76-13-420. Notification prior to forest practices -- department response. (1) An operator or, pursuant to subsection (3), an owner shall notify the department prior to conducting forest practices. The notification may be provided as part of the notification made with respect to an agreement under 76-13-408.
     (2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3), within 5 working days, but not exceeding 7 calendar days, of receiving notification of forest practices, the department shall mail to the operator and, if an address has been provided, to the owner:
     (i) a receipt of notification;
     (ii) information on best management practices for forestry;
     (iii) information on conservation district permit requirements related to stream crossings; and
     (iv) any other information the department believes would assist the operator or the owner with conducting forest practices.
     (b) The receipt of notification must include a statement that:
     (i) forest practices may proceed; or
     (ii) an onsite consultation is required prior to conducting forest practices.
     (3) (a) An owner may submit to the department a notice providing an annual, semiannual, or quarterly operating plan that indicates the estimated starting date of forest practices for each timber sale planned by the owner during the operating period. The plan must be submitted no less than 15 days before the beginning of the operating period covered.
     (b) Upon receipt of an operating plan, the department may:
     (i) meet with the owner to review the proposed timber sales, discuss watershed concerns, and schedule onsite consultations at appropriate sites; or
     (ii) provide a receipt of notification, as described in subsection (2)(b), for individual timber sales.
     (c) If the department requires an onsite consultation for any of the timber sales, it shall notify the owner of this requirement as soon as possible but no less than 10 calendar days prior to the estimated starting date of forest practices associated with the timber sale. The onsite consultation must then be scheduled according to the provisions of 76-13-421(2) through (4).

     History: En. Sec. 4(1) thru (3), Ch. 423, L. 1989; Sec. 76-13-131, MCA 2005; redes. 76-13-420 by Sec. 32(3), Ch. 336, L. 2007.