COVID-19

COVID-19

This page will be updated with COVID-19 related information and documentation as it becomes available.

Best Practices - Fuel Reduction Activities

The Governor’s Forest Management Task Force has provided a guidance document for State of California supported Vegetation Management activities.

This document is intended to provide clarity for, and guidance to, partners and grantees engaged in vegetation management projects who have expressed concerns and raised questions regarding their ability to continue working on existing projects and/or to bring on new seasonal crews.

BIDEN COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE: SOME FLEXIBILITY SUGGESTED ON US FOREST SERVICE FEDERAL CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS — BUT OTHER CONTRACTS NEED TO BE COVERED AS WELL; NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE

COVID-19, Organizational News, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson November 5, 2021

In light of the White House extension on its “COVID 19 vaccine mandate” to January 4, 2022, ACL would like to share information we have received from the DC-based Federal Forest Resource Coalition(FFRC) about the Vaccine mandate as it relates to federal timber contractors: Key passage in FFRC message below: BEGIN: At the recent Federal…

BREAKING NEWS: BUSINESSES(INCLUDING FEDERAL CONTRACTORS) HAVE UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS (JANUARY 4, 2022) TO IMPLEMENT BIDEN COVID VACCINE MANDATE; NEGOTIATIONS ON FLEXIBILITY CONTINUE

COVID-19, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson November 5, 2021

Businesses have until after the holidays(January 4, 2022) to implement Biden Covid vaccine mandate ; negotiations on flexibility continue The Biden administration ordered U.S. companies Thursday to ensure their employees are fully vaccinated or regularly tested for Covid-19 by Jan. 4— giving them a reprieve over the holidays before the long-awaited and hotly contested mandate…

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S EXECUTIVE ORDER IMPOSES NEW COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS ON FEDERAL CONTRACTORS

COVID-19, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson September 30, 2021

On September 9, President Biden signed Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, which directs executive departments and agencies to “ensure that parties who contract with the Federal government provide safeguards in workplaces with individuals working on or in connection with a Federal Government contract or contract-like instrument.” On September 24, the Safer Workforce Task…

DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15, 2021 — “PATHH” GRANTS FOR UP TO $125,000 TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC LOSS TO LOGGERS AND LOG TRUCKERS FROM COVID-19 IN 2020

COVID-19, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson September 13, 2021

OCTOBER 15, 2021 IS THE DEADLINE TO APPLY TO OBTAIN GRANTS OF UP TO $125,000 TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC LOSS TO LOGGERS AND LOG TRUCKERS IN 2020.The application is short, the process is fairly simple (via federal FSA offices ) — and a lot of money is still available.Here is some new information:MESSAGE FROM THE AMERICAN…

“IT’S HERE!” COVID-19 Relief Money for Loggers and Log Haulers: Applications will be Accepted from July 22 through October 15, 2021! “Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers” (PATHH) Program

COVID-19, Organizational News, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson July 21, 2021

USDA Announces Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Farm Service Agency Will Begin Accepting Applications on July 22 WASHINGTON, July 20, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing up to $200 million to provide relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have experienced losses due to COVID-19 as part of USDA’s…

IF YOU WERE ON THE 2020 ASSOCIATED CALIFORNIA LOGGERS PRO LOGGER LIST — YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE PLACED ON THE 2021 PRO LOGGER LIST — WITHOUT NEEDING TO TAKE ANY CLASSES IN 2021!

COVID-19By Kolbie Johnson January 28, 2021

BECAUSE OF COVID-19 IMPACT ON THE ACL ANNUAL MEETING AND LOGGING CONFERENCES: “IF YOU WERE ON THE 2020 ASSOCIATED CALIFORNIA LOGGERS PRO LOGGER LIST – YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE PLACED ON THE 2021 PRO LOGGER LIST – WITHOUT NEEDING TO TAKE CLASSES.” IMPORTANT NEWS: “If you were on the 2020 Associated California Loggers ProLogger List…

FEDERAL PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM(PPP) RE-OPENS THIS WEEK FOR NEW BORROWERS AND CERTAIN EXISTING PPP BORROWERS

COVID-19, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson January 15, 2021

PPP will re-open this week for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. We always advise to consult with your accountant and/or banker as soon as possible. This is the link to PPP release and copy below: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1230 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that…

President Trump Signs Into Law Bill To EXTEND Paycheck Protection Program

COVID-19, Organizational NewsBy Kolbie Johnson July 8, 2020

UPDATE: HOUSE PASSES, PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS: EXTENSION OF PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM(PPP) APPLICATION DEADLINE TO AUGUST 8, 2020: From news sources: BEGIN: “President Donald Trump on Saturday July 4 signed an extension of the small business Paycheck Protection Program into law, according to the White House.” “House lawmakers unanimously passed the extension less than a day…

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM JUNE 30 DEADLINES MOVE TO DECEMBER

COVID-19, Organizational NewsBy Kolbie Johnson June 14, 2020

Some of our members have signed up for the “Paycheck Protection Program” by which the federal government provides money to businesses to restore employee and payroll levels that had been reduced due to COVID-19. Since then, new “clean-up” legislation has been passed and signed, and positive changes have been made — crucially in the area…

ASKING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO VOTE FOR LOW INTEREST LOANS FOR LOGGERS AND LOG HAULERS IN THE “NEXT STIMULUS PACKAGE”

COVID-19, Organizational News, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson June 9, 2020

A MESSAGE FROM THE AMERICAN LOGGERS COUNCIL, COMPOSED OF 34 LOGGING STATE ASSOCIATIONS, INCLUDING ASSOCIATED CALIFORNIA LOGGERS: “As more financial impacts are being felt around the country as both a direct and indirect result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the members of the American Loggers Council have coalesced around a proposal to members of Congress that…

COVID-19: US FOREST SERVICE: CONTRACT EXTENSIONS USING SOPI

COVID-19, Organizational News, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson May 3, 2020

PART TWO: A NATIONAL FORESTRY ORGANIZATION ASKS FOUR QUESTIONS REGARDING– “HOW IS THIS PROGRAM WORKING FOR LOGGING COMPANIES?” Associated California Loggers has alerted its members to “SOPI” extensions being offered by the US Forest Service on certain contracts in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Some of you may have already heard of these…

COVID-19: USFS ANNOUNCES: TIMBER CONTRACTS CAN BE EXTENDED USING SOPI PROVISIONS OF THE NFMA.

COVID-19, Organizational News, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson May 3, 2020

PART ONE The US Forest Service has announced that timber sales contracts and certain Stewardship Contracts are eligible for up to 2 years of extension, using the Significant Overriding Public Interest (SOPI) provisions of the National Forest Management Act (NFMA.) Guidance letters and additional background information on these extensions are found in the four links…

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS NOW CAN FILE FOR FUNDS FROM PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

COVID-19, Organizational News, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson April 28, 2020

Starting April 28, 2020, independent contractors are able to file for unemployment through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. https://www.labor.ca.gov/pandemic-unemployment-assistance-pua-program/ The link above will take you to a “Frequently Asked Questions” page for information about the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program — “PUA.” The “PUA” program is part of the “CARES Act” passed…

US FOREST SERVICE: CONTINUITY OF FOREST PRODUCTS OPERATIONS AND OTHER GUIDANCE

COVID-19, Organizational News, Top newsBy Kolbie Johnson April 28, 2020

Associated California Loggers has been receiving and “collecting” various letters and memos created by federal, California state, and local agencies, detailing how government offices and their staffs will be working during the COVID-19 crisis. Some of these documents are about “government telling government what to do,” and some of these documents are about “government telling…

COVID-19 LOAN/UNEMPLOYMENT: A LIST OF PHONE NUMBERS FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE

COVID-19, Organizational NewsBy Kolbie Johnson April 17, 2020

PLEASE NOTE: As our Associated California Loggers members and others seek help with the various federal and state programs providing financial relief from the economic side of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Crisis, we want to direct your attention to the federal and state office holders who, we are told, can help their constituents “cut through the…

COVID-19: NEW WEBSITE FOR BUSINESSES AND WORKERS

COVID-19, Organizational NewsBy designpointderyk April 8, 2020

COVID-19: GOVERNOR NEWSOM ANNOUNCES NEW WEBSITE AND CALIFORNIA FUNDING PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO FEDERAL LOAN PROGRAMS. NEW HELP FOR BUSINESSES AND WORKERS DISPLACED BY COVID-19 CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 2, 2020: An executive order to help small businesses, granting a 90-day extension for small businesses to pay the sales tax. The allocation…

CALIFORNIA GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

COVID-19, Organizational NewsBy designpointderyk April 8, 2020

COVID-19: CALIFORNIA GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR CALIFORNIA-SUPPORTED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. HOW TO WORK IN THE WOODS MESSAGE FROM JENNIFER MONTGOMERY, CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA FOREST MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE: Please find attached a guidance document for State of California supported Vegetation Management activities. This document is intended to provide clarity for, and guidance to, our partners…

COVID-19 PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM

COVID-19, Organizational NewsBy designpointderyk April 8, 2020

COVID-19: POSSIBLY FORGIVEABLE LOANS AND OTHER FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY COMES AVAILABLE TO KEEP EMPLOYEES PAID AND BUSINESSES RUNNING. LOAN APPS ACCEPTED STARTING APRIL 3 FOR THE CARES ACT AND ITS PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF A NUMBER OF “SHARED E-MAILS” FOR ACL MEMBERSHIP TO START LOOKING INTO FEDERAL (AND STATE) MONIES…

CALFIRE EXTENDS 2019 FIRELINE SAFETY AWARENESS CARD EXPIRATION

COVID-19, Organizational NewsBy designpointderyk April 7, 2020

GOOD NEWS: DUE TO COVID-19 CLASS CANCELLATIONS, CAL FIRE WILL ALLOW 2019 FIRELINE SAFETY AWARENESS CARDS TO BE USED IN 2020 FOR AN EXTENSION OF ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ISSUE FOR SUPPLIERS AND EQUIPMENT OPERATORS. CAL FIRE has announced that suppliers and/or equipment operators with a 2019 Fireline Safety Awareness Card who are…

FORM LETTER TO SHOW YOU ARE ALLOWED TO WORK

COVID-19, Organizational NewsBy designpointderyk April 7, 2020

UPDATE: BY POPULAR DEMAND – A COPY OF THE LETTER YOU CAN EDIT. DOWNLOADABLE HERE: A SUGGESTED FORM LETTER TEMPLATE TO PROVE THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO WORK DURING THE COVID-19 “STAY AT HOME” SHUT DOWN, AS A FOREST PRODUCTS WORKER On March 24, Associated California Loggers sent out the following message below and links:…

US GUIDELINES: FOREST PRODUCTS WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL

COVID-19, Organizational NewsBy designpointderyk April 7, 2020

US GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES GUIDELINES: FOREST PRODUCTS WORKERS ARE “ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE AND DO NOT HAVE TO STAY HOME DUE TO COVID-19 SHELTER-IN-PLACE RULES. GOVERNOR NEWSOM APPROVES THIS FOR CALIFORNIA. LOG ON! The federal government has issued “guidance” and identified 16 “critical infrastructure sectors” whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered…