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Roads and Rain
| | I know from talking with
loggers that many of you have voluntarily shutdown your operations due
to wet conditions. The DNR is asking that you continue to exercise
caution when using forest roads to prevent rutting and other damage. |
| Upcoming Events |
Forest Management Guideline Training
Cloquet - Aug. 31 - Sept. 1
Rochester - Sept. 8-9
Brake Inspector Qualification
Bemidji - Sept. 28
Brainerd - Sept. 29
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More Workshops and online training
Register Now |
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| MLEP's monthly eUpdate alerts you of training opportunities, resources, and timely news. |
 | Is Your LogSafe Rebate Getting Smaller?
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The
LogSafe rebate is funded by an assessment on industry. Minnesota Statutes 176.130 imposes an
assessment, at the rate of 30 cents per cord of wood, for every cord or
equivalent measurement of wood in excess of 5,000 cords, purchased or acquired
in any calendar year, either inside or outside the state, by a wood mill
located in Minnesota.
The
statute also defines a "wood mill" as the primary processors of wood or wood
chips including, but not limited to, hard board manufacturers, wafer board or
oriented strand board manufacturers, pulp and paper manufacturers, sawmills,
and other primary manufacturers who do the initial processing of wood purchased
from loggers.
MLEP
believes this definition of a "wood mill" would include facilities that process
roundwood and/or wood chips into energy.
However, a review of DLI records shows that these entities are not
paying the assessment. That means a
smaller rebate check for loggers.
It
shouldn't matter if a load of wood chips is being used to make OSB, paper or
heat and power. Any primary processors
of wood or wood chips, in excess of 5,000 cords or equivalent, should be paying
the assessment.
Until
DLI starts collecting this assessment from these entities, your rebate check is
likely to shrink and the traditional forest products industry will be at a
disadvantage when competing for wood against other entities that are paying the
assessment.
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| A $40,000 CD Coming Your Way Soon
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That's
right, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has spent more than
$40,000 to develop a LogSafe Training Course on CD.
Unfortunately, loggers who complete the training
won't receive any LogSafe credit. MLEP
supports the development and delivery of computer based training and
educational resources, but if you're going to spend $40,000 to develop a CD
training program - loggers ought to be able to get LogSafe credit for
completing the training. DLI is planning
to mail the CD out to all logging companies in Minnesota. Once you receive the CD, you can decide for
yourself if this was $40,000+ well spent.
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| 2011 & 2012 LogSafe Training Brought to You By??? |
After
careful consideration, MLEP has made the difficult decision to not
submit a proposal in response to the Department of Labor and Industry's
(DLI) request for proposals (RFP) to deliver LogSafe training in 2011
& 2012.
MLEP
believes we have made significant improvement to the LogSafe training
experience and that we are the organization best suited
for administering the design and delivery of safety training for
loggers. Unfortunately, the limited scope and budget
allocated in the RFP is insufficient to deliver the high quality,
interactive
training loggers deserve.
A copy of the letter MLEP sent to DLI Commissioner Steve Sviggum informing him of our decision details our concerns with the RFP.
Hopefully,
future RFPs will address these concerns and we can look forward to
having the opportunity to deliver LogSafe training again in the future.
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| Input Requested on Landing Size
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The
Minnesota Forest Resources Council (MFRC) is looking for input on the size of a
landing area required in order to ensure a safe environment for equipment
operators and truckers. The current guidelines
state, "Plan roads and landings to occupy no more
than 1-3% of
the timber harvest area." Please
complete a very short four question survey on this issue. Completed surveys should be emailed to Dave Chura by Wednesday, September 15, 2010. If you have any questions regarding the
survey, you can contact Dave Chura at 218-722-5442 or Rob Slesak at 651-603-6756. |
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