National Hardwood Magazine - November 2013

NEWS DEVELOPMENTS NEWS

NEWS DEVELOPMENTS NEWS ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL HARDWOOD CONSUMERS... USDA APHIS EXPORT ALERT The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) recently updated its policy concerning the acceptable proof of treatment for Hardwood lumber shipments to obtain a Phytosanitary Certificate. The following is an explanation published by the USDA APHIS explaining the written policy that will be inserted into the Export Manual. “The certification of Heat Treated (HT) and Kiln-Dried (KD) lumber has not always been consistent. A variety of practices around the country have been applied to export certification. For example, KD/HT treatments have previously been verified based on: the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) established between Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and the American Lumber Standard Committee; mill certification programs; affidavits; or other documentation provided by the exporter. The purpose of this document is to provide options for certification, provide appendixes with samples of KD and HT Inspection Company Marks, and to eliminate inconsistencies with addressing HT/KD information on phytosanitary certificates. The following procedures are acceptable for issuing phytosanitary certificates and recording the HT/KD treatment in the treatment section of the certificate: KD Verification: 1. Hardwood A. An authorized contracting officer will conduct a visual inspection, verify the KD marks on the wood or cover, and measure the moisture content to ensure it is below 20 percent. The marks must be from companies listed in Appendix 1 of the Export Manual and specifically display KD OR B. A facility operates under the MOU PPQ has with the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA); Phytosanitary certification is based on the treatment certificate provided by the facility (See Appendix 2 of the Export Manual). Shipments are subject to random phytosanitary inspection. OR C. An ACO verifies the treatment meets the required temperature and duration at the facility, as outlined in chapter 7 of the Dry Kiln Operators Manual. The facility must provide a copy of a kiln certification (calibration) performed in the last year and validation of low moisture content. Phytosanitary certification is based on the verification of kiln inspection, the ACO’s verification of treatment, recorded results and the provided validation of moisture content.” NHLA is now offering an Annual Kiln Certification to satisfy the requirement of KD Verification, Section 1, Appendix c of the policy as well as the Kiln-Drying Certification that has been in place for several years. 10 NOVEMBER 2013 ■ NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

...INCLUDING MERGERS, PLANT EXPANSIONS & ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES U.S. FOREST SERVICE ANNOUNCES FINAL RESTORATION RULE The U.S. Forest Service recently published a final rule improving the agency’s ability to restore lands affected by roads, trails, structures such as levees, culverts and drainage tiles and disturbance events such as floods and hurricanes. Three national Environmental Policy Act categorical exclusions will be used when restoring uplands, wetlands, flood plains and riparian systems to their natural conditions by removing levees and other disturbance events and restoring lands occupied by roads and trails. Through these more efficient processes, the Forest Service will speed the pace of restoration efforts and stimulate rural economies by creating jobs. “This rule will help us improve the resiliency, health and diversity of our forests and grasslands,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We will now be able to move forward with our partners to focus more energy on action, and less on paperwork, to restore more acres in less time.” NWFA ANNOUNCES SPOTLIGHT ENTERTAINER FOR 2014 WOOD FLOORING EXPO The National Wood Flooring Association recently announced that Pam Tillis, award-winning country music star, would perform a private concert during the 2014 NWFA Wood Flooring Expo. The concert will close out the Expo in conjunction with the Wood Floor of the Year Awards Dinner. The dinner and concert will be held Friday, April 18 at Music City Center in downtown Nashville, TN. Pam Tillis, daughter of country legend Mel Tillis, made her own way in the music business, eventually becoming a contemporary country star. She has a strong tie to Nashville, which she calls home and has been celebrated as a CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. The 2014 Wood Flooring Expo will be held April 16-19. The Expo will feature a trade show with more than 450 booths and 250 companies, in-depth education and training for all business segments, and several networking opportunities. For more information about the NWFA 2014 Pam Tillis Wood Flooring Expo, visit www.nwfa.org. Please turn to page 44 Great wood starts here. PH: 315-655-8824 | FAX: 315-655-4449 2550 BALLINA RD. CAZENOVIA, NY 13035 www.johnsonbrotherslumber.com NOVEMBER 2013 ■ NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 11