News & Press

December 04, 2025 New Board Members & Second Vice Chair Also Named  LEESBURG, VA – The American Wood Council (AWC) announced the election of West Fraser President and CEO Sean McLaren as the new Board Chair for a two-year term. McLaren will be joined by SmartLam’s CEO Derek Ratchford, who was elected First Vice Chair, and PotlatchDeltic’s Vice...

July 29, 2025 The American Wood Council (AWC) has released a new Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for U.S. softwood lumber in the Northern region. This EPD rounds out the U.S. wood products industry’s first regional softwood lumber EPDs. Previous industry EPDs had been North American in scope, and last year, AWC released the first regional U.S. EPDs for...

July 14, 2025 U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Tim Sheehy introduced the Supporting American Wood and Mill Infrastructure with Loans for Longevity (SAWMILL) Act. The Act will permanently authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Timber Production Expansion Loan Guarantee Program. The program encourages timber and wood processing companies to invest in their facilities and equipment through access to...

June 11, 2025 AF&PA and AWC Applaud Congressional and EPA Efforts to Revise Permitting Issues that will Allow Industry to Modernize Facilities to Reduce Emissions and Bolster American Manufacturing Competitiveness   WASHINGTON —  On behalf of the American Wood Council (AWC) and the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), AF&PA Vice President of Public Policy Paul Noe today...

June 02, 2025 LEESBURG, VA – The American Wood Council (AWC) has released a national Mass Timber Alternative Materials and Methods (AMM) Guide for use with the 2018 International Building Code (IBC). This new resource is designed to support building code officials as they review, permit and approve mass timber projects across the country.  The AMM Guide is...

April 18, 2025 LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) released an updated version of its Connection Calculator. The Calculator supports users by calculating capacities for single bolts, nails, lag screws and wood screws based on the provisions of the 2024 National Design Specification for Wood Construction (ANSI/AWC NDS-2024).  Key updates include adding the design provisions for...

March 12, 2025 The American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Jackson Morrill responded to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of a reconsideration of the 2024 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM2.5) and the recent National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP):  “The American Wood Council is pleased the EPA has decided...

February 27, 2025 Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture named Tom Schultz as the new Chief of the Forest Service. AWC President & CEO Jackson Morrill released this comment in support of the appointment:  “Chief Schultz is an excellent choice to lead the U.S. Forest Service as it works to ensure the health and productivity of our nation’s...

December 16, 2024 2021 Code Conforming Wood Design Also Available LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC), International Code Council and WoodWorks have joined together to release an updated version of the free app to calculate maximum allowable heights and areas for buildings of various occupancy classifications and types of construction. The Heights & Areas Calculator is...

September 03, 2024 WASHINGTON – The American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Jackson Morrill and American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement regarding today’s DC Circuit Court’s decision on Boiler MACT.   “We are pleased the Court affirmed EPA’s (and our) position that the already stringent air pollution limits for...

August 19, 2024 LEESBURG, VA – The American Wood Council (AWC) has released regional industry average Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for the U.S. wood products industry. Historically, the industry average has been nationwide in scope. AWC has heard and responded to the market’s request for more granular data. The new, third-party verified EPDs demonstrate the sector’s continued commitment...

August 12, 2024 LEESBURG, VA – The American Wood Council (AWC) launched its expanded Life Cycle Survey to collect life cycle impact data from wood product mills across the United States. The Survey, first launched in 2022, has previously only been open to AWC member companies. However, with support from a 2023 Wood Innovations Grant (WIG), the Survey...

July 16, 2024 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Wood Council (AWC) has been selected for a $6 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase transparency in the U.S. wood product industry by further developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and Product Category Rules (PCR) for the industry. AWC’s successful grant proposal was submitted as part the...

June 04, 2024 LEESBURG, VA – The American Wood Council (AWC) has released a new app to help make construction site fire safety inspections more accessible and safe. The Construction Fire Safety Checklist, or CFS Checklist, contains a daily fire inspection checklist that meets the requirements of the 2021 International Fire Code and allows site safety directors to...

February 29, 2024 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Wood Council (AWC) submitted a grant proposal to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aimed at increased transparency in the U.S. wood product industry by further developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and Product Category Rules (PCR) for the industry. The $10 million grant proposal was submitted as part the EPA’s Inflation...

February 26, 2024 LEESBURG, VA. – The 2021 Code Conforming Wood Design (CCWD), a joint publication of the American Wood Council (AWC) and the International Code Council (ICC), is now available as a free download. The publication summarizes the key provisions related to the use of wood and wood products as they appear in the 2021 International Building...

February 15, 2024 WASHINGTON – On behalf of the American Wood Council (AWC) and American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), public policy expert Paul Noe testified today before the House Energy and Commerce Committee examining the need for legislative action to modernize U.S. air quality programs. AWC President & CEO Jackson Morrill and AF&PA President & CEO Heidi...

February 07, 2024 WASHINGTON – The American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Jackson Morrill and American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock responded to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of an updated National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM2.5), which lowers the standard to 9 µg/m3. “EPA’s rule delivers...

January 26, 2024 LEESBURG, VA – The American Wood Council (AWC) announced the election of T.R. Miller Mill Company’s President and CEO Ricky Stanley as the new Board Chair for a two-year term.  Sean McLaren, President and CEO of West Fraser, was elected as First Vice Chair and SmartLam’s CEO Derek Ratchford was elected as Second Vice Chair.  “We...

January 16, 2024 LEESBURG, VA – The American Wood Council (AWC) has released its three new 2024 wood design standards: the National Design Specification® for Wood Construction (NDS®), Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, and Fire Design Specification for Wood Construction (FDS).  The 2024 NDS and 2024 WFCM are referenced wood design standards in...

December 14, 2023 WASHINGTON – The American Wood Council (AWC) President & CEO Jackson Morrill issued the following statement after the announcement out of COP28 that 17 countries, including the United States, are pushing for the use of more mass timber in construction. “AWC applauds the U.S. government’s leadership in endorsing a stated commitment to develop and implement...

November 04, 2023 LEESBURG, VA. – During the recent International Code Council (ICC) Annual Business Meeting in St. Louis, American Wood Council (AWC) South Central Region Director, David P. Tyree, P.E., C.B.O., was presented with a lifetime honorary membership in recognition of his exceptional contributions to ICC. “Dave has done exceptional work in model code development with service...

November 01, 2023 WASHINGTON –The American Wood Council’s President & CEO Jackson Morrill today joined leaders of over 70 other trade groups representing diverse businesses across the economy in urging the Biden administration to maintain the existing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). In a letter to White House Chief of Staff Jeff...

October 26, 2023 LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) has expanded its outreach to the fire service with the promotion of Ray O’Brocki, Esq., CBO, to Director, Fire Service Engagement. AWC has also hired a West Coast Fire Service Relations Manager, Greg Womack. “Ray has done outstanding work in creating a stronger and more collaborative relationship...

June 15, 2023 WASHINGTON – The American Wood Council (AWC) was awarded a Wood Innovations grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Forest Service to support the expansion of AWC’s Lifecycle Assessment database that collects Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and fiber sourcing data. The database is currently only available to AWC member companies, and the...

May 09, 2023 WASHINGTON – The American Wood Council (AWC) President & CEO Jackson Morrill released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Plywood and Composite Wood Products (PCWP) proposed amendments. “The wood products industry installed expensive control technologies to comply with the 2004 PCWP MACT...

April 18, 2023 Use Mill Grade Stamp or Region to Learn if Wood Products Sustainably Sourced The American Wood Council (AWC) is pleased to release a new, first-of-its kind online tool designed to help users better understand where their wood products are coming from and the safeguards in place throughout the supply chain to ensure sustainability measures. The...

January 11, 2023 WASHINGTON – Will Layden, most recently the Deputy Staff Director of the House Committee on Natural Resources, has joined the American Wood Council (AWC) as Vice President, Government Affairs, where he will lead strategic federal and state legislative and administrative government affairs initiatives. “Will has been a thought leader on policies that impact AWC member companies....

January 06, 2023 WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and American Wood Council (AWC) issued a joint statement following a proposed EPA rulemaking that would tighten National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter: “We are disappointed that EPA is proposing to significantly tighten the current NAAQS Standard for particulate matter without a...

December 23, 2022 LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) President & CEO Jackson Morrill issued the following statement following the passage of the Omnibus package, which includes provisions that will help reduce carbon emissions in the built environment. “The built environment is responsible for almost 40% of global carbon emissions, 25% of which is from materials and...

August 25, 2022 LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) has announced the promotion of David Tyree, P.E., C.B.O., to South Central Regional Director of Codes & Regulations. “In his 26 years with AWC, Dave has done exceptional work in model code development with service to the building code community and the wood industry. His promotion recognizes his leadership...

July 21, 2022 WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) Vice President of Environment Tim Hunt issued a statement following the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signing of the Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) final rule following review in response to three D.C Circuit Court remands. “The wood products industry has received the final clarity it has needed on Boiler MACT...

June 14, 2022 LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) has announced the promotion of Philip Line, P.E. to Vice President of Codes & Regulations following the retirement of Kenneth Bland. AWC has also added to its staff Manager of Wind and Seismic Engineering Dr. Omar Amini, Manager of Engineering Technology Dr. Francisco Flores, Western Regional Manager Paul Armstrong,...

March 08, 2022 LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) has released an update to the mobile apps and web-based Maximum Span Calculator for Wood Joists and Rafters to include the design values as found in the 2018 National Design National Design Specification® (NDS®) for Wood Construction Supplement. The mobile apps and the web-based calculator were also updated to include design values for non-North...

February 10, 2022 Cross-laminated timber performs better than expected in shear test

January 28, 2022 Podcast: Is Lumber the Best Building Product for the Environment?

December 09, 2021 Washington, DC – The American Wood Council, National Alliance of Forest Owners and Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association issued a joint statement on President Biden’s Executive Order, Catalyzing America’s Clean Energy Economy Through Federal Sustainability. “We applaud the President for harnessing the federal government to lead the way in transforming the built environment to net-zero. The materials used...

December 01, 2021 LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) today announced the election of PotlatchDeltic President and CEO Eric Cremers as the Chairman of the AWC Board of Directors for a two-year term, effective January 1, 2022. Ricky Stanley, President and CEO of TR Miller Mill Company was elected the First Vice Chairman and Sean McLaren, West...

November 01, 2021 States, Cities Adopting Tall Mass Timber Provisions

October 21, 2021 Construction Revolution: Episode 2 - AWC/GE Frisco - Wood Supply Chain

October 18, 2021 LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) today announced the election of Roseburg Forest Products President and CEO Grady Mulbery and LP Building Solutions Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Services Mike Blosser to the AWC Board of Directors, effective immediately. “I’m thrilled that Grady and Mike will be joining the Board. They bring tremendous experience and...

October 18, 2021 LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) is kicking off National Forest Products Week today with a video case study and virtual panel discussion to highlight the public-private partnership that drove the construction of the University of Idaho’s mass timber arena. The panel will be recorded and available later this week as an eCourse. The University received two Wood Innovation Grants...

October 01, 2021 Anatomy of a Mass Timber Bearing Intersection

September 30, 2021 Pandemic Drives Demand for Lumber, Wood Products Manufacturers Expand Capacity

September 15, 2021 The article, “Hidden dangers: Some of today’s building techniques worry fire experts,” left the reader questioning the fire safety of modern wood frame construction. It is unfortunate the author failed to do his homework and talk to the experts from the National Fire Protection Association, located in Quincy, MA. Fire experts, including those at NFPA,...

September 14, 2021 WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Jackson Morrill issued the following statement following the House Agriculture Committee’s draft legislation recommendations for the reconciliation package. The proposed program allocations include $1 billion to provide grants under the wood innovation grant program, $100 million for the forest inventory and analysis (FIA), and $50 million for the research...

September 06, 2021 The article, “Hidden dangers: Some of today’s building techniques worry fire experts,” left the reader questioning the fire safety of modern wood frame construction. It is unfortunate the author failed to do his homework and talk to the experts from the National Fire Protection Association, located in Quincy, MA. Fire experts, including those at NFPA,...

September 02, 2021 WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Jackson Morrill issued a statement following the House Armed Service Committee’s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included language to establish a pilot program to evaluate the effects of using mass timber products in Department of Defense military construction projects. “The mass timber...

July 26, 2021 LEESBURG, VA. – American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Jackson Morrill issued the following statement in response to Randy Moore’s appointment as the 20th Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service. “Chief Moore is fantastic choice to lead the Forest Service in its mission to sustain the health and productivity of our nation’s forests,...

May 29, 2021 Fed’s Taper Talk Is Pre-Emptive Strike Against Inflation Fears

May 25, 2021 Sawmill capacity grows to largest since Great Recession

May 01, 2021 States and municipalities eager to allow taller mass timber buildings are considering adopting the mass timber provisions in the 2021 International Building Code (IBC). Many have recently finished the adoption of the 2018 I-codes and would otherwise wait several more years to incorporate construction types IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C into their building codes to allow mass timber buildings up to 18 stories tall.

May 01, 2021 With Proper Carbon Accounting, Wood Products Can Lead Decarbonization Effort

March 18, 2021 American Wood Council: Manufacturers producing at highest levels since 2007

March 03, 2021 Tall Mass Timber Interest Drives Demand for Special Inspector Certification

March 03, 2021 Tall mass timber interest drives demand for special inspector certification