News Releases and Briefs
CONTACT: Jessica McFaul
202-463-2587, jmcfaul@awc.org
Wood Products Industry Leaders Take to Capitol Hill
May 15, 2012
WASHINGTON – Representatives from the wood products community are on Capitol Hill today meeting with members of Congress to discuss federal issues affecting their industry and its more than 300,000 workers.
The American Wood Council (AWC) Fly-In has gathered industry leaders from across the country to advocate on behalf of members' interests regarding environmental regulations (such as Boiler MACT), building energy performance, and fair marketplace treatment for biobased building products.
"It is important that the leaders in our industry have this opportunity to tell our elected representatives what we do, why it's important, and what they can do to help us continue to operate in what is a complex and ever-evolving regulatory and legislative environment," said AWC President Robert Glowinski. "The products that AWC members make help support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country and are among the most environmentally responsible and structurally sound out there; additionally, their use in housing and other construction will contribute greatly to economic recovery. Legislators need to understand this, and we're here today to share our story."
AWC applaudes Sens. Pryor and Blunt for introducing the Forest Products Fairness Act of 2012
May 2, 2012
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. Sens. Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced S. 2346 – the Forest Products Fairness Act of 2012 – which would modify the definition of "biobased" materials to specifically include forest products in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biobased Markets Program.
"I applaud Sens. Pryor and Blunt for recognizing and taking steps to correct a blatant deficiency with the USDA's Biobased Markets Program," said American Wood Council President Robert Glowinski. "It's difficult to imagine how some wood products could have been excluded from the program in the first place since they are all made from biobased sources."
The USDA Biobased Markets Program was originally enacted as part of the 2002 Farm Bill to help consumers identify and use biobased products. Products with as little as 25 percent biobased content are recognized under the program's current implementation guidelines, while many traditional wood products that have up to 100 percent biobased content are not.
S. 2346 clarifies that USDA should recognize forest products as biobased and will ensure a competitive marketplace for all products with biobased content, including wood.
"We believe excluding traditional wood products from the program is misleading to the public," said Glowinski. "All we are asking is for wood to be recognized for its renewable and biobased properties."
AWC Elects T.R. Miller Co.'s Danny White to Board of Directors
March 30, 2012
WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) has announced that T.R. Miller President and CEO Danny White has been elected to serve on its board of directors for a two-year term.
White was formally installed at the March 13 board meeting in Portland, Ore.
“We’re pleased to have someone with Danny’s breadth of experience joining our board,” said AWC President Robert Glowinski. “His commitment to the industry for more than two decades will serve our industry well as he steps into this leadership role, and we appreciate his willingness to serve in this capacity.”
A graduate of the University of Florida, White formerly worked for Scott Paper Company / Kimberly-Clark for 22 years, where he held numerous positions, including: management forester, pulp mill manager, woodlands manager, corporate director of woodlands, and Mobile (Ala.) plant manager.
White joined T. R. Miller Mill Co. in 2001 as president and CEO. He has served as president of the Alabama Forestry Association and chairman of Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association and is currently on the boards of directors for the Brewton (Ala.) Rotary Club and the YMCA.
AWC Statement on President Obama’s Biobased Product Procurement Memorandum
Association urges USDA to recognize all wood products as “biobased”
February 24, 2012
WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) President Robert Glowinski released the following statement today in response to President Obama’s memorandum directing the federal government to increase procurement of biobased products.
“We applaud the intent of President Obama’s memorandum to help protect and increase rural jobs by promoting the use of agricultural products. Use of sustainable, biobased products can create and protect thousands of well-paying jobs in the U.S. and stimulate the economies of many rural areas.
“The unfortunate irony is that USDA’s regulation, referenced in the president’s memo, will exclude most wood products – which are nearly all 100 percent biobased - from the biobased programs. This exclusion prevents wood products manufacturing facilities around the country from participating in the USDA biobased programs. Clearly, USDA needs to recognize ‘biobased’ wood products and their impact on the rural economy.
AWC Submits Comments on EPA’s Boiler MACT Rules
Despite some improvement, issues of achievability and affordability remain.
February 23, 2012
WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the American Wood Council (AWC) submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the reproposed Boiler MACT rules, as well as on the Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration (CISWI or Incinerator) rule, Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials (NHSM) rule, and Boiler Generally Achievable Control Technology (GACT) rule.
“The data that we have collected and submitted to EPA will help the agency develop and finalize a set of rules with which our members can comply,” said AWC President Robert Glowinski. “We need the certainty of regulations that can be reasonably implemented and that we’re confident will not change months down the road to trigger yet another multi-billion dollar investment.
“Accordingly, we’re committed to working with the regulatory community to finalize a set of rules that balances jobs with environmental and public health.”
The latest set of Boiler MACT rules revises the March 2011 rules, which EPA immediately stayed, noting their inadequacy in accomplishing the desired benefits.
AWC’s submitted comments address concerns over achievability, inadequate compliance time, uncertainty of classifying biomass materials as fuels, excessive costs, and the prevalence of legal uncertainty. The Boiler MACT rules regulate boilers across a wide range of industries, making it one of the most complex MACT standards ever established.
AWC Statement on the U.S. District Court Decision to Vacate Stay of Boiler MACT Rules
January 10, 2012
WASHINGTON – American Wood Council President Robert Glowinski today issued the following statement regarding Judge Friedman’s District Court decision to vacate the stay of the Boiler MACT rules.
“The Court’s decision to vacate the stay of the March 2011 Boiler MACT and Incinerator rules puts thousands of wood product industry jobs at risk. The already-inadequate compliance timeframe now has been significantly impacted, making the costly and complicated task of compliance that much more confusing and difficult. This ruling underscores the need for swift legislative action. Congress has the ability to help protect American manufacturing by passing the EPA Regulatory Relief Act – which will give EPA time to finalize a more appropriate set of rules and provide much-needed certainty to businesses across the country – and we urge them to do sowithout delay.”
American Wood Council Elects New Officers for 2012
January 4, 2012
WASHINGTON – The American Wood Council (AWC) announced today the election of its 2012 officers and board of directors.
| Chairman: First Vice Second Vice Chairman: Immediate Past Chairman: |
Brian Luoma, LP |
Ray Dillon of Deltic Timber was newly elected, and Rob Taylor of Weyerhaeuser was reelected to the board. Members who will continue to serve on the board include: George Emmerson, Sierra Pacific; Tom Corrick, Boise Cascade; Pat Patranella, Temple Inland; Jim Rabe, Masonite; and Diana Blenkhorn for the Canadian Wood Council.
The board of directors is nominated and elected by AWC membership.
“On behalf of all the members of AWC, we’re pleased to have such experienced board representation,” said AWC President Robert Glowinski. “We had many great achievements in 2011 on building codes, standards, and sustainability efforts, as well as on public policy issues on Capitol Hill and in the states. We expect that with this board’s leadership, we will continue to grow, prosper, and make a difference for thewood products industry.”
Releases
- Wood Products Industry Leaders Take to Capitol Hill (May 15, 2012)
- AWC Applaudes Sens. Pryor and Blunt for introducing the Forest Products Fairness Act of 2012 (May 2, 2012)
- AWC Elects T.R. Miller Co.'s Danny White to Board of Directors (March 30, 2012)
- AWC Statement on President Obama’s Biobased Product Procurement Memorandum (February 24, 2012)
- AWC Submits Comments on EPA’s Boiler MACT Rules (February 23, 2012)
- AWC Statement on the U.S. District Court Decision to Vacate Stay of Boiler MACT Rules (January 10, 2012)
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Charles Ingram Lumber Company is sponsoring the Spring 2012 Wood Design course at Clemson University through its donation of 30 copies of the 2005 Wood Design Package for this class.
"The willingness of Charles Ingram Lumber to donate a copy of the 2005 NDS to each Clemson University Civil Engineering student taking Wood Design this spring is extremely valuable,” said Dr. Scott D. Schiff, Professor of Civil Engineering at Clemson and the instructor of Wood Design for seniors and graduate students. He went on to note that, “our required textbook certainly provides the students with the background and application of design provisions, but students really need to know where to find information and design provisions in the NDS and how to effectively use the NDS to complete a design of a wood-frame structure. The students will use the NDS to complete the assigned homework and a design project and also use the NDS as a resource during their exams. This spring we are again expecting around 30 students to enroll in our wood design course and become comfortable designing a structure using dimensional or engineered lumber products."
Further, AWC will be donating 10 electronic copies of the 2012 NDS and Supplements to students in Washington State University’s CE 539 Advanced Timber Design graduate class this Spring. Donald A. Bender, P.E., Ph.D., Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering at Washington State University wrote to AWC to say, “Washington State University is committed to educating the next generation of designers and innovators in wood engineering. The American Wood Council is a great partner in our programs by donating electronic design manuals to our students, and providing valuable technical support to our faculty and students. AWC has an incredibly knowledgeable and professional staff, and we thank you very much for your continuing support!”
For more information on how your company can sponsor university students, contact Lacey Merriman at 202-463-2766 or lmerriman@awc.org.