ESFPA E-News

Extended Producer Responsibility

Last week was a full week of lobbying on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation. We worked with the Business Council of New York and over a dozen other organizations in holding over 50 meetings with legislators on the two principle bills on EPR - the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S. 1464 Harkham/A. 1749 Glick) and the Affordable Waste Reduction Act (S. 5062 Martinez/A. 6191 Jackson). Both bills present challenges for recovery and recycling of covered products, but the Affordable Waste Reduction Act presents fewer challenges and is favored by many businesses over the Glick/Harckham bill which is universally opposed by businesses. Fortunately for us, non-packaging paper is exempt from the Glick/Harckham Bill, and virgin fiber paper is exempt from the Matinez/Jackson Bill, for now. 

Through these meetings it became apparent that there will be not action on EPR until after the budget, and that there is still a lot of concern about affordability and impacts on consumer choice on products as EPR is implemented in other states. There is growing acceptance among many majority members that the Martinez/Jackson bill has fewer impacts on consumers and may offer more options for recycling and post-secondary markets for products. If Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick cannot reach consensus on amendments to their bill, we may well be at a standstill at the end of the legislative session.

Forestry Awareness Day 2026

On Tuesday, March 10th, ESFPA will be hosting our annual Forestry Awareness Day (FAD) in the Legislative Office Building in Albany. FAD is our annual “lobby day” with the New York State Legislature.

This is the opportunity for ESFPA members to put a face on our forest and wood products manufacturing sector; educate legislators and policy makers on the importance of forests and harvested wood products; and the contribution we have in New York’s economy, environment (including climate change) and the quality of life of all New Yorkers.

Please consider attending, “the world is run by those who show up.” For more information, please call Gabriella Ferrera at the Empire State Forest Products Association at (518) 463-1297 or email gabriella@esfpa.org.

Canada Day

Last Wednesday was Canada Day at the State Capital and Consul General Tom Wolf was in town to brief Legislators and business representatives on the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the latest regarding tariffs and trade between New York and our Canadian Provinces.

The day started out with a morning briefing hosted by the Business Council of New York and concluded with a reception attended by Governor Hochul. ESFPA participated in discussions about lumber trade with border mills in Ontario and Quebec as well as invasive pests and deforestation free procurement. 

480-a Forest Tax Law Required Regulation Training Schedule

Part 199 regulations were revised and recently signed, implementing some new guidelines to the tax law program. As part of these revised regulations, it’s a requirement for individuals who prepare management plans and/or prescriptions to attend a DEC prepared training and then are required to do a refresher training every 5 years after. 

Understanding that the new regulations go into effect March 1, 2026, DEC has attempted to provide in-person trainings throughout the state and one online webinar training opportunity. The online webinar requires you to register, and all other in-person dates do not require registration but a heads up is much appreciated.

Click the link below to view the full training schedule:

Will Barclay To Not Seek Re-Election    

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay announced on Thursday, February 5^th that he would step down as Minority Leader and not seek re-election in the 120^th Assembly District (Pulaski, Oswego County). He offered no details of his decision not to run again, but he is one of numerous Senate and Assembly members who are not seeking re-election, faced with new rules significantly curtailing legislators from having outside employment and new provisions for public campaign financing.

It is a new dynamic in running for elective office at the State level in New York, and the full impact of it is not over yet. There is a lot of speculation over who will stay in the State Legislature and who now will seek elected office. 

ESFPA Executive Director John Bartow has personally worked with Will Barclay in all his 23 years of elected service. First while at the Tug Hill Commission, and then while here at ESFPA. John states that "he has always been a pleasure to work with and straightforward on the issues. He represented his constituents well and was a tremendous leader of his conference. He will be missed! I wish him the best in his future endeavors."

DEC Announces Oak Wilt Quarantine District Expansion for Yates and Ontario Counties

Movement of Oak Materials Restricted from Towns of Middlesex, Italy, Bristol, South Bristol, and Naples; Quarantine District for Town of Glenville Lifted

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced last week the expansion of the oak wilt quarantine districts in Yates and Ontario counties after finding new trees infected with oak wilt. The two quarantine districts have been combined into one, which now includes the entire towns of Middlesex, Italy, and South Bristol, and parts of the towns of Bristol and Naples. Movement of oak wood out of the quarantine district is restricted to help limit the spread of oak wilt while DEC treats the infected sites and monitors the area for additional infections.

“Oak wilt can have a devastating impact on private and state lands,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “Expanding the quarantine district in the Finger Lakes is a necessary step to stop the spread of this destructive disease and protect the long-term health of our forests. Oak trees are an important part of our environment and local economies, and DEC is committed to working with communities, landowners, and industry partners to safeguard these vital resources."

DEC detected discolored oak trees during aerial surveys in July 2025. Further evaluation of branch and leaf samples by Cornell University Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic confirmed the presence of oak wilt on seven sites in the towns of Middlesex, Italy, South Bristol, and Naples—four on private lands and three in DEC’s High Tor Wildlife Management Area.

DEC cut down the infected oaks and, as a precaution, some neighboring oaks that were not symptomatic as well. To prevent further spread, stumps were treated with herbicide to kill the roots, and logs and branches were chipped or burned to prevent the growth of fungal spore mats. DEC will be monitoring stumps for resprouting and neighboring oak trees for oak wilt symptoms. Aerial surveys around positive detections will continue for at least the next five years.

Oak logs and branch debris are prohibited from leaving the quarantine district unless they are chipped to less than one inch in two dimensions. Non-oak wood is also restricted unless it is in lengths of 29 inches or greater for identification purposes. Limited Transportation Permits are available to move oak wood and firewood out of the quarantine district during the fall and winter months. A map and description of the quarantine district (PDF) can be found on DEC’s website. 

Town of Glenville Quarantine District Lifted

Oak wilt was first discovered in New York State in 2008 in the Town of Glenville, Schenectady County. Over the course of a decade, DEC managed a total of five infection sites in the Glenville area, which included the removal and disposal of 203 oak trees across 23 properties. No new infections have been found since 2018, prompting the lifting of the quarantine district. DEC will continue to monitor oaks in the area for signs of new oak wilt infections. 

Oak wilt is a serious tree disease that was first discovered in Wisconsin in 1944. Since that time, it has spread, killing thousands of oak trees each year. Oak wilt is caused by a fungus, Bretziella fagacearum, which blocks the water conducting vessels (xylem) of host trees, slowing the transport of water and causing the leaves to wilt and drop off. Infected red oak trees typically die within a few weeks of being infected. The disease is spread through interconnected root systems and by beetles that pick up the fungal spores from fungal mats on infected trees and transport them to other oaks. In addition, the spread of oak wilt disease is associated with the movement of firewood and other wood products.

For more information, visit DEC’s webpage, email DEC at foresthealth@dec.ny.gov or contact your local DEC Lands and Forests Office