ESFPA E-News

Gutchess Lumber - 120 Years in the Hardwood Industry

Since 1904, Gutchess Lumber Co., Inc. has produced quality northern hardwood lumber across New York and Pennsylvania.  As a fifth-generation family and employee-owned organization, they continue to strive to meet and exceed their customer expectations. George Gutchess built the first mill on his farm in Leeper, NY, back in 1904 with a dream of being the areas go to hardwood supplier. This legacy was carried on by his son, Clair Gutchess, who developed a loyal, dedicated and hardworking team of employees. 

For over 12 decades, Gutchess Lumber has carried on as a premier hardwood lumber producer. Today, over 500 employees are on the job working diligently and proudly serving customers in New York, Pennsylvania and around the world. 

On behalf of the ESFPA Board, staff, and all our members, we extend a hearty congratulations to Gutchess Lumber and wish them many more successful years to come!

Basil Seggos Interview 

An interview with DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos has been conducted following last week's announcement of his plans to step down from DEC. In the interview, he states his reasons for leaving as well as some priorities he wants to accomplish before he leaves following the Budget season. 

See the full interview through the link below:

Commissioner Seggos is also scheduled to speak to ESFPA members at Forestry Awareness Day on Tuesday March 5^th. 

The Latest on Northern Long-eared Bats

On November 29, 2022 the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USF&WS) published a rule to reclassify the Northern Long-eared Bat (NLEB) as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). This reclassification became effective Mach 31, 2023.  Along with that reclassification USF&W issued “interim guidance” on permits for activities which may affect NLEB behavior and habitat which remain in effect until March 31, 2024. 

Simultaneously with the federal reclassification, New York Endangered Species Act also reclassified the NLEB as endangered and NYS DEC issued their own Guidance on NLEB for forest harvesting activities which became effective on May 3, 2023.  The federal and state guidance are subject to change when USF&WS issues final guidance on NLEB.

In discussions this past week with NYS DEC, we have learned that USF&W has not issued any new information on NLEB or thoughts on what may change with the guidance that is already in place. It appears we are unfortunately on track to see a repeat of the delays and extensions that we saw with the change in status from threatened to endangered status last year. Good news is the interim guidance is likely to be extended through the coming active season, with the bad news obviously being the USF&WS is not providing any certainty on that as of yet.  We will keep in touch with DEC and notify members as soon as we hear anything as we approach the April 1^st anniversary.

NYS Attorney General Sues World’s Largest Beef Producer for Climate Greenwashing

This week, New York State Attorney General Letitia James has sued JBS USA, the world's largest producer of beef, over the company's emissions and for "greenwashing" by allegedly misleading the public about its environmental impact. Here is the press release as well as a link to the actual suit.  JBS is among hundreds of companies around the world that have promised to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming. The Brazilian food maker said in 2021 that it would eliminate or offset all of the heat-trapping emissions from its operations and supply chains by 2040.

We raise this as the latest in a host of efforts by legislators and regulators to get at sustainability and transparency claims, be it the European Union sustainability rule released late last year or the NY and California Deforestation Free Procurement legislative proposals (among others).  Increasingly, we see efforts to hold corporations more accountable on sustainability claims.

DEC Issues Outdoor Fire Ban

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced this week the annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning begins March 16 and runs through May 14.  DEC is advocating extra vigilance before the burn ban goes into effect, as Forest Rangers and local firefighters have already responded to early fires in multiple counties. These fires were caused by debris burning with wind carrying the fire to grassy and wooded areas.

Click the link below to learn more:

Planting More Trees on Long Island

Governor Kathy Hochul has set in motion for 25 million trees to be planted throughout the state by 2033. Supporters say the added trees would help improve the environment, as part of New York’s overall climate goals, and keep energy costs lower as summertime temperatures rise.

On Long Island, this initiative would lessen a current disparity in trees. It isn’t clear yet how many new trees Long Island would get, but the DEC plans for an aggressive campaign throughout New York that will emphasize downtown and urban areas where trees are scarce. 

Last year, President Joe Biden also announced a $1 billion grant to increase tree cover in urban spaces through the U.S. Forest Service and local communities. Numerous census tracts in both Nassau and Suffolk have been identified by the program as disadvantaged, as per the Climate and Economic Justice Screening tool.

"Long Island government officials and advocacy groups should make sure we get our fair share of high-quality trees that can best adapt to our warming horticultural zones. More than buildings of stone and concrete, this initiative is a natural living way to leave a truly meaningful legacy for the future."

Click the link below to read more:

CDC Shortens the Isolation Period for People with COVID

Americans with COVID or other respiratory infections need not isolate for five days before returning to work or school, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday, a striking sign of changing attitudes toward the coronavirus. People with respiratory illnesses may resume daily activities if they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the aid of medications and if their symptoms are improving, agency officials said. That’s also why ESFPA among other trade associations are advocating for New York to repeal COVID sick leave requirements.

Some employers in New York State are required to provide at least 5 or 14 days of job protected, paid COVID-19 sick leave to employees who need to take leave because they are under a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. This CDC change further supports such a repeal. Stay tuned for an advocacy campaign on repeal of COVID sick leave.