The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is drafting legislation that would require restrictive permits on existing and future chip mills in the state. The proposed legislation would not only regulate the mills on their processing sites, but would go further.
The new permits would require that mills keep records of where the timber comes from. That means keeping records on landowners who supply the mills. Their names would become public record. The mill must show how much timber was harvested from each tract and how much more it plans to harvest.
A second restriction would require that all loggers hired or contracted by the mills must attend the Missouri Professional Timber Harvester Program which teaches sustainable harvesting practices, safety and best management practices.
The landowner identification requirement is being considered so landowners can be contacted by Department of Conservation foresters and consultants who can offer them information to help them make harvesting decisions. It is estimated that currently less than 10 percent of Missouri's forest acreage is under any type of formal management plan. It also is estimated that less than 5 percent of Missouri timber sales have a professional forester involved.
Whether this proposed legislation is considered by the General Assembly this session, is not decided. However, the general consensus is that several pieces of legislation of this nature will be proposed.
