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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 57
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1039
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 40–22
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
Show 2 earlier actions
- 1st report cal.1039
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relating to selectively cutting timber
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor William Magee
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4361
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to selectively cutting timber
Purpose
This bill would enhance the ability of farmers and other landowners to selectively harvest timber within a regulated wetland without disturbing the environmental integrity of the wetland.
Summary of provisions
Subdivision 4 of section 24-0701 of the environmental conservation law is amended to allow the construction and use, without the requirement of a permit, of temporary skidder trails and machinery, using current best management practices as outlined by USDA Forest Service, when selectively harvesting timber within regulated wetlands.
Justification
Selective harvesting of timber and the operation of machinery for agricultural purposes (including forestry) have always been allowable activities in state regulated wetlands. This bill clarifies that specific logging equipment and other machinery may create and use temporary access trails in wetlands as long as current Best Management Practices as prescribed by the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service are followed. The addition would standardize the regulation, as Adirondack Park Agency wetland regulations already specify that "construction and using skid trails for removal of timber" is not a regulated activity within APA jurisdictional wetlands {Part 578 §3(n)(4)(ii)(d)).
This change will not weaken the protection of wetlands in any way as state wetlands regulations Part 663.2(c)(2)(ii) prohibit any activities that alter water flow through a wetland. This change will allow for consistent application of the statute on a statewide basis.
Legislative history
2009-10: S.7813, Senate Environmental Conservation Committee; A.11183, Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee.
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.