Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1807 is enacted to read:
Except as provided in this section, timber harvesting on public reserved lands and nonreserved public lands may not exceed in total an average of 141,500 cords per year over any 2-year period. If an independent timber inventory conducted after July 1, 2015 establishes a different sustainable harvest, the department may adopt by rule a different harvesting level consistent with that independent inventory. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A and must be reviewed by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over public reserved and nonreserved lands matters.’
SUMMARY
This amendment strikes the bill and instead limits timber harvesting on public reserved lands and nonreserved public lands to an average of 141,500 cords per year over any 2-year period, which is the sustainable harvesting level determined by an independent timber inventory conducted in 2012. This amendment allows the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry by rule, based on an independent timber inventory conducted after July 1, 2015, to establish a different sustainable harvest level. The rules are major substantive rules and must be reviewed by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over public reserved and nonreserved lands matters.