Quick Action-Support Forest Roads Provision in Farm Bill

The first Farm Bill Conference meeting between the House and Senate Conferees is on Wednesday October 30. This is the vehicle for the Forest Roads provision that will solidify a silvicultural exemption for NPDES permits for forestry activities in statute. We need your help to get this across the finish line.

FLA is activating forest landowner constituents to contact their House Representative to ask them to sign a letter supporting the Forest Roads Provision in the Farm Bill. The letter will be sent to the Farm Bill Conferees this Wednesday October 30, prior to the first conferees Farm Bill hearing. We need you to:

1. Using a grass tops strategy, we need you to forward this email to other landowners you know.
2. Please contact your House Representative to urge them to sign onto a bipartisan letter to the Farm Bill conferees supporting the forest roads provision.

Why Support Forest Roads Provision

By codifying EPA’s silviculture rule in statute, the House legislation would provide federal, state, tribal, local and private forestland owners with greater certainty for forestry operations in response to a recent August 2013 Ninth Circuit opinion that forest roads require point source permits under the Clean Water Act. We believe that forest roads are non-point sources, as defined by EPA’s silviculture rule, and that state best management practices (BMPs) are the best way to protect water quality.

What to Say to Your House Representative

Tell your Representative to show their support of generations of private family forest owners by signing onto a letter being sent to the Farm Bill conferees urging the silviculture/forest roads provision be added to the final version of the Farm Bill. This provision was passed by voice vote this summer and is widely supported by members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.

Private family forest landowners across the country regardless of political affiliation strongly support the forest roads provision and urge it be included in the final version of the Farm Bill -- without amendment.

The sign-on deadline is COB Wednesday, October 30.  

Who Your Representative Should Contact to Sign onto the Letter

Congresswoman Herrera Beutler
Staff: Chad Ramey (Chad.Ramey@mail.house.gov). 

Congressman Nolan
Staff: Abby Tinsley (Abby.Tinsley@mail.house.gov).

Look up your representatives on the Forest Landowners Association website.