Page 25 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Fourth Quarter 2020

TRANSPORTATION
A number of North Carolina’s state highways have transitioned, or are currently in the process of transitioning, into the federal interstate system. While this transition has great potential for stimulating commerce, it creates a major problem for forestry and agricultural sectors. In 2012, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation granting agriculture and forestry producers a 10,000-pound variance due to the variable weight of agricultural and forest products leaving the farm and the forest. This 10,000-pound variance for agriculture and forestry will no longer
be honored on the roads transitioning
into the federal interstate system unless Congress decides to grandfather them in. The NCFA, along with some of your fellow members, conveyed this message to the North Carolina Congressional Delegation, resulting in the incorporation of grandfathering language into U.S Senate Bill 2302, America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019. The NCFA
is hopeful that this language remains intact as the bill makes its way through the legislative process. We will provide updates on this issue as they arise.
WATERS OF THE
UNITED STATES (WOTUS)
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army published
a new clean water rule on April 21 that became effective on June 22 everywhere except Colorado. The new rule includes four simple categories of jurisdictional waters, provides clear exclusions for many water features that have traditionally
not been regulated, and defines terms in the regulatory text that have never been defined before. Seventeen states, including North Carolina, challenged the rule in
a California federal court, and Colorado challenged the rule in the Colorado federal court. The California court denied the states’ request for a preliminary injunction, but the Colorado court issued one covering only Colorado. Currently, there are 11 other lawsuits challenging the rule, including three by the Pacific Legal Foundation, which is arguing the definition is still too broad. No other injunctions have been issued.
NCFA Adds Two New Staff Members
SAMANTHA LONG is the North Carolina Forestry Association’s (NCFA) Membership Services Coordinator. Her roles include maintaining the ProLogger database, summarizing legislative meetings and committees, forming lasting relationships with our members
and assisting the team with other general needs. Long is also the new North Carolina Friends of Forestry PAC Treasurer. Outside of the office, she enjoys mornings at the Raleigh Farmers Market, weekend trips to hike in the mountains, and spending time with her loved ones and friends.
AMANDA MURPHY joined the NCFA in September of 2020 as the Director of Communications. She will handle both internal and external communications for the association, including website, newsletter, magazine, social media, and building relationships with members. Murphy earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Kenan- Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her master’s degree in international studies from North Carolina State University. She has worked for 20 years in marketing and communications in various industries and is currently a member
of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Raleigh Board, volunteering her time to support local leaders on their path to success.
PROLOGGER MODULE 21
is now available for purchase and will be online January 1, 2021. Topics for the Module include:
Load Securement
Trucking Safety
Top 20 Safety Bulletins of 2020 Rutting & Stream Crossings
Chipper Safety
Questions? Call Samantha Long at (800) 231-7723 ext. 4 or email slong@ncforestry.org.
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