Newsletter Stories


Tuesday, 01 February 2005
Regarding a Policy of the City and County of San Francisco: Tropical Wood and Virgin Redwood Ban

The following web page link will take you to an outdated piece of legislation currently in force in the City and County of San Francisco, which bans the use of all tropical hardwood and virgin redwood product in any publicly funded project within it’s jurisdiction. http://temp.sfgov.org/sfenvironment/aboutus/policy/legislation/wood.htm#1


While the positive intentions of this document are easily recognizable, it neglects to support the accomplishments of the FSC, and stops the City and County of San Francisco from being able to use virgin redwood or tropical hardwood products, even with FSC certification. The Department of the Environment within the City and County of San Francisco would like to change the document immediately, but has stated that they “have many documents in need of revamping” and that “priority must be given to issues which elicit the most public outcry.” Now that FSC certified, hardwood alternatives exist for them, they are unable to use them due to this legislation.

Your help is needed. A simple email showing your support for changing the above referenced document to allow the use of FSC certified materials would create a precedent that can be built upon and perhaps open doors in your own city. An email is preferred so that a printed copy can be added to the justifications needed to expedite the request.

Please direct your email to:

City and County of San Francisco Department of the Environment

mark.palmer@sfgov.org

richard.chien@sfgov.org

cc: isiwest@verizon.net

For more information, contact:
John Lipka, West Coast Regional Sales
International Specialties, Inc.
            (408) 385-7696      
ISIwest@verizon.ne