FRA Adopts Position on BCAP Implementation

RELEASE: March 17, 2010

CONTACT: Neil Ward (301-838-9385)
 nward@forestresources.org

Rockville, MD — On March 14, the Forest Resources Association's Board of Directors adopted a formal position on the implementation of the USDA Farm Service Agency's Biomass Crop Assistance Program, or BCAP, the controversial feedstock subsidy program for biomass directed to energy facilities. BCAP was suspended in early February, pending conclusion of the current rulemaking process.

FRA's unanimous resolution states:

FRA has consensus on these foundational principles on BCAP implementation.

BCAP should focus on increasing supply without creating an unlevel playing field. The existing forest industry has a strong record of using bio-based energy, and that industry supports millions of people and thousands of communities, with family-wage jobs.

BCAP should:
• Promote underutilized sources
• Stimulate establishment of new forests
• Define biomass broadly
• Allow all purchasers equal access to BCAP supplies

BCAP should not:
• Distort the market
• Undermine jobs
• Exclude any biomass-consuming facility as an eligible facility
The product of two days' deliberation and debate among FRA's governance committees, this resolution may serve as a reference for members, or other wood supply chain interests, participating in the Farm Service Agency's comment process. That docket will accept comments through April 9 2010. FRA recommends all supply chain interests' reviewing the rule at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/bcap_prm_on_public_display_ofr.pdf and participating in the comment process.

The Forest Resources Association Inc. is a nonprofit trade association concerned with the safe, efficient, and sustainable harvest of forest products and their transport from woods to mill. FRA represents wood consumers, independent logging contractors, wood dealers, and landowners, as well as businesses providing products and services to the forest resource-based industries.

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