Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §8869, sub-§13 is enacted to read:

13.__Species sustainability.__A landowner or agent of a landowner who owns at least 1,000 acres of forest land may not cut more of a species in a year than that species regenerates in a year, based upon established growth rates consistent with current scientific research, except that, if a landowner does not cut the total allowable amount of a species in a year, the balance of the uncut species allowed to be cut may be carried over pursuant to rules adopted by the department.

Sec. 2. Rules. The Commissioner of Conservation shall adopt rules to determine the established growth rates and to implement a banking system for the carrying over of uncut species allowed to be cut without adversely affecting species sustainability under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 8869, subsection 13. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined in the Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A and must have a public hearing pursuant to Title 5, section 8092, subsection 1.

SUMMARY

This bill prevents a landowner of 1,000 acres or more of forest land from cutting more of a species in a year than that species has regenerated in a year and allows a landowner to bank any uncut species allowed to be cut in that year to be cut in future years. This bill also stipulates that rules adopted by the Department of Conservation to determine established growth rates and to implement a banking system are major substantive rules requiring a public hearing.