SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 23
(By Senator Fanning)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct
an interim study of the timbering practices being exercised in
the border counties in southern West Virginia.
Whereas, The forests and woodlands are the only renewable
natural resources in southern West Virginia; and
Whereas, There exists the potential that out-of-state logging
companies which are not licensed to conduct business West Virginia
are engaged in logging operations in the southern border counties;
and
Whereas, These logging companies may not be filing logging
plans with the Division of Forestry or not paying the required
taxes on their operations and sales; and
Whereas, These logging companies may not be following
recommended best-management practices for timbering operations by
apparently clear-cutting all timber regardless of tree diameter or
anticipated use of the cut timber; and
Whereas, The water quality of the area is significantly
jeopardized by the inappropriate methods employed by these logging
companies; and
Whereas, These logging companies may be crossing state lines
to avoid detection of these inappropriate activities; therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to direct the Forest Management Review Commission to work
in cooperation with the Division of Forestry and the Department of
Tax and Revenue to review, examine and study, during the interim of
the Legislature, the financial losses to the state, the
environmental degradation being caused and the possible negative economic impact
of these logging practices; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Forest Management Review Commission
report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2000, on its
findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of
any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations to the
Joint Committee on Government and Finance; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.