Document zzBr5GjwjD5Neb470XNmZMnag

Gully ranch X ree farm Gapl and \ty anda part's ^65 Kuth G^ urch Road Gochran, G A >1014 July 19, 2017 The Honorable Sonny Perdue Secretary of Agriculture U.S, Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC 20250 The Honorable Scott Pruitt Environmental Protection Agency Office of the Administrator - 1101A 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Dear Secretary Perdue and Administrator Pruitt, r~o S o CTt CQ gr-n V? ro cp m rp* i ~ rt I rsa fic Thank you for spending time with us during your recent visit to Georgia. We were encouraged by your optimism and support for strengthening our economy and improving our environment by tapping the ingenuity and conservation ethic of people who own and steward our nation's private forests. We were especially encouraged by your commitment to work together to build a strong partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide an aligned vision and pathway for the future. As conservation leaders committed to sustaining a healthy environment while providing wood for homes, buildings and products that improve family life across America, we are committed to working with you to achieve economic and environmental success through policies that strengthen the markets needed to sustain private forest ownership. During our discussion we identified a number of ideas to make this happen, including: Using wood to build tall and midrise buildings that reduce energy consumption, store carbon and sustain healthy forests. Ensuring that U.S. energy policy recognizes the full forest carbon cycle in the U.S. resulting in the carbon neutrality of biomass energy. Providing that wood grown in the U.S, qualifies for federal procurement programs. Ensuring that when government policies make reference to forest certification programs they consistently recognize all established forest certification programs (including the America Tree Farm System, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council). Currently the USDA's bio based program takes an inclusive approach but EPA and Department of Energy (DOE) policies do not. Investing in research and landowner assistance programs that provide forest owners information and tools that help them innovate.  Working with your fellow cabinet members to ensure that tax policy sustains the economic viability of long term private and public investments in forest ownership. Continuing environmental education partnerships, like Project Learning Tree, 4-H and FFA that teach educators and the rising generation that good environmental and economic stewardship of our forests work hand-in-hand. We look forward to working with you on these and other important endeavors that will strengthen the economic and environmental contributions of our privately owned forests while sustaining the millions of Americans who own, invest and work in them every day. '-ran and Wanda Barrs Gully Branch Tree Farm National Outstanding Tree Farmers, 2009 Dean Alford President & CEO Allied Energy Services, LLC Mike Bell Vice President, Public Affairs Rayonier Craig Blair President & CEO Resource Management Services, LLC Terry Cross Client & Resource Manager Knapp-Barrs & Associates, Inc. L. C. (Buster) Evans Owner Evans Farm Properties, LLC W. Dale Greene Dean Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Rita Hite Executive Vice President, Woodlands and Policy American Forest Foundation Joe Hopkins President Toledo Manufacturing Scott Jones CEO Forest Landowners Association Wesley Langdale President The Langdale Company Chuck and Rose Lane Leavell Owners, Charlane Plantation. National Outstanding Tree Farmers, 1999 Monte Simpson Government Affairs Manager, Gulf States Weyerhaueser Frank Sorrells Interim Director Georgia Forestry Commission David Tenny President & CEO National Alliance of Forest Owners Andres Villegas President & CEO Georgia Forestry Association tarl and Wancia Barrs 465 Ruth Church Rd Cochran, GA 31014 % r. 0 The Honorable Scott Pruitt Environmental Protection Agency Office of the Administrator - 1101A 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N. W. Washington, DC 20460 204&0-