A House panel has taken the first step toward giving American foresters a level playing field by agreeing to ban timber illegally harvested in foreign countries, prompting praise by one of the industry’s leading figures.

Sent out with a favorable recommendation by the Natural Resources Committee, the proposed Legal Timber Protection Act would amend the 1981 Lacey Act that provided protections against illegal trade of fish and wildlife.

Such protections would be extended to plants, including trees illegally harvested outside the United States.

“Timber is part of West Virginia’s rich history,” said Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., who steered the proposal through the committee.

“In fact, according to the Hardwood Federation, today 29,000 West Virginia jobs are linked to the forest products industry. This bill would help to alleviate unfair competition that hampers the profitability of fair-minded, hard-working producers that make an honest living in our state.”

Rahall said the bill is an attempt to empower this country to block the importation of logs that are harvested in violation of foreign laws, as well as wood products derived from illegally harvested logs.

Existing laws provide little room for the United States to keep wood and wood products from being shipped in, even if they were produced illegally.

Just last month, during legislative interims in Charleston, Allegheny Wood Products founder John Crites told the Forest Review Management Commission that timber harvested criminally on foreign soil is turning up as furniture under familiar brand names, shoving domestic firms to the edge of bankruptcy.

Donna Reckart, public affairs director for the Parkersburg-based firm Crites launched in 1973, pointed out that American lumber producers are obligated to compete in a global market.

“While we welcome competition, we must have a level playing field,” Reckart said.

When timber is harvested and converted into commercial uses, she said, Allegheny Wood heeds all state and federal laws.

“Legal producers of timber and wood products cannot compete against products in the global marketplace that were stolen or illegally logged with no regard to environmental consequences,” Reckart said.

“Countries must ensure that imported timber and wood products are legally sourced. We are very appreciative of Congressman Rahall’s efforts and leadership in passing this amendment through committee.”

Crites told West Virginia lawmakers in October interims that no furniture was being produced in North Carolina, once so bustling that a motorist could pass 200 tractor-trailers filled with logs for producers on interstate roads.

In the same appearance, he called on lawmakers to erase the 4 percent severance tax collected on net sales of timber, pointing out none was imposed in Kentucky, Maryland and Ohio, while a smaller tax was levied in Virginia.

— E-mail:

mannix@register-herald.com