News

West Fraser Assumes AWC Board Chair Role

by on December 4, 2025

New Board Members & Second Vice Chair Also Named  LEESBURG, VA – The American Wood Council (AWC) announced the election of West Fraser President and CEO Sean McLaren as the new Board Chair for a two-year term. McLaren will be joined by SmartLam’s CEO Derek Ratchford, who was elected First Vice Chair, and PotlatchDeltic’s Vice…

AWC Releases U.S. Northern Softwood Lumber EPD 

by on July 29, 2025

The American Wood Council (AWC) has released a new Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for U.S. softwood lumber in the Northern region. This EPD rounds out the U.S. wood products industry’s first regional softwood lumber EPDs. Previous industry EPDs had been North American in scope, and last year, AWC released the first regional U.S. EPDs for…

AWC Supports Introduction of SAWMILL Act

by on July 14, 2025

U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Tim Sheehy introduced the Supporting American Wood and Mill Infrastructure with Loans for Longevity (SAWMILL) Act. The Act will permanently authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Timber Production Expansion Loan Guarantee Program. The program encourages timber and wood processing companies to invest in their facilities and equipment through access to…

Forest Products Industry Promotes Modernizing Clean Air Act Permitting Program in House Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing Testimony

by on June 11, 2025

AF&PA and AWC Applaud Congressional and EPA Efforts to Revise Permitting Issues that will Allow Industry to Modernize Facilities to Reduce Emissions and Bolster American Manufacturing Competitiveness   WASHINGTON —  On behalf of the American Wood Council (AWC) and the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), AF&PA Vice President of Public Policy Paul Noe today…

AWC Releases National Mass Timber AMM Guide 

by on June 2, 2025

LEESBURG, VA – The American Wood Council (AWC) has released a national Mass Timber Alternative Materials and Methods (AMM) Guide for use with the 2018 International Building Code (IBC). This new resource is designed to support building code officials as they review, permit and approve mass timber projects across the country.  The AMM Guide is…

AWC Releases Updates to Connection Calculator 

by on April 18, 2025

LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC) released an updated version of its Connection Calculator. The Calculator supports users by calculating capacities for single bolts, nails, lag screws and wood screws based on the provisions of the 2024 National Design Specification for Wood Construction (ANSI/AWC NDS-2024).  Key updates include adding the design provisions for…

AWC Applauds EPA’s Decision to Reconsider PM NAAQS Rule  

by on March 12, 2025

The American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Jackson Morrill responded to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of a reconsideration of the 2024 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM2.5) and the recent National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP):  “The American Wood Council is pleased the EPA has decided…

AWC Applauds Appointment of USFS Chief Schultz 

by on February 27, 2025

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture named Tom Schultz as the new Chief of the Forest Service. AWC President & CEO Jackson Morrill released this comment in support of the appointment:  “Chief Schultz is an excellent choice to lead the U.S. Forest Service as it works to ensure the health and productivity of our nation’s…

Mass Timber Requirements Added to Free Heights & Areas Calculator

by on December 16, 2024

2021 Code Conforming Wood Design Also Available LEESBURG, VA. – The American Wood Council (AWC), International Code Council and WoodWorks have joined together to release an updated version of the free app to calculate maximum allowable heights and areas for buildings of various occupancy classifications and types of construction. The Heights & Areas Calculator is…

AWC-AF&PA Statement on DC Circuit Court Boiler MACT Decision 

by on September 3, 2024

WASHINGTON – The American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Jackson Morrill and American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement regarding today’s DC Circuit Court’s decision on Boiler MACT.   “We are pleased the Court affirmed EPA’s (and our) position that the already stringent air pollution limits for…