2009 Montana Legislature

HOUSE BILL NO. 44

INTRODUCED BY C. VINCENT

BY REQUEST OF THE FIRE SUPPRESSION COMMITTEE

AN ACT REVISING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION'S PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANNING; AMENDING SECTION 76-13-702, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 76-13-702, MCA, is amended to read:

"76-13-702. Duties -- authority. To implement the policy of 76-13-701, the department of natural resources and conservation:

(1) shall support sustainable forest management practices, including forest restoration, on public forests in Montana consistent with all applicable laws and administrative requirements;

(2) shall provide technical information and educational assistance to nonindustrial, private forest landowners;

(3) shall promote forest management activities within and adjacent to the wildland-urban interface and promote the implementation of community wildfire protection plans;

(4) shall promote a viable forest and wood products industry and other businesses and individual activities that rely on public forest lands;

(5) shall represent the state's interest in the federal forest management planning and policy process, including establishing cooperative agency status and coordination with federal agencies;

(6) may assist local government entities in establishing cooperative agency status and coordination with federal agencies;

(6)(7) shall promote the development of an independent, long-term sustained yield calculation on Montana's federal forests;

(7)(8) has the authority to intervene in litigation or appeals on federal forest management projects that comply with the policy in 76-13-701 and in which local and state interests are clearly involved;

(8)(9) has the authority to enter into agreements with federal agencies to participate in forest management activities on federal lands; and

(9)(10) shall participate in and facilitate collaboration between traditional forest interests in reaching consensus-based solutions on federal land management issues."

Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

- END -

Latest Version of HB 44 (HB0044.ENR)
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