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ASSOCIATION NEWS

L&I Proposes 2.7 Percent Rise in Rates

In September the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) proposed an average 2.7 percent rate increase for 2014 workers’ compensation premiums, an increase of less than two cents per hour worked.

The Washington State Contract Loggers Association followed up that announcement with what that will mean for the industry.

Proposed Base Rates by Classification Proposed Hourly Rate % Rate Change

For more information visit:
http://lni.wa.gov/ClaimsIns/Files/Rates/Proposed2014RatesByBusTypeClassCode.pdf

A to Z Stewardship Contract

The AFRC reported that the Colville National Forest awarded the Mill Creek A to Z stewardship contract to Vaagen Brothers Lumber in Colville, Wash. This is a 10-year IRSC that covers over 50,000 acres and potentially 50 mmbf.

“The Colville National Forest is proud to be on the forefront of innovation in the agency and is looking forward to learning as much as we can from this project to help improve the pace and scale of restoration in the future,” said Forest Supervisor Laura Jo West.

FSC® Certified Lumber to Be Used for Historic Tall Ship

A $5 million historic sailing brigantine currently under construction in Sausalito has officially entered the process of earning Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) project certification to demonstrate that it will be constructed from timber produced with responsible forestry practices. The nonprofit group behind the project, Educational Tall Ship for San Francisco Bay, selected Emeryville-based SCS Global Services (SCS), a leading FSC certifier worldwide, to conduct the independent assessment proving that only FSC certified lumber is used in the hull, decks, and cabins.

The ship will be built with Douglas fir harvested from FSC certified forests in Mendocino County that was donated by the Conservation Fund, also audited by SCS. FSC certified Oregon White Oak supplied by Sustainable Northwest will be used for rigging parts, hatches, furniture, and the rudder.

“We want to use this ship to teach kids to be stewards of the planet,” said Alan Olson, founder of the Educational Tall Ship nonprofit. “Teaching them about our responsibly harvested FSC certified wood is a great way we can help them connect with the local environment.”