THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY D. COSTA, EVERETT, FLECK, GOODMAN, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HUTCHINSON, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MELIO, MOUL, MURPHY, MURT, MYERS, PEIFER, RAPP, READSHAW, SIPTROTH, SONNEY, STURLA, VULAKOVICH AND YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 3, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, AUGUST 3, 2009  

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Establishing a forestry task force to study issues concerning

the renewal and management of this Commonwealth's forests;

providing for an advisory committee; and directing the Joint

Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation

Committee to provide administrative support to the task

force.

WHEREAS, Seventeen million acres in Pennsylvania are forest

land; and

WHEREAS, Forests provide numerous economic, recreational and

environmental resources; and

WHEREAS, Sustainable forestry provides new management

strategies for our forest resources and improves the health,

quality and diversity of Pennsylvania's forests; and

WHEREAS, The new strategies will determine the future of

forests in this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The forestry task force previously established by

House Resolution No. 263, Printer's No. 4110 (1994), Senate

Resolution No. 29, Printer's No. 720 (1997), House Resolution

No. 13, Printer's No. 2113 (1999), Senate Resolution No. 81,

Printer's No. 1077 (2001) and House Resolution No. 256,

Printer's No. 1510 (2003) has been helpful to the General

Assembly and instrumental in addressing issues facing the

forestry community; therefore be it

RESOLVED, (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly

establish a forestry task force to be comprised of two members

of the Senate, one appointed by the President pro tempore of the

Senate and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate,

two members of the House of Representatives, one appointed by

the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by

the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the

members of the forestry task force shall choose a chairman from

their number; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the forestry task force conduct a

comprehensive study of and investigate the following:

(1)  the Federal Highlands Project and its implications

for commercial forest management;

(2)  the role of State forests in carbon sequestration;

(3)  the role of woody biomass utilization in alternative

energy production; and

(4)  the implications of possible commercial scale wind

power generation sites on State forest lands;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the forestry task force hold hearings, take

testimony and make its investigations at such places within this

Commonwealth as it deems necessary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That an advisory committee be created by the

forestry task force to assist in developing facts and

recommendations concerning the renewal and management of forests

in this Commonwealth and that the advisory committee be composed

of representatives of the following entities:

(1)  Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,

Bureau of Forestry;

(2)  Department of Agriculture, Hardwoods Development

Council;

(3)  Pennsylvania Game Commission;

(4)  The Pennsylvania State University, School of Forest

Resources and Cooperative Extension Service; and

(5)  United States Forest Service;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the advisory committee have one representative

from each of five business organizations representing the forest

products industry and one representative from up to three other

organizations that the forestry task force deems appropriate to

be represented; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the General Assembly direct the Joint

Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation

Committee to provide sufficient staff and other administrative

support to the forestry task force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the forestry task force prepare a report

containing its findings and recommendations, together with any

necessary legislation, and deliver it to the General Assembly as

soon as possible.