Spring 2018

I N D U S T R Y N E W S www.wvfa.org Spring 2018 |  West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry 7 Radio Series on WV Forestry Continues IN THE CONTINUING WV PUBLIC RADIO SERIES, a look is taken at the timber and forest products industry—from seedlings to final products, we reach our first final product: hardwood flooring. Independent producer Jean Snedegar visited Armstrong Flooring in Beverly, Randolph County, and spoke with plant manager, Blaine Emery. Go here to see/hear the entire piece: wvpublic.org/post/wva-timber-feeds-state- flooring-plant#stream/0 Then, in another installment in the series, the new piece says, “On the campaign trail and in his first State of the State address in February 2017, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice talked about boosting furniture manufacturing in West Virginia. One of the most successful furniture manufacturers in the state is in Berkeley Springs.” See and/or hear the rest here: wvpublic.org/post/wva-timber- furniture-company-thriving-berkeley- springs#stream/0 And, finally, in yet another radio segment— from seedlings to final products, WV Public Radio follows cut logs to one of our most sophisticated sawmills. Independent producer Jean Snedegar spent some time at Allegheny Wood Products’ Kingwood Sawmill and Pellet Mill, with plant manager, Mark Wilson. wvpublic.org/post/wva-timber-tree-boards- less-hour#stream/0  GOV. JIM JUSTICE HAS ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER that blocks state agencies from changing or adopting any new regulations. The “regulatory moratorium,” as the Governor’s Office called it, aims to spur West Virginia’s economy and “promote citizens’ freedom to lawfully engage in individual, family and business pursuits.” Justice signed the executive order Thursday—his second such directive so far this year. Some environmental groups criticized Justice’s moratorium Friday, saying it would hamstring agencies that want to protect the public’s health and safety. The executive order drew praise, though, from business leaders and Republican lawmakers. IN RELATED NEWS: The chief of staff for Governor Jim Justice admits state agency officials are dealing with a “big endeavor” when it comes to meeting a Nov. 1 deadline set by executive order for mandated full reviews of all existing state rules and regulations. “This is going to be a massive undertaking,” Mike Hall said. Justice signed two executive orders putting moratoriums on the implementation of new administrative state rules, while moving up an established 2020 date for complete agency regulatory assessments already required in state law.  State Moratorium on Regs