The Hardwood Federation produces a “D.C. Cheat Sheet” e-newsletter to maintain the business up-to-date on the most recent information from Washington D.C. Try the October twenty sixth version under and enroll to obtain your copy.
Hardwood Business, Allies, Take Air High quality Arguments to White Home
On October 25, the Hardwood Federation joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Nationwide Affiliation of Producers (NAM), the American Public Energy Affiliation, and 10 different business teams in a gathering with the White Home Workplace of Administration and Price range (OMB) to advocate in opposition to EPA’s proposal to tighten the air high quality commonplace for nice particulate matter (PM 2.5), presently set at 12 micrograms (ug) per cubic meter to an anticipated stage of 9 ug. Decreasing the usual would place 589 counties in non-attainment and lots of extra on the cusp of non-attainment, exposing business to new rules. OMB is presently endeavor a stakeholder assessment earlier than releasing a last commonplace. Whereas compliance presently falls primarily on the backs of “main sources” of air pollution underneath the Clear Air Act akin to energy vegetation and chemical refineries, the federation is anxious that decreasing the usual would seize presently unregulated hardwood mills and manufacturing amenities working on the cusp of or inside newly designated non-attainment areas, triggering expensive evaluation and monitoring within the occasion a plant seeks to increase operations. In keeping with a research performed by the American Forest and Paper Affiliation and American Wooden Council, the wooden merchandise sector may tackle as much as $900 million in compliance prices if the company imposes a regular of 9 ug, a stage on which EPA accepted feedback. The Hardwood Federation will maintain you posted on subsequent steps associated to EPA’s motion.
Producers Launch Examine Displaying Value of Laws
In 2022, based on NAM, the entire price of complying with federal guidelines and rules reached over $3 trillion, which equals 12 p.c of U.S. GDP. As that pertains to small producers akin to sawmills, the fee interprets to $50,100 per worker. Keep tuned for extra particulars associated to this research and different instruments because the Hardwood Federation pushes again on rising regulatory initiatives from the administration because it enters the ultimate stretch of its present time period.
Take 4! Home Faucets New Speaker
On Wednesday afternoon, the Home introduced the drawn-out course of of selecting a brand new Speaker to an in depth by voting for Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), by a vote of 220 to 209. A united GOP caucus lastly handed the 217-vote threshold wanted to push a brand new speakership throughout the end line. This follows a chaotic week wherein Speaker Johnson’s nomination adopted within the wake of the withdrawal of Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), whose candidacy lasted lower than 24 hours. Now that the Home is free to roll up its sleeves on the farm invoice and finances issues, the Hardwood Federation will maintain you posted on the Home agenda because it unfolds.
Supply: Hardwood Federation