ESFPA E-News

Increasing Risk of Wildfire

In a new nationwide analysis of weather conditions over the past 50 years, the research nonprofit Climate Central found that the annual number of days that have a high risk of fire has risen by 10 days in northern New Jersey and coastal New York, which includes the city and Long Island. Over the past few weeks, we have experienced hazy days and beautiful sunsets in eastern NY as smoke wafts in from wildfires in Nova Scotia. For the second week in a row, DEC issued a statewide Fire Danger Rating Area Risk of HIGH. This is after we passed the no burn ban which ended May 16^th.   

While all this risk reporting is not attributable to global warming and climate change, the high heat and dry conditions we are experiencing certainly present a wildfire risk that is not characteristic of late spring in New York.  Be careful and safe out there.

Amended EPR Legislation Introduced

Late Thursday, Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick introduced amended EPR bills (S. 4246-A/ A. 5322-A).Many of our concerns remain in the amended version with one big exception, non-packaging paper is out, it is strictly a packaging bill.  There will be a lot of pushback on this from other covered products, but this aligns with Senator May’s bill and has support of the sponsors, for now.

Some new provisions in the bills include:

• DEC contracts for one Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) with no input from producers.  If DEC can’t select a PRO or doesn’t like how the PRO is performing, it can takeover the functions of a PRO or designate another state agency to be the PRO.
• Disposal costs are reimbursed and could potentially undermine recycling goals.  No other jurisdiction nationally or internationally subsidizes end of life disposal costs such as landfilling or incineration.
• Lack of producer input is throughout the bill.  DEC and the Advisory Council have direct say over PRO Plans, Annual Reports, setting new standards, etc.

There remain major concerns in the bill that existed in the earlier version:

• Unachievable rates and dates for recycling, reuse, reduction and recycled content on covered packaging.
• Toxic chemical and material type bans which will eliminate many packaging types where there may be no viable alternatives. Also a Toxic Packaging Task Force to review and make recommendations for additional materials to be banned.
• An independent Office of Recycling Inspector General within DEC even where DEC and the Attorney General already have jurisdiction for enforcement and penalties.

While we are pleased to see that office and copy paper are out of the bill, we will remain opposed to this legislation.  While we will acknowledge the removal of paper, we will revise our memo to reflect concerns that we still have.  Someday, paper may well be revisited and added. As we complete our review of the legislation we will bring more to our members.

Forest Sinks Have Critical Role in Carbon Reduction

Top scientists have emphasized the importance of forest carbon sinks as having an irreplaceable role in reducing carbon in the atmosphere and ultimately combating climate change.

Yin Weilun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former principal of Beijing Forestry University, said that forests and grasslands hold a unique position in combating global climate change.

Forest carbon sinks are plants that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and fix it in vegetation or soil, thereby reducing concentration of the gas, Yin said.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Forestry and Grassland Carbon Sink Innovation International Forum, which is running parallel to the Zhongguancun Forum held in Beijing from Thursday to Tuesday, the scientist said that good forest management can increase carbon absorption capability.

Yin called for more research in forest management to ensure the sustainability of forests and their carbon sink capacity.

"The growth and development cycle of each tree species is different. For example, poplars reach their peak height in about 20 years. After that, they are unlikely to grow and the tree top will rot away."

To use land efficiently, forest managers must cut down some rotten trees and replace them with young ones so that the forest system can maintain its ability to reproduce and act as a carbon sink, he said.

Yin also stressed the need for increasing forest reserves, grasslands and wetlands to enhance their ability to absorb carbon.

At the forum, Du Xiangwan, former deputy head of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said forests and grasslands can make multiple contributions to climate change mitigation as each cubic meter of wood growth can absorb an average of 1.83 metric tons of carbon dioxide, he said.

In addition, afforestation, grassland and wetland restoration, and desertification control not only protect biodiversity but also provide solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation, he added.

Last year, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration set up a carbon sink research institute to study the country's potential for carbon sinks through forests and grasslands.

This research work will assess the spatial distribution of carbon sinks with the aim of understanding how to increase them, the administration said.

Sign Up for the Last NYLT Workshops of the Season

FREE for ESFPA members

There are still openings in the last two NYLT courses being offered this June 2023. These courses are ESFPA-only and completely FREE! Sign up today for either of the below workshops by contacting ESFPA at dorian@esfpa.org or (518) 463-1297. Registration must be made by calling or emailing Dorian by June 16^th for the June 24^th Class and June 23^rd for the June 30^th Class. 

The upcoming classes are as follows:

Saturday, 6/24/2023- Critical Injury Response for Loggers 

• In the Town of Hadley, Saratoga County
• 8:00am – 5:00pm
• Instructed by Rick Lutz
• For ESFPA members ONLY

• FREE

Topics address loggers on responding to emergency situations on the job site and with equipment.  This includes:

• Maximizing scene safety
• Protecting loggers trapped under trees and debris
• How to assist in rescue
• How to manage an accident scene in remote locations or when trained emergency help is not readily available  
• Use of safety equipment and precautions

Friday, 6/30/2023- Storm Damage Training

• In the Town of Hadley, Saratoga County
• 8:00am – 5:00pm
• Instructed by Bill Lindloff
• For ESFPA members ONLY

• FREE

Game of Logging provides specialized training that addressed the unique hazards inherent in storm damaged settings.  This training is meant to provide saw users the information and techniques demanded by this dangerous environment and the forces and pressures of wind felled trees.

Demonstration & Hands-On Techniques: Participants will be exposed to and have the opportunity to perform many of the following techniques during the day:

• Limb-Loc
• Top-Loc
• Tongue & Groove
• Axle Cut
• Axle Loc
• Notch Bucking & Directional Notch Bucking (Controlled Release Cut)
• Roll Away Cut
• Buck with Wedge
• Flagging Hazards
• Tab Cut
• Oversized Log Buck
• Dirty Log Bucking
• Using ropes and mechanical advantage techniques

Demonstration Only by GOL Trainer: Participants will be exposed to these techniques, but will not necessarily perform them during training day:

• Scissor-Cut - Show using wedge and if applicable rope and come-along option.
• The release of extreme springpole tension.
• "Pole in a Hole"

Five Point Plan for Storm Damaged Trees:

1. OVERHEAD HAZARDS!!
2. Hazards on the ground
3. Assess lean weight and pressure
4. Cutting technique or cut plan
5. Escape route