AMS No. 189-10

Jimmie Turner (202) 720-8998

jimmie.turner@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on a proposal for a new national Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Information Order. Softwood lumber products include flooring, siding and framing material.

A board representing a cross section of the industry would administer the proposed order and carry out activities intended to strengthen softwood lumber in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for softwood lumber, and develop new uses for softwood lumber within the U.S.

Domestic manufacturers and importers of softwood lumber would pay an assessment of up to 50 cents per thousand board feet, with the initial assessment rate being 35 cents per thousand board feet. Smaller manufacturers and importers handling less than 15 million board feet annually would be exempt from paying assessments.

If the majority of those commenting favored USDA moving forward with a softwood lumber program, prior to final implementation, a referendum would need to be held in which a majority of those softwood lumber companies voting in the referendum, by both number and volume, would have to support the program. .

The proposed rule will be published in the Oct. 1, 2010, Federal Register.

Comments must be received by Nov. 30, 2010, and should be mailed in triplicate to the Research and Promotion Branch, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244, or e-mailed to www.regulations.gov.

Copies of the proposed rule and any comments that are received may be requested from the same address or viewed at http://www.usda.gov/FVPromotion or www.regulations.gov.

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