AF&PA VP and general counsel Jan Poling issues statement on new USDA forest planning rule

WASHINGTON DC, Jan. 26, 2012 (Press Release) - American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Vice President and General Counsel Jan Poling issued the following statement on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) release of their forest planning rule.

"Although we are still reviewing what has just been released, we hope that we will see the concerns we shared with USDA regarding the costly procedural requirements in the proposed rule addressed in the final rule."

The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners. Our companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP. Industry companies produce about $190 billion in products annually and employ nearly 900,000 men and women, exceeding employment levels in the automotive, chemicals and plastics industries. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states.