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AB-1252 Forestry: timber harvesting plans.(2009-2010)

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AB1252:v97#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  May 05, 2009
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 13, 2009

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2009–2010 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1252

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Portantino
 (Coauthor(s): Assembly Member Huffman)

February 27, 2009

An act to add Section 4592.5 to the Public Resources Code, relating to forestry.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1252, as amended, Portantino. Forestry: timber harvesting plans.
Existing law requires a person conducting timber operations to prepare and submit to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection a timber harvesting plan, and authorizes a person who intends to become a nonindustrial tree farmer to file with the department a nonindustrial management plan, prepared by a registered professional forester.
This bill would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, on or before July 1, 2010, to establish a uniform searchable database on the its Internet Web site containing timber harvest plans and nonindustrial timber management plans submitted to the department for logging projects proposed to be conducted on nonfederal and private land in the state. The department would be required to post any comment letters on those plans from relevant state agencies or departments no later than 7 days after receipt. The bill would also require the department, by January 1, 2011, to post past timber harvest plans dating back to those approved in 2005 for all regions on the its Internet Web site. The bill would require by January 1, 2012, the department to report to the Legislature on the feasibility of posting timber harvesting plans approved in 2004 and earlier on its Internet Web site.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 4592.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:
4592.5.

(a)On or before July 1, 2010, the department shall establish a uniform database on the Internet containing timber harvest plans and nonindustrial timber management plans submitted to the department for logging projects proposed to be conducted on nonfederal and private land in the state.

(b)The department shall design the database to allow the public to focus a search of the database according to a geographical region, affected watershed, or other parameter that the department determines useful.

(c)On and after July 1, 2010, the 15-day comment period required pursuant to Section 4582.7 shall not commence until the complete timber harvesting plan, including suggested mitigation methods from relevant agencies and departments, has been posted pursuant to this section.

(d)On or before January 1, 2011, the department shall post past timber harvest plans on the Internet to allow the public to focus a search of the department’s database according to a geographical region, affected watershed, or other parameter that the department determines useful.

4592.5.
 (a) On or before July 1, 2010, the department shall establish a uniform database on its Internet Web site containing timber harvest plans and nonindustrial timber management plans submitted to the department for logging projects proposed to be conducted on nonfederal and private land in the state in order to streamline public notification requirements and allow the public sufficient time to review and comment on these plans. The department shall also post any comment letters, including suggested mitigation measures, on the those plans from relevant state agencies or departments no later than seven days after receipt.
(b) The department shall design the database using a user-friendly graphic interface. The database shall be searchable according to geographical region, affected watershed, and other parameters that the department determines are useful to the public.
(c) On and after July 1, 2010, the comment periods required pursuant to Section 4582.7 shall not commence until the complete timber harvest plan or nonindustrial timber management plan has been posted pursuant to this section.
(d) On or before January 1, 2011, the department shall post past timber harvest plans dating back to those approved in 2005 for all regions on its Internet Web site to allow the public to focus a search of the department’s database according to a geographical region, affected watershed, and other parameters that the department determines useful.
(e) By January 1, 2012, the department shall report to the Legislature on the feasibility of posting on its Internet Web site timber harvesting plans approved in 2004 and earlier.