Chapter 2430 Commercial Timber Sales s2

2430 Page 1 of 4

FOREST SERVICE MANUAL NORTHERN REGION (REGION 1) MISSOULA, MT

FSM 2400 – TIMBER MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER 2430 – COMMERCIAL TIMBER SALES

Supplement No: 2400-2007-2

Effective Date: February 1, 2007

Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.

Approved: /s/ Kathleen A. McAllister for: Date Approved: 01/25/2007 ABIGAIL R. KIMBELL Regional Forester

Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by title and calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this supplement. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last supplement (see Digest) to this title was 2400-2007-1 to chapter 30.

New Document 2430 5 Pages

Superseded Document(s) by 2400-2007-1 4 Pages Issuance Number and (Posted incorrectly as an amendment Effective Date instead of a supplement)

Digest:

Replaces without change entire R1 FSM 2400-2007-1 Amendment which was incorrectly posted as an amendment, instead of a supplement. R1 SUPPLEMENT: 2400-2007-2 2430 EFFECTIVE DATE: 02/01/2007 Page 2 of 4 DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.

FSM 2400 – TIMBER MANAGEMENT CHAPTER 2430 – COMMERCIAL TIMBER SALES

2430.42 – Regional Forester. The Regional Forester shall designate by name a qualified individual to be the Contracting Officer for those sales approved under the Regional Forester’s authority. This individual shall be someone on the Forest or Grassland where the sale is located.

2430.43 - Forest Supervisor. The Forest Supervisor shall refer to the Regional Forester, prior to approval, any sale within their authority which involves exception to established policy or special condition for which no precedent has been established.

2431.6 - Disposal of Firewood. Forests and Grasslands and Districts are encouraged to develop firewood programs to facilitate firewood gathering by the public and commercial firewood businesses.

A charge will be made for all firewood material except where large supplies of material exist with little or no demand. Use free use only where the management objectives for an area cannot be accomplished by charging for firewood or where it serves the best interests of the Government (FSM 2462).

Contractors, permittees, timber sale purchasers, their employees and subcontractors must adhere to the same procedures and sources of firewood as does the general public. A sample letter found in 2431.6 - exhibit 01 may be used to remind cooperators of personal-use firewood restrictions.

Logging and road right-of-way slash, as well as other firewood sources, may be utilized within timber sale subdivisions or payment units that have been accepted as complete.

Firewood sold or given away for personal use shall use permit forms FS-2400-1 Forest Product Removal Permit and Cash Receipt, or FS-2400-8 Forest Product Free Use Permit, respectively. Permits will be honored at any location in Region 1. The office issuing the permit should provide maps and stipulations for the area(s) where the permittee plans to cut, including those from other districts/areas. Districts/Offices that commonly issue permits for cutting in other areas should initiate the coordination necessary with other units.

The permit must be displayed on the dashboard of the permittee's vehicle. The color of the permit will be changed each firewood season which runs from April 1 through March 31.

Hunters, campers, outfitters, and other forest users will not need permits if the wood they gather is used on National Forest lands.

The minimum charge for personal use firewood is $5.00 per cord, with a minimum of $20.00 per permit. A permittee wanting to buy more than four cords on one permit will be charged $5.00 R1 SUPPLEMENT: 2400-2007-2 2430 EFFECTIVE DATE: 02/01/2007 Page 3 of 4 DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.

per cord, in addition to the $20.00 minimum. A maximum of 12 cords may be sold to an individual during a firewood season. The amount of $5.00 per cord must be distributed to the stumpage distribution accounts of NFF and K-V and/or SSF if applicable, and there must be an approved plan to support the K-V and/or SSF collections. If there are associated charges (road maintenance and/or slash disposal) related to the sale of this product, these charges are in addition to the $20.00 minimum permit charge.

The minimum distribution of $0.25 per cord ($1.00 per permit) must be distributed to NFF and the remaining funds may be distributed to K-V and/or SSF when appropriate.

K-V, SSF, slash disposal and road maintenance plans must be prepared in advance to determine the amount and kind of work associated with the firewood program. The plans must cover the area and roads where firewood harvest occurs, generally a district or drainage (FSH 2409.19 K-V Handbook, FSM 5150 Brush Disposal).

2431.6 - EXHIBIT 01

Dear (Name of Purchaser, Contractor, or Permittee),

We request your cooperation in improving relations with the general public users of the National Forest lands.

The Northern Region has implemented a personal-use firewood policy which requires the use of a permit. In most areas, firewood gathering will be permitted on a charge basis, although firewood gathering may be free in some specially designated areas.

You, your employees, and subcontractors must adhere to the same procedures and sources for firewood as does the general public. Removal of personal-use firewood from your Timber Sale Area(s), Contract or Permit area will only be permitted to the same degree and with the same restrictions as the public is allowed.

Removal of saw log or non-sawlog material in any lengths must be provided for by specific provisions in your contract or permit.

Your cooperation and courtesy with the general public, owners of the National Forests, who may visit your contract or permit areas will be greatly appreciated and can help limit future restrictions, which we all dislike.

Sincerely,

(Contracting Officer) R1 SUPPLEMENT: 2400-2007-2 2430 EFFECTIVE DATE: 02/01/2007 Page 4 of 4 DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.

2432.44 - Timber Sale Advertisements. See 36 CFR 223.80-82. See FSH 2409.18, Timber Sale Preparation Handbook, for sample wording of advertisements. The following applies:

1. Advertising Orders. Issue orders for paid advertisements of advertised timber sales. The general policy is that timber sales will not be advertised before the appeal period is complete. Exceptions to this are if an emergency situation exists and the following conditions are met:

a. The NEPA document is reviewed and the Forests and Grasslands are sure that all appeal points are adequately addressed in the NEPA decision document.

b. Consultation with the Regional Office, Timber Sales Unit, has taken place prior to declaration of emergency situation.

c. Sale award will be withheld until appeal(s) decision is rendered.

2432.52 - Bid Monitoring. Each Forest and Grassland shall develop a Bid Monitoring Plan. The minimum elements to be included can be found in FSH 2409.18, 67.16. Forests and Grasslands may include additional elements.

As a part of the Bid Monitoring Plan, each Forest and Grassland will prepare an annual Bid Monitoring Report, which is required by November 1, to the Regional Forester (refer to FSH 2409.18, 67.13). Preparation instructions for the Bid Monitoring Report can be found in FSH 2409.18, 67.18

The Regional Forester shall make antitrust control and bid monitoring part of scheduled formal and informal reviews of Forests and Grasslands.