Washington Policy Makers Tackle Environmental Issues

While environmental policies have not been at the top of the Washington, D.C., news cycle lately, there are a number of changes quietly moving forward in our nation’s capital that impact forest landowners and forestry, from endangered species to water regulation and from renewable biomass energy to landowner assistance.

The Trump Administration is proposing a major overhaul of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to provide clarity and ease regulatory burdens on landowners.  At the same time, Congress is also considering significant legislative changes to the ESA, and the Supreme Court is poised to hear arguments concerning the designation of critical habitat under the ESA on a case involving Weyerhaeuser forestland in Louisiana.

The EPA is also moving forward with its proposal to address greenhouse gas emissions—known as the Affordable Clean Energy Rule (ACE), a federal court ruling has revived the controversial Obama-era Waters of the U.S. policy—better known as WOTUS, and Congress failed to meet a Sept. 30 deadline to pass a new Farm Bill, leaving funding for landowner assistance programs for forestry and conservation programs in limbo.

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