Comment on FR Doc # 2010-02556

The Biomass Crop Assistance Program is extremely important for those forest products businesses that rely on the collecting, gathering, transporting and consuming of biomass for their viability and survival in today's economic climate. The fixed costs associated with operating a small business in America today are continually increasing and causing difficult challenges for the small business owner to remain viable. The assistance provided for within the scope of this program is an essential necessity. This program needs to be implemented to help sustain the small business climate in America. The majority of the businesses in America are small (<500 employees). Woody biomass is one of our truly renewable resources we have available and it is reasonable and practical for us to use a product that is easily sustainable. This program can only be a benefit to the health of our forests. Woody biomass can be utilized from our nation's forests that are wrought with diseased, dead, and dying material. Coupled with utilizing woody biomass is that the incidence of forest fires is dramatically decreased which dramatically reduces the spending of tax dollars for fire suppression, and decreases insurance claims for loss of homes. The Biomass Crop Assistance is an essential, practical, reasonable, efficient, and economical program.