November, 2009

Click on a working group to learn more:

Biomass
Climate Change
Contracting
Private Lands
Ranching
Workforce and Labor

Biomass

The Biomass working group recently issued a letter of support for Senate Bill 1621 - Thermal Energy Efficiency Act sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.  The bill will most likely be introduced during Congressional mark-ups.  The letter has been shared with the working group and will be available on the list serve as soon as possible.

Read the text of the Thermal Energy Efficiency Act of 2009.

Climate Change

The Climate Change working group anticipates that a climate change and energy bill will be introduced to the Senate sometime this fall.  A letter describing RVCC interest in the American Clean Energy and Security Act and key principles related to climate change was drafted by members of the RVCC climate change working group, signed onto by numerous RVCC organizations. American Forests submitted the letter to members of the Senate that will be considering this important piece of legislation. The climate change working group is also drafting an issue paper focused on Climate Change Adaptation in time for review at this year’s annual policy meeting.

Read the text of the RVCC Climate Change letter sent to the Senate.

Read the text of the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

Contracting

Contracting is currently working on developing its stewardship contracting reauthorization strategy. It is also focused on learning more about stewardship agreements, how they are being used, and the effectiveness of the new Forest Service agreement template.  We would welcome any information about local experiences in these areas.  The Contracting working group has also been working on the issues of payment of prevailing wages in the agreement context.

Private Lands

The Private Lands working group is currently tracking the Community Forests and Open Space Conservation Program.  The bill was passed in May of 2008 and the working group is monitoring the appropriations and rulemaking process for the bill.  Community Forest Bonds legislation was introduced in July in the form of the Community Forestry Conservation Act of 2009.  We are tracking this bill as it gains congressional support and additional western co-sponsors.  The Private Lands working group has also taken on increased collaboration with the Climate Change working group to determine the role private landowners will play in the American Clean Energy and Security Act (Waxman-Markey).  Finally, the working group is developing a strategy to engage in private landowner technical and financial assistance programs that are important to RVCC participants.

Click here for more information on the Community Forests and Open Space Conservation Program.

Read the text of the Community Forestry Conservation Act of 2009.

Ranching

Since initial interest at the 2007 Annual Policy Meeting, a Ranching working group has been gaining momentum.  Last April, RVCC participants met with agency personnel and interest groups in Washington D.C. to assess ranching policy opportunities.  More recently, the working group had a very successful conference call where participants met one another and discussed their vision for sustainable ranching and their key policy priorities.  The group hopes to find synergies between ranching and forestry issues and to tackle these issues in an integrated way at the policy level.  It will work closely with other RVCC working groups on crosscutting issues like climate change, alternative energy development, green jobs, and technical and financial support for private forestlands, farms, and ranches.  The working group will complete a draft Ranching issue paper to bring to the Annual Policy Meeting in December.

Workforce and Labor

The Workforce and Labor working group recently promoted language in the Senate Interior Appropriations Bill that requests that the Forest Service report to the Committee on their monitoring, investigation and enforcement activities, including information regarding violations of employment or safety standards in FY09 and FY10.  The group is continuing the process of tracking H2B legislation and ARRA benefits and awards.  It is also conducting research to track H2B visas and learn who is receiving them and where they are located.  Lastly, the group is working to reshape the dialogue on green jobs to include rural America.