The Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee (ACF) voted unanimously in support of an amended Outcome Based Forestry Bill, LD 1847. �Sen. Eloise Vitelli offered an amendment that was modified slightly and approved by the entire committee. �The amended bill increases the MFS’ reporting to the ACF Committee by requiring an annual report and requiring the State of the Forest report (required every 5 years) to address the OBF program. �The technical panel is charged with assessing whether the alternative practices are providing at least the equivalent forest and environmental protection as the existing clearcutting rules. �The State of the Forest report must include a recommendation to continue, change or discontinue the program. �The technical panel must have expertise in the program’s principles. �The MFS must notify the ACF Committee within 15 days of entering into a new contract.
We were not successful in getting all of our issues folded into the amendment but are pleased with the significant progress the bill provides and its unanimous support. �It will need to be voted on by the full Legislature in the coming weeks. �Credit goes to all of the committee members for supporting the initiative. �Extra credit goes to Rep. Jeff McCabe and Sen. Jim Boyle for sponsoring the bills and to Sen. Eloise Vitelli for crafting an amendment that received broad support. �We understand Rep. Don Marean played a critical role in persuading his caucus. �Several of the �committee members, including Rep. Peter Kent, asked excellent questions. �We appreciate all of the support and look forward to staying engaged on this important issue.
