PPRC Position Paper on Clean Water
Wood Products Industry workers support a sound scientific approach to ensure viable
Agriculture and Forest Industries while providing good water quality.
Significant progress has already been made toward maintaining and improving water quality.
- Forest and agricultural practices have improved substantially over the last 50 years.
- Harvest and cropping technology that is more effective will continue to result in better water quality.
- Improved water quality has resulted from responsible land management, not from greater regulation.
Voluntary best management practices (BMP’s) and incentives are best.
- Forestland and cropland managers should be given incentives to voluntarily adopt best management practices.
- Cooperative partnership between states and landowners can address non-point source runoff.
- Land managers are best qualified to tailor stream and wetland protection for water quality.
Preventing the broadening of Federal EPA authority is important.
- Any provisions that expand EPA authority to designate forestry as "new source" of pollution should be excluded.
- Forest practices should remain under State authority and not be subject to rigid federal regulations. Some regions generate insignificant non-point runoff from forest activities from which regulations would only add a cost burden.
- State forest and agricultural practices have improved in the absence of EPA regulations. These practices should continue.
Wetlands reform should not mandate abandoning established forestlands and croplands.
- Reform must exclude prior converted croplands from required wetlands.
- Commercial forestland uses should be recognized, rather than locked up by federal law.
- Prior use and ongoing practices should take precedence, with voluntary reform encouraged by incentives.
The Pulp and Paperworkers' Resource Council seeks a balanced solution.
- Provide a balance between viable industry and water quality with any proposed legislation.
- Prevent any legislation that further complicates forest and crop management with additional Federal hurdles.
- Emphasize programs that develop the voluntary adoption of BMP’s, site-specific technical assistance, and cost sharing.
- Identify all non-point sources (cities, roads, pavement, roofs, etc.) – the PPRC supports the use of
the best available technology for the monitoring of point and non-point runoff.
The PPRC is a grassroots organization representing the interests of the nation's pulp, paper,
solid wood products, and other natural resource-based workers. The U.S. forest products industry is vitally
important to our nation's economy, employing 1.5 million people. We rank among the top 10 manufacturers in
46 states with annual sales exceeding $230 billion, which accounts for 7 % of the U.S. manufacturing shipments. We are people dedicated to conserving the environment while taking into account the economic stability of the workforce and surrounding community.
Position Paper Page
Rev. 02-02-08
