April 27, 1999

Mr. Bill Holman
Assistant Secretary,
Department of Environment & Natural Resources
P.O. Box 29535
Raleigh, NC 27626-0535

Dear Mr. Holman:

I am writing in regard to the stakeholders council currently being formed to investigate State wetland standards. Mr. John Dorney informed one of our members, Tommy Tew, that you would be heading up the council and are currently in the process of putting together the list of stakeholders. I would ask that you please consider allowing the North Carolina Division of the Society of American Foresters to place a representative on the council.

The Society of American Foresters (SAF) was formed in 1899, by Gifford Pinchot, the first head of the US Forest Service. We currently have over 18,000 members Nation wide and 724 members in the North Carolina Division. The membership covers a wide range of natural resource professionals allowing us to draw on expertise in many fields. Our professionals serve in public, private and educational pursuits.

With an EPA estimate of over 3.4 million acres of forested wetlands in North Carolina it is obvious that wetland and water quality standards have the potential to greatly impact forestry at all levels. SAF believes in the conservation and protection of wetland resources and the protection of water quality. We also believe that regulations governing natural resources should be based on sound scientific data and should be equitable to the entire population of the State. As such, we believe that a representative from SAF would be a valuable addition to this investigative process.

I have enclosed a copy of the Society of American Foresters mission statement, which explains the purpose of our organization.

Please consider our offer and, should you have any question or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you need information before May 16, 1999, please contact Mr. Tommy Tew at the number shown below. I will be out of the country until then.

Respectfully:

Eugene S. Robins
Chairman, NCSAF

cc: Mr. John Dorney
Mr. Tommy Tew
Enclosure

 ENCLOSURE 

The mission of the Society of American Foresters is to advance the science, education, technology, and practice of forestry; to enhance the competency of its members; to establish professional excellence; and to use the knowledge, skills and conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health and use of forest ecosystems and the present and future availability of forest resources to benefit society.