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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="5-608.1" title_number="5" title_name="Forests and Parks" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Forest Conservancy Districts">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “forest product operator” means a person engaged in a forest products business who is licensed under § 5–608 of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is a Voluntary Firewood Treatment Certification Program in the Department.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the program is to certify forest product operators who export firewood to other states and use heat treatment and other procedures to prevent the presence of wood boring pest infestations, wood inhabiting pests, and plant disease pathogens in the firewood products.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Department may issue a certification to a forest product operator if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The forest product operator submits a complete application for the certification on a form provided by the Department; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department determines, on inspection, that the facility, equipment, and treatment methods used by the forest product operator meet the criteria for certification established by the Department by regulation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A certification issued under this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Shall have a term of 1 year;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>May include any conditions the Department considers necessary;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>May be renewed in accordance with regulations adopted by the Department;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>May not be transferred; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>May be suspended or revoked by the Department for failure to comply with:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The provisions of this section;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A regulation adopted by the Department under this section; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A condition or requirement of the certification.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>At least once annually and at any other time that the Department considers necessary, the Department may inspect the facility and equipment used by a forest product operator certified under this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department shall keep a report of each inspection conducted under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Department, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, shall adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section, including regulations that establish:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The criteria for certification under this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The procedures for suspension and revocation of a certification issued under this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
