well. This problem was partially resolved through administrative action on the part of FSA, but not until after substantial pressure from the State Foresters. CRP is not implemented with enough flexibility to allow forest managers to make appropriate site-specific recommendations regarding which tree species are appropriate.

CRP requirements to thin established forest plantings to create openings is also an inflexible standard that is inappropriate in certain regions. This emphasis runs counter to the need to establish solid forest cover in the Midwest, Lake States, and Northeastern United States.

Establishment rates (i.e. – trees/acre) below basic reforestation rates fail or perform poorly at landowner and taxpayer expense. Thinning young established plantings below acceptable reforestation stocking levels produces poor wildlife benefits in an already edge-rich environment. Current CRP and WRP environmental benefits indexes and guidelines favor these practices over the establishment and maintenance of forests and forest habitats. There is not a shortage of forest edge habitat and there is a growing concern over loss of interior forests. These practices are unsound public and private investments.

RESOLUTION:

The membership directs the NASF Resource Management Committee, the Washington Office, and encourages the USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Staff to work with the USDA FSA and NRCS to change the environmental benefits index and practice guidelines for CRP and WRP practices which currently promote low stocking, edge habitat development, and off-site tree planting. These indices and guidelines should be adjusted to promote forest wildlife habitat no less than open wildlife habitat.

NASF and the UDSA Forest Service State and Private Forestry must have active representation during development of USDA policy affecting forest regeneration and forest conservation (including CRP, WRP, EQIP, WHIP, and FIP).

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-7

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

Southern Group of State Foresters

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Adopting "Taxation and Forest Sustainability: Recommendations for Positive Change" as a Policy Statement for the Association

BACKGROUND:

Taxation of forest land and forestry related income is a major concern of non-industrial private forest landowners. Tax policies at both the Federal and State level can have a major impact on forest management. Current provisions of the Federal tax code can encourage unsustainable management of private forests, particularly nonindustrial private forests, which make up over two thirds of the nation’s forest lands. The attached policy statement clarifies which provisions can negatively impact the sustainability of America’s forests and makes recommendations for changes to the Federal tax code.

RESOLUTION:

The policy statement "Taxation and Forest Sustainability: Recommendations for Positive Change" is adopted by the members of the National Association of State Foresters. It will be published separately.

This resolution replaces resolution number 88-17 and resolution number 90-7.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-8

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

NASF Executive Committee

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Standardizing the format of NASF Resolutions

BACKGROUND:

NASF adopts resolutions and policy statements to state the official views of the association on public policy issues, including legislation and policies adopted by various agencies of the Federal government. Resolutions also recognize individuals and give thanks to meeting sponsors and supporters. In the past, resolutions followed a format of points in support of the resolution, labeled "WHEREAS", followed by the actual resolution, labeled "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED," and "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED." Nothing currently in the NASF bylaws requires this format, and in the past several years, the membership has taken advantage of that by writing resolutions in a variety of formats. More recently, members have expressed interest in having a standardized format for resolutions.

RESOLUTION:

Article XX of the NASF bylaws is amended by adding the following new Section 4:

Section 4: Format of Resolutions: All resolutions shall be submitted in the following format. The Heading shall show the RESOLUTION NUMBER; followed by the ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION; followed by a one sentence summary ISSUE OF CONCERN. The arguments for the RESOLUTION shall be spelled out in a section labled BACKGROUND. This section can be either a narrative or a series of arguments labled WHEREAS. The actual resolution shall follow and be marked RESOLUTION, and may be either in narrative form or use points labled "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED," and "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED" etc. A signature block indicating action on the resolution shall follow the RESOLUTION section.

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTON: Resolutions may be submitted by individual state foresters, any Committee of the Association provided for under Article XIX, the Executive Committee, any regional organization recognized under Article XIII.

RESOLUTION: This section shall indicate whether the resolution adopts a change to the bylaws or adopts a policy statement.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-9

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Restoration of the Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP)

BACKGROUND:

The Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) and the Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP) are the essential core of our rural outreach efforts and need revitalization. There is clearly a shift in ownership patterns towards smaller forest land holdings and the majority of the productive forest land is still perfectly fitted to FSP and SIP. In fact, there is more demand now than ever for traditional forest products from private forest lands. The Forest Stewardship Program and Stewardship Incentives Program are very well suited to meet the demand.

There is also an increase in small forest holdings that are increasingly unlike older, larger forest ownerships, but are not quite suburban or strictly residential in character. We believe that FSP and SIP have the potential to meet the demands of these unique new ownerships. We also believe that these programs are very young and should be supported as they continue to grow.

RESOLUTION:

The USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry branch and the National Association of State Forester must commit to focus on restoring and increasing investment in programs such as Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP) and the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP). This should include an increase in staff emphasis by the Forest Service to ensure that program delivery for these and other landowner assistance programs can be effective.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-10

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION

NASF Fire Committee

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Fire Weather Forecasting

BACKGROUND:

Several years ago, the National Weather Service initiated a modernization and restructuring process which refocuses its weather forecasting away from specialty forecasts for agriculture, aviation, and fire toward general weather forecasts. Congress several years ago directed the National Weather Service to stop providing what they characterized as "specialized forecasts." This effort is strongly supported by private weather forecasting businesses.

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has requested the National Weather Service to restore dedicated fire weather forecasting services. NASF has supported this effort, and opposed the decision to move away from specialized forecasts when it was first proposed five years ago. Contrary to predictions made by private forecasting firms, accurate fire weather information, particularly for spot forecasts for prescribed burns, has not become widely available from commercial providers.

Interest in prescribed fire is expanding beyond regions where it has been traditionally used as a management tool. Federal land managers have become particularly interested in expanding their use of prescribed fire. State and private land managers, including State Foresters, are also interested in continuing and expanding their use of prescribed fire to achieve forest health and fuels reduction goals.

Unfortunately, the National Weather Service has been directed to eliminate non-emergency services to States, compromising the ability of State Foresters and other non-Federal entities to obtain spot weather forecasts for prescribed fire. Efforts to obtain accurate forecasts from other sources have been disruptive and expensive.

In addition, the Congressional decision to stop funding spot weather forecasting for non-Federal entities constitutes an unfunded mandate upon State Foresters and other local entities required to comply with the Federal Clean Air Act. States are required to comply with smoke management plans and other measures to avoid violating particulate matter and visibility standards under the Act. If spot forecasts continue to be unavailable from the National Weather Service, State Foresters are being forced to seek (frequently unsuccessfully) expensive private forecasts. This is an unfunded mandate pure and simple.

RESOLUTION:

The National Association of State Foresters supports the addition of provisions to the National Weather Service reauthorization bills (HR 1553, the National Weather Service and Related Agencies Authorization Act of 1999) currently under consideration in Congress to clarify that provision of fire weather forecasting (including services to States) is part of the core mission of the agency. NASF will work with the National Governors Association and their regional affiliates to support the inclusion of these provisions in the National Weather Service reauthorization. Once the authority is clearly established for the National Weather Service to provide fire weather forecasting, including spot forecasts for prescribed burns to States, we will work with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and its members, as well as other interested parties and organizations, to ensure that that adequate budgetary resources are provided to the National Weather Service to carry out this mission.

This resolution supplements, but does not replace, Resolution Number 89-10.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-11

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Changes to Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualifications System Guide

BACKGROUND:

The National Association of State Foresters has supported National Mobility Incidents since 1973 by supplying personnel and equipment. Nationally, there are numerous National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) positions identified as "critical shortage" resources. Current training delivery systems are inadequate to meet the interagency demand for many of the 200, 300, and 400 level NWCG courses. The members of NASF must maintain a balance between individual needs/desires, agency needs, and cost of participation in National Mobility assignments. The proposed changes to the Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualifications System Guide (PMS-310-1) included in the current draft, increase the formal training requirements to qualify for a number of key ICS positions. Many of these increased training course requirements are unnecessary and unduly increase the financial burden to NASF members.

RESOLUTION:

The NASF will direct its representatives on the Incident Operations Standards Working Team (IOSWT) and the Training Working Team (TWT), to insist that required training courses be limited to essential classroom training that cannot be effectively be achieved through experience and local training.

Further, the NASF will direct its representatives on the NWCG to resist any changes to 310-1 that unnecessarily increase the formal training requirements for position qualification.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-12

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

NASF Water Resources Committee

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

EPA’s Proposed TMDL Rule Change Regarding Regulation of Silviculture

BACKGROUND:

The complexity and contentiousness of the overall TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) program has produced scientific and legal issues beyond practical understanding and implementation. In that regard, virtually every aspect of implementing the TMDL program is excessively confusing, cost prohibitive, and burdened with unrealistic deadlines.

For example, some TMDL issues that are yet unresolved include:

Silviculture BMPs have a 20+ year track record, and have evolved to be the most practical, cost effective means of protecting forest water resources. In addition, States are demonstrating high levels of BMP compliance and providing quantitative research that shows the effectiveness of these practices.

Also, silviculture contributes approximately 3 to 9 percent of nonpoint source pollution to the Nations waters. Given the BMP programs and private sector initiatives, there is good reason to expect this percentage to decrease. In fact, for many "problem watersheds," silviculture is often prescribed as the land-use solution to water quality impairment, i.e. the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provided Federal cost share money to convert millions of acres of highly erodible crop land to pine plantations.

EPA’s proposed rule fails to adequately resolve existing TMDL issues and questions and, in fact adds appreciably more confusion to the process by removing the historical, categorical exclusion of silviculture from the definition of point source pollution.

In addition, EPA’s proposal to regulate "selected (silviculture) sources" such as nursery operations, site preparation, reforestation, prescribed burning, pest and fire control, harvesting, thinning, etc. "on a case by case basis" is scientifically unjustified, and ignores the relative contribution of such forestry activities compared to other land uses.

RESOLUTION:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the NASF is opposed to EPA’s proposed rule as it relates to the removal of the categorical exclusion of silvicultural activities from the definition of point source pollution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NASF is opposed to EPA’s proposed rule regarding the regulation of exempt, silviculture activities under the NPDES permitting program.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NASF finds EPA’s treatment of silviculture within the proposed rule to be scientifically unjustified, highly disproportionate with regard to other land uses, and a radical departure from the historical interpretation and implementation of the Federal Clean Water Act.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the NASF recommends a retraction of EPA’s proposed rule, or at the very least an extension of the comment period for 120 days to allow for major revisions related to silviculture and perhaps other issues.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/22/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-13

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

The Members of the National Association of State Foresters

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

Recognition of Association Sponsors and Exhibitors

RESOLUTION:

The National Association of State Foresters Annual Meeting would not be possible without the strong support of our sponsors and exhibitors. Their generosity makes possible the enjoyable setting in which we conduct our business, and their products and services make valuable contributions to the work of our member agencies. We heartily thank the following sponsors and exhibitors for their support:

GR Manufacturing

John Deere Industrial Equipment Company

Bombardier, Inc. Canadair Amphibious Aircraft Division

Erickson Air-Crane Co.

FESCO

Stihl, Inc.

Air Tractor, Inc.

Queen Bee

Air Tractor, Inc. Lion Apparel. Inc.

Ben Meadows Company BK Radio

Bombardier, Inc. Canadair Amphibious Aircraft Division

Bruce Lyndon Cunningham, Forester-Artist FESCO

Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. Erickson Air-Crane Co.

Forest Landowners Association Forestry Suppliers, Inc.

Hardwood Lumber Manufacturers Association GR Manufacturing, Inc.

Hopewell Manufacturing, Inc. National Tree Trust

Jamestown Advanced Products, Inc. Nelson Paint Company

John Deere Industrial Equipment Company Stihl, Inc.

Natural Resource Technologies Society of American Foresters

Terresolve Technologies, Ltd. Treesentials

Queen Bee

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

DATE OF ACTION: 9/23/99

RESOLUTION Number 99-14

ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:

The Members of the National Association of State Foresters

ISSUE OF CONCERN:

To recognize the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry Staff

RESOLUTION:

The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, under the courageous leadership of State Forester Jim Grace, the able assistance of John Berst, and the eternal vigilance of Joan O’Hara Wehner, has successfully hosted the 1999 Annual Meeting of the National Association of State Foresters. The city of Harrisburg provided an outstanding opportunity for the members of the Association, our spouses, sponsors, exhibitors, and guests to experience the history of forestry and the hospitality of Pennsylvania. The hard work of the staff contributed to a successful meeting, where old friendships were renewed, new ones kindled, and much good work was done for the future of forestry.

The members of the Association commend the staff of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry for their efforts.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

( ) Disapproved

( ) Tabled

DATE OF ACTION: 9/23/99

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