Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §8869, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:

3-A.__Plans for experimental areas.__Practices applied on an experimental area created pursuant to section 8003, subsection 3, paragraph Q should provide at least the equivalent forest and environmental protection as provided by existing rules and any applicable local regulations.__At a minimum, tests of outcome- based principles should address:

A.__Soil productivity;

B.__Water quality, wetlands and riparian zones;

C.__Timber supply and quality;

D.__Aesthetic impacts of timber harvesting;

E.__Biological diversity; and

F.__Public accountability.

The Governor shall appoint a panel of technical experts to work with the director to implement, monitor and assess tests of outcome-based forestry principles.

Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §8869, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 555, §10, is amended to read:

7. Application. This section shall apply applies to all forest lands within the State, including land in municipal and state ownership. Only state-owned or operated research forests or, industrially owned research forests or outcome-based forest policy experimental areas certified by the commissioner are exempt from these requirements.

Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §8869, sub-§13 is enacted to read:

13.__Confidential information.__Information provided to the bureau voluntarily or to fulfill reporting requirements for the purposes of establishing and monitoring outcome-based forest policy experimental areas is designated as confidential for the

purposes of Title 1, section 402, subsection 3, paragraph A if the bureau has determined that failure to designate the information as confidential would provide competitors an opportunity to obtain business or competitive advantage over the person to whom the information belongs or pertains or would result in loss or other significant detriment to that person.__ Summary reports may be published that use aggregated data that do not reveal the activities of an individual person or firm.

Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §8879, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 720, §13, is amended to read:

1. Content. The report must describe the condition of the State's forests based on historical information and information collected and analyzed by the bureau for the biennium. The report must provide an assessment at the state level of progress in achieving the standards developed pursuant to section 8876-A, including the status and evolution of outcome-based forest policy. The director shall also provide observations on differences in achieving standards by landowner class. The report must summarize importing and exporting of forest products for foreign and interstate activities. The director shall obtain public input during the preparation of the report through public hearings and other appropriate methods.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill adds outcome-based forest policy as another way for landowners to manage forests in the State. The bill defines outcome-based forest policy and makes the information provided to the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Forestry concerning the outcome-based forest policy experimental areas confidential. The bill also directs the Director of the Bureau of Forestry in cooperation with private landowners to create experimental areas on private land where the principles and applicability of outcome-based forest policy can be applied and tested.