SF 2878

1st Engrossment - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; providing for the 
  1.3             establishment of heritage forest areas in specified 
  1.4             counties; modifying timber provisions; requiring a 
  1.5             report on the process for public involvement in timber 
  1.6             harvest plans; requiring certain rule changes for 
  1.7             public use of recreational areas; amending Minnesota 
  1.8             Statutes 1998, sections 84.944, subdivision 2; 90.121; 
  1.9             90.14; 90.151, subdivisions 1 and 4; 90.161, 
  1.10            subdivisions 1 and 2; 90.162; 90.173; 90.181; 90.201, 
  1.11            subdivision 2, and by adding a subdivision; 90.252; 
  1.12            and 90.281; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.13            Statutes, chapters 89; and 90. 
  1.14  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.15     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84.944, 
  1.16  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.17     Subd. 2.  [DESIGNATION OF ACQUIRED SITES.] The critical 
  1.18  natural habitat acquired in fee title by the commissioner under 
  1.19  this section shall be designated by the commissioner as:  (1) an 
  1.20  outdoor recreation unit pursuant to section 86A.07, subdivision 
  1.21  3, or (2) as provided in sections 89.018, subdivision 2, 
  1.22  paragraph (a), 97A.101, 97A.125, 97C.001, and 97C.011.  The 
  1.23  commissioner may so designate any critical natural habitat 
  1.24  acquired in less than fee title. 
  1.25     Sec. 2.  [89.018] [HERITAGE FORESTS.] 
  1.26     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT; TERMINATION.] (a) The 
  1.27  commissioner may establish heritage forest areas within counties 
  1.28  named under this subdivision if: 
  1.29     (1) the commissioner determines that establishment is 
  2.1   consistent with the purposes of the heritage forest; and 
  2.2      (2) the county board has submitted a resolution to the 
  2.3   commissioner delineating and requesting establishment of the 
  2.4   heritage forest areas of the county. 
  2.5      (b) The named counties for the Big Woods Heritage Forest 
  2.6   are: 
  2.7      (1) Blue Earth; 
  2.8      (2) Carver; 
  2.9      (3) Dakota; 
  2.10     (4) Hennepin; 
  2.11     (5) Le Sueur; 
  2.12     (6) McLeod; 
  2.13     (7) Meeker; 
  2.14     (8) Nicollet; 
  2.15     (9) Rice; 
  2.16     (10) Sibley; 
  2.17     (11) Scott; 
  2.18     (12) Waseca; and 
  2.19     (13) Wright. 
  2.20     (c) The commissioner may terminate the heritage forest 
  2.21  status of an area within a county if the commissioner determines 
  2.22  that the termination would be in the public interest and the 
  2.23  county board has submitted a resolution to the commissioner 
  2.24  requesting termination. 
  2.25     Subd. 2.  [COMMISSIONER'S POWERS.] (a) Within areas 
  2.26  established as a heritage forest under subdivision 1, the 
  2.27  commissioner may: 
  2.28     (1) designate any state-owned lands as heritage forest 
  2.29  lands for management purposes, including lands that have 
  2.30  previously been designated for another purpose; 
  2.31     (2) accept donations of land, including easements under 
  2.32  subdivision 3, for heritage forest management; 
  2.33     (3) manage lands designated by local governments for 
  2.34  heritage forest management; and 
  2.35     (4) contract with other agencies or organizations for 
  2.36  management services, including any required monitoring 
  3.1   activities. 
  3.2      (b) Lands designated under paragraph (a), clause (1), that 
  3.3   were previously designated by law or by the commissioner 
  3.4   continue to be subject to requirements under the previous 
  3.5   designation. 
  3.6      Subd. 3.  [EASEMENTS.] (a) The commissioner or a political 
  3.7   subdivision may individually or jointly acquire heritage forest 
  3.8   land for conservation purposes in areas established under 
  3.9   subdivision 1 by entering into easements with landowners.  The 
  3.10  easements must be conservation easements as defined in section 
  3.11  84C.01, clause (1), except the easements may be made possessory 
  3.12  as well as nonpossessory if agreed upon by the landowner and the 
  3.13  commissioner or political subdivision. 
  3.14     (b) In an easement agreement between the commissioner or 
  3.15  political subdivision and a landowner, the landowner must agree: 
  3.16     (1) to place forest lands in the program for the period of 
  3.17  the easement; 
  3.18     (2) to implement a heritage forest stewardship plan as 
  3.19  provided in the easement agreement; 
  3.20     (3) not to alter the heritage forest by developing the 
  3.21  land, cutting timber that is not identified in the forest 
  3.22  stewardship plan, or otherwise destroying the heritage forest 
  3.23  character of the easement area; 
  3.24     (4) to allow the commissioner or political subdivision or 
  3.25  agents of the commissioner or political subdivision access to 
  3.26  the land for monitoring activities; 
  3.27     (5) not to adopt a practice specified by the commissioner 
  3.28  or political subdivision in the easement as a practice that 
  3.29  would tend to defeat the purposes of the heritage forest; and 
  3.30     (6) to additional provisions included in the easement that 
  3.31  the commissioner or political subdivision determines are 
  3.32  consistent with the purposes of the heritage forest program. 
  3.33     (c) A limited-term easement may be converted to a permanent 
  3.34  easement or renewed at the end of the easement period by mutual 
  3.35  agreement of the commissioner or political subdivision and the 
  3.36  landowner. 
  4.1      (d) Except as provided in paragraph (c), if during the 
  4.2   easement period the landowner sells or otherwise disposes of the 
  4.3   ownership or right of occupancy of the land, the new landowner 
  4.4   must continue the easement under the same terms or conditions. 
  4.5      (e) If during the limited-term easement period the 
  4.6   landowner sells or otherwise disposes of the ownership or right 
  4.7   of occupancy of the land, the new landowner may continue the 
  4.8   easement under the same terms or conditions. 
  4.9      (f) The commissioner or political subdivision may terminate 
  4.10  an easement by mutual agreement with the landowner if the 
  4.11  commissioner or political subdivision determines that the 
  4.12  termination would be in the public interest.  The commissioner 
  4.13  or political subdivision may agree to modification of an 
  4.14  agreement if the commissioner or political subdivision 
  4.15  determines the modification is desirable to implement the 
  4.16  heritage forest program. 
  4.17     Subd. 4.  [FOREST STEWARDSHIP REGISTRATION.] Private 
  4.18  landowners may establish their lands as heritage forest land by 
  4.19  having a heritage forest stewardship plan prepared and by 
  4.20  completing a stewardship registration agreement.  A stewardship 
  4.21  registration agreement is a nonbinding commitment by a landowner 
  4.22  to provide stewardship to forested lands.  In a stewardship 
  4.23  registration agreement, a landowner acknowledges an intent to 
  4.24  implement a heritage forest stewardship plan.  If the landowner 
  4.25  sells or otherwise disposes of the ownership or right of 
  4.26  occupancy of the land, the commissioner shall terminate the 
  4.27  stewardship registration agreement.  A new owner must enter into 
  4.28  a new stewardship registration agreement to continue recognition 
  4.29  of the forest land as heritage forest.  The commissioner may 
  4.30  terminate a stewardship registration agreement by mutual 
  4.31  agreement of the landowner if the commissioner determines the 
  4.32  termination would be in the public interest. 
  4.33     Sec. 3.  [90.042] [PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS.] 
  4.34     By July 1, 2000, the commissioner must provide a complete 
  4.35  description of the public involvement process for timber harvest 
  4.36  plans to the chairs of the legislative committees with 
  5.1   jurisdiction over natural resources policy and finance.  The 
  5.2   process must provide public notice and public input in affected 
  5.3   areas of proposed annual harvest plans and the plans must be 
  5.4   posted on the department of natural resources web site. 
  5.5      Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.121, is 
  5.6   amended to read: 
  5.7      90.121 [INTERMEDIATE AUCTION SALES; MAXIMUM LOTS OF 3,000 
  5.8   CORDS.] 
  5.9      The commissioner may sell the timber on any tract of state 
  5.10  land in lots not exceeding 3,000 cords in volume, in the same 
  5.11  manner as timber sold at public auction under section 90.101, 
  5.12  and related laws, subject to the following special exceptions 
  5.13  and limitations:  
  5.14     (1) sales shall be at the forest office or other public 
  5.15  facility most accessible to potential bidders or close to where 
  5.16  the tract is located; 
  5.17     (2) the commissioner's list describing the tract, quantity 
  5.18  of timber, and appraised price shall be compiled not less than 
  5.19  30 days before the date of sale and a copy of the list posted 
  5.20  not less than 30 days before the date of the sale at the 
  5.21  location designated for the sale; 
  5.22     (3) notice of the sale shall be published once, not less 
  5.23  than one week before the date of the sale; 
  5.24     (4) no bidder may be awarded more than 25 percent of the 
  5.25  total tracts offered at the first round of bidding unless fewer 
  5.26  than four tracts are offered, in which case not more than one 
  5.27  tract shall be awarded to one bidder.  Any tract not sold may be 
  5.28  offered for sale for a period of no more than six months for 
  5.29  purchase by persons eligible under this section at the appraised 
  5.30  value; 
  5.31     (5) the bond or deposit required pursuant to section 90.161 
  5.32  or 90.173 shall be given or deposited and approved as to form 
  5.33  and execution by the commissioner before any cutting begins or 
  5.34  not later than 120 days after the date of purchase, whichever is 
  5.35  earlier, provided that the commissioner may extend the time for 
  5.36  furnishing the bond or deposit for not more than 30 additional 
  6.1   days for good cause shown; 
  6.2      (6) in lieu of the placing of the marks M I N on cut 
  6.3   products as prescribed under section 90.151, subdivision 2, all 
  6.4   landings of cut products shall be legibly marked with the name 
  6.5   of the permit holder and the assigned permit number; and 
  6.6      (7) no person may hold more than six permits issued under 
  6.7   this section and no sale may be made to a person holding six 
  6.8   permits which are still in effect or to a person having more 
  6.9   than 20 employees;.  
  6.10     (8) the permit may not exceed three years in duration; and 
  6.11     (9) if all cut timber, equipment, and buildings are not 
  6.12  removed at the end of any 120-day extension period which the 
  6.13  commissioner may grant for removal, the commissioner may grant a 
  6.14  second period of time not to exceed 120 days for the removal of 
  6.15  cut timber, equipment, and buildings upon receipt of a request 
  6.16  by the permit holder for hardship reasons only.  
  6.17     The auction sale procedure set forth in this section 
  6.18  constitutes an additional alternative timber sale procedure 
  6.19  available to the commissioner and is not intended to replace 
  6.20  other authority possessed by the commissioner to sell timber in 
  6.21  lots of 3,000 cords or less. 
  6.22     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.14, is amended 
  6.23  to read: 
  6.24     90.14 [AUCTION SALE PROCEDURE.] 
  6.25     (a) All state timber shall be offered and sold by the same 
  6.26  unit of measurement as it was appraised.  The sale shall be made 
  6.27  to the party who (1) shall bid the highest price for all the 
  6.28  several kinds of timber as advertised, or (2) if unsold at 
  6.29  public auction, to the party who purchases at any sale 
  6.30  authorized under section 90.101, subdivision 1.  The 
  6.31  commissioner may refuse to approve any and all bids received and 
  6.32  cancel a sale of state timber for good and sufficient reasons.  
  6.33     (b) The purchaser at any sale of timber shall, immediately 
  6.34  upon the approval of the bid, or, if unsold at public auction, 
  6.35  at the time of purchase at a subsequent sale under section 
  6.36  90.101, subdivision 1, pay to the commissioner 25 15 percent of 
  7.1   the appraised value.  In case any purchaser fails to make such 
  7.2   payment, the purchaser shall be liable therefor to the state in 
  7.3   a civil action, and the commissioner may reoffer the timber for 
  7.4   sale as though no bid or sale under section 90.101, subdivision 
  7.5   1, therefor had been made. 
  7.6      (c) In lieu of the scaling of state timber required by this 
  7.7   chapter, a purchaser of state timber may, at the time of the bid 
  7.8   approval and upon payment by the purchaser to the commissioner 
  7.9   of 15 percent of the appraised value, elect in writing on a form 
  7.10  prescribed by the attorney general to purchase a permit based 
  7.11  solely on the appraiser's estimate of the volume of timber 
  7.12  described in the permit, provided that the commissioner has 
  7.13  expressly designated the availability of such option for that 
  7.14  tract on the list of tracts available for sale as required under 
  7.15  section 90.101 or 90.121.  A purchaser who elects in writing on 
  7.16  a form prescribed by the attorney general to purchase a permit 
  7.17  based solely on the appraiser's estimate of the volume of timber 
  7.18  described on the permit does not have recourse to the provisions 
  7.19  of section 90.281. 
  7.20     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.151, 
  7.21  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  7.22     Subdivision 1.  [ISSUANCE; EXPIRATION.] (a) Following 
  7.23  receipt of the down payment for state timber sold at public 
  7.24  auction, the commissioner shall issue a numbered permit to the 
  7.25  purchaser, in a form approved by the attorney general, by the 
  7.26  terms of which the purchaser shall be authorized to enter upon 
  7.27  the land, and to cut and remove the timber therein described, 
  7.28  according to the provisions of this chapter.  The permit shall 
  7.29  be correctly dated and executed by the commissioner or agent and 
  7.30  signed by the purchaser.  
  7.31     (b) The permit shall expire no later than five years after 
  7.32  the date of sale as the commissioner shall specify, and the 
  7.33  timber shall be cut within the time specified therein.  All cut 
  7.34  timber, equipment, and buildings not removed from the land 
  7.35  within 90 days after expiration of the permit shall become the 
  7.36  property of the state.  
  8.1      (c) The commissioner may grant an additional period of time 
  8.2   not to exceed 120 days for the removal of cut timber, equipment, 
  8.3   and buildings upon receipt of such request by the permit holder 
  8.4   for good and sufficient reasons.  The commissioner may grant a 
  8.5   second period of time not to exceed 120 days for the removal of 
  8.6   cut timber, equipment, and buildings upon receipt of a request 
  8.7   by the permit holder for hardship reasons only. 
  8.8      (d) No permit shall be issued to any person other than the 
  8.9   purchaser in whose name the bid was made.  
  8.10     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.151, 
  8.11  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  8.12     Subd. 4.  [PERMIT TERMS.] The permit shall provide that all 
  8.13  timber sold or designated for cutting shall be cut without 
  8.14  damage to other timber; that the permit holder shall remove all 
  8.15  timber authorized to be cut under the permit; that timber sold 
  8.16  by board measure but later determined by the commissioner not to 
  8.17  be convertible into board measure shall be paid for by the piece 
  8.18  or cord or other unit of measure according to the size, species, 
  8.19  or value, as may be determined by the commissioner; that all 
  8.20  timber products, except as specified by the commissioner, shall 
  8.21  be scaled and the final settlement for the timber cut shall be 
  8.22  made on this scale; and that the permit holder shall pay to the 
  8.23  state the permit price for all timber authorized to be cut, 
  8.24  including timber not cut. 
  8.25     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.161, 
  8.26  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  8.27     Subdivision 1.  [BOND REQUIRED.] Except as otherwise 
  8.28  provided by law, the purchaser of any state timber, before any 
  8.29  timber permit shall become effective for any purpose, 
  8.30  shall within 120 days from the date of purchase give a good and 
  8.31  valid bond to the state of Minnesota equal to the value of all 
  8.32  timber covered or to be covered by the permit, as shown by the 
  8.33  sale price bid and the appraisal report as to quantity, less the 
  8.34  amount of any payment pursuant to section 90.14.  The bond shall 
  8.35  be conditioned upon the faithful performance by the purchaser 
  8.36  and successors in interest of all terms and conditions of the 
  9.1   permit and all requirements of law in respect to timber sales.  
  9.2   The bond shall be approved in writing by the commissioner and 
  9.3   filed for record in the commissioner's office.  In the 
  9.4   alternative to cash and bond requirements, but upon the same 
  9.5   conditions, a purchaser may post bond for 100 percent of the 
  9.6   purchase price and request refund of the amount of any payment 
  9.7   pursuant to section 90.14.  The commissioner may credit the 
  9.8   refund to any other permit held by the same permit holder if the 
  9.9   permit is delinquent as provided in section 90.181, subdivision 
  9.10  2, or may credit the refund to any other permit to which the 
  9.11  permit holder requests that it be credited.  
  9.12     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.161, 
  9.13  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  9.14     Subd. 2.  [FAILURE TO BOND.] If bond is not furnished 
  9.15  within 120 days from the date of purchase, no harvesting may 
  9.16  occur and the down payment for timber shall forfeit to the 
  9.17  state, except that the commissioner may grant an extension of 
  9.18  time for good and sufficient reason, provided that any extension 
  9.19  of time shall not exceed 30 days.  
  9.20     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.162, is 
  9.21  amended to read: 
  9.22     90.162 [ALTERNATIVE TO BOND OR DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS.] 
  9.23     In lieu of the bond or cash deposit required by section 
  9.24  90.161 or 90.173, a purchaser of state timber may, at the time 
  9.25  of the bid approval and upon payment by the purchaser to the 
  9.26  commissioner of 25 15 percent of the appraised value under 
  9.27  section 90.14, elect in writing on a form prescribed by the 
  9.28  attorney general to prepay the purchase price for any designated 
  9.29  cutting block identified on the permit before the date the 
  9.30  purchaser enters upon the land to begin harvesting the timber. 
  9.31     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.173, is 
  9.32  amended to read: 
  9.33     90.173 [PURCHASER'S OR ASSIGNEE'S CASH DEPOSIT IN LIEU OF 
  9.34  BOND.] 
  9.35     (a) In lieu of filing the bond required by section 90.161 
  9.36  or 90.171, as security for the issuance or assignment of a 
 10.1   timber permit the person required to file the bond may deposit 
 10.2   with the state treasurer cash, a certified check, a cashier's 
 10.3   check, a personal check, a postal, bank, or express money order, 
 10.4   assignable bonds or notes of the United States, or an assignment 
 10.5   of a bank savings account or investment certificate or an 
 10.6   irrevocable bank letter of credit, in the same amount as would 
 10.7   be required for a bond.  If securities listed in this section 
 10.8   are deposited, the par value of the securities shall be not less 
 10.9   than the amount required for the timber sale bond, and the 
 10.10  person required to file the timber sale bond shall submit an 
 10.11  agreement authorizing the commissioner to sell or otherwise take 
 10.12  possession of the security in the event of default under the 
 10.13  timber sale.  All of the conditions of the timber sale bond 
 10.14  shall equally apply to the deposit with the state treasurer.  In 
 10.15  the event of a default the state may take from the deposit the 
 10.16  sum of money to which it is entitled; the remainder, if any, 
 10.17  shall be returned to the person making the deposit and shall 
 10.18  bear interest at the rate determined pursuant to section 549.09 
 10.19  if not returned within 30 days from the date of the default.  
 10.20  Sums of money as may be required by the state treasurer to carry 
 10.21  out the terms and provisions of this section are appropriated 
 10.22  from the general fund to the state treasurer for these 
 10.23  purposes.  When cash is deposited for a bond, it shall be 
 10.24  applied to the amount due when a statement is prepared and 
 10.25  transmitted to the permit holder pursuant to section 90.181.  
 10.26  Any balance due to the state shall be shown on the statement and 
 10.27  shall be paid as provided in section 90.181.  Any amount of the 
 10.28  deposit in excess of the amount determined to be due pursuant to 
 10.29  section 90.181 shall be returned to the permit holder when a 
 10.30  final statement is transmitted pursuant to that section.  All or 
 10.31  part of a cash bond may be withheld from application to an 
 10.32  amount due on a nonfinal statement if it appears that the total 
 10.33  amount due on the permit will exceed the bid price.  
 10.34     (b) If an irrevocable bank letter of credit is provided as 
 10.35  security under paragraph (a), at the written request of the 
 10.36  permittee the state shall annually allow the amount of the bank 
 11.1   letter of credit to be reduced by an amount proportionate to the 
 11.2   value of timber that has been harvested and for which the state 
 11.3   has received payment under the timber permit.  The remaining 
 11.4   amount of the bank letter of credit after a reduction under this 
 11.5   paragraph must not be less than the value of the timber 
 11.6   remaining to be harvested under the timber permit. 
 11.7      Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.181, is 
 11.8   amended to read: 
 11.9      90.181 [STATEMENT OF TIMBER CUT.] 
 11.10     Subdivision 1.  [PASSAGE OF TITLE TO TIMBER.] (a) The 
 11.11  commissioner shall transmit to the permit holder a statement of 
 11.12  the amount due therefor by the terms of the permit upon 
 11.13  completion of the cutting or at least annually in the case of an 
 11.14  auction permit.  Any partial payment received may be applied to 
 11.15  any items on the statement as the commissioner shall determine.  
 11.16     (b) The title to the timber shall not pass from the state 
 11.17  until such the timber has been scaled as required by the permit 
 11.18  and the commissioner has made adequate arrangements for 
 11.19  collecting the payment for the same as will protect the interest 
 11.20  of the state, full payment for the timber has been received, and 
 11.21  all other provisions of the permit have been fully complied with.
 11.22     Subd. 2.  [DEFERRED PAYMENTS.] (a) If the amount of the 
 11.23  statement is not paid within 30 days of the date thereof, it 
 11.24  shall bear interest at the rate determined pursuant to section 
 11.25  549.09 16A.124, except that the purchaser shall not be required 
 11.26  to pay interest that totals $1 or less.  If the amount is not 
 11.27  paid within 60 days, the commissioner shall place the account in 
 11.28  the hands of the attorney general who shall proceed to collect 
 11.29  the same.  When deemed in the best interests of the state, the 
 11.30  commissioner shall take possession of the timber for which an 
 11.31  amount is due wherever it may be found and sell the same 
 11.32  informally or at public auction after giving reasonable notice.  
 11.33     (b) The proceeds of the sale shall be applied, first, to 
 11.34  the payment of the expenses of seizure and sale; and, second, to 
 11.35  the payment of the amount due for the timber, with interest; and 
 11.36  the surplus, if any, shall belong to the state; and, in case a 
 12.1   sufficient amount is not realized to pay these amounts in full, 
 12.2   the balance shall be collected by the attorney general.  Neither 
 12.3   payment of the amount, nor the recovery of judgment therefor, 
 12.4   nor satisfaction of the judgment, nor the seizure and sale of 
 12.5   timber, shall release the sureties on any bond given pursuant to 
 12.6   this chapter, or preclude the state from afterwards claiming 
 12.7   that the timber was cut or removed contrary to law and 
 12.8   recovering damages for the trespass thereby committed, or from 
 12.9   prosecuting the offender criminally.  
 12.10     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.201, 
 12.11  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 12.12     Subd. 2.  [REFUNDS ON FINAL BILLING; INTEREST PAYMENT ON 
 12.13  LATE REFUNDS.] The commissioner shall refund to a permit holder 
 12.14  any amount paid on a timber sale which exceeds the value of the 
 12.15  timber cut under that sale as determined on a final statement 
 12.16  transmitted pursuant to section 90.181.  The commissioner may 
 12.17  credit a refund to any other permit held by the same permit 
 12.18  holder if the permit is delinquent as provided in section 
 12.19  90.181, subdivision 2, and may credit a refund to any other 
 12.20  permit to which the permit holder requests that it be credited.  
 12.21     Any refund of cash which is due to a permit holder as 
 12.22  determined on a final statement transmitted pursuant to section 
 12.23  90.181 which is not paid to the permit holder within 45 days 
 12.24  after the date of that statement shall bear interest at the rate 
 12.25  determined pursuant to section 549.09 unless the refund is 
 12.26  credited on another permit as provided in this subdivision. 
 12.27  Interest shall be paid from the date of the final statement.  No 
 12.28  interest shall be paid in an amount of $50 or less.  
 12.29     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.201, is 
 12.30  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 12.31     Subd. 2a.  [PROMPT PAYMENT OF REFUNDS.] Any refund of cash 
 12.32  that is due to a permit holder as determined on a final 
 12.33  statement transmitted pursuant to section 90.181 or a refund of 
 12.34  cash made pursuant to section 90.161, subdivision 1, or 90.173, 
 12.35  paragraph (a), shall be paid to the permit holder according to 
 12.36  section 16A.124 unless the refund is credited on another permit 
 13.1   as provided in this chapter. 
 13.2      Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.252, is 
 13.3   amended to read: 
 13.4      90.252 [CONSUMER SCALE OF STATE TIMBER.] 
 13.5      The commissioner may enter into an agreement with either a 
 13.6   timber sale permittee, or the purchaser of the cut products, or 
 13.7   both, so that the scaling of the cut timber and the collection 
 13.8   of the payment for the same can be consummated by the consumer.  
 13.9   Such an agreement shall provide for a bond or cash in lieu of a 
 13.10  bond and such other safeguards as are necessary to protect the 
 13.11  interests of the state.  Such a scaling and payment collection 
 13.12  procedure may be used for any state timber sale, except that in 
 13.13  the case of timber sold under section 90.101, no permittee who 
 13.14  is also the consumer shall both cut and scale the timber sold 
 13.15  unless such scaling is supervised by a state scaler.  
 13.16     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 90.281, is 
 13.17  amended to read: 
 13.18     90.281 [RESCALES, RECOUNTS AND REESTIMATES.] 
 13.19     (a) Upon complaint of any interested permit holder 
 13.20  questioning the accuracy of any scale, count, or estimate of 
 13.21  timber made by any state appraiser, or at any other time the 
 13.22  commissioner determines in the absence of a complaint, the 
 13.23  commissioner may cause a rescale, recount, or reestimate thereof 
 13.24  to be made jointly by any two or more state appraisers, which 
 13.25  when made shall supersede and for all purposes take the place of 
 13.26  the original scale, count, or estimate, if and only when it the 
 13.27  scale or count varies more than ten percent from the original or 
 13.28  the estimate exceeds the standards established by section 90.045.
 13.29     (b) As a condition precedent to the making of any such a 
 13.30  rescale, recount, or reestimate upon the complaint of any 
 13.31  person, the commissioner may require such the person to make 
 13.32  available such sum of money as the commissioner deems necessary 
 13.33  for the actual expenses thereof and to forfeit the same to the 
 13.34  state if such the rescale, and recount, or reestimate does not 
 13.35  vary more than ten percent from the original or the reestimate 
 13.36  does not exceed the standards established by section 90.045.  
 14.1   All such forfeited money shall be paid into the state treasury 
 14.2   and credited to the fund or account from which the expenses 
 14.3   of such the rescale, recount, or reestimate were paid.  
 14.4      Sec. 17.  [RULES FOR PUBLIC USE OF RECREATIONAL AREAS.] 
 14.5      (a) The commissioner of natural resources shall amend the 
 14.6   permanent rules relating to public use of recreational areas, 
 14.7   Minnesota Rules, parts 6100.0100 to 6100.2400, according to this 
 14.8   section and pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 14.388. 
 14.9      (b) Minnesota Rules, part 6100.1950, subpart 1, item B, 
 14.10  shall be amended to read:  "Motor vehicles may operate on forest 
 14.11  lands classified as limited only on forest roads that are not 
 14.12  posted and designated closed and on forest trails or areas that 
 14.13  are posted and designated to allow motor vehicle use, subject to 
 14.14  the limitations and exceptions in this part."  
 14.15     (c) Minnesota Rules, part 6100.1950, subpart 7, shall be 
 14.16  amended by adding an item D to read:  "On forest lands 
 14.17  classified as limited, persons lawfully engaged in hunting big 
 14.18  game during November and December may use ATV's off forest 
 14.19  trails in a manner consistent with this subpart.  This exception 
 14.20  does not apply in the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood 
 14.21  Forest."  A technical correction may be made to item C to 
 14.22  correct the reference to this part. 
 14.23     (d) Minnesota Rules, part 6100.1950, subpart 7, shall be 
 14.24  amended by adding an item E to read:  "No person shall cut 
 14.25  vegetation or move soil for the purpose of constructing an 
 14.26  unauthorized, permanent trail on forest lands."