Go to official MD DE Master Logger Website

FAQs FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why should I hire a Master Logger?

What should I ask a logger before signing a contract?

What questions should I ask the Logger's References?

What are BMPs?

What is the difference between the MD/DE Master Logger Company program and Master Logger status?

How do I contact the ML Training Coordinator

Who is on the SIC and MLSC Committees?

What is the Master Logger Code of Ethics?

 

Why you should hire a Master Logger

Forest landowners, you are at a critical crossroads. How you sell your trees, and select the professional contractors who do the harvesting, are important decisions. They can either perpetuate the many values of your forest virtually forever, or badly damage the land and imperil its ability to bring you future financial income and personal and aesthetic pleasure - the reasons you own the land in the first place.

By choosing to hire a Master Logger you are hiring someone who has chosen to go through training designed to enhance understanding of Best Management Practices and timber harvesting method options, increase awareness of state laws and regulations governing forest operations, and increase safe logging practices.

The MD/DE Master Logger Program is a voluntary program. Loggers who have gone through the program have done so out of their personal desire to become the best they can be in an often misunderstood profession. To learn more about what it means to become a Master Logger, please read the Code of Ethics on the back of this pamphlet.

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Questions to ask a logger before signing a contract:

• How long have you been in the business? How long have current crew members been with you?
• Are you and your employees covered by workers' compensation and liability insurance? What are the dollar limits, and what kinds or accidents are covered? Will you provide me with certificates of workers' compensation and liability insurance coverage?
• What kind of equipment do you use? How does it match up with the conditions and requirements of my site?
• Do you handle the entire logging process, or use subcontractors for part of the work? If the latter, how do you ensure that your quality goals are met?
• What types of roads and skid trails do you normally construct? What equipment do you use to build them? How will my skid trails, landings, and haul roads look when you've completed the logging operation?
• Have you completed any kind of logger training program?
• How would you handle a dispute over timber trespass or cutting practices?
• What Best Management Practices do you normally implement? Which ones would be needed on my forest?
• Can you supply me with references of previous jobs and to some of the mills you deal with?

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Questions to Ask the Logger's References:

• Did the logger fulfill verbal and written obligations for such things as road restoration, fence repair, and cleaning up trash?
• Was the logger willing to listen to your concerns and answer your questions directly?
• Did the logger get the job done efficiently and within the specified time limit?
• Did the logger take pride in his or her workers and equipment?
• Was the logger careful to avaid damaging other trees and land improvements?
• Did the timber harvester seem concerned about environmental matters, such as wildlife habitat, water quality, and visual concerns? Did he stop or modify operations appropriately during wet weaterh?
• Did the logger communicate well with you? Was he or she flexible in responding to your needs? How were the logger's relations with foresters and neighboring loandowners?
• Would you use the logger for future timber harvests? Why or why not?

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What are BMPs?

The Water Quality Act of 1987 considers a Best Management Practice (BMP) to be any method, measure or practice used to protect and preserve water quality including, but not limited to control of water caused erosion.

Water quality problems caused by forestry operations can result from any of the following:

• Access roads and skid trails associated with timber harvest and delivery.
• Timber harvesting in progress or recently completed.
• Site preparation.
• Staging areas where harvested trees and other forest products are taken for processing or loading on trucks, barges or rail cars.
• Forest fire control.
• Trash, debris, oils, fluids from equipment and vehicle maintenance.

Forestry Best Management Practices in Maryland encompass six basic goals in order to protect water quality and meet the intent of the Clean Water Act.

• To minimize surface runoff, soil erosion and sedimentation originating from any type of forestry-realted soil disturbance and likely running into a watercourse. (Examples: water bars, broad based dip, breaker, rolling dip)
• To maintain the integrity of all stream beds and banks. (Examples: temporary bridge with geo-textile and stone on ford.)
• To prevent deposition of logging debris in stream beds. (Example: straw bale dyke, silt fence)
• To establish and maintain Streamside Management Zones (SMZ) along perennial watercourses that filter sediment from overland flow thereby minimizing sediment pollution to waters of the state. (Example: Logger may delineate no cut buffer, Maryland License Professional Forester may mark timber for select harvest in the SMZ)
• To provide for rapid revegetation of all exposed mineral soil areas through natural processes supplemented by artificial revegetation where necessary. (Example: Application of seed, mulch, and fertilizer on exposed soil.)
• To prevent chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers or petroleum products from entering or degrading (directly or indirectly ) streams, ground water or surface water. (Example: proper application and disposal)

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About the MD/DE Master Logger Company program and Master Logger status:

The MD/DE Master Logger Program has undergone significant revisions since its inception. The logging community requested that we increase the level of accountability of the loggers within the program. This input guided the MD/DE Master Logger Steering Committee to the develop two levels within the MD/DE Master Logger Program.

The first level is the Master Logger.
The Master Logger (ML) needs to:

• complete the core level of courses,
• remain current in First Aid and CPR,
• complete eight hours of continuing education every two years,
• sign and comply with the MD/DE Master Logger Code of Ethics, and
• complete two self assessments during the two-year period and forward a copy of these assessments to the MD/DE Master Logger Steering Committee.

The second level is the Master Logger Company.
The Master Logger Company(MLC) must complete all of the requirements of the first level, plus:

• The Master Logger Company will have a Master Logger on every active harvesting site who is accountable for that site.
• The owner of the Master Logger Company must also be a Master Logger.
• On each job site, the company will provide: proof of insurance, a forest products operators license, all applicable permits, proof of continuing education training, proof of First Aid training for all employees, proof of task training for all employees, and copies of self assessments.
• The Master Logger Company will pay a $200 fee every two years for this recognition; and
• agrees to two site assessments by the MD/DE Master Logger Steering Committee or its representative during this period. The fees are added to financial support from the American Forest and Paper Association member companies through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program and go to support the MD/DE Master Logger Program.
• The MD/DE Master Logger Steering Committee will provide one binder in which the Master Logger Company should maintain its records on the job site.
• Additional binders will be available at cost ($50) for multiple-crew Companies.
• Master Logger Companies will receive advance notice of training opportunities, advertising and promotional materials for the MD/DE Master Logger Program.

The MD/DE Master Logger Program is now the official training program for Delaware loggers.
Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) also exist with Pennsylvania and Virigina SFI programs
with regard to continuing education training and reciprocal credits.

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To learn more about becoming a Master Logger or Master Logger Company
contact the MD/DE Master Logger Steering Committee

Bill Cheesman, Chair
bcheesman@smurfit.com

or

the Maryland Forests Association office in Grantsville

ph: 301/895-5369 mdforests@hereintown.net ,

Sustainable Forestry Initiative - State Implementaion Committee

Pete Miller, SFI-SIC Chairman
New Page Corporation
Luke Mill Wood Department
24015 Westernport Rd., SW
Westernport, MD 21562
ph 301-359-3623
phm4@newpagecorp.com

SFI-SIC Members:

Jeff Fisher Glatfelter Pulp Wood Co. P.O. Box 1971 Salisbury, MD 21802-1971 jfisher@Glatfelter.com Bill Loffer Smurfit-Stone ContainerCorp. P.O. Box 300 Pocomoke City, MD 21851 bloeffer@smurfit.com Steve Koehn, State Forester MD DNR Forest Service Tawes State Office Building, E-1 Annapolis, MD 21401 skoehn@dnr.state.md.us

Robert Tjaden U of MD Cooperative Extension 1202 Simmons Hall College Park, MD 20742 RT20@UMAIL.UMD.EDU Larry Walton Vision Forestry P.O. Box 2677 108-C Williamsport Circle Salisbury, MD 21802 safer4U@intercom.net Jay Farrell, AF&PA Liason American Forest & Paper Assoc. 1111 19th St. , NW, suite 800 Washington, DC 20036

Maryland/Delaware Master Logger Steering Committee (MLSC)

Bill Cheesman, Chair
bcheesman@smurfit.com

MD/ DE MLSC Members:

Bill Cheesman, MLSC Chairman Smurfit-Stone Corporation P.O. Box 300 Pocomoke, MD 21851 bcheesman@smurfit.com Jeff Fisher, Eastern Region Coordinator Glatfelter Pulp Wood Co. P.O. Box 1971 Salisbury, MD 21802-1971 jfisher@glatfelter.com Jim Olson, Delaware State Coordinator Delaware Forest Service 2320 S. DuPont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901 James.Olson@state.de.us Anita Simmons, Western Region Coordinator New Page Corporation Luke Mill Wood Department 24015 Westernport Rd., SW Westernport, MD 21562 ph 301-359-3623 ajs11@newpagecorp.com

Dan Rider, MD DNR Forest Service Tawes State Office Building, E-1 Annapolis, MD 21401 drider@dnr.state.md.us Richard R. Stanfield, MLP Treasurer Edrich Lumber 9700 Old Court Road Baltimore, MD 21244 Cheryl Kerr MD Dept. of the Envirornment 2500 Broening Highway Baltimore, MD 21224 cajdkerr@mde.state.md.us MD Eastern Shore RC&D 8133 Elliot Rd., Suite 201 Easton, MD 21601 esrcd@shore.intercom.net John Foster, President MD Forests Association  mdforests@hereintown.net

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF: Maryland Forests Association

Karin E. Miller, Executive Director
P.O. Box 599, Grantsville MD 21536
ph: 301-895-5369
mdforests@hereintown.net

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MD/DE Master Logger Code of Ethics

Adopted May 2000

As a MD/DE Master Logger, I will strive to operate my business to gain the publics trust, by meeting or exceeding the standards and principles below:

A. I will adhere to the highest standard of business and ethical conduct by:

1. Operating my company as a responsible member of the business community.
2. Striving to continually improve my business operations through training and other appropriate means.
3. Taking an active role in local, state, and national loggers organizations.
4. Working to meet the landowners objectives as long as they are consistent with sustainable forestry principles, federal, state, and local laws.
5. Striving to maintain positive relationships with landowners, vendors, and customers.
6. Doing my part to assure that the logging profession has a positive public image.
7. Working with peer groups and others to encourage all loggers to meet these standards.
8. Acting responsibly to uphold the integrity of the logging profession.
9. A written contract of sale must be used on all purchases greater than $500 in value. 

B. I will practice sustainable forestry by:

1. Designing and scheduling timber harvests to minimize erosion and other site damage.
2. Harvesting and transporting timber to minimize residual forest damage.
3. Striving to use all the trees that are cut.
4. Closing out the sale to minimize erosion damage after the harvest is completed.
5. Participating in training and educational programs that meet the requirements of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative to further my knowledge.
6. Informing forest landowners of their responsibility to properly manage their forest land sustainably through sound timber harvesting practices.
7. Recognizing the non-timber forest values such as wildlife habitat for both game and non-game species, wetlands protection, recreation, and visual beauty.

C. I will comply with all applicable laws and regulations by:

1. Operating my business to adhere to the intent of these laws and regulations, not just meet the bare minimum standards set by them.
2. Working to change laws and regulations that are a disincentive to forest landowners and to the forest products industry.

D. I will strive to conduct my business in full compliance with safety requirements by:

1. Ensuring that all of my employees are currently trained in Standard First Aid and CPR.
2. Ensuring that all of my employees have and use appropriate personal protective equipment.
3. Providing training so that all of my employees are fully trained to perform their duties.

E. I will endeavor to document professional logging excellence by:

1. Performing self-evaluations of logging jobs.
2. Submitting my harvest and business operations to periodic review by the MD/DE Master Logger Steering Committee or their designee.

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page maintained by MFA Executive Director, Karin E Miller