Recycling should be encouraged with the development of recycling centers, educational programs, and development of cost effective collection sites for the disposal of large items such as household appliances, tires, used machinery, etc.
We recommend that a deposit of $. 10 per unit be required on all carry out cans and bottles, and that the sellers of such beverages be required to refund the deposit when containers are returned.
We recommend that recyclers be allowed to sell household recyclables without an identification to facilitate an increase in recycling.
We urge the Solid Waste Authority to promote and implement composting facilities with the agricultural community to help reduce the bulk of materials going to landfills. It is urgently recommended that laws that establish procedures for the disposition of household trash and garbage be amended to permit the controlled burning of all paper products outside of municipalities.
We oppose any efforts to amend, grandfather provisions into, or dismantle laws which give citizens the right to petition for a referendum on proposed commercial infectious waste facilities in their communities.
106. SUBSIDENCE DAMAGE CAUSED BY MINING
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the enforcement of existing laws and the development of additional laws pertaining to all mining. The West Virginia Farm Bureau urges that existing laws be more strictly enforced and that additional laws be created that address subsidence issues related to farming and agribusiness. This is particularly true in the area of water loss from farm ponds, springs and the water table. Water loss in the water table affects osmosis preventing underground water from nourishing deep roots of trees and crops. This can deprive producers of the ability to grow crops on their land permanently.
Because the effects of subsidence can be irreversible, compensation must be adequate to the loss incurred. Farm Bureau recommends three independent appraisals to assess damages and insure proper compensation.
107. AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREES
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports funding for the development and reestablishment of the American Chestnut.
108. TIMBER MANAGEMENT AND HARVESTING
West Virginia Farm Bureau opposes any changes in current laws that would restrict the ability of landowners or businesses to harvest timber and manage woodland, provided best management practices are used where applicable.
109. NATIONAL FOREST TIMBER
The federal government owns a major portion of our standing timber. West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends that the U. S. Department of Agriculture continue its policy on the harvesting of this timber and permit the U. S. Forest Service to identify and selectively cut marketable timber and sell it on the open market with proceeds of the sale going to the county in which the sale occurs, and that all saleable timber be removed. We further recommend the USDA actively follows their established silviculture policy and Congressional mandates on the harvesting of this timber.
110. HARVESTING OF DEAD TREES IN STATE FORESTS
Much of the state owned forests contain dead trees. This situation is caused largely by insect and blight damage and drought. Harvesting of dead timber would be beneficial. Not only would harvesting eliminate undesirable dead trees, it would generate revenue that could be used to further combat the gypsy moth and other harmful insects. West Virginia Farm Bureau also recommends, to protect users, dead and dying trees be removed from the recreational areas of the state parks.
It is further recommended that the harvesting be done before deterioration in quality of the dead trees begins. A bidding process could be used to ascertain that the highest return possible on the harvest would be received.
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