GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
H	1
HOUSE BILL 840*

 
 
Short Title:	Local/State Forestry Pilot Program.	()	
Sponsors:	Representatives Insko and Hackney (Primary Sponsors).	
Referred to:	Environment and Natural Resources.	
March 28, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A FORESTRY PILOT PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES COLLaBORATIVE EFFORTS among counties, local soil and water Conservation districts, AND the division of forest resources of the department of environment and natural resources.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Pilot Program Established. – A forestry pilot program is established.  Each county participating in the pilot program, the local soil and water conservation district having jurisdiction in that county, and the Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall work cooperatively to develop this pilot program in accordance with this act.
SECTION 2.  Pilot Program Purposes. – The purposes of the pilot program are:
(1)	To maximize available resources.
(2)	To promote collaborative efforts among counties, soil and water conservation districts having jurisdiction in those counties, and the Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
(3)	To manage natural resources effectively.
(4)	To improve air and water quality.
(5)	To promote public awareness of the benefits of managing forestlands.
(6)	To promote public awareness of the benefits of replanting timbered areas of forestland.
SECTION 3.  Public Education Campaign. – As part of the pilot program, each county participating in the pilot program, the local soil and water conservation district having jurisdiction in that county, and the Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall develop a coordinated public education campaign to promote awareness of the benefits of obtaining a forest management plan and the benefits of replanting timbered areas of forestland. The public education campaign shall employ the use of G.I.S. maps and written education materials. Each county participating in the pilot program, the local soil and water conservation district having jurisdiction in that county, and the Division of Forest Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall conduct public meetings as part of this public education campaign.
SECTION 4.(a)  Advance Public Notification of Logging. – The county forest ranger of each county participating in the pilot program shall provide advance notice of known logging operations, as follows:
(1)	The county forest ranger and the county department of emergency services shall coordinate a means of addressing citizen inquiries regarding air quality issues associated with logging activities.
(2)	The county forest ranger shall post the property on which the logging activity is to occur at least 15 days before the logging activity begins.
SECTION 4.(b)  Prior Notification of Logging to Local Agencies. – The county forest ranger of each county participating in the pilot program shall notify the county erosion and sedimentation control program and the soil and water conservation district having jurisdiction in that county,of every known logging operations, and these entities so notified may inspect the operation to ensure that applicable water quality standards are being complied with.
SECTION 5.  Limit on Burning Permits. – The county forest ranger of each county participating in the pilot program shall not issue a burning permit under Article 4C of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes on any day when the ozone air quality in that county is projected to attain code orange, red, or purple, as certified by the web site of the Division of Air Quality, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, by 3:00 P.M. of the preceding day.
SECTION 6.  Orange County and the water and soil conservation district having jurisdiction in Orange County shall participate in the pilot program under this act.
SECTION 7.  This act is effective when it becomes law and expires June 30, 2004.