According to Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF)
figures many loggers are still failing to let DOF know when they
are beginning a logging job. Despite the fact that they can now
be fined for not telling DOF where and when they are logging, over
145 loggers failed to do so in 2003. Of those 145 loggers, only
96 were required to pay a fine by VDOF.
Of the 585 jobs that were cited by DOF for water quality
problems last year, 25% had failed to notify the Department.
The first time a logger is cited for failure to notify,
a $250 fine is issued. Within a given year, if that logger continues
to fail to notify the fine can then increase up to $2,000. Additional
fines can also be issued for failure to correct on going pollution
problems.
Of the $154,826 in fines that were issued last year,
only $28,919 has been collected. In the past 10 years only $183,983
of the $685,375 fines have been collected.
To view the record of Water Quality Citations go to:
http://www.virginiaforestwatch.org/badlogging.htm#anchor509436
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