LRB-1047/3
RNK:jld:jf
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Byrnes, BB0367 - Managed forest land cutting notices
For 2015-2017 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
natural resources
Forestry
Under the Managed Forest Land Program administered by DNR, the owner of a parcel of land designated as managed forest land (MFL) makes an annual acreage share payment that is lower than, and in lieu of, the property taxes that normally would be payable on the land. In exchange, the owner must comply with certain forestry practices consistent with the terms of a management plan approved by DNR.
Current law requires a person who owns MFL and who intends to cut merchantable timber on the MFL to file a notice of intent to cut the timber and request DNR approval of the proposed cutting. This bill provides that, if the cutting is required under the terms of an MFL management plan, the owner is not required to obtain DNR approval of the cutting if the required notice of the intent to cut the timber is provided to DNR by a cooperating forester.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section
1. 77.86 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 77.86 (1) (b) 1. and amended to read:
77.86 (1) (b) 1. Except as provided under sub. (6), an owner who intends to cut merchantable timber on managed forest land shall, at least 30 days before the cutting is to take place, on a form provided by the department, file a notice of intent to cut and, except as provided under subd. 2., request approval of the proposed cutting from the department.
Section
2. 77.86 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
77.86 (1) (b) 2. An owner who is required under the terms of an approved management plan to cut merchantable timber on managed forest land is not required to obtain approval of the cutting of that timber before the cutting takes place if a cooperating forester authorized under s. 28.05 to assist the state in the harvesting and sale of timber provided the required notice of intent to cut to the department under subd. 1.
Section
3. 77.86 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
77.86 (3) Time limit. All cutting specified in the notice under sub. (1) (b) shall be commenced within one year after the date the proposed cutting is approved or, if approval is not required under sub. (1) (b) 2., within one year after the date on which the notice under sub. (1) (b) 1. is filed. The owner shall report to the department the date on which the cutting is commenced.
Section
4. 77.86 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
77.86 (4) Reporting. Within 30 days after completion of any cutting approved under this section, the owner shall report to the department, on a form provided by the department, a description of the species of wood, kind of product and the quantity of each species cut as shown by the scale or measurement made on the ground as cut, skidded, loaded or delivered, or by tree scale certified by a forester acceptable to the department if the wood is sold by tree measurement.
(End)
