Eliminating the blanket permit program in favor of single temporary logging entrance permits would be expensive, time consuming, and impracticle for the forest products industry and VDOT.

Our company supervises logging operations in the piedmont of Virginia and North Carolina (North Carolina does not have anything similair), utilizing approximately 100 - 150 entrances per year in VA. This would equate to roughly $10,000 - $15,000 per year in entrance permits, a steep increase to the amount we are paying now.  With high fuel prices and reduced demand and pricing for building products, this is not another expense that we need.  This is purely a tax increase.  On road fuel taxes are already being paid by logging companies and contract haulers. 

All logging entrances are temporary, lasting a few days to a few weeks.  Contruction jobs may last months or years with thousands of vehicles using an entrance.   Are they being treated the same, or is the forest products industry being singled out?  The forest products industry in Virginia is a significant part of the economy of the Commonwealth. The Virginia Forest Products Association website contains the following statement : "It (the Virginia forest products industry) produces over $11.5 billion worth of goods and services on an annual basis, making it one of the largest contributors to the GROSS STATE PRODUCT. In fact, over 6% of Virginia's total GSP is directly attributable to this industry."  All forest products begin at the stump and eventually some of the cost will be pasted along to the individual landowner.

VDOT and the forest products industry does not have the manpower to follow through with the propsed changes.  I am sure this change would require a good bit of paperwork for both parties.  Does VDOT have the manpower to handle this or will they have to increase the number state employees?  Are logging entrances worth the cost of this additonal expense.  I say NO.

We follow the rules of the blanket permit program, however I understand the western part of the state has struggled to comply.  Sounds like VDOT could enforce the laws that are already on the books in that part of the state much easier than complicating the process for everyone statewide.

This is not a good idea.