Tennessee Legislators Seek Changes to Lacey Act

Nashville, TN, Oct. 21, 2011 -- Two House members from Tennessee have introduced legislation to amend the U.S. Lacey Act, which bans imports of illegally harvested wood.

Gibson Guitar Corp. in Tennessee has been the subject of federal investigations regarding the alleged importation of illegal wood.

Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper and Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn said at a press conference in a Nashville that the bill would protect people from charges for unknowingly possessing illegally imported wood, and would require the federal government to establish a database of forbidden wood sources.

The legislation would also exempt wood imported before 2008 changes to the Lacey Act,