1. Prior to a timber harvest subject to this
rule, a site specific timber harvest plan must be prepared that contains the
following elements:
a. Landowner's name,
address, and telephone number.
b.
Designated agent's name, address, and telephone number (if
applicable).
c. Signature and
license number of Licensed Forester preparing or approving the plan.
d. Forest Operations Notification number and
the date it was filed.
e. Total
parcel acreage;
f. A stand-specific
narrative that includes:
i. A description of
the pre-harvest stand, including information on approximate stand acreage,
stocking, timber volumes, timber quality, potential for increases in future
timber volume and value, an assessment of wind firmness and other stand
characteristics relevant to the planned harvest;
ii. For harvests that will result in an
adequately stocked stand, a silvicultural rationale for the harvest in each
stand that explains how the harvest will maintain or improve stand
productivity, grow stands to sawtimber size, improve timber quality, and
specifically avoid high grading. The rationale must specify actions that will
be taken to minimize damage to the residual stand, including without limitation
minimizing the area occupied by skid trails and retaining adequate residual
stocking to reduce the risk of blowdown. The rationale must include a
description of the residual stand that will result from the harvest, including
but not limited to species, stocking, tree condition, size classes, and other
stand characteristics.
iii. For
harvests that will result in an understocked stand, and for regeneration
harvests, a silvicultural rationale thatexplains the reason justifying the
harvest, which must include at least one of the reasons identified in Maine
Forest Service Rule, Chapter 20, Forest Regeneration and Clearcutting
Standards. The rationale for a harvest that will result in an understocked
stand must specify actions that will be taken to retain adequate residual
stocking to reduce the risk of blowdown and to minimize damage to the residual
stand and advanced regeneration. These measures include, without limitation,
minimizing the area occupied by skid trails, and/or creating conditions
suitable for the prompt regeneration of the site to commercially valuable
species. The rationale must include a description of the residual stand that
will result from the harvest, including but not limited to species, stocking,
tree condition, size classes, and other stand characteristics.
g. An assessment of the soil
erosion potential of the harvest area; and specification of actions that will
be taken to minimize rutting, the potential for soil erosion, and the
deposition of sediment into water bodies. These actions should include without
limitation planning the layout of skid trails and yards to minimize erosion,
and the use of applicable Best Management Practices.
h. A description of how the proposed harvest
will protect known occurrences of threatened or endangered species and rare or
exemplary natural communities.
i. A
description of how the proposed harvest will protect significant wildlife
habitat and essential wildlife habitat; and water quality; wetlands; and
riparian zones; if any, including the use of applicable Best Management
Practices.
j. A stand-specific map
prepared at a scale adequate to identify individual stands clearly, but no less
than 1:15,840 (1 in. = 1,320 ft. or 20 chains) or larger. The map must identify
wetlands, water bodies, and any known occurrences of threatened or endangered
species, rare natural communities, and significant wildlife habitat and
essential wildlife habitat, if present. The map must contain a legend, north
arrow, landowner name, town, date of preparation, and the name of the preparer.
The landowner must update the map to conform to conditions in the
field.
2. The timber
harvest plan must be implemented during the harvest.
3. A Licensed Forester must attest in writing
within 60 days of completion of the harvest or expiration of the Forest
Operations Notification, whichever is earlier, that the harvest has complied
with the timber harvest plan. The attestation must include the Licensed
Forester's signature and license number.
4. The timber harvest plan and the
attestation required in subsection 6.C.3 must be kept on file by the landowner
and must be made available to the Bureau for at least seven years following the
completion of the harvest or the expiration of the Forest Operations
Notification, whichever is later.
