Soil & Mulch Producer News Sep/Oct 2019 by Downing and Associates

Vol. XIII No. 5

September / October 2019

Serving Soil, Mulch, Compost & Wood Pellet Producers www.SoilandMulchProducerNews.com

NEWS

Training is Critical to Safety at Mulching Yards

orkplace injury reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can serve as gruesome reminders about how dangerous grinders and other mulching facility equipment can be when proper safety precautions aren’t utilized. In March 2018, an employee at a Missouri lumber company was killed while operating a hog grinder used to make mulch out of lumber scrap. According to OSHA, the worker fell into the chute of the grinder and was pulverized by the blades of the grinder. During the same month, a worker at a Florida landfill died of head trauma while clearing a jam from a trommel system. OSHA said he got caught in the conveyor system and was dumped into a pile located 150 feet from the equipment. The incident investigation revealed that past practices involved the clearing of jams while the machine was in operation. It was speculated that the employee followed that practice during the accident. In April 2017 an employee at a landscape waste yard in Ohio was killed after getting off of the skid steer track loader he was operating and was pinned between his loader and a frontend loader that was backing up while loading material into a tub grinder. In June 2017, a worker at an Alabama lumber supply yard was cleaning around a conveyor belt that fed wood waste trimmings to a horizontal wood grinder. As he cleaned the conveyor belt, his right arm was caught between the tail pulley and belt of the long-inclined belt conveyor, causing multiple fractures to his right arm. As a report from Beltsville, Md. shows, safety needs to be practiced away from mulching operations as well. In April 2016, an employee was killed while adjusting the mulch flow on a mulch blower truck. After realizing the controls were not adjusting the mulch flow to where it needed to be, OSHA said, he climbed a ladder located on the back of the mulch truck, then jumped into the back of the truck and started to move the mulch into the auger with a pitchfork.

By Ken McEntee

He was caught by and pulled into the stir stick of a rotating auger and died of traumatic injuries that resulted when he was wrapped around the stir stick. In the opinion of Trey Tyre, vice president of operations and safety director for Waupaca Northwoods, Waupaka, Wisc., it unfortunately, sometimes takes an accident for the importance of safety to become a vital issue. “I would say the majority of managers and companies in our industry do not place enough time and resources towards building a positive safety culture,” he said. “I had to learn some of these lessons the hard way. My goal going forward is to provide our managers and employees with the necessary training and tools so that they can do things the correct way from the start.” Tyre and other mulch producers contacted for this article said worker safety is the top priority at their operations. “There are a lot of safety slogans out there, like “safety is number one,” or “safety first,” but it is absolutely our company’s top priority,” Tyre said. “Saying it doesn’t make it so. However, we believe in daily action to back up our beliefs. Without a doubt, our employees are our most important assets and most critical to a successful operation. Equipment and inventory, while it usually has negative financial impacts, can be

repaired or replaced. Our company operates off of some simple mutual expectations. These core beliefs include items such as teamwork and accountability, two-way communication, quality output and proactive performance. At the very top of that list is safety and housekeeping.” Ke n d a l l C a s o n , g e n e r a l m a n ag e r, Landscapers Pride, New Waverly, Tex., said a safe workplace not only reduces costs, but also provides a better work environment for employees. “We’re a family-oriented company,” Cason said. “We want our employees to be safe, happy and taken care of.” Landscapers Pride has instituted a monthly reward system that incentivizes workers to adhere to its safety program, Cason said. “For each month without a safety incident, workers are rewarded with a catered lunch and an employee of the month receives a bonus and preferred parking,” he said. Tyre said Waupaca Northwoods addresses worker safety by implementing written policy, guidelines and a safety protocol “OSHA sets overall regulatory guidelines, but we view OSHA requirements as the bare minimum,” he said. “Our policies and procedures are written with a higher and more detailed expectation than OSHA standards.” Continued on page 3

High technology with highly ﬂexible ﬁnancing

Let Colorbiotics put a financing plan together for you. Introducing dynamic, new financing options that make it easier than ever to bring the accuracy and efficiency of Colorbiotics technology and equipment to your operation. The Sahara® X3 or Pro coloring systems, combined with our optimized Global Equipment Management (GEM) system, produce unsurpassed quality and dramatically reduced water and energy use to drive efficiency to new heights. Contact your Colorbiotics territory manager today for a creative financing package tailored to your unique business needs.

888-663-6980 | colorbiotics.basf.us www.colorbiotics.basf.us

Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Training is Critical to Safety at Mulching Yards Continued from page 1

Tyre said his company’s internal safety programs and training are broken down by subject. Each subject has its own “program.” “For example, we have a standalone program for hearing protection, blood-borne pathogens, powered mobile equipment, lock-out-tag-out (LOTO), etc. Overall we have 20 designated safety specific programs. Inclusive to each program, each facility will have a site specific program that gets into more of the details and unique situations for different locations.” Waupaca requires new-hire training and annual refresher training on each program for all employees. All visitors are required to be briefed and to sign off on required safety procedures while on site “Additionally, we hold weekly ‘toolbox talks’ at each site,” Tyre said. “This is a 15 to 30 minute safety meeting about a designated topic and an open forum at the end so that any safety concerns can be addressed.” Landscapers Pride, Cason said, has a written safety policy that is reviewed with each new hire and periodically reviewed with employees at monthly safety meetings. “Each new hire also goes through orientation with our safety meeting to learn what is expected of them and gets them familiar with their issued safety gear,” Cason said. Steve Liffers, owner and co-president of Swanson Bark, Longview, Wash., said his company has a comprehensive safety manual that covers every facet of its business. Working with large machinery, Cason said, creates “huge areas of vulnerability.” “We ask for constant vigilance while working near these machines, but bad days happen,” he said. “We issue breakaway vests that will pull apart if a machine grabs someone. We issue hard hats and safety goggles in case of debris. Signs are placed around the yard warning of dangers and areas that need extra caution.” Liffers said Swanson Bark has a dedicated safety manager “with the ability to fire immediately,” and a monthly assessment meeting to discuss the past month’s infractions and resolutions. The most vulnerable areas in the yard, Tyre said, probably are “the areas where we haven’t thought of what could go wrong or conducted a thorough risk analysis on yet. Any area can be potentially dangerous and lead to an accident. To combat this, we conduct risk assessments of different locations and all the tasks we can think of.” He said input from experienced employees is critical because they usually know the equipment or procedure better than anyone else. “It’s also important to get an outside set of eyes on task as well,” Tyre said. “As is human nature, many times we can become oblivious and complacent to our surroundings and start

to block out or ignore potential safety issues.” Each piece of machinery at a mulching facility has different safety challenges, and therefore specific safety rules, operators said. “We give additional and ongoing training for our grinder and loader operators,” Cason said. “They also have additional rules posted on the equipment that must be followed at all times for their safety and those around them. We also provide radios to each operator for communication. On our bagging lines, operators are given breakaway vests that are designed to break off if they get caught in the machine instead of pulling someone in. At our coloring station, employees wear rain gear as protection.” Tyre said each specific piece of equipment has its own start up and shut down procedures. “Many are addressed by our core safety programs,” he said. “For example, our LOTO program contains more in-depth machine specific procedures on how to appropriately isolate energy for each equipment or operation on site. Our powered mobile equipment program contains more in depth and specific training for forklifts, loaders and skid steers respectively.” Operators interviewed said they believe equipment manufacturers are generally doing a good job of making their machines safe. “Many of the manufacturers of the machines we use have built in many safety features that help to reduce the possibility of injuries,” Caton said. Tyre said machines are safer than they were 10 to 15 years ago. “The biggest issue we run across is added safety features that have not been proven out in an operations setting,” he said. He said some vendors could do a better job of safety training on their equipment. “Some are better than others,” he said. While Liffers said most equipment vendors are “very good” at safety training, Cason said more in-depth training, above and beyond short demonstrations “would be nice.” “We recently purchased a new shaker and the reps came out and gave us an in-depth safety, maintenance and use demonstration,” Cason said. “It was a fantastic way to learn about our new equipment.” Liffers said the key to avoiding accidents is “training, training, training.” Tyre, however, said the success of a safety program depends in large part on employee participation. “The challenge is to get them to buy in,” he said. “As management, it absolutely critical that we show employees we care about them through our actions and by timely addressing potential safety concerns. Ken McEntee is a Strongsville, Ohio-based writer and the publisher of Composting News (www.compostingnews.com).

sales@armorhog.com www.armorhog.com

www.SoilandMulchProducerNews.com

PUBLICATION STAFF Publisher / Editor Rick Downing Contributing Editors / Writers Kenneth Artz • Daren Bakst • Duggan Flanakin Ken McEntee • Sandy Woodthorpe Production & Layout Barb Fontanelle • Christine Mantush Advertising Sales Rick Downing Subscription / Circulation Donna Downing Editorial, Circulation & Advertising Office 6075 Hopkins Road, Mentor, OH 44060 Ph: 440-257-6453 • Fax: 440-257-6459 Email: downassoc2@oh.rr.com Subscription information, call 440-257-6453. Soil & Mulch Producer News is published bimonthly by Downing & Associates. Reproductions or transmission in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher, is prohibited. Annual subscription rate U.S. is $19.95. Outside of the U.S. add $10 ($29.95). Contact our main office, or mail-in the subscription form with payment. ©

Printed on Post-Consumer Recycled Paper

September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Idaho Phosphate Mine Wins Approval By Bureau of Land Management By Duggan Flanakin

he Idaho Falls District Office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved the Caldwell Canyon Mine Project, an open pit phosphate mine in Caribou County in the southeastern part of the state. The Idaho Falls District Office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved the Caldwell Canyon Mine Project, an open pit phosphate mine in Caribou County in southeastern Idaho. The plan includes two open pits covering about 1,200 acres. Most of the mine site will be on private land. The pits will extend onto approximately 140 acres of BLM land, and 200 acres are on Idaho endowment land. State officials have already approved the lease on the state’s portion of the proposed site.

Saving Jobs, Preventing Pollution

he BLM’s approval of the project saves the jobs of 185 miners who T otherwise would soon be out of work when the nearby Blackfoot Bridge Mine runs out of phosphate ore. P4 says its new mine will also preserve 585 jobs at its phosphate processing plant in nearby Soda Springs for the 40-year life of the mine. P4 estimates the mine will generate more than $47 million annually in payroll, taxes, royalties, and purchases, in addition to supporting other jobs in the surrounding communities. The approved plan requires P4 Production, a subsidiary of Bayer, which requested the permits to develop three phosphate leases, to place specific types of cover beneath and over the mine waste rock to prevent water pollution. Selenium, a byproduct of phosphate mining, is toxic in high doses. In 1997, sheep and horses eating selenium-laden plants growing near phosphate mine waste dumps died. To avoid such outcomes from this project, the BLM is requiring P4 to line its pits with geomembrane, backfill them, and cap the site upon completion of mining.

Useful Commodity

hosphate is a key ingredient in many fertilizers, and more than 90 P percent of the phosphate mined is used in fertilizer manufacture. Other uses of phosphate include animal feed and detergents. China and Morocco lead the world in phosphate production. The United States is the world’s third-largest producer, mining 27.5 million metric tons of marketable phosphate rock, valued at $2.2 billion, in 2015. Idaho is the nation’s third-leading domestic producer of phosphate, trailing only Florida and North Carolina. From the 1960s through the 1990s, the United States exported phosphate, but since 1996 America has been a net importer. Imports accounted for about 12 percent of domestic use in 2015.

Happy to Help

n a BLM press release announcing the decision, William Perry Pendley, BLM’s deputy director of policy and programs, said the agency was Ipleased to be able to contribute to the region’s economy. “The Caldwell Canyon Mine is a vital part of the Idaho economy,” said Pendley. “This project’s approval means decades of additional job security and economic development for communities in the surrounding area, and the BLM is proud to play a part in sustaining those benefits.” Idaho’s two U.S. senators praised the Trump administration for working with state and local officials to keep mining alive in the region. “On-the-ground support from Idaho stakeholders in collaboration with local BLM officials will ensure a thorough process that strikes a balance between resource extraction and conservation efforts,” Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) said in a press release. “The Caldwell Canyon mine is an excellent example of how improved approval processes can facilitate better use of natural resources and stimulate economic development in our communities,” said Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) in the same press release. The Idaho Conservation League, an environmental watchdog group, said it was pleased P4 incorporated in its proposal some of its ideas to minimize environmental impacts from mining, including avoiding building roads in sensitive habitat and taking precautions to protect water quality.

Protecting Rural Jobs

4’s mine will help the region maintain a varied and vibrant economic base, says Fred Birnbaum, vice president at the Idaho Freedom P Foundation. “Mining and resource-based industries are important both to rural Idahoans and the state generally in terms of good-paying jobs and maintaining a broad economic base,” Birnbaum said. Benjamin Davenport, executive vice president of the Idaho Mining Association, agrees BLM’s decision is good news for Idaho. “Mining is very significant to our rural economies in Idaho, creating close to 3,000 direct, high-paying jobs in very rural parts of our state with few other employment opportunities,” Davenport said. “This does not include the indirect jobs that support the industry in these parts of our state. “In a rapidly urbanizing state with less than two million people, it is important to protect jobs in small towns,” Davenport said. Duggan Flanakin (dflanakin@gmail. com) writes from Austin, Texas. This article was reprinted with permission from heartland.org, a product of The Heartland Institute (https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/idahophosphate-mine-wins-approval-by-bureau-of-land-management).

Join the Mulch & Soil Council TODAY ...

YOUR best opportunity to protect YOUR business! For more information, call 806-832-1810 or visit www.mulchandsoilcouncil.org 7809 FM 179, Shallowater, TX 79363 4

Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019

QUALITY & SERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ON! With CMC’s Mulch Colorants you can use less product and still achieve optimal results. Our team of experts have formulated a product that provides superior coverage that you can count on to increase your proﬁtability. At our 70,000 square foot facility we produce millions of pounds of colorant per year, providing our customers with fresh product and dependable availability. Call 610.926.0984 or visit www.cmcmulchcolorants.com.

Full Page.indd 1

11/13/2015 8:32:44 AM

September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Oregon Environmentalists and Business Interests in a Tussle

ccording to an Oregon Live article, conservationists trying to retain or enact environmental protections have been challenged by a stronghold of money and state politics, and now they are fighting the status quo with several proposed ballot initiatives. Initiative Petitions 35, 36 and 37 call for tightening the state’s aerial spraying laws, more logging restrictions in steep, landslide-prone areas and ending conflicts of interest for state forestry board appointees. All three initiatives were rejected by Oregon Secretary of State elections division, which disqualified the proposals for being too much the same. The Oregon constitution says each ballot initiative can only address a single policy topic, known as the “single-subject rule.” The Secretary of State invoked attorney-client privilege, preventing government officials from speaking with the media about the rejection or even conferring among themselves. The petitioners are threatening a lawsuit. To qualify the initiatives for the November 2020 ballot, they need the Secretary of State’s approval before they can start collecting the more than 100,000 signatures required. Oregon courts have handed down strict interpretations of the single-subject rule for proposed constitutional amendments. But they’ve treated matters far more permissively for changes to often-complicated state statutes, such as those the forestry initiatives seek to change. In a news release, the Secretary of State’s office said that questions about aerial spraying in forests and “how the Oregon Forest Council manages forests” are very different. “These aspects of the proposed measures would potentially confuse voters.” Oregon forest laws are managed by the governor-appointed, seven-member Board of Forestry. Currently, an Oregon Forest Council does not exist. Instead, a lobbying group, the Oregon Forest & Industries Council, with strong ties to state Republican leadership, provides guidance.

Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019

Tax Credits Available to Georgia Timberland Owners for Hurricane Michael Losses

tlanta, GA — The Department of Revenue is reminding forest landowners and others impacted by Hurricane Michael that tax credits are available. More than $134 million in timber tax credits are available in the second round of aid issued under a bill passed in November 2018. The state of Georgia is offering up to $400 per acre to cover damage or restoration efforts that resulted from the storm. Landowners who lost product or revenue can apply for preapproval to receive the Timber Tax Credit. They must file electronically through Georgia Tax Center (GTC). A corporate, fiduciary, partnership/LLC or individual income tax account is required. The hurricane, which hit in October 2018 cost Georgia about $2.5 billion in damages, according to University of Georgia economists. Many forest areas in South Georgia were impacted by the storm, according to reports. If the amount of the credit is more than the amount of the taxpayer’s tax liability, he or she can apply for a refund. The credit can also be carried over to other tax years, for up to 10 years. The credit is also refundable and transferable. A taxpayer can sell the credit for at least 60 percent of the credit amount. It can also be processed by pass-through entities such as tax brokers. The Department of Revenue will be accepting applications up until Dec. 31 for the timber credit. For more information or to download forms, go to: https:// dor.georgia.gov/timber-tax-credit.

Truck Measurement & Ticketing Systems

Volumetric Load Scanner System Starting @ $13,500.00 Skid Steer/Lift Truck Scales Starting @ $1,092.00 Wheel Loader Scales Starting @ $4,090.00 Truck Scales Starting @ $4,750.00

(800) 747-0701 - www.walzscale.com 656 High Point Lane, East Peoria, IL 61611-9369

September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

NYC Sanitation Department Proposes Food Waste Separation Requirements

ew York, NY — In October, the New York City Sanitation Department issued a proposal that would require additional food-related businesses to separate organic waste. According to the Department news release, the food waste proposal would cover approximately 8,500 additional businesses and is expected to divert 100,000 tons of food waste from landfills every year. Converting the food waste to compost or clean, renewable energy through anaerobic digestion is a key component of the City’s goal of sending zero waste to landfills. Businesses in New York City produce more than 650,000 tons of food waste annually, much of which is sent to landfills where it emits harmful methane gas, the release explains. The proposed rules would require the following types of businesses to separate and ensure beneficial use of their organic waste: • Food service establishments larger than 7,000 square feet, such as restaurants • Chain food service establishments with 2 or more locations in NYC • Retail food stores larger than 10,000 square feet, including grocery stores • Food prep spaces larger than 6,000 square feet • Food service establishments in hotels with 100 or more rooms • Catering establishments hosting events with attendance of more than 100 people • Sponsors of temporary public events Businesses covered by the proposal would be given the option to arrange for collection by a private carter, transport organic waste themselves, or manage it on-site using in-vessel composting, aerobic or anaerobic digestion systems, subject to registration with DSNY and compliance with the City’s sewer discharge regulations. A public comment period and hearing will be held on November 20, 2019. The proposed rules would take effect six months after they are adopted, which would be followed by a six-month grace period before any fines can be imposed. DSNY will consider all comments received during the public comment period before it publishes final rules.

Alberta Organics Recyclers Face Increased Demand and Opposition

irdrie, Alberta — Southern Alberta is grappling with “nimby” opposition to composting as the region’s need for recycling organics is increasing, reports an Aierdrie Today article. Right now, solid waste officials are facing a dilemma of what to do with raw materials and a spike in transportation costs as a result of compost processing facilities closures in Rocky View County (RVC) and neighboring counties. Two compost facilities in the region stopped accepting raw material due to public nuisance and permitting issues, forcing organics from curbside recycling programs to be shipped long distances to locations outside the area. A subgroup of the Southern Municipal Waste Managers Advisory Committee (SMWMAC) – comprising RVC along with Cochrane, Canmore, Banff, Airdrie and Calgary – has been formed to deal with the problem. Waste storage sites, which do not require provincial environmental approvals to operate, need to be more efficiently monitored by local permitting, nuisance bylaws and the Fire Code, one official from the Committee emphasized. Research in 2016 showed that producers contributed more than $367 million to fund paper and packaging recycling across Canada, the Committee member noted. Alberta received zero dollars, something its solid waste officials should remedy in order to help solve the waste storage problem.

Sticky, wet compost?

can screen it. •The BIVITEC dual-vibratory screening process eliminates clogging, saving downtime and increasing productivity •Vertically sealed panels maximize screening area, capacity •Unparalleled quality and customer service

Aggregates Equipment, Inc. sales@AEIscreens.com•717-656-2131•www.AEIscreens.com

Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019

www.vermeertrommels.com

September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Sonoma County Composting Site Still Up in the Air

Enviva Wood Pellet Plant Planned for West Alabama

anta Rosa, CA — When resident concerns about stream water impact resulted in a lawsuit and closure of a commercial composting operation, Sonoma County officials sought alternative sites and now may have found one in Santa Rosa – at that city’s biosolids composting plant, according to a Press Democrat article. Sonoma County officials have been talking with Santa Rosa Board of Public Utilities, which wants to outsource its biosolids (treated human waste) composting operation located at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. If a company will take over the Santa Rosa operation, and the governing bodies can come to terms, then Sonoma County’s composting, run by Renewable Sonoma, will have a new home. The deal would save Santa Rosa about $14 million in costs over time and generate rental income. Already, however, neighbors are voicing concerns having a large-scale composting facility near their homes. Meanwhile, most local green waste is getting shipped out of the county, at considerable cost to curbside customers — $7.6 million since 2016. The goal of Sonoma County’s waste management agency is to guarantee all of the government entities it represents send their green-bin material to a new central facility and pay for that composting through ratepayer bills. Any deal for a new compost operation would be subject to environmental review and contingent on a separate, successful bid to handle the biosolids operation at the Laguna plant — a decision not expected to come until early 2020. In the meantime, the Clean Water Act lawsuit that accused the Sonoma County compost facility of polluting nearby Stemple Creek cost ratepayers more than $1.1 million.

ivingston, AL — Enviva has received preliminary go-ahead for a $175 million wood pellet production plant to be built in Sumter County, WTOK reports. The facility, designed to produce 700,000 metric tons of pellets annually, and eventually, up to 1.15 million tons per year, will bring a minimum of 85 full-time jobs to the area and generate an estimated 180 additional jobs in logging, transportation and local services in the region. Maryland-based Enviva is the world’s largest producer of wood pellets for power generation. The Sumpter County plant site is an important addition to Enviva’s strategic asset cluster in the Gulf region. The company owns and operates eight other plants in the Southeast that produce over 3.5 million metric tons of wood pellets annually and plans to build even more pellet plants in the states of Mississippi and Alabama, as well as a deep-water marine terminal at the Port of Pascagoula. The proposed plant will use sustainability-sourced wood – softwood and scrap – from mills within a 75-mile radius. The pellets produced at the plant will be transported by barge via the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway to the terminal at Pascagoula, then exported to Europe and Asia. Once Enviva receives the necessary permits, the Bethesda, expects construction to be ready to begin in early 2020, with projected completion at the end of 15 to 18 months. Enviva does not own forestland. Instead, the company works with suppliers that meet its strict sustainability criteria for wood sourced from responsibly managed working forests. The company claims it does not take wood from forests that are being converted out of forest use.

Subscribe to Soil & Mulch Producer News. Order online today at www.soilandmulchproducernews.com. TM

Unloads Horizontally MADE IN THE USA

The WalkBox™ unloader is ideal for landscaping, soil, mulch, wood products and more.

No Tipping No Dumping No Worrying The KEITH WALKING FLOOR® unloader handles bulk, baled and palletized materials. Safely unloads under utility cables, in residential areas and inside buildings.

10 Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019

MOVING YOUR MATERIAL

TO NEW HEIGHTS Sort, screen, and size your product then move it to incredible heights! The PT-6 trommel screen features a 6-foot diameter rotating drum to sort out undersized material. And the PS-80X can move massive amounts of material – up to 500 tons per hour – and literally, make mountains as high as 37 feet tall. Contact your Bandit dealer to arrange for a demo. Learn more at Banditchippers.com. www.banditchippers.com

SIZED FOR YOUR OPERATION! GET THE 80-FOOT PS-80X OR THE 60-FOOT PS-60X! Our expanding worldwide dealer network is ready to help supply your Bandit equipment needs.

6750 Millbrook Rd. Remus, MI 49340

FIND US ONLINE

WWW.BANDITCHIPPERS.COM 1-800-952-0178 www.banditchippers.com September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News 11

ALWAYS INNOVATING

AT PETERSON WE NEVER STOP DEVELOPING THE ULTIMATE INDUSTRY LEADING EQUIPMENT. For over 35 years, we’ve built our business around building the most productive mobile chipping and grinding machines in the industry. Day after day, we partner with our customers by giving them the best tools for the job and exceptional support when they need us.

4710D

Horizontal Grinder

3310

Drum Chipper

Visit us at www.petersoncorp.com today and see why Peterson is the industry leader for disc and drum chippers, horizontal grinders, blower trucks, screens and stacking conveyors. Get the right sized product, sort it out, and stack it higher with Peterson!

TS4280

Stacking Conveyor

Let us know how we can help grow your business!

www.petersoncorp.com

12 Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019

Soil

Oregon Forestry Industry Weathers Timber Price Plunge

rineville OR — An unstable market and low lumber prices are resulting in mill closures and state and national forest thinning project slowdowns, according to a Bend Bulletin article. Small and large operations in central Oregon are dealing with the unpredictable conditions brought on by regional and national demand and supply, slowing of the housing construction market, along with currency and trade tariffs, according to a spokesperson for Associated Oregon Loggers Inc. One company official interviewed for the Bulletin article said he is keeping crews working by lowering wood prices wood, diversifying into biomass, and producing wood chips to be used for paper production. The weak lumber market has stalled thinning projects in the Deschutes National Forest, according to a forest products program manager for the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests. The Deschutes National Forest was unable to sell all of its planned timber contracts this year and missed its target by 25%, the manager explained. The lumber market has been down for three consecutive quarters with no signs of upward prices and the Forest Service’s final timber sale of the fiscal year that just ended received zero bids for Deschutes. The Ochoco National Forest did meet its target timber sale, however. At the state level, the Forest Service increased its year-on-year sold volume by 6.2% from 2018 to 2019.

Mulch Producer NEWS

Philippine Wood Industry Hopeful About Business-Friendly Policy

he Philippine wood industry slowed after President Benigno S.C. Aquino III signed Executive Order (EO) forcing manufacturers to depend on imported wood for processing into export furniture, but Congress is considering legislation and incentives to encourage foreign and domestic investment in the country’s forestry sector, according to a Business World article. The EO declared a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural forests. The ruling effectively prohibits the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) from issuing new logging contracts or agreements in all natural and residual forests, as well as other agreements which would involve logging. Three bills – the National Land Use Act, Forest Limits Act and the Sustainable Forest Management Act – could open up timber land, while establishing conservation and ancestral land protections. With competition from China, which is doubling its exports and is expected to reach $20 million in the next five years, more business-friendly policies are needed, says a spokesperson for the Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA), who adds that China has been building wood processing facilities in Vietnam to avoid tariffs imposed during the US-China trade war. The PWPA spokesperson says about 500,000 forestry jobs can be created from planting trees to harvesting and processing. An investment of P100 billion is needed to reforest one million hectares of forest land. According to government data reported in the Business World Online article, exported forest products accounted for only 0.5% of the $413.4 million worth of the country’s agriculture-based exports, which are dominated by coconut, sugar, and fruits and vegetables, as of last July. Currently, the islands of the Philippine archipelago are importing $200 to 300 million worth of forest products a year from sustainable forests in Europe, North America, and Australia.

sales@loadscan.com

www.loadscan.com September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News 13

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Australian Scientists Design Graphene Filter to Purify Methane from Biogas

ydney, Australia — Scientists at University of New South Wales have discovered a way to purify methane from biogas produced in wastewater plants so that it may be turned into renewable energy. In a news release, the UNSW School of Materials Science and Engineering announced that researchers have shown that very thin (theoretically, one atom thickness or 0.345 nm) highly efficient membranes can be used to extract methane present in biogas generated during the breakdown of organic materials in wastewater plants. The UNSW Graphene Team’s latest laboratory work has shown that it is possible to purify methane from biogas in a wastewater treatment plant environment, creating a potential source of usable biogas, which is produced during anaerobic digestion in wastewater treatment. The discovery builds on the team’s development of a thin carbon filter, graphene, which their work showed to improve drinking water quality. Graphene is comprised of carbon atoms that form a honeycomb pattern in a single layer sheet and is considered a wonder material stronger than steel. The team have been collaborating with Sydney Water to convert their findings into a retrofittable technology for wastewater treatment plants. Their graphene-based, laboratory-scale filter can remove more than 99% of the ubiquitous natural organic matter left behind during conventional treatment of drinking water. Currently, Sydney Water currently uses biogas produced in the wastewater treatment process to generate energy. Using graphene will enable the treatment plant to capture more methane and expand potential uses beyond the requirements of Sydney Water, including fuel for buses. Optimized graphene membranes are expected to be ready for plant trials at Sydney Water within the next five years.

2019 Canadian Peat Moss Harvest Falls Short of Production Goals

hogzilla@cwmill.com 14 Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019

t. Albert, Alberta, Canada — The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA), whose members represent 95 percent of the North American sphagnum peat moss production, recently announced its industry report regarding the level of harvest for the 2019 season. A survey of members was conducted on the status of their 2019 Actual Harvest as a percentage of their 2019 Expected Harvest on August 31. Overall, the season was not satisfactory with no peatland harvest regions achieving their expected harvest volumes, though most of the members entered the season with a comfortable carry over / buffer from the prior year. A regional breakdown is as follows: In New Brunswick, both North (82%) and South (88%) regions were well below expected harvest volumes. The periods of inclement weather during summer, combined with a cool spring, affected the harvest. The harvest on Québec’s South Shore (94%), while below expectations, was the closest region to achieve its targeted volumes. A moist spring and significant summer storm events account for the shortfall. In Québec’s North Shore (89%), the results are also lower, reflecting similar climatic conditions. The Prairie Provinces (MB (89%), SK (76%) & AB (53%)), have experienced a mixed and generally poorer harvest season. While the spring started relatively dry in Alberta and Saskatchewan the summer’s consistent cool and wet weather accounted for the decrease. This was particularly relevant for Alberta. Minnesota (80%) experienced a lower than expected harvest and was impacted by similar weather patterns that brought rain and cool temperatures during the peak of the harvest season.

www.hogzilla.com

COLORED MULCH

SOLUTIONS

We were the first company to offer grind and color technology,

and today, that patented system still produces the only “Perfect In One Pass”® colored landscape mulch. Our easy to use system lets you control the particle size and texture, water application and colorant usage, so you can produce a premium product for your customers.

Factory Direct • Employee Owned • Global Support Contact us today: 320-548-3586 • www.rotochopper.com

September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News 15

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Trump Administration Promotes Species Conservation With New Rules By Daren Bakst

he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released final regulations aimed at improving implementation of the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA) to protect threatened and endangered species while strengthening private property rights. As implemented so far, the law has been a failure. Over the ESA’s more than 45 years, only about 3 percent of the species listed as threatened or endangered have been removed from the list because of recovery. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) summed up these results by saying, “As a doctor, if I admit 100 patients to the hospital and only three recover enough under my treatment to be discharged, I would deserve to lose my medical license.” Many of the problems with the law have resulted from how the federal government has implemented it. The FWS and NMFS acted to fix the problems by releasing the new rules on August 12.

Blurred Distinctions

he most significant protections under the ESA apply to species classified as “endangered,” including stringent prohibitions against activities that would harm those species or their habitats. This often includes sharply restricting how property owners can use their land. Under the law as written, different, less stringent rules are supposed to apply to threatened species than to endangered ones. For decades, however, the FWS has applied the same prohibitions to threatened and endangered species alike. This policy hurt conservation efforts by diverting time and resources from where they were most needed. It also removed important incentives for private property owners to foster species recovery. If the stringent prohibitions didn’t apply to threatened species, private property owners would have an incentive to protect these species from becoming endangered, in order to avoid restrictions on the use of their property.

The FWS’s new regulation properly follows the law, treating endangered and threatened species differently from each other. This is consistent with Congress’ stated intentions and follows what the NMFS has been doing successfully for years. The change applies only to species listed as threatened in the future, not those currently designated as threatened.

Promoting Transparency

FWS and NMFS are also improving the Thetransparency of their actions. The ESA requires science alone be used to determine whether to list a species as endangered or threatened, without taking into account the estimated costs of protecting a species. The federal government, however, has used this science-only requirement as an excuse to prohibit identifying the benefits and costs of listing a species. The final regulations still require listing decisions be made without considering costs, but they require the federal government to identify and communicate the effects of these decisions.

Transparency, Not Neglect

ritics argue this change will require C the government to consider economic considerations when listing species. The regulations do no such thing. There is nothing novel about informing the public about the costs of actions when an agency isn’t considering them in making decisions. This is exactly what the Environmental Protection Agency does when designating the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. When legislators and the public know what the actual costs and benefits are for conserving species, they can better understand how the ESA might be changed to improve protection of species. Society has decided to conserve species under the ESA, but private property owners bear much of the cost. Society, not private property owners, should bear these costs. Although more should be done to protect private property owners, the current regulatory change will shed light on the hidden costs property owners often incur, such as severe declines in property values.

Improving Habitat Designations

nder the ESA, the federal government U designates critical habitat for listed species, which may include areas the animals do not

www.westsalem.com

currently occupy. These unoccupied areas must be essential to the conservation of the species, the law states. The new regulations should help ensure any unoccupied areas designated as critical habitat

Continued on page 18 16 Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019

Our Vision Colors Yours Possessing the foresight to comprehend the future of the mulch industry, AgriCoatings, a division of American Colors, is the preeminent producer of mulch colorants. AgriCoatings utilizes the most modern Material Resource Planning methods to see that cost effective inventory control is maintained. We provide three distinct product lines. Our Legacy, Advantage and Majestic colorants show that AgriCoatings can transform perception to reality.

During our 18 years of providing high quality, consistent material, from batch to batch, by using Formulation Process Technology we achieved better grinds on proven pigments. AgriCoatings provides a Certificate of Analysis on every shipment, every time. If your supplier doesn’t offer a “C of A” ask: WHY? AgriCoatings Tennessee manufacturing plant provides you fresh, full color material in only 2-3 days with a documented ‘on time’ ship rate of 98%. See what your AgriCoatings representative can offer you.

615-443-0345 Ext 103 info@agricoatings.com www.agricoatings.com

OHIO | TENNESSEE | TEXAS

OUR LEGACY, ADVANTAGE AND MAJESTIC COLORANTS BRING YOUR VISION TO LIFE.

September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News 17

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS Trump Administration Promotes Species Conservation Continued from page 16

are viable and truly essential to a species’ conservation. That should end extreme situations like what happened in Louisiana when FWS designated 1,544 acres as “critical habitat” for an endangered species known as the dusky gopher frog even though the frog has not been seen in Louisiana in more than 50 years and couldn’t survive on the land designated as critical habitat in its current condition. As the Pacific Legal Foundation’s Mark Miller, who represented the property owners in the case, stated, “The feds may as well have labeled this Louisiana property critical habitat for a polar bear. It would have done just as much good.” Designating the unsuitable land as critical habitat was a misguided attack on property rights, which could have cost the property owners as much as $34 million. It appeared to be aimed more at restricting development than conserving the dusky gopher frog.

‘Wasting Time and Money’

major problem with ESA implementation is the agencies responsible A for it have misallocated resources that could be better spent elsewhere. Wasting time and money restricting property rights on land endangered species cannot reside upon, as in the case of the dusky gopher frog, is a prime example of this problem. The administration’s new regulations are designed to focus habitat protection efforts on lands actually capable of sustaining species. As U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt stated, “An effectively administered Act ensures more resources can go where they will do the most good: on-the-ground conservation.” These changes may pose a problem for those who are more interested in blocking development than in promoting the welfare of threatened and endangered species. For those who want to improve recovery efforts and protect private property rights, these regulations are an important step forward.

marisa@e-milagro.com

Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate & Environmental Policy

The center is named in honor of, and chaired by, Arthur B. Robinson, Ph.D., a distinguished chemist, cofounder of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISM), and editor of the influential newsletter Access to Energy.

“The Heartland Institute has published the work of many excellent scientists ... [and] has taken the fight right to the enemy with aggressive and highly effective campaigns aimed at elected officials and civic and business leaders.”

t the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy at The Heartland Institute, we are producing the research and conducting the effective advocacy needed to help restore sound science and common sense to efforts to protect the environment. The Center promotes pro-energy, proenvironment, and pro-jobs policies based on sound science and economics, not alarmism or ideology. Through events, publications, social media, and government relations programs we have changed public opinion on climate change and other environmental topics. We have changed public policy not only in the United States but in other countries as well. In 2017 and onward, we are focusing on winning the global warming war and repealing bad legislation and regulations adopted during the height of the global warming scare. With your help, we can win the global warming war. Please contact us at 312/377-4000 or www.think@.heartland.org think@heartland.org, or visit our website at www.heartland.org/Center-Climate-Environment heartland.org/Center-Climate-Environment.

Daren Bakst (Daren.Bakst@heritage.org) is a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation. This article was reprinted with permission from heartland.org, a product of The Heartland Institute (https://www.heartland. org/news-opinion/news/trump-administration-promotes-species-conservationwith-new-rules).

US-China Trade War Impacts American Hardwood Exports

hina’s 25% import tariff on U.S. hardwood imports has made a big dent in American hardwood sales, which are down $615 million compared with last year, reports CNBC. The Chinese have been the biggest buyers of U.S. red oak and most U.S. hardwoods, recently accounting for up to 60% of all American exports, American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) says. Now red oak prices are down 40%, with China sourcing the wood from Russia, Central Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe. The price gap with American white oak has widened, also. The U.S. hardwood industry has been cutting jobs. Northwest Hardwoods’ mill in Mount Vernon, Washington is set to be shuttered in November, with 70 jobs gone. The Tacoma, Washington-based company, which is one of the largest producers in North America, is also closing a plant in Virginia, cutting an additional 30 jobs, and is then laying off 30 more at the corporate level. About $5 million in support to the industry has been distributed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Trade Promotion Program, an initiative of President Trump’s Support Package for Farmers, a USDA spokesperson told CNBC. The money can only be used for direct expenses related to trade, which translates to confabs, trade delegations and the like.

<Based on 12pt ITC Caslon 224 bold

FREEDOM RISING

Arthur B. Robinson, Ph.D. April 2017

<Based on 7pt ITC Caslon 224 medium horizontally scalled to 105%

<Based on 12pt ITC Caslon 224 bold

FREEDOM RISING

18 Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019 FREEDOM RISING

<Based on 7pt Frutiger; light horizontally scalled to 105%

<Based on 12pt ITC Caslon 224 bold <Based on 7pt Frutiger; light horizontally scalled to 105%

GET OUT THERE

AND GRIND.

recision Husky Corporation leads the forest products industry, building the highest quality, most rugged equipment available since 1964. Our horizontal grinders are the most powerful, easiest to use grinders in the industry. They are designed with innovative features and

advanced technologies to give you the power and production needed to tackle the most demanding grinding operations. You can invest in our equipment with conﬁdence, and know it will do the job for many years to come. Call us today to discuss your needs and learn more about our high-performance products.

ProGrind Horizontal Grinders • Dual Shear Protection for Hammermill • Remote Control • Magnetic Head Pulley for Metal Separation • Steel Infeed Belt • Self-Adjusting Hydraulic Clutch • Fold Down Infeed Tailgate for Increased Bed Length and Closes for “Hopper” Style Feeding • Enclosed Engine Cover with Dual Access Doors for Ease of Maintenance

Engineered for Performance. Built for Endurance.

P.O. Drawer 507, Leeds, AL 35094 • 205-640-5181 • www. precisionhusky.com • sales@precisionhusky.com Precision Husky Horizontal "Get Out There and Grind" FP Soil & Mulch Producer News May-June 2019.indd 1

4/30/19 9:30 AM September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News 19

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

ADVERTISER NEWS Accomplished Commercial Leader Al Restaino Joins ChromaScape as Chief Growth Officer

winsburg, OH – ChromaScape, a specialty chemicals manufacturer of pigments, colorants and additives has hired Al Restaino as its Chief Growth Officer. In this newly created role, Restaino will lead ChromaScape’s sales and growth initiatives, bringing with him over 26 years of experience. Prior to joining ChromaScape, Restaino worked for Accella Polyurethane Systems, Omnova Solutions (GenCorp), DuPont and PolyOne. Restaino has a history of successfully developing and implementing global sales and marketing strategies in industries that include coatings, inks, decorative and building products and various others. Al’s success is driven by introducing new products, finding new markets and driving value to customers. “These are very exciting times at ChromaScape,” says Joe Majewski, President/CEO. “The addition of Al is another sign of these times. I’m excited to have Al on our team.

Bühler and Premier Tech to Form a Strategic Cooperation

wiss Bühler Group and Premier Tech from Canada, today announced the formation of a strategic cooperation for industrial flexible packaging solutions. Both companies agreed to build a design and manufacturing center in China. “Combining the portfolio and expertise of Premier Tech and Bühler will enable future packaging solutions which are significantly more efficient, accurate and food safe by using automation technologies”, says Johannes Wick, CEO of Bühler’s Grains & Food business. “The two companies are complementing each other in a perfect way with Bühler’s strong footprint and market position in China and Premier Tech’s recognized know-how in the field of automated packaging technologies,” says André Noreau, CEO of Premier Tech’s Systems and Automation business. This strategic cooperation is planned to result in a joint venture for design and manufacturing during 2020, with Bühler focusing on sales of turnkey plants around the world, and Premier Tech on packaging systems in China. Both companies will continue to sell their products through their existing channels.

CBI Debuts 6400CT Horizontal Grinder and Presents Frontline Machinery with the 2019 Dealer of the Year Award at September Factory Forum

ewton, NH – Continental Biomass Industries (CBI) premiered its 6400CT Horizontal Grinder and Chipper at the company’s recent 2019 Factory Forum in Newton, New Hampshire. The 6400CT processed steel contaminated railroad ties along with a mix of construction and demolition debris to headline the range of environmental equipment at the annual event. “The 6400CT’s cassette-style rotor is a great example of CBI’s customer-driven product development,” said George Wilcox, Director of Sales and Marketing at CBI & Ecotec – Americas. “This is an excellent machine for customers who demand productivity, reliability, and versatility without compromise.” Customers and members of CBI’s Global Distribution Network were invited to attend the Factory Workshop Circuit prior to the Demo Day. Guests received personalized instruction on basic machine anatomy, tip and screen changes, controls, hydraulics, and rotor bearing changes. The Factory Forum concluded with CBI’s Annual Golden Grizzlies Awards Dinner. Frontline Machinery was named CBI’s 2019 Dealer of the Year and Columbus Equipment Company was named the Terex Ecotec North American Dealer of the Year.

20 Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019

New Hampshire Biomass Suffers Legal Setbacks

oncord, NH — Unable to overcome challenges to New Hampshire’s SB 365 state-mandated subsidy, the state’s biomass companies are dropping their legal cases before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the New Hampshire Supreme Court, reports Concord Monitor. A law passed in 2018 allowed New Hampshire utility companies to purchase power from biomass plants during summers at competitive rates for three years. Essentially a subsidy, the arrangement was designed to help the wood-burning plants stay in the black. With utilities taking advantage of low natural gas prices, however, six biomass power plants have been losing money, going into full or partial shutdown. FERC recently ruled in favor of a citizen group, the New England Ratepayers Association, that had taken legal action to block the subsidies. FERC agreed with the group that the state had superseded FERC’s federal authority to set wholesale rates for power. In another blow against biomass, House lawmakers narrowly upheld Gov. Chris Sununu’s veto on another bill that would have provided relief. That subsidy bill failed to clear the necessary two-thirds threshold for a veto override by a margin of four votes. An attorney for the biomass companies maintains that states have authority under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act to regulate power purchases and to prefer certain generation resources over others. But because SB 365 would run out by the time decisions would be reached by FERC and and the state Supreme Court, the companies are will not pursue legal appeals.

Sell More Equipment ... Advertise in

Soil & Mulch Producer News! Contact Rick Downing

440-257-6453

Soil

US-China Trade War Impacts Australia Woodchip Industry

Odor Complaints Lead to Composter’s Loss of Grant Money

olumbus, OH — A Columbus recycler of pet food manufacturing waste is trying to stay in business as it grapples with city violations, a loss of grant funding and relocation, according to a Bizjournals.com report. Innovative Organics Recycling LLC appealed an order from the Columbus Public Health to shut down and ship all its waste to a landfill. The order detailed odor complaints lodged by neighbors and reported violations including accepting inorganic solid waste, exceeding permitted volume and allowing liquid leachate to pool on the site. The company responded that the excess tonnage was a bookkeeping error and no pools of wastewater existed on its site. In addition, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is cancelling a $200,000 grant because of the city violations. The agency also wants to revoke the company’s state composting license. The grant funds had been approved last May but not yet distributed. Innovative Organics’ owner says the money would have covered nearly half the cost of an enclosed digester that would have been able to process more than 6 tons of organic waste a day. The company is seeking a new location to build a larger campus, including a greenhouse to grow plants with the finished compost.

Mulch Producer NEWS

PRODUCT & EQUIPMENT SHOWCASE

ustralian timber exporters are reeling from the sudden slowdown in demand from Chinese paper mills, one result of the US-China trade war that is affecting the Australian economy, ABC.net.au reports. In particular, Australia’s $1.4-billion plantation woodchip industry is feeling the downturn. Since July, at least three ships loaded with Australian woodchips bound for China were cancelled or deferred. Earlier this year, orders were brisk, with prices for bluegum woodchips reaching a record high of more than $US180 ($265) a tonne. The country’s largest plantation forestry owner, New Forests, which manages a global portfolio worth about $6 billion, confirmed some of its shipments had been deferred because of the trade tensions. According to a official from the Forest Industries Federation of Western Australia, South American countries began dumping big volumes of cheap pulp on to Asian markets including China’s in a bid to clear a supply glut. A spokesperson for New Forests expects his company’s business to return to normal over the course of the next few months, citing pulp and paper market cycles in the North Asian markets.

kmd@powerbrushes.com www.powerbrushes.com www.duffbrush.com

www.nufibersoil.com

info@nufibersoil.com

Founded in 1972, the Mulch & Soil Council (MSC) is the national non-profit trade association for all producers of horticultural mulches, consumer potting soils and commercial growing media. The mission of the MSC is to define quality products and promote an open marketplace for producers of horticultural mulches, consumer soils and commercial growing media. MSC truly is your resource for answers to problems facing today’s mulch and soil industry. We provide members with:

www.hclmachineworks.com sales@hclmachineworks.com

Join now!

mulch & Soil council

• PRODUCT STANDARDS

• PRODUCT CERTIFICATION

• REGULATORY REPRESENTATION • ANNUAL MEETING

• ON-LINE TRAINING COURSES • INDUSTRY INFORMATION • SPECIAL REPORTS

• ACCESS TO INDUSTRY RESEARCH

Serving the induStry Since 1972 www.mulchandSoilcouncil.org

September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News 21

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

EPA Exceeds President’s Goals for Reducing Regulations By Kenneth Artz

n internal watchdog report shows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has exceeded the president’s regulatory reduction goals, removing more regulations per regulation issued in fiscal year 2017 than any other federal agency. Within days of being inaugurated in January 2017, President Donald Trump issued two executive orders to fulfill campaign promises he had made to reduce environmental regulations he said were unnecessarily reducing economic growth. Executive Order 13771 required agencies to cut two regulations for every new regulation they introduced. It was soon followed by Executive Order 13777 mandating each agency establish a task force and designate an officer to implement the first executive order. Two years after those executive orders were issued, an internal watchdog report shows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has exceeded the president’s regulatory reduction goals, removing more regulations per regulation issued in fiscal year 2017 than any other federal agency.

Well Beyond the Call

Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report in August EPA’s evaluating the agency’s response to Trump’s executive orders. The OIG found in 2017 and 2018 EPA issued just four new regulations and cut 26 regulations, far exceeding the two-to-one ratio Trump had mandated. OIG also determined EPA’s deregulatory efforts have saved taxpayers more than $96 million, roughly $40 million more than the

Gather with the National Composting Community for the Premier Show on Organics Collection and Compost Manufacturing, with a Special Focus this Year on Compost and its role in Mitigating Climate Change.

regulatory savings goal the Office of Management and Budget had set for the agency. “The EPA has successfully and fully implemented the requirements of the Executive Order,” said Henry Darwin, then EPA’s acting deputy administrator, in a memo commenting on the report.

New Sensation

t’s refreshing to see an executive agency exceeding expectations, says IScience Jay Lehr, Ph.D., a senior policy analyst for the International Climate Coalition. “Politicians typically overpromise and underperform, so it’s refreshing to see one officeholder and one agency doing the opposite for a change,” Lehr said. “At President Trump’s behest, EPA has protected the environment while lessening the burden on the U.S. economy. “Trump promised no more than one new regulation for every two dismantled, and in fact EPA exceed this ratio by eliminating six regulations for every new one finalized,” said Lehr. “EPA accomplished this only after careful study to determine the regulations being eliminated were accomplishing nothing of value for the environment or the public despite costing the American people millions of dollars annually.” Kenneth Artz (kennethcharlesartz@gmx.com) writes from Dallas, Texas. This article was reprinted with permission from heartland.org, a product of The Heartland Institute (https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/epaexceeds-presidents-goals-for-reducing-regulations).

Keynote Speakers: Katharine Wilkinson, senior writer Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming

Sally Brown, University of Washington, Research Asso. Professor, Soil Amendment, Remediation, Carbon Sequestration

90 YEARS

Early Bird Pricing ends November 20. Register now at: http://www.compostconference.com WWW.COMPOSTCONFERENCE.COM 22 Soil & Mulch Producer News September / October 2019

www.hamer-fischbein.com September / October 2019 Soil & Mulch Producer News 23

6075 Hopkins Road • Mentor, OH 44060

PRSRT STD

Ph: 440-257-6453 • Fax: 440-257-6459 Email: downassoc2@oh.rr.com

Cleveland, OH Permit #1737

www.SoilandMulchProducerNews.com

VOL. XIII NO. 5

U.S. Postage

PAID

SEPT / OCT 2019

Inside This Issue Training is Critical to Safety at Mulching Yards PAGE 1

Idaho Phosphate Mine Wins Approval By Bureau of Land Management PAGE 4 Tax Credits Available to Georgia Timberland Owners for Hurricane Michael Losses PAGE 6 Australian Scientists Design Graphene Filter to Purify Methane from Biogas PAGE 14 Trump Administration Promotes Species Conservation With New Rules PAGE 16 EPA Exceeds President’s Goals for Reducing Regulations PAGE 22

www.MulchColorJet.com 978.465.7222  MulchColorJet.com

WE DELIVER Brighter Mulch Colors We focus on your needs, delivering freshly packaged liquid and powder mulch colorants, superior customer service and valuable industry knowledge. At T.H. Glennon, our customers come rst. Give us a call and learn how we can help your business grow.

Increase your prootability with quality mulch colorants you can depend on.

25 Fanaras Drive • Salisbury, MA 01952 • 978.465.7222