2010 National Outstanding Forestry Activist Scott Dane

The Forest Resources Association awarded its 2010 National Outstanding Forestry Activist Award to Scott Dane, Executive Director of the Associated Contract Loggers & Truckers of Minnesota, for his strong work in promoting the shared interests of his members and their mill customers in an increasingly challenging policy and economic environment.

FRA Chairman Dave Liebetreu congratulated Dane (shown at right) at the organization's Annual Awards Luncheon, March 14 in Hilton Head, South Carolina, commenting: "The old adage about democracy not being a spectator sport certainly applies to our industry, and we certainly owe a debt of thanks to one who takes this adage to heart the way you do."

Dane thanked Liebetreu, commenting, "This is a great industry to be a part of. I think that everyone that is here today is an activist in their own way."

Scott Dane has worked tirelessly to help loggers, truckers, and mills survive the economic hard times that face them. As wood costs have challenged the Lake States industry's viability, Scott has intervened directly with county, state, and federal agencies to return public timber to the market--up to and including his successful campaign to include terms in the recent Farm Bill to reduce federal stumpage rates and to extend timber sales in the region.

In addition, Scott has participated in Minnesota's Governor's Advisory Task Force on Forestry and chaired the Minnesota Log Safe Advisory Task Force. He has worked with insurance carriers in developing programs that have reduced Workers' Comp rates for operations that can demonstrate safe practices, drug-free policies, and membership in professional organizations. One logger states: "Scott Dane is a man of high character. He works incredibly hard on issues pertaining to the logging industry. On a Forest Service timber sale he helped me qualify for a rate redetermination that saved my business $220,000."

Scott's organization advocates giving states the right to allow increased truck weights on the federal Interstate system. Obtaining this reform is a very high priority for Minnesota's log truckers, because permitted log trucks are currently allowed to haul up to 103,500 pounds (including 5% tolerance) on state roads--although their inability to access the stretch of Interstate that bypasses Duluth compels truckers who want to haul competitively to take their loads through the center of town.

Just this year, following a logger's being assessed a heavy fine for hauling overweight on the Interstate, Dane was able to restrain his members from mounting a massive log truck rally in downtown Duluth but instead arranged a constructive meeting with Representative Jim Oberstar--who represents timber-dependent northern Minnesota, while chairing the influential House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee--and launched a new dialogue about the importance of gross vehicle weight reform at the federal level.

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