PRINTER'S NO. 135
No. 13 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY LYNCH, HALUSKA, HUTCHINSON, FARGO, BAKER, MAJOR,
SEYFERT, ARGALL, HERSHEY, FEESE, M. COHEN, CLARK, JAMES,
GIGLIOTTI, HERMAN, S. MILLER, FORCIER, MARSICO, CAPPABIANCA,
CORNELL, LEDERER, STABACK, WILT, ZUG, HARHAI, MAHER, ORIE,
PRESTON, RAMOS, SHANER, TRELLO, STERN, READSHAW, McILHINNEY
AND ROSS, JANUARY 27, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JANUARY 27, 1999
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control
2 and Conservation Committee to study the issues concerning the
3 renewal and management of this Commonwealth's forests; and
4 creating a task force.
5 WHEREAS, Seventeen million acres in Pennsylvania are
6 forestland; and
7 WHEREAS, Forests provide numerous economic, recreational and
8 environmental resources; and
9 WHEREAS, The forest products industry is the fourth largest
10 manufacturing industry in Pennsylvania; and
11 WHEREAS, Sustainable forestry is providing new management
12 strategies for our forest resources and improving the health,
13 quality and diversity of Pennsylvania's forests; and
14 WHEREAS, The new policies and legislation developed today
15 will determine the future of forests in this Commonwealth; and
16 WHEREAS, The forestry task force previously established by
17 House Resolution No. 263, Printer's No. 4110 (1994) and Senate
1 Resolution No. 29, Printer's No. 720 (1997) has been helpful to
2 the General Assembly and instrumental in addressing issues
3 facing the forestry community; therefore be it
4 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
5 establish a forestry task force to be comprised of two members
6 of the Senate, one appointed by the leader of the majority party
7 and one appointed by the leader of the minority party, two
8 members of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the
9 leader of the majority party and one appointed by the leader of
10 the minority party, and the members of the forestry task force
11 shall choose a chairman from their number; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That the forestry task force conduct a
13 comprehensive study of and investigate the following:
14 (1) third-party certification of Pennsylvania's forests
15 and forest products;
16 (2) the long-term forestry research needs of this
17 Commonwealth;
18 (3) educational programs in sustainable forestry for
19 private forest landowners and municipalities; and
20 (4) regular and comprehensive assessments of
21 Pennsylvania's forests to assist in the management,
22 development and marketing of this Commonwealth's timber
23 resources;
24 and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That the forestry task force may hold hearings,
26 take testimony and make its investigations at such places as it
27 deems necessary; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That an advisory committee be created by the
29 forestry task force to assist in developing facts and
30 recommendations concerning the renewal and management of forests
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1 in this Commonwealth and that the advisory committee be composed
2 of representatives of the following government agencies:
3 (1) Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,
4 Bureau of Forestry;
5 (2) Department of Agriculture, Hardwoods Development
6 Council;
7 (3) Pennsylvania Game Commission;
8 (4) The Pennsylvania State University, School of Forest
9 Resources and Cooperative Extension Service; and
10 (5) United States Forest Service;
11 and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That the advisory committee have one representative
13 from each of five business organizations representing the forest
14 products industry, one representative from each of five
15 nonprofit conservation and environmental organizations and one
16 representative from up to three other organizations that the
17 forestry task force deems appropriate to be represented; and be
18 it further
19 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly direct the Joint
20 Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation
21 Committee to provide sufficient staff and other administrative
22 support to the forestry task force; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That the forestry task force prepare a report
24 containing its findings and recommendations, together with any
25 necessary legislation, and deliver it to the General Assembly as
26 soon as possible.
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