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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 08.07.05.02" title_num="08" subtitle_num="07" chapter_num="05" heading="Definitions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Department” means the Department of Natural Resources — Forest Service.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Forestry practice” means an approved or accepted silvicultural and reforestation activity including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Thinning;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Pruning;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Prescribed burning;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Crop tree release;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Site preparation for natural or artificial reforestation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Herbicide treatments; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Planting of seedlings.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Form” means the combined application and agreement form adopted by the Department for the purpose of implementing the Woodland Incentive Program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Licensed forester” means an individual who is licensed by the State Board of Foresters to practice forestry, as defined in Business Occupations and Professions Article, §§7-101—7-602, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Plan” means a forest management plan, a forest stewardship plan, a pine reforestation plan pursuant to Natural Resources Article, §§5-504(b) and 5-505, Annotated Code of Maryland, or a reforestation plan prepared for the purpose of accomplishing forestry practices.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Reforestation” means the approved practice of planting or seeding tree species in areas of idle cropland, pasture land, or other nonforested areas, or the replanting or afforestation of harvested or understocked woodlands, resulting in the establishment of 400 or more healthy sprouts and seedlings per acre of commercially desirable species, well spaced and free to grow.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Site index” means a measurement used to determine the capability of a tract of forest land to produce wood fiber based on the species and base age of the dominant trees.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Technical Assistance.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Technical assistance” means the Department's assistance to a nonindustrial private forest landowner in the implementation of an approved practice or forest practice.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Technical assistance” may include, but is not limited to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Giving advice regarding forest resource protection; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Sharing information regarding restoration and management techniques, and advances in forest management technology.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Timber Stand Improvement.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Timber stand improvement” means a precommercial cultural operation undertaken to improve the composition, value, condition, and number of trees in a timber stand.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Timber stand improvement” includes:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Tree removal;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Deadening; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Pruning activities.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Woodland Incentive Program” means a program developed pursuant to Natural Resources Article, §§5-301—5-307, Annotated Code of Maryland, which is designed to assist eligible landowners in conducting a program of woodland management.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Eligibility.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A landowner may apply for cost-share assistance for the Woodland Incentive Program if the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Landowner is an individual, group, or corporation that owns private woodland in the State; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Woodland tract meets the following criteria:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Consists of 5 to 1,000 contiguous acres;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Is capable of producing more than 20 cubic feet of wood per acre per year;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>When appropriate, has the potential to be harvested for products including logs, timbers, pulpwood, firewood, woodchips, poles, piles, posts, and other primary forest products;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Has not been subject to assistance from the Woodland Incentive Program in any of the 15 years preceding application for the same forestry practice for which assistance is sought.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A corporation or subsidiary of a corporation that manufactures forest products or provides utility services, including railroad lines, telephone systems, electric power systems, natural gas systems, and water supply systems, is not eligible for assistance under the Woodland Incentive Program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A nonindustrial private forest landowner may apply for technical assistance regardless of the size of the tract.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>