We are a family owned logging business that has operated in Virginia for over 50 years.  The new policy that has been proposed is not logical and would be a burden to loggers and VDOT.  Under this policy, our operation may be stalled or stopped all together if VDOT is not able to keep up with the demand of calls for inspection on entrances.  Most of the sites we log have an existing entrance that has been used as driveways, hunting roads and various other reasons.  Is it fair to make us pay a fee to use an existing road just because we are logging?  Anyone else could use the same road for any other reason without paying this fee.  It seems ludicrous that each time we move to a different location, we must contact VDOT in order to continue working for a living.  I understand that if we have to build a road in order to log a piece of land that VDOT must be called, but I am talking about existing roads. 

What would happen if we need to move to a different location due to weather conditions and VDOT can not inspect the entrance, do we just not work?  Are there going to be increased staff at VDOT to handle this demand?  As a logger, we are required to pay an astronomical amount of taxes already.  Just for trucking, we pay $1400/year for tags, we pay fuel taxes, unemployment tax, federal tax, state tax and many more.  It seems that this is just another way for the government to tax us again.  So, we will be required to pay additional tax and possibly be unable to work because we are at the mercy of another state agency to do their job?  We are asking that you do not pass this new policy and consider the amount of extra work and the affect this will have on small businesses in this state.   Please do not punish us for working hard and continuing supporting our economy by running a business in Virginia.  I would be happy to discuss this with anyone involved in this process.  We are Goodman Lumber Co., Inc. owned by Tommy Goodman.  Thank you for the opportunity to make my comments.