| This bill proposes to require paper and logging companies to |
| purchase forest products for chipping and other purposes from |
| small wood harvesters in Maine who are not certified in |
| sustainable forestry practices. Presently, large purchasers |
| of logs and forest products, including wood chips, are |
| refusing to purchase forest products from small wood |
| harvesters who have not taken an industry-sponsored |
| certification course in sustainable forestry practices. |
| Further, large forest products purchasers are refusing to |
| purchase forest products from larger concerns such as sawmills |
| who purchase forest products from these uncertified small wood |
| harvesters, threatening the livelihood of not only the small |
| wood harvesters but also the mills who traditionally have |
| purchased the small wood harvesters' forest products. Many of |
| these uncertified small wood harvesters are unable to attend |
| the certification course due to financial and other concerns |
| as they tend to be small, sole-proprietor operations. |
