PRINTER'S NO. 653
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
55
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY HUTCHINSON, SCARNATI, ARGALL, ALLOWAY, GREENLEAF,
MENSCH, RAFFERTY, STEFANO, VULAKOVICH, WARD, WHITE AND WILEY,
MARCH 31, 2015
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, MARCH 31, 2015
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,
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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 House of Representatives 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 implications of the Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources' revised State Forest Resource
Management Plan;
(2) the impact of pests and invasive species on
Pennsylvania's forestry industry as well as the impact to
overall forest health;
(3) the regulatory relationship between the State's
forestry industry, local governments and county conservation
districts; and
(4) the decline in qualified timber harvesters and other
related occupations;
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
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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.
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