Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB404%20INTR.htm&yr=2019&sesstype=RS&i=404
Timestamp: 2020-02-25 09:30:30
Document Index: 181581157

Matched Legal Cases: ['§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§29', '§15', '§29', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19']

By Senators Sypolt and Boso
A BILL to amend and reenact §19-1B-4, §19-1B-6, §19-1B-7, §19-1B-10, and §19-1B-12a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating generally to sediment control during commercial timber harvesting operations; increasing the threshold amount before a logger must follow certain licensing requirements regarding sediment control; requiring the logger to notify the Director of the Division of Forestry at least three days before timbering begins; requiring certain training requirements prior to recertification of certified loggers; providing for appeals; increasing criminal penalties; and removing certain limitations on issuing citations and powers of arrest.
(b) Exemptions.– A person who severs or removes, or hires or contracts with another to sever or remove, standing trees from his or her own land is exempted from the timbering operations licensure requirement of this section during any calendar year in which all trees severed or removed by or for this owner have an aggregate stumpage value that does not exceed $15,528 on behalf of the owner of record has a total gross sales value received by the exemption holder of less than $52,000. A person hired or contracted to sever or remove standing trees from the land of another is exempted from the timbering operations licensure requirement of this section during any calendar year in which all trees severed or removed by the hired or contracted person have an aggregate stumpage value that does not exceed $15,528 has a total gross sales value received by the exemption holder of less than $52,000.
(d) The director shall propose rules for legislative approval pursuant to the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, regarding the acquisition, suspension and revocation a license under this article. The rules are the proper subject of emergency legislative rules that may be promulgated in accordance with the provision of §15-3-15 of this code.
(b) The director is responsible for the development of standards and criteria for education, training and examination that must be successfully completed for persons to be certified to supervise any timbering operation. The certified logger shall attend a training program every four years after certification complete four hours per year, for a cumulative total of eight hours of training every two years prior to recertification. The program for certified loggers shall provide for education and training in the safe conduct of timbering operations, in first aid procedures and in the use of best management practices to prevent soil erosion on timbering operations. The goals of this program will be to assure that timbering operations are conducted in accordance with applicable state and federal safety regulations in a manner that is environmentally sound and safe.
(d) The director shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, to effectuate the purposes of this article.
Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected by any order of the director may file an appeal in accordance with the provisions of section eleven of this article Any person or entity aggrieved by an order issued under the provisions of §19-1B-5(b) or §19-1B-5(c) of this code may file an appeal under the provisions of §19-1B-11 of this code.
(1) Conduct timbering operations, purchase timber or buy logs for resale in this state without holding a valid license from the Director of the Division of Forestry, as required by §19-1B-4 of this code;
(4) Continue to conduct timbering operations in violation of a suspension or revocation order that has been issued by the Director of the Division of Forestry or a conference panel under §19-1B-5, §19-1B-10 or §19-1B-11 of this code; and
(b) Criminal and civil penalties. -- A person that violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $250 nor more than $500 for each violation A person that violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $250 nor more than $500 for the first offense, and for each subsequent offense, shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, or confined in jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined. In addition to fines and costs, a person or entity convicted of a violation of this section shall pay a $500 civil penalty to the division within 60 days. The civil penalty shall be collected by the court in which the person is convicted and forwarded to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Division of Forestry Timber Operations Enforcement Fund (3082) for use in administering the provisions of this article.
(d) In addition to any other law-enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction over criminal violations, any forester, or forest technician, or other person employed by the Division of Forestry who, as a part of his or her official duties is authorized by the Director of the Division of Forestry to inspect timbering operations, is authorized to issue citations for any of the listed violations in this article. that he or she has witnessed. The limited authority granted to employees of the Division of Forestry to issue citations to enforce the provisions of this section does not include the power to place any individual or person under arrest