Getting Approved

Combining a Forest Certification and Manufacturer Traceability Certification into a Responsible Source Claim

How it works

Forest Certification

1. An agency responsible for administering BMPs in their jurisdiction determines if they have been classified as Regulatory or Quasi-Regulatory with monitoring by the National Association of State Foresters. Federal agencies are exempt from the NASF classification. The eligible 20 states are:

• • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • California
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Montana
  • New Hampshire
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia

Other states are permitted to apply for a Responsible Source designation provided they are willing to demonstrate there is an appropriate monitoring and enforcement mechanism in place for compliance to BMP rules.

2. The agency is audited and certified by third party that they appropriately enforce the statutes of the BMPs. Alternatively, there is evidence of ongoing oversight by another approved agency. The evaluation includes, but is not limited to:
   • Verify there is a state law that requires compliance and punishes non-compliance with best management practices that protect water quality; and verify that state (or other) law requires that fiber comes from known and legal sources.  
   • Verify there is an agency with responsibility and authority to implement the law.
   • Verify agency has sufficient budget / staffing to enforce the law.
   • Verify agency can demonstrate proof of enforcement.
   • Verify agency can prove there is an adaptive management strategy showing continuous improvement.
3. The agency posts their approved evaluation on this website.
4. Manufacturers who source timber from forests within the agency jurisdiction can claim this timber as part of their overall Responsible Source claim, provided they are audited for their ability to trace material sources.

 Manufacturer Traceability Certification (Chain of Custody)

1. The manufacturer assesses the potential of a Responsible Source claim by examining if the government agencies overseeing the BMP administration in their timber procurement regions have been audited and approved as a Responsible Source. Timber sourced from forests under the agency jurisdiction are eligible for the Responsible Source claim. Currently, Oregon forests subject to the Oregon Forest Practices Act are approved.
2. The manufacturer selects an approved traceability standard. For example, if they already are approved under a Chain of Custody standard for a certified source program, then they use their existing traceability requirements. However, if the manufacturer is not participating in a Certified Source program, then they can use the Oregon Department of Forestry traceability rules..
3. The manufacturer selects a third-party agency who offers a Responsible Source audit program. Currently, the Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau offers a Chain of Custody program based on the Oregon Department of Forestry traceability rules.
4. The third-party agency audits the manufacturer in accordance with the approved Traceability standard. The third party verifies the manufacturer claim of X% Responsible Source, 100% Legal Source for all products.
5. The third pary audit reports and manufacturer certificate of compliance are posted on this web site.
6. The manufacture now has proof of a Responsible Source claim that can be applied to building projects under a Green Building program.