Sec. 5. 38 MRSA §480-Q, sub-§7-A, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 838, §6, is amended to read:

7-A. Forestry. Forest management activities, including associated road construction or maintenance, in or adjacent to an existing forested wetland, or a harvested forested wetland or forest management activities involving the cutting or removal of vegetation within 25 feet of the normal high-water line of a small stream as defined in section 480-C, subsection 4, as long as:

A. The activity results in a forest stand that meets the minimum stocking requirements in rules adopted pursuant to Title 12, section 8869. This requirement takes effect when those rules are adopted;

B. The activity meets permit by rule permit-by-rule standards in rules adopted pursuant to this article, for any road crossing of a river, stream or brook, or for any soil disturbance adjacent to a great pond, river, stream or brook and the commissioner is notified before the forest management activity commences;

C. The forested wetland is not mapped as a significant wildlife habitat under section 480-I; and

D. Any road construction is not used to access development but is used primarily for forest management activities, unless the road is removed and the site restored to its prior natural condition. Roads must be the minimum feasible width and total length consistent with forest management activities. This exemption does not apply to roads that provide access to development in a subdivision as defined in Title 30-A, section 4401, subsection 4, for the organized portions of the State, or Title 12, section 682, subsection 2, including divisions of land exempted by Title 12, section 682, subsection 2, paragraph A, for portions of the State