I\AUFRPNonbnal z{ssociation of University Forest Resources Programs

Creating Knouledg e - Deueloping Leaders

Steve Bullard, PresidentStephen F. Austin State UniversitybLrl I ardshtg-,sf'asu edu

936-468-3 304

Tirn WhitePastPresidentUniversity ofFlorida

James A. Allen. Presrdent-ElectNorthem Arizona University

David Ner.imanSecretary-TreasurerSUNY-College of EnvironmentSciences & Forestry

Carolyn BrooksAssocration ol Research Di rectorsof I 890 Land Grant Universitics

National Committee ChairsKamran K. Abdollahi, DiversitySouthem University and A&M

Janaki R. Alavalapati, PolicyVrrginia Tech

Keith L. Belli, ResearchUniversity of Tennessee

Jim Johnson. IntemationalOregon State University

Terry Sharik. EducatronM rchrgan Technological Universitl

Bob Wagner. ExtensionUniversity of Maine

Regional Committee ChairsTenell (Red) Baker. SouthemUnrversity of Kentucky

Michael Messina, NortheasternThe Pennsl lvanra State Unrversitl

Kurt Pregitzer, WesternUniversitl,- of Idaho

James J. Zaczek, North CentralSouthern Illinois University

At-LargeGeorge M. HopperMississippi State University

Robert SrvrhartPurdue University

NAUFRP Washington CounselC. Randall Nuckollsnr uckolls@mckennalong. com

NAL, FRP Executive LiaisonTeni Batesnaulip@verizon. net

Letter of Transmittal

November 6,2014

Gina McCarthy, EPA AdministratorU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyWilliam Jefferson Clinton Federal Building'1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.Mail Code: 1101AWashington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator. McCarthy,

On behalf of the NationalAssociation of University Forest Resources Programsrepresenting 80 of the country's universities that have programs devoted to forestresources and who share a common purpose to advance the health, productivityand sustainability of our nation's forests, I am pleased to write you regarding yourongoing efforts on biomass carbon accounting.

As leaders in the science community, we appreciate your consistent emphasis onproviding a strong science foundation for agency policy. We also acknowledgeand wish to respond to your several requests for current, peer-reviewed scienceto inform the agency's work.

To that end, we are providing the attached summary of science fundamentals,signed by 100 university experts in the field, that many in the science community,and the forestry disciplines in particular, strongly believe should underlie theagency's policy considerations for biomass carbon accounting. Thesefundamentals, which are essential to understanding and benefitting from the lowcarbon attributes of managed forests and the biomass derived from them, areaddressed in an article appearing in the November issue of the Journal ofForestry.

We appreciate the difficult task the agency faces as it tries to develop reasonablepolicies consistent with sound, relevant science. We recognize,'for example, thatin the carbon accounting context the agency must rely on the expertise andjudgment of policy makers to establish appropriate baselines, monitoringprotocols and other implementation and compliance approaches that applyscience in a relatively simple and cost effective way. We believe thefundamentals we provide can support a variety of policy approaches that meetprogrammatic requirements while addressing the practical needs of both theregulating and regulated community.

We invite the EPA to carefully consider these science fundamentals and lookforward to lending our expertise to the agency as it further develops a sound,science-based accounting policy for biomass energy.

Respectfully,

Gina McCarthy, EPA AdministratorNovember 6,2014Page 2

Steve H. Bullard, President James A. Allen, President-ElectStephen F. Austin State University Northern Arizona University

{L'rn^u fr- rt'&It'-'-'

U

h tuth -fteffiTim White, lmmediate Past President JanakiAlavalapati, Policy ChairUniversity of Florida Virginia Tech

Science Fundamentals of Forest Biomass Carbon Accounting

Policy makers are increasingly considering the use of forest biomass energy to meetnational, regional and state energy and carbon emissions objectives. As they do so, it isimperative that their policy decisions be informed by current peer-reviewed science onthe carbon impacts of woody biomass as an energy source. Some studies on thesubject offer views with stringent assumptions that may be confusing to decision-makers.

Peer-reviewed literature examining the net emissions from the wide spectrum of forest-based activities reveals a number of important fundamentals policy makers shouldconsider when characterizing the carbon impacts of the increased use of forest biomassfor energy.l While these fundamentals do not address all of the issues policy makersconfront, they help clarify those most directly affecting the potential role forest biomassenergy can play in energy and climate policy.

As experts in forest science, we recommend the following four science fundamentals topolicy makers and others seeking to develop a science-based approach to biomassenergy production.

Fundamental 1: The carbon benefits of sustainable forest biomass energy arewell established.

The long-term benefits of forest biomass energy are well-established in scienceliterature, As stated in the Fourth Assessment Report of the lntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change, "ln the long term, a sustainable forest managementstrategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producingan annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generatethe largest sustained mitigation benefit.2" Most debates regarding the carbonbenefits of forest biomass energy are about the timing of the benefits rather thanwhether they exist.

Fundamental2: Measuring the carbon benefits of forest biomass energy mustconsider cumulative carbon emissions over the long term.

The most effective carbon mitigation measures are those which reduce carbonaccumulation in the atmosphere over time. Forest biomass energy yieldssignificant net decreases in overall carbon accumulation in the atmosphere overtime compared to fossil fuels. Comparisons between forest biomass emissionsand fossil fuel emissions at the time of combustion and for short periods thereafter

t Miner, R.A., R.C. Abt, J.L. Bowyer, M.A. Buford, R.W. Malmsheimer, J. O'Laughlin, E.E. Oneil, R.A.Sedjo, and K.E. Skog. 20'14. Forest Carbon Accounting Considerations in U.S. Bioenergy Policy.

J o u rn al of F ore stry Forthcom ing http ://dx.do i.org/ I 0. 5 849/.1 of. I 4-0092 p.543 Nabuurs, G.J., O. Masera, K.Andrasko, P. Benitez-Ponce, R. Boer, M. Dutschke, E. Elsiddig,el al. 2007 . Forestry. Chapter 9 in Climate change 2007: Mitigaflon. Contribution of Working Group lllto the Fourth Assessment Report of the lntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Metz, B., O.R.Davidson, P.R. Bosch, R. Dave, and L.A. Meyer (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. P. 541-584.

do not account for long term carbon accumulation in the atmosphere and cansignificantly distort or ignore comparative carbon impacts over time.

Fundamental 3: An accurate comparison of forest biomass energy carbonimpacts with those of other energy sources requires the use of consistenttimeframes in the comparison.

The most common timeframe for measuring the impacts of greenhouse gases is100 years, as illustrated by the widespread use of 10O-year global warmingpotentials." This timeframe provides a more accurate accounting of cumulativeemissions than shorter intervals. Measuring the net cumulative carbon emissionsfrom forest biomass energy overa 100 yeartimeframe, as is done forfossil fuels,more accurately captures and more appropriately demonstrates the cumulativecarbon benefits of biomass energy compared to fossil fuels.

Fundamental 4. Economic factors influence the carbon impacts of forestbiomass energy.

Research demonstrates that demand for wood helps keep land in forest andincentivizes investments in new and more productive forests, all of which havesignificant carbon benefits. This is particularly true when landowner investmentsare made in anticipation of future market demand. Likewise wood marketssignificantly influence both the availability of wood and the kind of wood used forbiomass energy. For example, large trees better suited for higher value marketsare typically not used for energy. The consideration of landowner response to themarketplace is essential to fully accounting for the long-term carbon impacts ofusing forest biomass for energy.a Failing to consider the effects of markets andinvestment on carbon impacts can distort the characterization of carbon impactsfrom forest biomass energy.

Research on the use of forest biomass as an energy source to mitigate GHG emissionsdates back to the late 1980's. Changes in technology, forest conditions, and marketsand global economics will influence forest biomass utilization now and in the future. Acommitment to continuing research on forest biomass utilization is necessary to quantifythe risks and benefits associated with its use, encourage dialogue and debate, driveinnovation and investment in new technologies and inform policy.

Forster, P., V. Ramaswamy, P. Artaxo, T. Berntsen, R. Betts, D.W. Fahey, J. Haywood, eta|.2007.Changes in atmospheric constituents and in radiative forcing. Chapter 2 in Climate Change 2007: Thephysical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of thelntergovernmentalPanelon Climate Change, Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis,K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor, and H.L. Miller (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UnitedKingdom and New York, NY, USA.

Alavalapati, J.R.R., P. Lal, A. Susaeta, R. Abt, and D. Wear.2013. Forest biomass-based energypp213-260. A chapter ln Southern Forest Future Project edited by D. Wear and J. Griess, U.S. Forest

Service GeneralTechnical Report SRS-178, 1318 pages.

Kamran Abdollahi, Ph.D.Program Leader and Graduate DirectorUrban Forestry ProgramSouthern University and A&MBaton Rouge, LA

Damian C. Adams, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Natural Resource Economics &PolicySchool of Forest Resources & ConservationUniversity of FloridaGainesville, FL

Francisco X. Aguilar, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorDeparlment of ForestryUniversity of MissouriColumbia, MO

Janaki Alav alapati, Ph. D.Professor and HeadDepartment of Forest Resources and EnvironmentalConservationCollege of Natural Resources and EnvironmentVirginia TechBlacksburg, VA

James A. Allen, Ph.D.Professor and Executive DirectorSchool of ForestryCollege of Engineering, Forestry and NaturalSciencesNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ

Mila Alvarez,Ph.D.PrincipalSolutions for Nature, LLC

Dorothy H. Anderson, Ph.D.Professor EmeritusDepartment of Forest ResourcesUniversity of MinnesotaSt. Paul MN

Michael G. Andreu, Ph.D.Associate Professor - Forest SystemsExtension Specialist & Undergraduate CoordinationSchool of Forest Resources and ConservationUniversity of Florida IFASGainesville, FL

B.Bruce Bare, Ph.D.Dean Emeritus and ProfessorSchool of Environmental and Forest SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattle, WA

H. Michael Barnes, Ph.D.W.S. Thompson Distinguished Professor of WoodScience & TechnologyEditor, Wood & Fiber ScienceFellow-IAWS, SWST, IOMDepartment of Sustainable BioproductsMississippi State University

David M. BaumgartnerProfessor EmeritusSchool of the EnvironmentWashington State UniversityPullman, WA

Richard Drew Bowden, Ph.D.Professor of Environmental ScienceDepartment of Environmental ScienceAllegheny CollegeMeadville, PA

James Bowyer, Ph.D.Professor EmeritusDepartment of Bioproducts and BiosystemsEngineeringUniversity of Minnesota, St. Paul

Richard W. Brinker, Ph.D., CFDean EmeritusSchool of Forestry and Wildlife SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburn, AL

Steven H. Bullard, Ph.D. Alan R. Ek, Ph.D.Dean, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Professor & HeadAgriculture Department of Forest ResourcesInterim Dean, Nelson Rusche College of Business University of MinnesotaStephen F. Austin State University St. Paul, MNNacogdoches, TX

Ivan J. Fernandez, Ph.D.Dean W. Coble, Ph.D. School of Forest Resources and Climate ChangeMinton Distinguished Professor InstituteArthur Temple College of Forestry&Agriculture University of MaineStephen F. Austin State University Orono, MENacogdoches, TX

Robert E. Froese, Ph.D., RPF, CFMark D. Coleman, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Forest ScienceProfessor, Rangeland and Fire Sciences School of Forest Resources and EnvironmentalUniversity of Idaho ScienceMoscow, ID Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MIWilliam Wallace Covington, Ph.D.Executive Director, The Ecological Restoration Mark D. Gibson, Ph.D.Institute Professor & DirectorRegents'Professor of Forest Ecology School of ForestryNorthem Arrzona University Louisiana Tech UniversityFlagstaff, Arrzona Ruston, LA

Gregory Dahle, Ph.D., BCMA Barry Goodell, Ph.DAssistant Professor of Arboriculture & Urban ProfessorForestry Department of Sustainable BiomaterialsDivision of Forestry & Natural Resources Virginia TechWest Virginia University Blacksburg, VAMorgantown, WV

Thomas M. Gorman, Ph.D., P.E.Thomas H. Deluca Ph.D. Associate Dean and Professor of RenwableProfessor and Director MaterialsSchool of Environmental and Forest Sciences College of Natural ResourcesUniversity of Washington University of IdahoSeattle, WA Moscow,ID

Ivan Eastin Ph D. Dale Green, Ph.D.Professor and Director Professor and Associate Dean for Academic AffairsCenter of International Trade in Forest Products Warnell School of Forestry & Natural ResourcesSchool of Environmental and Forest Sciences University of GeorgiaCollege of the Environment Athens, GAUniversity of Washingtonseattle' wA

F#::rt;roreen' Ph'D'

Department of Ecology, Evolution and NaturalResourcesRutgers UniversityNew Brunswick- NJ

Richard Guyette, Ph. D.Research ProfessorForestry DepartmentSchool of Natural ResourcesUniversity of MissouriMissouri Tree Ring LaboratoryColumbia, MO

Han-Sup Han, Ph. DProfessorHumboldt State UniversitvArcata, CA

Donald Hanley, Ph.D.Extension Forestry Professor EmeritusWashington State UniversityPullman, WA

Robert B. Harrison, Ph.D.ProfessorUniversity of WashingtonSeattle, WAAdjunct Professor, Universidade Estadual paulista,Botucatu SP BrazilFellow, Soil Science Society of America

Austin HeineOperations ManagerCooperative Tree Improvement ProgramNorth Carolina State University

John A. Helms, Ph.D.College of Natural ResourcesUniversity of Califomia, Berkeley, (Ret.)

Howard M. Hoganson, Ph.D.ProfessorDepartment of Forest ResourcesUniversity of MinnesotaSt. Paul, MN

George M. Hopper, Ph.D.Dean, College of Forest ResourcesDean, College of Agriculture and Life SciencesDirector, MS Agricultural and Forestry ExperimentStationDirector, Forest and Wildlife Research CenterMississippi State University

Theodore E. Howard, Ph.D.Professor of Forestry Economics & Associate DeanCollege of Life Sciences and AgricultureUniversity of New HampshireDurham, NH

Fikret Isik, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorDepartment of Forestry and EnvironmentalResourcesNorth Carolina State UniversitvRaleigh, NC

James E. Johnson, Ph. D.Associate Dean and Professor of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR

Eric J. Jokela, Ph.D.ProfessorIFAS School of Forest Resources and ConservationUniversity of FloridaGainesville, FL

Shibu Jose, Ph.D.H.E. Garrett Endowed Professor and DirectorThe Center for AgroforestryEditor-in-Chief , A gr ofor e s try Sys t emsUniversity of MissouriColumbia, MO

John F. Katers, Ph.D.Professor and Chair, Natural and Applied Sciences(Engineering)Director, Environmental Management and BusinessInstitute (EMBI)University of Wisconsin-Green BayGreen Bay, WI

Michael KelleherExecutive Director Energy and SustainabilitySUNYCollege of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuse, NY

Richard K. Kobe, Ph.D.Chairperson and ProfessorDepartment of ForestryMichigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI

Peter F. Kolb, Ph.D.Montana State University Extension ForestrySpecialistAssociate Professor Forest Ecology & ManagementMontana State UniversityMissoula, MT

Thomas E. Kolb, Ph.D.Professor of Forest EcophysiologyGraduate CoordinatorSchool of Forestry and Wildlife SciencesNorlhern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ

Patricia A. Layton, Ph.D.DirectorWood Utilization and Design InstituteClemson UniversityClemson, SC

Lany Leefers, Ph.D.Department of ForestryMichigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI

Bruce LippkeProfessor EmeritusCollege of EnvironmentUniversity of WashingtonSeattle, WA

Graeme Lockaby, Ph.D.ProfessorSchool of Forestry and Wildlife SciencesAuburn UniversityAubum, AL

Ajit K. Mahapatra, Ph.D.Research Assistant ProfessorFood & Bioprocess EngineeringCollege of Agriculture, Family Sciences &TechnologyFort Valley State UniversityFort Valley, GA

Robert W. Malmsheimer, Ph.D., JDProfessor, Forest Policy and LawSUNY-College of Environmental Science andForestrySyracuse, NY

Timothy A. Martin, Ph.D.Professor, Tree PhysiologySchool of Forest Resources and ConservationUniversity of FloridaGainesville, FL

Marc McDill, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Forest ManagementDepartment of Ecosystem Science and ManagementPenn State UniversityUniversity Park, PA

Steven E. McKeand, Ph.D.Professor of Forestry and Environmental ResourcesDirector, Cooperative Tree Improvement ProgramNorth Carolina State UniversitvRaleigh, NC

J.F. McNeel, Ph.DProfessor & DirectorDivision of Forestry & Natural ResourcesDavis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources &DesignWest Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV

Richard Meilan, Ph.D.Professor of Molecular Tree PhysiologyDepartment of Forestry and Natural ResourcesPurdue UniversityWest Lafayette, IN

Michael G. Messina, Ph.D.Head and ProfessorDepartment of Ecosystem Science and ManagementPenn State UniversityUniversity Park. PA

P.K. Nair, Ph.D.Distinguished ProfessorSchool of Forest Resources and ConservationUniversity of FloridaGainesville, FL

David Newman, Ph.D.Professor and ChairDepartment of Forest and Natural ResourcesManagementSLNY-ESFSyracuse, NY

Kevin L. O'Hara, Ph.D.Professor of SilvicultureUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeley, CA

Jay O'Laughlin, Ph.D.Professor of Forestry & Policy SciencesDirector of Policy Analysis GroupCollege of Natural ResourcesUniversity of IdahoMoscow,ID

Chadwick Dearing Oliver, Ph.D.Pinchot Professor of Forestry and EnvironmentalStudiesDirector, Global Institute of Sustainable ForestrySchool of Forestry and Envrionmental StudiesYale UniversityNew Haven, CT

Elaine Oneil, Ph.D.Executive Director, CORRIMResearch ScientistUniversity of WashingtonSeattle, WA

Douglas D. Piirlo, Ph.D., RPFProfessorNatural Resources Management and EnvironmentalSciences DepartmentCalifornia Polytechnic State UniverstiySan Luis Obispo, CA

Kurt Pregitzer, Ph.D.DeanCollege of Natural ResourcesUniversity of IdahoMoscow, ID

Timothy G. Rials, Ph.D.Professor and DirectorCenter for Renewable CarbonUniversity of TennesseeKnoxville, TN

Daniel D. Richter, Ph.D.Professor of SoilsDuke UniversityDurham, NC

Daniel J. Robison, Ph.D.Dean and ProfessorDavis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources &DesignWest Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV

D. Allen Rutherford, Ph.D.Director and Bryant A. Bateman DistringuishedProfessor of Renewable Natural ResourcesSchool of Renewable Natural ResourcesLouisiana State University Agricultural CenterBaton Rouge, LA

Roger Sedjo, Ph.D.Senior FellowResources for the FutureWashington, D.C.

Stephen Shaler, Ph.D.Professor & DirectorSchool of Forest ResourcesAssociate Director, Advanced Structures &Composites CenterUniversity of MaineOrono, ME

Terry L. Sharik, Ph.D.Robbins Professor of Sustainable Resources andDeanSchool of Forest Resources and EnvironmentalScienceMichigan Technolo gical UniversityHoughton, MI

James P. Shepard, Ph.D.ProfessorSchool of Forestry and Wildlife SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburn, AL

Wayne H. Smith, Ph.D.Professor Emeritus and Director (retired)School of Forest Resources and ConservationUniversity of FloridaGainesville, FL

William B. Smith, Ph.D.Professor, Wood Products EngineeringDirector, Wood Utilization ServiceSustainable Construction Management andEngineeringSLNY ESFSyracuse, NY

Douglas G. SprugelProfessor Emeritus of Forest EcologySchool of Environmental and Forest SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattle, WA

Richard B. Standiford, Ph.D., RPFCooperative Extension Forest ManagementSpecialistUniversity o f CaliforniaBerkeley, CA

Kirsten Stephan, Ph.D.Associate Professor of BiologyDepartment of Life and Physical SciencesUrban Forester, Cooperative ResearchLincoln UniversityJefferson City, MO

William Stewart, Ph.D.Forestry Specialist, Environmental Science, policyand ManagementUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeley, CA

Thomas J. Straka, Ph.D.Faculty of ForestryClemson UniversityClemson. SC

Philip A. Tappe, Ph.D.DeanSchool of Forest ResourcesUniversity of Arkansas at MonticelloMonticello, AR

Larcy Teeter, Ph.DProfessorSchool of Forestry and Wildlife SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburn, AL

Richard P. Thompson, Ph.D., RPFInterim HeadNatural Resources Management & EnvironmentalSciences DepartmentDirector, Urban Forest Ecosystems InstituteCal PolySan Luis Obispo, CA

Brian K. Via, Ph.D.Associate Professor and Director of Auburn ForestProducts Development CenterSchool of Forestry and Wildlife SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburn, AL

Jason G. Vogel, Ph.D.Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Ecosystem Science andManagementTexas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TX

John C. Volin, Ph. D.Professor and HeadDepartment of Natural Resources and theEnvironmentDirector, Environmental ScienceCollege of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesUniversity of ConnecticutStorrs, CT

Timothy A. Volk, Ph.D.Senior Research ScientistDepartment of Forest and Natural ResourcesCollege of Environmental Science and ForestryState University of New York College ofEnvironmental Science & ForestrvSyracuse, NY

John E. Wagner, Ph.D.Professor of Forest Resource EconomicsDepartment of Forest and Natural ResourcesManagementSTINY-College of Environmental Sciences andForestrySyracuse, NY

Robert G. Wagner, Ph.D.Henry W. Saunders Distinguished Professor inForestryDirector, Center for Research on SustainableForests (CRSF) and Cooperative Forestry ResearchUnit (CFRU)University of MaineOrono, ME

Aaron Weiskittel, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Forest Biometrics andModelingIrving Chair of Forest Ecosystem ManagementSchool of Forest ResouresUniversity of MaineOrono, ME

Tim White, Ph.D.Professor and DirectorSchool of Forest Resources and ConservationIFAS, University of FloridaGainesville, FL

Hans M. Williams, Ph.D.Associate DeanNelson Distinguished Professor of ForestryArthur Temple College of Forestry and AgricultureStephen F. Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX

Jerrold E. Winandy, Ph.D.Adjunct ProfessorDeparlment of Bioproducts and BiosystemsEngineeringUniversity of MinnesotaSt. Paul, MN

Paul M. Winistorfer. Ph.D.DeanCollege of Natural Resources and EnvironmentVirginia TechBlacksburg, VA

Y. Jun Xu, Ph.D.ProfessorSchool of Renewable Natural ResourcesLouisana State UniversitvBaton Rouge, LA

Ruth D. Yani, Ph.D.ProfessorSLINY-ESFSyracuse, NY

Timothy M. Young, Ph.D.Professor and Graduate DirectorDepartment of Forestry, Wildlife and FisheriesCenter for Renewable CarbonUniversity of TennesseeKnoxville, TN

Dehai Zhao, Ph.D.Research Scientist - Graduate FacultyWarnell School of Forestry & Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthens, GA