DHA eNews - Self-Reporting Company Fined $544,000 Under EPA Formaldehyde Rule
In the first enforcement action taken by the Environmental Appeals Board, Global Sourcing Solutions of Montvale, NJ was fined $544,064 for failing to comply with EPA formaldehyde standards. The fine was related to two containers of imported finished goods made of composite wood products, stamped EU compliant, that were not TSCA VI certified.
The EPA recently proposed minor amendments to the 2004 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollution (NESHAP) for Plywood and Composite Wood Products to enhance its effectiveness. Comments are due in October.
AHEC reports that the Chinese government will impose additional tariffs of 5% and 10% on a number of U.S. wood products exported to China. The additional tariffs become effective September 1 and December 15.
Vietnam suspects that the surge in its plywood exports to the U.S. is due to Chinese firms seeking to circumvent antidumping and countervailing duties and "Trump tariffs" by shipping Chinese-made plywood through Vietnam. In Q1, plywood exports from Vietnam to the U.S. rose 95% to $47 million. Imports from China into Vietnam grew 37% in the same period to $61 million, accounting for 84% of all plywood imports. Last year, plywood exports from Vietnam to the U.S. nearly tripled, increasing 2.7 times to $190 million, according to the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association.
The Chinese economic "miracle" is not unique when compared with Japan and Korea. Personal income - measured in local currency - grew at a rate similar to that in Japan but slower than growth in Korea. In comparable dollar terms, China is far behind Korea and Japan, 40 years into the respective countries' so-called miracles.
While China's economic growth over the past 40 years has been considered a defining achievement in history, this growth is now disrupting its domestic economy. As global demand falls and the domestic market slows, China has begun a surge of investment funded by debt.
Columbia Forest Products will cease production of cabinetry components at its Salem, OR facility. Greg Pray, president and CEO of Columbia, said, “This is another case of an otherwise healthy American business having to close down due to the continued proliferation of subsidized Chinese cabinets.”
Danzer UK was awarded maximum points in the Timber Scorecard, a Worldwide Fund for Nature initiative targeting a changeover to 100% sustainable wood sourcing for the UK market by 2020.
The 2019 Shaw Industries Group Final and People's Choice Award winners were selected from over 700 submissions in more than 32 countries. View the winning designs selected by a panel of ten jurors.
HPVA Laboratories® (soon to be Capital Testing) is expanding their team. Patrick Dwyer, the latest addition to the team, will work as a lab technician in the small-scale fire lab and the physical properties lab. He recently graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
A must-have for all new hires, the Decorative Hardwoods Association's Hardwood Plywood Handbook provides a visual introduction to hardwood plywood. The comprehensive guide covers the components and construction of panels and features more than 100 photographs demonstrating the range of appearances between and within grades as well as sample characteristics of hardwood plywood.
The National Academy of Science study, Biomass Losses Resulting From Insect And Disease Invasions In U.S. Forests, analyzed 92,978 plots across the U.S. to estimate the damage caused by the particularly large number of tree-feeding pests that have invaded the country.
A common requirement of organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council that certify sustainably managed forests is that there are no genetically modified trees. Some researchers are arguing for change, as the technology could help address critical problems facing forests.
The Canadian Space Agency has developed a new strategy to reduce the impact of forest fires: a collaboration across agencies and academia to launch a dedicated fire-monitoring satellite that will enable better detection, monitoring, and management of wildfires.
Ten leaders of cultural institutions in London were paired with ten European designers to create legacy pieces using American red oak.
The BUGA Wood Pavilion features a stunning 30-meter wooden roof that extends over a concert venue. The pavilion is based on the biomimetic principle of using "less material" by having "more form."
This year's Greenbuild International Conference & Expo will be held November 19 - 22 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.