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

§574-C.__Additional requirement for land ownership greater than

100,000 acres

In addition to the requirements of section 574-B, a landowner who owns more than 100,000 acres statewide must comply with this section.

1.__Sustainable harvest levels.__On forest land taxed in accordance with this subchapter, harvesting within species groups and total harvesting may not exceed sustainable harvest levels for any rolling 10-year average.__For the purposes of this__ section, "sustainable harvest levels" means that harvest levels do not exceed growth levels. The determination of sustainable levels must be based on past growth and yield and other criteria established by rules in accordance with subsection 2.__ Sustainable levels may not be based on projected growth and yield.

2.__Rule-making authority.__No later than January 1, 2000, the Commissioner of Conservation shall adopt rules in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375 to define species groups and to establish criteria for determining sustainable harvest levels and a procedure for certifying landowner compliance with this section.__ Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

SUMMARY

This bill requires landowners who own more than 100,000 acres of land in the State to harvest at or below a sustainable level on their forest land taxed under the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law. It requires the Department of Conservation to adopt rules to establish a procedure for determining landowner compliance.