SECTIONS 4712-4718 - California Statutes

PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE

SECTION 4712-4718

4712. As used in this article:
(a) "Owner" includes any individual, partnership, corporation, or
association.
(b) "Timberland" means any land which has enough timber, standing
or down, to constitute, in the judgment of the board, an insect or
pine beetle infestation breeding ground or plant disease hazard of a
nature to constitute a menace, injurious and dangerous to timber or
forest growth.

4713. Pine beetles and other insect pests or plant diseases which
are harmful, detrimental and injurious to timber and forest growth
are a public nuisance.

4714. Every owner of timber or timberlands shall control or
eradicate such insect pests or plant diseases on lands owned by him
or under his control. If he does not do so the work may be performed
as provided in this article.

4714.5. The movement of eucalyptus wood containing live Eucalyptus
Longhorn Borers or their larvae in trucks or trailers is prohibited.
A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of
not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in a
county jail for not more than six months, or by both that fine and
imprisonment.

4715. The department, in accordance with policy established by the
board, may enter into agreements with any owner and with any agency
of government, including the federal government, for the purpose of
controlling or eradicating forest insects or plant diseases damaging
or threatening destruction to timber or forest growth, and it may
make expenditures for that purpose.

4716. (a) Whenever the director determines that there exists an
area that is infested or infected with insect pests or plant diseases
injurious to timber or forest growth and that the infestation or
infection is of such a character as to be a menace to the timber or
timberlands of adjacent owners, the director, with the approval of
the board, may declare the existence of a zone of infestation or
infection, and describe and fix its boundaries.
(b) If the director declares the existence of a zone of
infestation or infection pursuant to subdivision (a), the department
or its agents may go upon state and private lands within the zone of
infestation or infection and shall cause the infestation or infection
to be eradicated or controlled in a manner that is approved by the
board.
(c) (1) Within a zone of infestation or infection, the department
may remove live vegetation directly adjacent to dead or dying
vegetation that is substantially at risk of infestation or infection.
(2) The department may also remove soil that harbors or could
reasonably harbor insects or pathogens injurious to timber or forest
growth, and that have the potential to facilitate the spread of
insects or pathogens to live trees or could substantially increase
the risk of subsequent infestations or infections.

4717. The department may make the necessary surveys and appraisals
to obtain pertinent data and information on insect infestations and
disease infections. The department may make expenditures for that
purpose.

4718. Whenever the director determines that insect or disease
control work within the designated zone of infestation or infection
is no longer necessary or feasible he shall, with the approval of the
board, dissolve the zone.