Sec. 1. 12 MRSA c. 805, sub-c. 2-A is enacted to read:

SUBCHAPTER 2-A

HARVESTING STANDARDS FOR SHORT-TERM OWNERSHIP

§8711.__Definitions

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

1.__Harvest plan.__"Harvest plan" means a site-specific document signed by a professional forester outlining proposed harvesting activities to ensure compliance with this subchapter.

2.__Heavy cut.__"Heavy cut" means a harvest that exceeds 20 acres in size and results in a residual basal area of less than 60 square feet per acre of acceptable growing stock of trees over 4.5 inches in diameter measured at 4 1/2 feet above the ground and that is not a clear-cut as defined in section 8868, subsection 1.

3.__Landowner.__"Landowner" means a person, company or other entity that holds title to land, including joint owners or tenants in common.__If the ownership of the timber located on the land is different from the fee ownership of the land, the owner of the timber is deemed to be a landowner and is jointly and severally responsible with the fee landowner for compliance with this subchapter.__If a corporate landowner is a wholly owned subsidiary of another corporation, both parent and subsidiary are deemed to be the same landowner.

4.__Parcel.__"Parcel" means a contiguous tract of forest land.

5.__Short-term ownership.__"Short-term ownership" means a period of less than 8 years between the date that a landowner acquires a parcel of land or the timber on a parcel of land and the date that landowner conducts a harvest on that parcel.

§8712.__Applicability

This subchapter applies to a parcel of forest land 20 acres or greater in size that is purchased or on which the timber rights are purchased after July 1, 2003.

§8713.__Prohibition on heavy cuts