Exploring Georgia's wood products [July 2011]

October 2009

Page 1 of 3

A Product of the Forest Utilization Department

July, 2011

In This Issue...

Cross-Laminated

1

Timber

Biomass Tailoring Rule 1 Deferment

New! Online Forest

2

Products Directories

Upcoming Events

2

Casualty loss for

2

fire-damaged timber

Check-off Program for 2 U.S. Softwood Lumber

ShadeFund

2

LEED Pilot Credit

2

Program

Forest Utilization Staff
Nathan McClure Department Chief 478.951.4548 nmcclure@gfc.state.ga.us
Risher Willard Forest Products Marketing 912.739.4734 rwillard@gfc.state.ga.us
Joshua Love Carbon/Ecosystem Services 706.437.6961 joshl@gfc.state.ga.us
Dru Preston Carbon/Forest Product Certification/Biomass Suppliers 478.751.1746 dpreston@gfc.state.ga.us

Introducing Cross-Laminated Timber to North America

Cross Laminated Timber

Performance Rated Cross-Laminated

(CLT) is a multi-layer solid

Timber PRG-320 covers the

wood panel, made with

manufacturing, qualification, and

dimensional lumber, with

quality assurance requirements for

each layer oriented

cross-laminated timber.

crosswise to its adjacent

layers and glued over their

Several CLT structures are planned

entire surface for increased

for construction in the U.S. in 2011

dimensional stability and

utilizing imported panels from

strength. As part of a

leading European CLT

framing system CLT can be

manufacturers. Watch a short video

used for long spans and

about CLT online at:

can be prefinished.

www.youtube.com/watch?

The Stadthaus in London, UK

v=rLqiwBL28v4.

For over a decade the

emerging green building movement in Europe

has embraced CLT because of its strong

EPA Finalizes Tailoring

combination of environmental performance and sustainability, design flexibility, cost-

Rule Biomass Deferment

competitiveness and structural integrity. Stadthaus, a nine story building in London that is the word's tallest modern timber structure, was constructed using CLT panels. This ninestory building was framed by 4 carpenters in only 9 weeks!

In July, the EPA issued a final deferral for CO2 emissions from bioenergy and other biogenic sources. For a period of three years, biomass energy will be exempted from greenhouse gas permitting requirements under provisions of the Clean Air Act while the EPA studies the

CLT has the potential to revolutionize the wood design and construction industry in North

science and policy of regulating CO2 emissions from biogenic stationary sources.

America, particularly for multi-story commercial buildings, because the entire structure floors, walls and roof can be CLT-manufactured.

Earlier this year, the EPA granted a petition for reconsideration submitted by the National Alliance of Forest Owners, which voiced

The introduction of CLT in the U.S. market is being supported by the American Wood Council's WoodWorks program and The Engineered Wood Association which is leading

concerns that subjecting biomass energy to permitting requirements was not scientificallysound and would have a detrimental impact on the renewable energy sector.

the development of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) product standards for domestic production of CLT. The Standard for

The final deferment rule is available at: www.epa.gov/nsr.

July 2011

Page 2 of 2

New Check-Off Program for Softwood Lumber

UPCOMING EVENTS

Domestic softwood manufacturers and importers recently voted to approve the creations of a softwood lumber research and promotion program. This "check off" program is industry-funded, marketing and research effort designed to increase domestic and international demand for softwood lumber. Once established, check-off programs are directed by industry-governed boards appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
The softwood lumber check-off program will allow the softwood lumber industry to conduct promotion, market and production research, and new product development for the benefit of their industry. The binational Softwood Lumber Council, established by the Canadian and U.S. governments as part of the 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement, supported the development of the check-off due to the belief that the program has the potential to rebuild lost markets in the U.S. and overseas.
For more information about the softwood lumber check-off program visit www.softwoodlumber.org.
New Loan Program for Forestry Businesses
ShadeFund is a non-profit loan program founded by the Conservation Fund and the US Endowment for Forestry that provides loans from $5,000 to $50,000 for the purchase of equipment, facility improvements, or for working capital needs such as inventory or certification costs.
ShadeFund makes loans to green companies such as sustainable forestry and agriculture, eco- and agro-tourism, non-timber forest products, and small-scale biomass and renewable energy.
Further information is available at www.shadefund.org.
New LEED Pilot Credit Program
A new pilot program from the US Green Building Council will for the first time allow wood materials certified under the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) and the Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) to receive one point towards attaining LEED recognition.
This credit program is available only for non-structural products (furniture, flooring, doors and windows etc.). LEED certification for structural wood products must be certified through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
For more information: http://www.leeduser.com/credit/PilotCredits/PC43 or contact Melissa Harden with the American Forest Foundation at (202) 463--2456, mharden@forestfoundation.org.

Southern Forest Products Association Expo August 11-12, 2011 Atlanta, GA
www.sfpa.org/Meetings/SFPAMeetings.htm
Southeast Bioenergy Conference August 9--11, 2011 Tifton, GA
Casualty Losses from Fire
REMINDER - Landowners should document casualty losses of timber damaged by the recent wildfires. Losses can be claimed as deductions when calculating federal income taxes up to the amount of adjusted timber basis less any income from salvage operations. It is advisable to use a professional forestry consultant and/or tax advisor when appraising the actual loss incurred.
More information on tax treatment of casualty losses in timber can be found at http://gatrees.org/ForestManagement/ documents/CasualtyLossandInvoluntaryConversion.pdf and general information on timber tax treatment can be found at http://gatrees.org/ForestManagement/TaxPlanning.cfm .
New Forest Product Directories
Two new forest products marketing directories are now available to promote the forest industries in Georgia and the southeastern U.S.
The Georgia Forestry Commission's Forest Utilization Department has just released the Georgia Primary Wood-Using Industries Directory 2011 that details the 151 primary forest products manufacturers in the state, including biomass energy products companies, a growing industry segment in Georgia and nationwide. The directory is available online at the Georgia Forestry Commission website at: www.gatrees.org/Resources/Directories/ WUI/index.cfm.
In addition, a new south-wide online forest products map directory is available at www.forestproductslocator.org. This cooperative product of the Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF) and Southern Regional Forestry Extension provides a one-stop-shop marketing platform for the South's forest products industry. Currently, four states have mill data available on the website: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Oklahoma, with more states adding their data in the coming months.