So instead of using timber harvested from planted trees, they actually wanted to impact natural forests?
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I actually can't remember if it was virgin or not but the products had to come from a certain geological area in Oregon ... I passed the criteria on to my materials supplier and he promptly called me back to see if I understood what it was going to take to meet the spec ... apparently nothing that money couldn't take care of .... lots of money
LEED has some benefits, there are definite head-scratching things about it, and it can drive some major costs. The Guv here in GA actually issued an executive order last year banning State agencies from using LEED b/c they do not consider southern yellow pine as a sustainable material (much to the chagrin of 'Ole Yella Wood).
I'm not sure what the end game is for the people who want fly ash out... I would understand if they were arguing product quality, but they're not... Maybe they think they can raise the taxes and fees to dispose of it, and push them to move toward cleaner energy... Not sure...
There are a few manufactures of scratch and brown, masonry, and one coat, that use waaayyy too much fly ash, and the quality is absolute crap. That needs to be regulated a little better IMO, but not for environmental reasons. It's hard to get cement companies to move toward more expensive and cleaner methods, because the margins are already so tight. Will be interesting to see what happens when real pressure is applied by the government.