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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="5-608" title_number="5" title_name="Forests and Parks" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Forest Conservancy Districts">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Any person engaged in a forest products business shall have a forest product operator’s license issued by the Department.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The license is secured from the Department for every type of forest products manufacturing plant.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Before any sawmill or other plant is erected for the manufacture of lumber or other forest products or when the location of any manufacturing plant is to be changed, the location shall be reported to the Department prior to erection of the plant or the change of location.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An applicant for a license shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Submit to the Department an application on the form that the Department provides;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Demonstrate compliance with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Act under Title 9 of the Labor and Employment Article; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Pay to the Department a fee set by the Department in an amount not to exceed the costs of carrying out this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The term of a license is 1 year.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Each person to whom this subtitle applies shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Leave conditions favorable for regrowth. Any forest land on which cuttings are made shall be left by the operator in a favorable condition for regrowth, in order to maintain sufficient growing stock to supply raw materials for industry and furnish employment for forest communities continuously, if possible, or without long interruption;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Leave young growth. As far as feasible, every desirable seedling and sapling shall be protected during logging operations. Except where unavoidable in logging, immature trees may not be cut for any purpose except to improve the spacing, quality, and composition or conditions for restocking, or to obtain timber or wood for home use;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Arrange for restocking land after cutting by leaving trees of desirable species of suitable size singly, or in groups, well distributed and in a number to secure restocking. If the board approves, however, clear–cutting may be performed;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Maintain adequate growing stock after partial cutting or selective logging. Rules and regulations of the Department, defining standards of forest practice to obtain and maintain adequate growing stock in the different forest types, may vary with different forest types of the State;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Conduct timber harvesting operations in accordance with the sediment and erosion control standards under Title 4 of the Environment Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Accurately report to the Department the quality, quantity, and species of firewood sold or delivered in accordance with Title 11 of the Agriculture Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Comply with the terms of any applicable federal, State, or local permit, license, or approval;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>Complete and submit to the Department an annual timber consumption report; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>Comply with the standards of practice adopted by the Department.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department may suspend or revoke the license of a forest product operator for failure to comply with this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Before suspending or revoking a license under this subsection, the Department, in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article, shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Send by registered or certified mail written notice of the basis of the suspension or revocation to the license holder at the last known address of the license holder; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Hold a hearing on the license suspension or revocation if the license holder requests the hearing within 2 weeks after receiving the written notice.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A person aggrieved by a final decision of the Department in a contested case relating to a license suspension or revocation under this subsection may appeal as authorized under §§ 10–222 and 10–223 of the State Government Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The provisions of this section do not apply to cutting firewood and timber for domestic use for the owner or his tenant, but apply to all cutting not specifically excepted.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>In a civil action before a court of competent jurisdiction, a person who suffers damages as a result of a violation of this section by a license holder may recover court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Department may adopt regulations to implement this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
