Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §574-C is enacted to read:

§574-C.__Ineligibility

1.__Access fees.__Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, a parcel containing forest land is not eligible under this subchapter if a fee is charged for a person to gain entry to, pass over or use any part of the land, including any road serving or providing access to the land.__This section does not apply if the fee is for commercial use of the land or for parcels of land under 1,000 acres.

2.__Access to great ponds and parcels of 1,000 acres or more.__ Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, a parcel containing forest land is not eligible under this subchapter if a fee is charged for access to a great pond as defined in Title 38, section 436-A, subsection 7 or to a parcel of at least 1,000 acres that is located in the unorganized territory.

SUMMARY

This bill prohibits owners or managers of parcels of land of 1,000 acres or more in the unorganized territory who charge an access fee to the forest land or restrict access to great ponds from benefiting under the tree growth laws.