Proposed forestry bill could let loggers take wood from state parks

A new state bill is on the horizon that would allow the logging industry to harvest wood from state-owned forests so money from timber sales would be poured back into these woodlands.

If passed and signed by the governor next month, Bill A-4358 would open up state parks and forests to forestry and logging, or the harvesting of trees and loading them into trucks. This legislation could impact Ringwood and West Milford area state parks such as Ringwood State Park, Abram S. Hewitt, Long Pond, and Wawayanda. Assemblyman John F. McKeon (D-27) is the bill's prime sponsor and has been drafting it for two years. Last month, the Assembly Environment Committee released the bill.

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