SF 805

2nd Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:16am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; directing the commissioner of natural resources
to increase timber sales based on appraised value only; authorizing a forest
management lease pilot project.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPRAISED VALUE TIMBER SALES; FISCAL YEARS 2010 AND
2011.
new text end

new text begin (a) During fiscal years 2010 and 2011, the commissioner of natural resources shall
increase the amount of timber products sold from state lands under permits based solely
on the appraiser's estimate of the timber volume described in the permit, as provided in
Minnesota Statutes, section 90.14, paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall evaluate sales of timber under paragraph (a) and other
methods used to sell cut forest products from state lands to identify the method, or
combination of methods, that is most efficient and effective in protecting the fiduciary
interest of the state, including the permanent school fund.
new text end

new text begin (c) By January 15, 2011, the commissioner shall report to the house and senate
natural resources policy and finance committees and divisions on the findings of the
evaluation process completed under paragraph (b).
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin FOREST MANAGEMENT LEASE-PILOT PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding the permit procedures of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 90, the
commissioner of natural resources may lease up to 10,000 acres of state-owned forest
lands for forest management purposes for a term not to exceed 21 years. No person or
entity may lease more than 2,000 acres. The lease shall provide:
new text end

new text begin (1) that the lessee must comply with timber harvesting and forest management
guidelines developed under Minnesota Statutes, section 89A.05, and landscape-level plans
under Minnesota Statutes, section 89A.06, that have been adopted by the Minnesota Forest
Resources Council, and in effect at the time of any management activity; and
new text end

new text begin (2) for public access to the leased land that is the same as would be available under
state management.
new text end

new text begin (b) For the purposes of this section, the term "state-owned forest lands" may include
school trust lands as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 92.025, or university land
granted to the state by Acts of Congress.
new text end

new text begin (c) By December 15, 2009, the commissioner of natural resources shall provide
a report to the house and senate natural resources policy and finance committees and
divisions on the pilot project. The report will detail a plan for the implementation of the
pilot project with a starting date that is no later than July 1, 2010.
new text end

new text begin (d) Upon implementation of the pilot project, the commissioner shall provide an
annual report to the house and senate natural resources policy and finance committees and
divisions on the progress of the project, including the acres leased, a breakdown of the
types of forest land, and amounts harvested by species. The report shall include a net
revenue analysis comparing the lease revenue with the estimated net revenue that would
be obtained through state management and silvicultural practices cost savings the state
realizes through leasing.
new text end

new text begin (e) Nothing in this section supersedes the duties of the commissioner of natural
resources to properly manage forest lands under the authority of the commissioner, as
defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 89.001, subdivision 13.
new text end