2006 Minnesota Statutes

89.01 COMMISSIONER, POWERS AND DUTIES.
    Subdivision 1. Best methods. The commissioner shall ascertain and observe the best
methods of reforesting cutover and denuded lands, foresting waste lands, preventing destruction
of forests and lands by fire, administering forests on forestry principles, encouraging private
owners to preserve and grow timber for commercial purposes, and conserving the forests around
the head waters of streams and on the watersheds of the state.
    Subd. 2. General duties. The commissioner shall execute all rules pertaining to forestry
and forest protection within the jurisdiction of the state; have charge of the work of protecting
all forests and lands from fire; shall investigate the origin of all forest fires; and prosecute all
violators as provided by law; shall prepare and print for public distribution an abstract of the
forest fire laws of Minnesota, together with such rules as may be formulated.
The commissioner shall prepare printed notices calling attention to the dangers from forest
fires and cause them to be posted in conspicuous places.
    Subd. 3. Fire damage. Damage by fire occurring to state timber, reproduction or lands, when
coming to the knowledge of the commissioner, shall be promptly reported to the attorney general,
who may either enforce collection of such demands directly or may employ private attorneys
therefor on such terms, not contingent, as the attorney general deems for the best interests of
the state. The amount so collected, after deducting therefrom the fees of such attorneys, if any,
and other necessary expenses incurred in investigation, preparation for trial, and trial, shall be
paid into the state treasury and credited to the fund that would have been entitled to receive the
sale price of the lands, reproduction, or timber if sold; or, if there be no such fund, then such
money shall be credited to the general fund. The attorney general, either in or out of court, may
compromise and settle state claims for fire damage to state lands, reproduction, or timber, on such
terms as the attorney general deems for the best interests of the state.
    Subd. 4. Forest plans. The commissioner shall cooperate with the several departments of
the state and federal governments and with counties, towns, corporations, or individuals in the
preparation of plans for forest protection, management, replacement of trees, wood lots, and timber
tracts, using such influence as time will permit toward the establishment of scientific forestry
principles in the management, protection, and promotion of the forest resources of the state.
    Subd. 5. Eliminating state forest land. When any tract or tracts of land that are included in
areas set apart as state forests are found to be more valuable for agriculture than for forestry or
other conservation purposes, or when any tract or tracts of land used as a forestry administrative
site are found to be no longer needed for administrative purposes, the commissioner by written
order may eliminate such lands from state forests whereupon such lands shall be subject to sale
the same as other lands not reserved. When any tract or tracts of land that are included in areas
set apart as state forests are found to be more valuable for the construction of industrial plants
or for purposes including forestry essential to the establishment of or expansion of substantial
commercial developments, the commissioner, by written order, with the unanimous approval of
the Land Exchange Board may eliminate such lands from state forests whereupon such lands shall
be subject to sale the same as other lands not reserved.
    Subd. 5a. Sale of state forest land. Any state lands included in areas set apart as state
forests are eliminated from the state forest upon sale under the provisions of sections 92.06
to 92.08 or 94.09 to 94.16.
    Subd. 6. Designating state lands. When any state lands not reserved or set aside are found
by the commissioner to be more valuable for the production of timber than for agriculture the
commissioner may by written order designate such lands as state forest or adjust the boundaries of
state forests subject to the approval of the state legislature at its next regular session.
    Subd. 7. Forest road coordination committees. The commissioner shall establish a
forest road coordination committee in each forestry administrative area in which a state or
county forest road is located. The commissioner shall appoint as members representatives
from among the following: road authorities, county land commissioners, local governments,
the forest products industry, and forest recreation interests. Each committee must meet at least
once annually. The committees shall assist in providing a transportation system to facilitate the
protection, management, and use of this state's forest resources. The purpose of the committees
includes coordination of the planning, construction, maintenance, and use of forest roads, and
of restrictions on their use.
History: (4031-5 - 4031-10) 1911 c 125 s 3-6; 1925 c 407 s 5-10; 1961 c 223 s 2; 1963 c
381 s 1; 1969 c 399 s 1; 1975 c 271 s 6; 1982 c 511 s 4; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 462
s 2; 1988 c 686 art 4 s 2; 2004 c 262 art 1 s 10; 2005 c 10 art 1 s 22; 2006 c 281 art 1 s 19