Section 5-505 - Reservation of seed trees or approval of reforestation plan. - Maryland Statutes

§ 5-505. Reservation of seed trees or approval of reforestation plan.
 

(a)  Required prior to cutting.- A cutting operation may not commence unless seed trees have been reserved or a reforestation plan has been approved by the Department. The reforestation plan shall be prepared by the landowner or his agent and shall be designed to assure the reproduction and maintenance of growth of young, vigorous pine trees. 

(b)  Notice to Department prior to cutting.- An operator or landowner proposing to reforest any area of a cutting operation pursuant to an approved plan shall notify the Department at least 24 hours prior to initiation of the cutting operations. 

(c)  Statement by landowner.- Except as permitted by § 5-507 of this subtitle, the landowner shall not cut or permit to be cut any pine tree required to be reserved for reseeding for three years after completion of the cutting operation and will so bind his successor in title. The reforestation plan shall be accompanied by a statement of the landowner, on a form furnished by the Department that he will not perform any act or permit any act to be performed which prevents reforestation and will so bind his successor in title. The provisions of this subsection do not apply if the landowner places the land in any of the uses permitted in § 5-507 of this subtitle. 

(d)  Approval or rejection of plan.- The Department shall approve, approve with modifications, or reject any plan submitted to it within 30 days. The determination of the Department shall be in writing setting forth the reasons for approval, approval with modifications, or rejection and shall be forwarded to the operator or landowner. 
 

[1977, ch. 343; 2004, ch. 25, § 6.]