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“Serving the Washington horticulture community since 1937.” |
Industry News
EPA extends comment period for WaterSense program. Responding to written request initiated by the Irrigation Association and signed by a consortium of 55 green industry companies and associations, including ANLA, EPA has decided to extend the comment period 45 days for the WasteSense program’s draft Water-Efficient Single Family New Home Specifications. The WaterSense draft was developed by EPA to provide voluntary guidelines for water conservation for new home construction, including the outside landscape. <more>The specifications were developed without relevant stakeholder input from the landscape and turf industries and will have a very negative effect on landscaping and water features in the landscape. Although WaterSense is a voluntary EPA program, the concern is the the program will evolve in such a way that many stats and local units of government will mandate WaterSense compliance in new construction. Contact John Flowers at flowers.john@epa.gov, 202/564/0624 and watersense-newhomes@erg.com to express concerns regarding the draft. For more details on the program go to www.epa.gov/watersense.
Proposed EPA guidelines pan water features. U.S. EPA is working on guidelines new homes must comply with to receive the organization's "Water Sense" designation. The draft states that "builders shall not install or facilitate the installation of ornamental water features … Because these water features serve no functional or practical purpose, their water use is not considered efficient." (Section 4.1.4) Members of the Int'l. Professional Pond Contractors Assoc. are asking for revisions that would exempt water features that incorporate a closed recirculation system, use a naturally occurring water source, sustain aquatic life, support wildlife or use reclaimed water. EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed guidelines until July 21. More information on this at www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/10863 or www.epa.gov/watersense/specs/homes.htm
Shippers Face Sales Tax Hurdle: Law changes how charges are calculated.
by Tom Sowa, spokesmanreview.com
Nearly every Washington-based retail business that ships to in-state customers will start charging sales tax differently July 1. Or that's the goal. Some companies say they're prepared for the change, part of a nationwide effort to simplify how sales taxes are charged. Others said they had no idea the law was about to change. <more>
BUSH ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES CONTRACTING RULES
This article is provided by your state association and ANLA as a Lighthouse Program partner benefit. The Bush Administration has proposed sweeping new rules that would affect virtually all federal contractors and many subcontractors doing business with the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. If adopted in current form, the proposed rule would require as a matter of contract each federal contractor and a potentially large subset of federal subcontractors to use the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system to check employees' work authorization. Comments on the proposed rule are due by August 11, 2008. <more>
Nursery /Greenhouse Market Snapshot
March 31, 2008. provided by Northwest Farm Credit Services
The Nursery shipping season is off to a slow start this year and it's still too early to determine how sales for 2008 will compare to 2007. Harsh weather on the East Coast and in the Midwest contributes to some of the delay. Orders in the Northwest are up for the year, but shipments have slowed as retailers in other parts of the country are waiting for improved weather that will prompt people who work in their yards and gardens to buy product. <more>
UW plan merges forestry school, 5 others
By Nick Perry, Seattle Times higher education reporter
The University of Washington has released plans to create what it says would be the largest environmental college in the world. The proposed new College of the Environment would start with 97 faculty members, 1,135 students and a budget of more than $60 million, according to a UW report released this week. <more>
WSNLA has learned that an identify fraud scheme is targeting landscape firms.
A firm receives a fax that says it is from the United States Department of Transportation and that the Department requires certain information in order to qualify the firm as a prospective contractor. A "financial information release form" is provided and the company is told they must fax the form in to qualify for contracts. This letter is not from the U.S. Department of Transportation. <more>
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