The proposed rule was published June 13, 2019, and the public comment period was originally set to end on August 12, 2019. With the extension, the comment period now ends on August 26, 2019.

Revising the rule will improve forest conditions and make it simpler for people to use and enjoy their national forests and grasslands at lower cost to the taxpayer. The revised rule will also make it easier to maintain the roads, trails, campgrounds and other facilities people need to use and enjoy their public lands.

This announcement will also be published in the Federal Register. Public comments are reviewed and considered when developing the final rule. Instructions on how to provide comments are included at https://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nepa/revisions/index.shtml.

Comments may be submitted through www.regulations.gov by searching docket number FS-2019-0010. Comments can also be submitted by mail to NEPA Services Group, care of Amy Barker, USDA Forest Service, 125 South State Street, Suite 1705, Salt Lake City, UT 84138; or by email at nepa-procedures-revision@fs.fed.us.

“This grant is crucial for Enviva and George County,” said Governor Bryant. “EDA’s investment in this project will further strengthen Mississippi’s status as a leader in economic development.”

“As a leader in sustainability within the forest products sector, Enviva recognizes its critical role in ensuring forest and ecosystem health, and our sourcing policies and practices reflect this,” says Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Enviva. “As countries continue to look to replace coal with renewable alternatives, we expect the demand for wood biomass to continue to grow. Enviva’s stakeholders can have confidence that all of the wood we use in our operations meets the highest international sustainability sourcing standards.”

Through the new responsible sourcing policy, Enviva will enhance and expand its High Conservation Value (HCV) forest policy and practices to ensure that Enviva is protecting and/or improving the wide range of HCV forests in its sourcing regions.

Craven County Wood Energy is a 48 MW biomass plant in  service since October 1990. Atlantic Power will acquire a 50% interest in the plant, with the remaining 50% interest held by CMS Energy. Craven County has a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Duke Energy Carolinas that runs through December 2027. The plant burns wood waste, including wood chips, poultry litter, forestry residues, mill waste, bark and sawdust.

Grayling Generating Station is a 37 MW biomass plant in service since June 1992. Atlantic Power will acquire a 30% interest in the plant from AltaGas, and remaining interests are held by Fortistar (20%) and CMS Energy (50%). Grayling has a PPA with Consumers Energy, the utility subsidiary of CMS Energy, which runs through December 2027. The plant burns wood waste from local mills, forestry residues, mill waste and bark. Both plants are operated by an affiliate of CMS Energy.

The UTIA research team is taking integrated approach: While previous studies typically assume a homogeneous feedstock quality when determining the optimal logistics system, this study will determine woody biomass quality in the Southeast and identify the relationship with conversion performance. Additionally, the cost and energy use for woody biomass feedstock size reduction through both conventional and advanced technologies will be obtained at an industrial scale, and the cost and quality of the feedstock will be incorporated to address the challenges of balancing cost and quality in feedstock logistics for scaling up biofuel production.

The study includes the evaluation of alternative preprocessing technologies for hardwood logging residues and an energy crop—hybrid poplar—to supply biofuel feedstock. The U.S. departments of Agriculture and Energy have identified the Southeastern U.S. as having great potential for cellulosic biofuel production, with woody biomass projected to increase rapidly by 2030, underlining its potential as a major bioenergy feedstock in the region. The project will determine requirements for a profitable bioenergy sector in the Southeast and provide economic analyses for the costs, quality and relative efficiencies at key points in the hardwood feedstock supply system. The study also includes the impact of an established bioenergy sector on the regional economy and the estimated lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.

Another goal for the three-year study is developing a regional biofuel development plan for utilizing woody biomass in the Southeast. “Findings from this project will be significant because identifying the technologies and methods to supply reliable and consistent quality of feedstock in a feasible logistics system would expedite the development of the biofuel industry in the region and the nation,” says UTIA associate professor and lead researcher Edward Yu. “In addition, a successful bioenergy sector will enhance economic diversification in the rural areas and support a sustainable environment.”

“Drax Biomass strives to promote positive change in our communities by focusing in four main areas—education, the underserved or at-risk population, economic development and environmental stewardship. We also try to give our employees opportunities to volunteer. So this project in Morehouse Parish at the former junior high school was a great fit for us and a significant need,” says Annmarie Sartor, Drax Biomass Communications Officer.

Keep Morehouse Beautiful (KMB) is a certified affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, strives to create and promote pride in Morehouse Parish in the interest of economic development and environmental respect. KMB is composed entirely of volunteers with no committed source of income, and its projects are made possible by generous donations, grants and partnerships.

PAL will supply the following machinery and systems (manufactured in Italy):

—screening and cleaning system of the chips feeding stream by Dynascreen and dry cleaning machines;

—wet and dry wood milling system including hammermills of the Falcon type in its high-performance configuration, complete with screw metering, metal and contaminant removing system through magnetic drum and air selection system;

—after the dryer a screening and cleaning system (Superscreen and Wind Sifter) provides for the reduction of energy consumption in the milling area and at the same time ensures the wood quality having removed all residual contaminants in the wood mix. This important implementation will not only guarantee the pellet quality but also avoid the risks of fire and explosion thanks to the removal of all contaminants that would cause ignition during the milling phase.

—a storage silo equipped with the Extracon type extractor for the storage of dry wood after the dryer;

—eight Volumetric metering systems equipped with DB.4 type screws;

—seven Dynapelletpresses high-performance pelletizing presses fabricated by the PSP division which ensures longer wear life as well as a lower energy consumption per ton output.

Delivery is scheduled for this October.

“Every gift given through both the Logs for the Cause and United2gether campaigns between now and January 31, 2019, will go toward SBP’s efforts to rebuild homes for first responders and veterans throughout North Carolina who were impacted by Hurricane Florence,” said Ewell Smith, executive director of the Carolina Loggers Association. “While those affected have long since returned to work, the impact from this storm will be felt for years to come. The logging community in NC – one that was hit especially hard by the storm – is close-knit; we believe in giving back and paying it forward, and helping to kick start the rebuilding process is the perfect place to start.”

“Recovery is a collaborative effort,” noted SBP co-founder and CEO Zack Rosenburg. “Through this partnership, SBP will be able to provide a predictable path home for disaster-impacted families of veterans and first responders in North Carolina. This is a great example of Americans rallying together for other citizens during times of great need. We believe that this partnership is an example of the seldom discussed, but ever-present ties that bind us together.”

“Growing up in Eastern North Carolina and seeing first-hand the devastation of Hurricane Florence was heartbreaking,” commented Paige Keselowski. “Immediately following the storm, we created the United2gether campaign to support first responders in affected areas. Teaming up with the Carolina Loggers Association and SBP USA on the Home for the Holidays program is a great way for us to continue our support of first responders and veterans that are still dealing with the impact of the storm.”

The Home for the Holidays program is actively seeking building products partners to assist in the rebuilding efforts. Please invite interested readers to contact Carolina Loggers Association executive director Ewell Smith at esmith@ncloggers.com for more information.

Entitled Creating the Biofuture: A Report on the State of the Low Carbon Bioeconomy, the report uses models and scenarios outlined by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Key barriers against the development of bioenergy are outlined in the report as: high levels of perceived risk affecting the availability of financial resources; lack of competitiveness for bioenergy relative to fossil-fuel based alternative in many markets; unfavorable policy frameworks that do not effectively meet the competing needs of the agricultural economy and food system; and an insufficient, unreliable or expensive supply of feedstock available.

Technological support alongside favorable policies and legislation will be essential to overcoming these barriers, according to the report.

“The report’s key lesson is that a package of well-informed, well-designed policies combining market and innovation support is paramount to sustainably producing biofuels, bioenergy and bioproducts at the scale we need,” said Brazil’s Minister of Environment, Edson Duarte.

Read more on this from Bioenergy Insight at https://www.bioenergy-news.com/display_news/14207/report_biofuels_and_bioenergy_to_play_integral_role_in_energy_transition/.