§8715.__Change in use exemption

A landowner is exempt from the prohibition under section 8713 for a parcel or a portion of the parcel that is being harvested for conversion to another use within 2 years.__The use must be indicated on the harvest notification form required under section 8883. If the change in use is for residential dwellings, the exemption is limited to the total area of the lots or 5 acres per dwelling, whichever is less.

§8716.__Variance

The Commissioner of Conservation may grant a variance from the requirements under section 8714 for financial hardship. The Commissioner of Conservation shall establish criteria for determining financial hardships under which a variance may be issued.

§8717.__Enforcement

The Director of the Bureau of Forestry is responsible for enforcing this subchapter.__Agents of the bureau have the right to access land to administer and enforce this subchapter.

1. Civil violation.__A violation of this subchapter is a civil violation.__In accordance with subsection 2, fines imposed for a violation of this chapter are based on the length of time the land was held and the parcel-wide basal area.

2. Schedule of fines. Fines for violations under this subchapter are as provided in this subsection.

A.__When the basal area after harvest is less than 60 but more than 30 square feet of acceptable growing stock per acre and:

(1)__The land has been held for 24 months or less, the fine is $800 per acre of area harvested;