Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/2013/cite/90/full
Timestamp: 2020-08-11 14:09:04
Document Index: 738678577

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 10', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 10', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4']

﻿ Ch. 90 MN Statutes
CHAPTER 90. TIMBER LANDS
90.005 SURVEYOR GENERAL, OFFICE ABOLISHED; FUNCTIONS TRANSFERRED TO NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSIONER.
90.02 CITATION, STATEMENT OF POLICY.
90.03 [Repealed, 1961 c 202 s 38]
90.031 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONER POWERS.
90.04 [Renumbered 90.061, subds 5-7]
90.042 [Repealed, 2012 c 272 s 98]
90.045 APPRAISAL STANDARDS.
90.05 [Renumbered 90.061, subds 1-4]
90.051 SUPERVISION OF SALES; BOND.
90.06 [Repealed, 1961 c 202 s 38]
90.061 STATE APPRAISERS.
90.07 [Renumbered 90.301, subdivision 1]
90.08 [Renumbered 90.311]
90.09 [Renumbered 90.321]
90.10 [Repealed, 1961 c 202 s 38]
90.11 [Renumbered 90.031]
90.111 [Repealed, 1967 c 110 s 12]
90.12 [Renumbered 90.041]
90.121 INTERMEDIATE AUCTION SALES; MAXIMUM LOTS OF 3,000 CORDS.
90.125 [Renumbered 282.38]
90.13 [Renumbered 90.191]
90.145 PURCHASER QUALIFICATIONS, REGISTRATION, AND REQUIREMENTS.
90.15 Subdivisions renumbered, repealed, or no longer in effect
90.16 [Renumbered 90.281]
90.161 SECURITY DEPOSITS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE TIMBER PERMITS.
90.162 SECURING TIMBER PERMITS WITH CUTTING BLOCKS.
90.163 [Repealed, 2013 c 114 art 4 s 108]
90.164 TIMBER PERMIT DEVELOPMENT OPTION.
90.17 [Renumbered 90.101]
90.171 ASSIGNMENT OF AUCTION TIMBER PERMITS.
90.172 [Repealed, 2010 c 361 art 4 s 83]
90.173 [Repealed, 2013 c 114 art 4 s 108]
90.18 [Repealed, 1961 c 202 s 38]
90.181 STATEMENT OF TIMBER CUT.
90.19 [Repealed, 1961 c 202 s 38]
90.191 INFORMAL SALES OF STATE TIMBER; MAXIMUM LOTS OF 500 CORDS.
90.193 EXTENSION OF TIMBER PERMITS.
90.20 [Renumbered 90.14]
90.201 VOID TIMBER SALES; REFUNDS; ADJUSTMENT OF SALE TERMS.
90.21 [Renumbered 90.151]
90.211 PURCHASE MONEY, WHEN FORFEITED.
90.215 [Renumbered 90.55]
90.22 [Renumbered 90.161]
90.221 TIMBER SALES RECORDS.
90.23 [Renumbered 90.171]
90.231 TIMBER SALES, MARKING OF BOUNDARIES.
90.24 [Renumbered 90.201]
90.25 [Renumbered 90.211]
90.251 TIMBER SCALING.
90.252 SCALING AGREEMENT; WEIGHT MEASUREMENT SERVICES; FEES.
90.26 [Renumbered 90.251, subds 1-3]
90.27 [Repealed, 1967 c 568 s 14]
90.28 [Repealed, 1967 c 568 s 14]
90.281 RESCALES, RECOUNTS AND REESTIMATES.
90.29 [Renumbered 90.251, subd 4]
90.30 [Renumbered 90.251, subd 5]
90.31 [Repealed, 1957 c 202 s 2]
90.311 POSSESSION OF LANDS CONTRARY TO AGREEMENT, REMEDIES.
90.32 [Renumbered 90.221]
90.321 PROSECUTIONS.
90.33 [Renumbered 90.181, subdivision 1]
90.34 [Renumbered 90.181, subd 2]
90.35 [Renumbered 90.301, subds 2,3]
90.36 [Renumbered 90.301, subd 5]
90.37 [Renumbered 90.301, subd 4]
90.38 [Repealed, 1961 c 202 s 38]
90.39 [Renumbered 90.411]
90.40 [Renumbered 90.412]
90.41 STATE APPRAISER AND SCALER; VIOLATIONS, PENALTIES.
90.411 RECORDS AS NOTICE.
90.412 STATUTE OF LIMITATION NOT APPLICABLE; VENUE OF PROCEEDINGS.
90.42 LAWS NOT AFFECTED.
90.46 Subdivisions renumbered, repealed, or no longer in effect
90.47 [Renumbered 90.231]
90.50 [Repealed, 2002 c 351 s 34]
90.55 [Repealed, 1967 c 22 s 1]
90.60 [Repealed, 1967 c 26 s 1]
90.61 [Repealed, 1967 c 26 s 1]
90.62 [Repealed, 1967 c 26 s 1]
90.63 [Repealed, 1967 c 26 s 1]
Subd. 2.Interpretation of references.
Whenever in any other general law, or resolution of the legislature heretofore or hereafter adopted, or in any document, record, or proceeding authorized by the same, any word or phrase is used in reference to or descriptive of the surveyor general, or officer or employee thereof, or their respective activities, whose powers, duties, or activities are by Laws 1967, chapter 568 assigned or transferred to the commissioner of natural resources, such word, phrase, or reference shall hereafter be deemed to refer to, include, and describe the commissioner of natural resources, or officers or employees of the commissioner.
Subd. 3.Continuation of surveyor general powers and duties.
The Department of Natural Resources is deemed and held to constitute a continuation of the Office of the Surveyor General as to powers and duties of the surveyor general transferred by Laws 1967, chapter 568, and not a new authority for the purpose of succession to all rights, powers, duties and obligations of the surveyor general as constituted at the time of such assignment or transfer, with the same force and effect as if such powers and duties had not been assigned or transferred.
Subd. 6.Unexpended funds.
All unexpended funds appropriated to the surveyor general for the purpose of any of its functions, powers, or duties which are transferred by Laws 1967, chapter 568 to the commissioner of natural resources, are hereby transferred to the commissioner. Where unexpended funds appropriated to the surveyor general for the purposes of any of its functions, powers or duties are changed by Laws 1967, chapter 568 so that the functions, powers or duties are in more than one department, commission, or agency, the commissioner of administration shall allocate the appropriation between the state departments, commissions, or agencies concerned, and the funds so allocated are reappropriated therefor.
Subd. 7.Employees.
Except as otherwise provided in Laws 1967, chapter 568, all persons in the classified service and employed by the surveyor general for the purposes of any of its functions, powers or duties which are transferred by Laws 1967, chapter 568 to the commissioner of natural resources are hereby transferred to such commissioner. The positions of all persons in the unclassified service and employed by the surveyor general for the purposes of powers or duties which are transferred by Laws 1967, chapter 568 to the commissioner of natural resources are hereby abolished.
1967 c 568 s 1; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1986 c 444
This chapter may be cited as the State Timber Act.
It is the intent and desire of the Minnesota legislature to provide equal opportunity for all segments of our society to participate in the sale process; and attempt to prevent the purchase or acquisition of excessive volumes of the state's timber resources by any one individual or corporation.
The commissioner shall establish specific timber sale allocation standards to reach this objective; including provision for sale of all timber species by each method of sale specified in this chapter; and maintaining reasonable proportions of volume in each method of sale. The standards shall be included in each edition of the timber sales manual published by the commissioner. The standards are not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 and section 14.386 does not apply.
(6394-1) 1925 c 276 s 1; 1975 c 106 s 1; 1985 c 248 s 70; 2004 c 241 s 5
[Repealed, 1967 c 66 s 3]
Subd. 3.Settlement.
The commissioner may make settlement for not less than the full value of any timber cut by lessees of state lands holding under section 92.50.
Subd. 4.Timber rules.
The Executive Council may formulate and establish, from time to time, rules it deems advisable for the transaction of timber business of the state, including approval of the sale of timber on any tract in a lot exceeding 12,000 cords in volume when the sale is in the best interests of the state, and may abrogate, modify, or suspend rules at its pleasure.
Subd. 5.Appointment of agents.
The Executive Council may appoint one or more agents to gather evidence in any action brought by the state or to investigate the correctness of any state appraiser's or scaler's report or to ascertain whether any timber proposed to be sold is subject to sale, or whether any trespass has been committed on state lands, and may send such agent to examine such timber or lands. Such agents of the Executive Council, independently of the commissioner, state appraisers, or scalers shall report, in writing, to the governor, and the money necessary to defray expenses in connection therewith shall be paid upon verified accounts from any funds available for the expenses of the Executive Council.
(6394-8) 1925 c 276 s 8; 1933 c 375 s 1; 1937 c 368 s 2; 1939 c 32 s 1; 1961 c 202 s 7; 1965 c 337 s 1; 1967 c 568 s 3; 1981 c 305 s 1; 1984 c 613 s 2; 1987 c 109 s 4; 1993 c 172 s 43; 1996 c 295 s 3; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 27
(6394-9) 1925 c 276 s 9; 1961 c 202 s 8; 1967 c 66 s 1; 1981 c 305 s 2; 1984 c 613 s 3; 1985 c 26 s 1; 1985 c 248 s 70 1986 c 444; 1987 c 109 s 5; 1988 c 462 s 5; 1993 c 172 s 44; 1996 c 295 s 4; 2005 c 141 s 4; 2006 c 175 s 1; 2010 c 361 art 4 s 44; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 28-33
By July 1, 1983, the commissioner shall establish specific timber appraisal standards according to which all timber appraisals will be conducted under this chapter. The standards shall include a specification of the maximum allowable appraisal sampling error, including the procedures for tree defect allowance, tract area estimation, product volume estimation, and product value determination. The timber appraisal standards shall be included in each edition of the timber sales manual published by the commissioner. In addition to the duties pursuant to section 90.061, every state appraiser shall work within the guidelines of the timber appraisal standards. The standards shall not be subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14.
1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c 511 s 21; 1986 c 444; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 34
The department employee delegated to supervise state timber appraisals and sales shall be bonded in a form to be prescribed by the attorney general and in the sum of not less than $25,000, conditioned upon the faithful and honest performance of duties.
(6394-11) 1925 c 276 s 11; 1961 c 202 s 10; 1986 c 444
Subdivision 1.Designation; bond.
The commissioner may designate any qualified person as a state appraiser. Each state appraiser shall be bonded in a sum of not less than $1,000, conditioned upon the faithful performance of duties.
Subd. 2.Arrest authority.
Every state appraiser is hereby authorized to arrest any person found trespassing or to have trespassed upon state lands and deliver the trespasser to the sheriff of the county and immediately enter a complaint before a court of competent jurisdiction in the county charging the person so arrested with such trespass, and the person so charged shall be arraigned and given a hearing on the complaint.
Subd. 3.Identification required.
Each state appraiser shall possess when on duty an identification card provided by the commissioner. Any person not a state appraiser who shall impersonate or claim to be a state appraiser shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Subd. 4.Document requirements.
When an appraisal or valuation of any land is made, the state appraiser shall place an estimate and valuation of any timber thereon and make a separate appraisal report thereof; the report shall be made from field notes made on the land, shall be dated when made and, together with the field notes shall be made a part of the records of the department. The state appraiser shall sign each page of the field notes and appraisal report. These records shall show that the state appraiser was actually upon the land when the estimate and valuation was made.
The appraisal report shall state the amount of each kind of timber and the value of each kind of timber for each 40-acre tract or subdivision and for each tract designated in the government survey as a government lot or portions thereof except that reports made for the purpose of timber sales only shall include the percentage value of timber on such 40-acre tract or subdivision or government lot or a portion thereof together with the total amount of each kind of timber and the total value of each kind of timber for the sale unit.
Subd. 5.Appraiser duties.
The duties of the state appraiser shall be to appraise and place a valuation upon any state lands or any state timber or any interest therein anywhere; to check-scale timber cut from state lands in trespass, either situated upon state lands or removed therefrom; to check-scale any scale of timber cut on state lands; to make check-scales, by the stump and top, or any other method, of timber removed from state lands; and to perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to in any way amend any other provision of law relating to the appointment of appraisers by other officials.
Subd. 7.Land interest prohibited.
No state appraiser shall have any interest, directly or indirectly, in any of the state land or material improvements thereon and shall not purchase, directly or indirectly, any interest in the same or any part thereof.
Subd. 8.Appraiser authority; form of documents.
State appraisers are empowered, with the consent of the commissioner, to perform any scaling, and generally to supervise the cutting and removal of timber and forest products on or from state lands so far as may be reasonably necessary to insure compliance with the terms of the permits or other contracts governing the same and protect the state from loss.
The form of appraisal reports, records, and notes to be kept by state appraisers shall be as the commissioner prescribes.
(6354-6356, 6394-11) 1917 c 162 s 2-4; 1925 c 276 s 11; 1937 c 369 s 1; 1961 c 202 s 2,3,10; 1967 c 38 s 1; 1967 c 568 s 4; 1986 c 444; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 35
At least 30 days before the date of sale, the commissioner shall compile a list containing a description of each tract of land upon which any timber to be offered is situated and a statement of the estimated quantity of timber and of the appraised price of each kind of timber thereon as shown by the report of the state appraiser. No description shall be added after the list is posted and no timber shall be sold from land not described in the list. Copies of the list shall be furnished to all interested applicants. A copy of the list shall be conspicuously posted in the forest office or other public facility most accessible to potential bidders at least 30 days prior to the date of sale. The commissioner shall cause a notice to be published once not less than one week before the date of sale in a legal newspaper in the county or counties where the land is situated. The notice shall state the time and place of the sale and the location at which further information regarding the sale may be obtained. The commissioner may give other published or posted notice as the commissioner deems proper to reach prospective bidders.
(6394-13) 1925 c 276 s 13; 1961 c 202 s 12; 1963 c 44 s 1; 1967 c 110 s 1; 1969 c 366 s 2; 1975 c 106 s 2; 1981 c 305 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 109 s 6; 1990 c 443 s 1; 1993 c 172 s 45; 1994 c 551 s 3,4; 1996 c 295 s 6; 2003 c 73 s 2; 2004 c 241 s 6; 2005 c 141 s 6; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 36
(a) The commissioner may sell the timber on any tract of state land in lots not exceeding 3,000 cords in volume, in the same manner as timber sold at public auction under section 90.101, and related laws, subject to the following special exceptions and limitations:
(1) the commissioner shall offer all tracts authorized for sale by this section separately from the sale of tracts of state timber made pursuant to section 90.101;
(2) no bidder may be awarded more than 25 percent of the total tracts offered at the first round of bidding unless fewer than four tracts are offered, in which case not more than one tract shall be awarded to one bidder. Any tract not sold at public auction may be offered for private sale as authorized by section 90.101, subdivision 1, 30 days after the auction to responsible bidders eligible under this section at the appraised value; and
(3) no sale may be made to a responsible bidder having more than 30 employees. For the purposes of this clause, "employee" means an individual working in the timber or wood products industry for salary or wages on a full-time or part-time basis.
(b) The auction sale procedure set forth in this section constitutes an additional alternative timber sale procedure available to the commissioner and is not intended to replace other authority possessed by the commissioner to sell timber in lots of 3,000 cords or less.
(c) Another bidder or the commissioner may request that the number of employees a bidder has pursuant to paragraph (a), clause (3), be confirmed by signed affidavit if there is evidence that the bidder may be ineligible due to exceeding the employee threshold. The commissioner shall request information from the commissioners of labor and industry and employment and economic development including the premiums paid by the bidder in question for workers' compensation insurance coverage for all employees of the bidder. The commissioner shall review the information submitted by the commissioners of labor and industry and employment and economic development and make a determination based on that information as to whether the bidder is eligible. A bidder is considered eligible and may participate in intermediate auctions until determined ineligible under this paragraph.
1981 c 305 s 4; 1991 c 92 s 1; 1993 c 172 s 46; 1994 c 551 s 5; 1996 c 295 s 7; 2000 c 485 s 2; 2003 c 73 s 3; 2005 c 141 s 7; 2010 c 361 art 4 s 45; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 37
(a) All state timber shall be offered and sold by the same unit of measurement as it was appraised. No tract shall be sold to any person other than the purchaser in whose name the bid was made. The commissioner may refuse to approve any and all bids received and cancel a sale of state timber for good and sufficient reasons.
(d) In the case of a public auction sale conducted by a sealed bid process, tracts shall be awarded to the high bidder, who shall pay to the commissioner a down payment of 15 percent of the appraised value that must be received or postmarked within 14 days of the date of the sealed bid opening. If a purchaser fails to make the down payment, the purchaser is liable for the down payment to the state and the commissioner may offer the timber for sale to the next highest bidder as though no higher bid had been made.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by law, at the time the purchaser signs a permit issued under section 90.151, the commissioner shall require the purchaser to make a bid guarantee payment to the commissioner in an amount equal to 15 percent of the total purchase price of the permit less the down payment amount required by paragraph (b) for any bid increase in excess of $5,000 of the appraised value. If a required bid guarantee payment is not submitted with the signed permit, no harvesting may occur, the permit cancels, and the down payment for timber forfeits to the state. The bid guarantee payment forfeits to the state if the purchaser and successors in interest fail to execute an effective permit.
(6394-16) 1925 c 276 s 16; 1961 c 202 s 13; 1967 c 110 s 2; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 109 s 7; 2000 c 485 s 3; 2003 c 73 s 4; 2004 c 241 s 7; 2006 c 281 art 3 s 10; 2010 c 361 art 4 s 46
Subdivision 1.Purchaser requirements.
(a) In addition to any other requirements imposed by this chapter, the purchaser of a state timber permit issued under section 90.151 must meet the requirements in paragraphs (b) to (e).
(b) The purchaser or the purchaser's agents, employees, subcontractors, and assigns conducting logging operations on the timber permit must comply with general industry safety standards for logging adopted by the commissioner of labor and industry under chapter 182. The commissioner of natural resources may require a purchaser to provide proof of compliance with the general industry safety standards.
(c) The purchaser or the purchaser's agents, subcontractors, and assigns conducting logging operations on the timber permit must comply with the mandatory insurance requirements of chapter 176. The commissioner may require a purchaser to provide a copy of the proof of insurance required by section 176.130 before the start of harvesting operations on any permit.
(d) Before the start of harvesting operations on any permit, the purchaser must certify that a foreperson or other designated employee who has a current certificate of completion, which includes instruction in site-level forest management guidelines or best management practices, from the Minnesota Logger Education Program (MLEP), the Wisconsin Forest Industry Safety and Training Alliance (FISTA), or any similar continuous education program acceptable to the commissioner, is supervising active logging operations.
(e) The purchaser and the purchaser's agents, employees, subcontractors, and assigns who will be involved with logging or scaling state timber must be in compliance with this chapter.
Subd. 2.Purchaser registration.
To facilitate the sale of permits issued under section 90.151, the commissioner may establish a registration system to verify the qualifications of a person as a responsible bidder to purchase a timber permit. Any system implemented by the commissioner shall be limited in scope to only that information that is required for the efficient administration of the purchaser qualification requirements of this chapter. The registration system established under this subdivision is not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 and section 14.386 does not apply.
2006 c 281 art 3 s 11; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 38
[Renumbered 90.061, subd 8]
[Renumbered 90.051]
(a) Following receipt of the down payment for state timber required under section 90.14 or 90.191, the commissioner shall issue a numbered permit to the purchaser, in a form approved by the attorney general, by the terms of which the purchaser shall be authorized to enter upon the land, and to cut and remove the timber therein described as designated for cutting in the report of the state appraiser, according to the provisions of this chapter. The permit shall be correctly dated and executed by the commissioner and signed by the purchaser. If a permit is not signed by the purchaser within 45 days from the date of purchase, the permit cancels and the down payment for timber required under section 90.14 forfeits to the state. The commissioner may grant an additional period for the purchaser to sign the permit, not to exceed ten business days, provided the purchaser pays a $200 penalty fee.
(b) The permit shall expire no later than five years after the date of sale as the commissioner shall specify or as specified under section 90.191, and the timber shall be cut and removed within the time specified therein. If additional time is needed, the permit holder must request, prior to the expiration date, and may be granted, for good and sufficient reasons, up to 90 additional days for the completion of skidding, hauling, and removing all equipment and buildings. All cut timber, equipment, and buildings not removed from the land after expiration of the permit becomes the property of the state.
(c) The commissioner may grant an additional period of time not to exceed 240 days for the removal of cut timber, equipment, and buildings upon receipt of a written request by the permit holder for good and sufficient reasons. The permit holder may combine in the written request under this paragraph the request for additional time under paragraph (b).
(6394-17) 1925 c 276 s 17; 1937 c 368 s 3; 1961 c 202 s 14; 1967 c 27 s 1; 1967 c 66 s 2; 1967 c 110 s 3-9; 1967 c 568 s 5-7; 1969 c 366 s 3; 1975 c 106 s 3,4; 1981 c 305 s 5,6; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 109 s 8,9; 1994 c 551 s 6; 2000 c 485 s 4,5; 2002 c 351 s 4; 2003 c 73 s 5,6; 2004 c 241 s 8; 2006 c 281 art 3 s 12-14; 2008 c 368 art 1 s 12; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 39-46
Subdivision 1.Security deposit required.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the purchaser of any state timber, before any timber permit becomes effective for any purpose, shall give good and valid security in the form of cash; a certified check; a cashier's check; a postal, bank, or express money order; a corporate surety bond; or an irrevocable bank letter of credit to the state of Minnesota equal to the value of all timber covered or to be covered by the permit, as shown by the sale price bid and the appraisal report as to quantity, less the amount of any payments pursuant to section 90.14.
(b) The security deposit shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance by the purchaser and successors in interest of all terms and conditions of the permit and all requirements of law in respect to timber sales. The security deposit shall be approved in writing by the commissioner and filed for record in the commissioner's office.
(c) A purchaser may post bond for 100 percent of the purchase price and request refund of the amount of any payments pursuant to section 90.14. The commissioner may credit the refund to any other permit held by the same permit holder if the permit is delinquent as provided in section 90.181, subdivision 2, or may credit the refund to any other permit to which the permit holder requests that it be credited.
(d) In the event of a default, the commissioner may take from the deposit the sum of money to which the state is entitled. The commissioner shall return the remainder of the deposit, if any, to the person making the deposit. When cash is deposited as security, it shall be applied to the amount due when a statement is prepared and transmitted to the permit holder according to section 90.181. Any balance due to the state shall be shown on the statement and shall be paid as provided in section 90.181. Any amount of the deposit in excess of the amount determined to be due according to section 90.181 shall be returned to the permit holder when a final statement is transmitted under section 90.181. All or part of a cash deposit may be withheld from application to an amount due on a nonfinal statement if it appears that the total amount due on the permit will exceed the bid price.
(e) If an irrevocable bank letter of credit is provided as security under paragraph (a), at the written request of the permittee, the commissioner shall annually allow the amount of the bank letter of credit to be reduced by an amount proportionate to the value of timber that has been harvested and for which the state has received payment under the timber permit. The remaining amount of the bank letter of credit after a reduction under this paragraph must not be less than the value of the timber remaining to be harvested under the timber permit.
(f) If cash; a certified check; a cashier's check; a personal check; or a postal, bank, or express money order is provided as security under paragraph (a) and no cutting of state timber has taken place on the permit, the commissioner may credit the security provided, less any deposit required under section 90.14, to any other permit to which the permit holder requests in writing that it be credited.
Subd. 2.Failure to provide security deposit.
If the security deposit is not furnished, no harvesting may occur and 15 percent of the permit's purchase price shall forfeit to the state when the permit expires.
Subd. 3.Subrogation.
When security is provided by surety bond and the permit holder defaults in payment, the surety upon the bond shall make payment in full to the state of all sums of money due under such permit; and thereupon such surety shall be deemed immediately subrogated to all the rights of the state in the timber so paid for; and such subrogated party may pursue the timber and recover therefor, or have any other appropriate relief in relation thereto which the state might or could have had if such surety had not made such payment. No assignment or other writing on the part of the state shall be necessary to make such subrogation effective, but the certificate signed by and bearing the official seal of the commissioner, showing the amount of such timber, the lands from which it was cut or upon which it stood, and the amount paid therefor, shall be prima facie evidence of such facts.
Subd. 4.Change of security.
Prior to any cutting activity, or activities incidental to the preparation for harvest, a purchaser having posted a security deposit for 100 percent of the purchase price of a sale may request the release of the security and the commissioner shall grant the release while retaining, or upon repayment of, the permit's down payment and bid guarantee deposit requirement.
Subd. 5.Return of security.
Any security required under this section shall be returned to the purchaser within 60 days after the final scale.
(6394-18) 1925 c 276 s 18; 1939 c 120 s 1; 1961 c 202 s 15; 1967 c 110 s 10; 1981 c 305 s 7; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 109 s 10; 1994 c 551 s 7,8; 2000 c 485 s 6,7; 2003 c 73 s 7; 2007 c 57 art 1 s 76; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 47
In lieu of the security deposit equal to the value of all timber covered by the permit required by section 90.161, a purchaser of state timber may elect in writing on a form prescribed by the attorney general to give good and valid surety to the state of Minnesota equal to the purchase price for any designated cutting block identified on the permit before the date the purchaser enters upon the land to begin harvesting the timber on the designated cutting block.
1991 c 61 s 1; 2000 c 485 s 8; 2002 c 351 s 5; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 48
With the completion of the presale conference requirement under section 90.151, subdivision 6, a permit holder may access the permit area in advance of the permit being fully secured as required by section 90.161, for the express purpose of clearing approved landings and logging roads. No cutting of state timber except that incidental to the clearing of approved landings and logging roads is allowed under this section.
2013 c 114 art 4 s 49
Any permit sold at public auction may be assigned upon written approval of the commissioner. The assignment of any permit shall be signed and acknowledged by the permit holder. The commissioner shall not approve any assignment until the assignee has been determined to meet the qualifications of a responsible bidder and has given to the state a security deposit which shall be substantially in the form of, and shall be deemed of the same effect as, the security deposit required of the original purchaser. The commissioner may accept an agreement of the assignee and any corporate surety upon an original bond, substituting the assignee in the place of the original purchaser and continuing the original bond in full force and effect, as to the assignee. Thereupon but not otherwise the permit holder making the assignment shall be released from all liability arising or accruing from actions taken after the assignment became effective.
(6394-19) 1925 c 276 s 19; 1961 c 202 s 16; 1969 c 366 s 4; 1986 c 444; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 50
Subdivision 1.Passage of title to timber.
(a) The commissioner shall transmit to the permit holder a statement of the amount due therefor by the terms of the permit upon completion of the cutting or at least annually in the case of an auction permit. Any partial payment received may be applied to any items on the statement as the commissioner shall determine.
(b) The title to the timber shall not pass from the state until the timber has been scaled as required by the permit, full payment for the timber has been received, and all other provisions of the permit have been fully complied with.
Subd. 2.Deferred payments.
(a) If the amount of the statement is not paid within 30 days of the date thereof, it shall bear interest at the rate determined pursuant to section 16A.124, except that the purchaser shall not be required to pay interest that totals $1 or less. If the amount is not paid within 60 days, the commissioner shall place the account in the hands of the commissioner of revenue according to chapter 16D, who shall proceed to collect the same. When deemed in the best interests of the state, the commissioner shall take possession of the timber for which an amount is due wherever it may be found and sell the same informally or at public auction after giving reasonable notice.
(b) The proceeds of the sale shall be applied, first, to the payment of the expenses of seizure and sale; and, second, to the payment of the amount due for the timber, with interest; and the surplus, if any, shall belong to the state; and, in case a sufficient amount is not realized to pay these amounts in full, the balance shall be collected by the attorney general. Neither payment of the amount, nor the recovery of judgment therefor, nor satisfaction of the judgment, nor the seizure and sale of timber, shall release the sureties on any security deposit given pursuant to this chapter, or preclude the state from afterwards claiming that the timber was cut or removed contrary to law and recovering damages for the trespass thereby committed, or from prosecuting the offender criminally.
(6394-30, 31) 1925 c 276 s 30,31; 1933 c 375 s 2; 1961 c 202 s 23,24; 1965 c 337 s 2; 1967 c 110 s 11; 1967 c 568 s 8; 1969 c 366 s 5; 1981 c 305 s 9; 2000 c 485 s 10; 2004 c 241 s 9; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 51
The commissioner may sell the timber on any tract of state land in lots not exceeding 500 cords in volume, without formalities but for not less than the full appraised value thereof, to any person. No sale shall be made under this section to any person holding more than four permits issued hereunder which are still in effect.
Subd. 2.Time frame for cutting and removal.
Upon receipt of a down payment for the full appraised value, the commissioner may issue a permit according to section 90.151 to cut timber within the time period specified by the commissioner, which shall not exceed two years from the date of sale.
[Repealed, 2004 c 241 s 15]
Subd. 5.Additional procedure.
The sale procedure under this section is an additional alternative timber sale procedure available to the commissioner and is not intended to replace other authority of the commissioner to sell timber in lots of 500 cords or less.
(6394-10) 1925 c 276 s 10; 1939 c 352 s 1; 1949 c 182 s 1; 1951 c 662 s 1; 1959 c 385 s 1; 1961 c 202 s 9; 1963 c 64 s 1; 1967 c 24 s 1-3; 1967 c 27 s 2; 1967 c 568 s 9; 1969 c 366 s 6; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1975 c 106 s 5; 1978 c 640 s 1,2; 1981 c 305 s 10; 1986 c 444; 1994 c 551 s 9; 1996 c 295 s 8; 2003 c 73 s 10,11; 2004 c 241 s 10,11; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 52
The commissioner may, in the case of an exceptional circumstance beyond the control of the timber permit holder which makes it unreasonable, impractical, and not feasible to complete cutting and removal under the permit within the time allowed, grant one regular extension for one year. A written request for the regular extension must be received by the commissioner before the permit expires. The request must state the reason the extension is necessary and be signed by the permit holder. An interest rate of eight percent may be charged for the period of extension.
1984 c 613 s 4; 1994 c 551 s 10; 1998 c 395 s 1; 1998 c 401 s 31; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 53
(a) The commissioner may issue a permit to salvage or cut not to exceed 12 cords of fuelwood per year for personal use from either or both of the following sources: (1) dead, down, and damaged trees; (2) other trees that are of negative value under good forest management practices. The permits may be issued for a period not to exceed one year. The commissioner shall charge a fee for the permit as provided under section 90.041, subdivision 10. The fee shall not exceed the current market value of fuelwood of similar species, grade, and volume that is being sold in the area where the salvage or cutting is authorized under the permit.
(b) The commissioner may issue a special product permit under section 89.42 for commercial use, which may include incidental volumes of boughs, gravel, hay, biomass, and other products derived from forest management activities. The value of the products is the current market value of the products that are being sold in the area. The permit may be issued for a period not to exceed one year and the commissioner shall charge a fee for the permit as provided under section 90.041, subdivision 10.
(c) The commissioner may issue a special use permit for incidental volumes of timber from approved right-of-way road clearing across state land for the purpose of accessing a state timber permit. The permit shall include the volume and value of timber to be cleared and may be issued for a period not to exceed one year. A presale conference as required under section 90.151, subdivision 6, must be completed before the start of any activities under the permit.
1967 c 25 s 1; 1980 c 614 s 78; 1Sp1981 c 4 art 2 s 10; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 2 s 74; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 54
Subdivision 1.Void sales; refunds.
Any sale of timber made by fraud or mistake or in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be void, the permit issued thereon shall be of no effect, and the holder shall be required to surrender the same. In case of a sale made by mistake the amount paid shall be refunded to the permit holder, or at the request of the permit holder the commissioner may credit the refund as payment upon any other timber purchased by the permit holder. If timber has been cut on a permit which required cancellation due to error by the state, it may be sold at single stumpage rate without formalities.
Subd. 2.Refunds on final billing.
The commissioner shall refund to a permit holder any amount paid on a timber sale which exceeds the value of the timber cut under that sale as determined on a final statement transmitted pursuant to section 90.181. The commissioner may credit a refund to any other permit held by the same permit holder if the permit is delinquent as provided in section 90.181, subdivision 2, and may credit a refund to any other permit to which the permit holder requests that it be credited.
Subd. 2a.Prompt payment of refunds.
Any refund of cash that is due to a permit holder as determined on a final statement transmitted pursuant to section 90.181 or a refund of cash made pursuant to section 90.161, subdivision 1, shall be paid to the permit holder according to section 16A.124 unless the refund is credited on another permit as provided in this chapter.
Subd. 3.Settlement of permit obligations.
When a permit holder dies or becomes permanently incapacitated, the commissioner may cancel the permit and compromise and settle the remaining obligations to the state.
Subd. 4.Damaged timber; reappraisal.
When standing timber under a valid permit is damaged through fire, windstorm, flood, or other natural cause, the commissioner may reappraise the timber and modify the permit. The commissioner shall ensure that the reappraisal is in the best interest of the state and the trust.
(6394-20) 1925 c 276 s 20; 1961 c 202 s 17; 1967 c 23 s 1; 1982 c 511 s 20; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 172 s 47; 2000 c 485 s 11,12; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 55
If the holder of an effective permit begins to cut and then fails to complete any part of the permit before the expiration of the permit, the permit holder shall nevertheless pay the price therefor; but under no circumstances shall timber be cut after the expiration of the permit or extension thereof.
(6394-21) 1925 c 276 s 21; 1967 c 27 s 3; 1986 c 444; 2005 c 141 s 10; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 56
The commissioner shall keep timber sales records, including the description of each tract of land from which any timber is sold; the date of the report of the state appraisers; the kind, amount, and value of the timber as shown by such report; the date of the sale; the price for which the timber was sold; the name of the purchaser; the number, date of issuance and date of expiration of each permit; the date of any assignment of the permit; the name of the assignee; the dates of the filing and the amounts of the respective security deposits by the purchaser and assignee; the names of the sureties thereon; the amount of timber taken from the land; the date of the report of the scaler and state appraiser; the names of the scaler and the state appraiser who scaled the timber; and the amount paid for such timber and the date of payment.
(6394-29) 1925 c 276 s 29; 1957 c 202 s 1; 1961 c 202 s 22; 1967 c 568 s 10; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 57
Whenever timber on a tract of state-owned land is sold, prior to the removal of the timber, the commissioner shall designate the boundaries of such tract.
1961 c 757 s 1; 1969 c 366 s 7
Subdivision 1.Scaling and check scaling procedures and requirements; penalty.
The commissioner shall institute scaling and check scaling procedures for state timber sufficient to protect the interest of the state. This will include the assignment of a trained timber scaling specialist in the classified service to be responsible for check scaling and to develop scaling and check scaling techniques and standards. The scaling and check scaling techniques and standards shall be approved by the commissioner. Check scaling shall also be accomplished by other forestry supervisors with reports forwarded to the timber scaling specialist. The timber scaling specialist shall report any scaling deficiencies or trespass to the commissioner. Any deficiencies requiring the attention of the attorney general or State Executive Council will be forwarded to these offices by the commissioner. All timber cut on lands in the charge of the commissioner, except as expressly provided otherwise by the commissioner shall be scaled. No timber may be scaled until it is first properly identified as specified in the permit. All scaling shall be done upon the land from which the timber was cut; provided that the state appraiser, subject to the approval of the commissioner, may designate in writing to a permit holder another location where such timber may be scaled, counted or measured; all logs individually scaled shall be numbered consecutively, and the number of each entered upon the minutes of the scaler; allowance shall be made for defects to make the timber equivalent to merchantable timber. No state timber shall be removed from the land where it was cut until it has been so scaled or counted except as herein provided. Any person removing timber from the land where it was cut, or from the place designated, before it has been so scaled or counted is guilty of trespass.
Subd. 2.Reports of scaled timber.
The scaler or state appraiser shall make separate reports to the commissioner of all such timber scaled, covering the respective permits. Each report shall describe the land on which the timber was cut, the quantities of each kind or species of timber, the total number of feet or other units of measurement, as the case may be.
Subd. 3.Final examination.
Final examination of lands and timber covered by any permit shall be made by a state appraiser at or subsequent to the expiration of the permit or of any cutting season and it shall be the duty of such appraiser to ascertain and report the amount of any timber covered by the permit and cut and left on the land or left standing thereon, but the appraiser shall not report any timber cut and left which has been marked as scaled.
Subd. 4.Scaling requirements.
No state timber shall ever be scaled for or on behalf of the state by any person except a state appraiser or scaler except as provided otherwise by the commissioner, and as far as practicable the scaler and appraiser shall not be the same person for any timber cut under a permit. No scale, count, measurement, or estimate of state timber officially made and reported by any state appraiser or scaler shall ever be changed or altered by any other person, nor superseded or set aside in any manner except as expressly provided in this chapter. Reappraisals of unsold state land or timber may be made when deemed advisable by the commissioner. Except as herein expressly provided and as generally authorized by section 16D.09, no claim of the state for timber from state lands shall ever be settled or discharged for less than the full amount thereof as shown by the scale or estimate of scalers, or of state appraisers, as the case may be.
(6394-22, 25, 26) 1925 c 276 s 22,25,26; 1957 c 278 s 1; 1961 c 202 s 18,20,21; 1967 c 568 s 11; 1969 c 366 s 8,9; 1973 c 492 s 14; 1982 c 511 s 22,23; 1984 c 613 s 5; 1986 c 444; 1995 c 186 s 25; 2003 c 73 s 12
Subdivision 1.Scaling agreement.
The commissioner may enter into an agreement with either a timber sale permittee, or the purchaser of the cut products, or both, so that the scaling of the cut timber and the collection of the payment for the same can be consummated by the state. Such an agreement shall be approved as to form and content by the attorney general and shall provide for a bond or cash in lieu of a bond and such other safeguards as are necessary to protect the interests of the state. The scaling and payment collection procedure may be used for any state timber sale, except that no permittee who is also the consumer shall both cut and scale the timber sold unless such scaling is supervised by a state scaler.
Subd. 2.Weight measurement services; fees.
The commissioner may enter into an agreement with the owner or operator of any weight scale inspected, tested, and approved under chapter 239 to provide weight measurements for the scaling of state timber according to section 90.251. The agreement shall be on a form prescribed by the attorney general, shall become a part of the official record of any state timber permit so scaled, and shall contain safeguards that are necessary to protect the interests of the state. Except as otherwise provided by the commissioner, the cost of any agreement to provide weight measurement of state timber shall be paid by the permit holder of any state timber permit so measured and the cost shall be included in the statement of the amount due for the permit under section 90.181, subdivision 1.
1969 c 366 s 10; 2000 c 485 s 13; 2004 c 241 s 12; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 58
(a) Upon complaint of any interested permit holder questioning the accuracy of any scale, count, or estimate of timber made by any state appraiser, or at any other time the commissioner determines in the absence of a complaint, the commissioner may cause a rescale, recount, or reestimate thereof to be made jointly by any two or more state appraisers, which when made shall supersede and for all purposes take the place of the original scale, count, or estimate, if and only when the scale or count varies more than ten percent from the original or the estimate exceeds the standards established by section 90.045.
(b) As a condition precedent to the making of a rescale, recount, or reestimate upon the complaint of any person, the commissioner may require the person to make available such sum of money as the commissioner deems necessary for the actual expenses thereof and to forfeit the same to the state if the rescale and recount does not vary more than ten percent from the original or the reestimate does not exceed the standards established by section 90.045. All forfeited money shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the fund or account from which the expenses of the rescale, recount, or reestimate were paid.
(6394-12) 1925 c 276 s 12; 1961 c 202 s 11; 1967 c 568 s 12; 1986 c 444; 2000 c 485 s 14
If any person holds or continues in possession of any lands mentioned in this chapter contrary to the conditions or covenants of any lease, certificate of sale, permit, or other written agreement, that person shall be liable to an action for the recovery of possession of such lands and damages for the detention of the same. The commission of trespass or waste upon these lands or the destruction or removal of timber or other property therefrom may be restrained, enjoined, or otherwise prohibited by any court of competent jurisdiction at the suit of the state pending final determination of the rights of the state therein, and permanently thereafter, as the facts may warrant. No bond shall ever be required of the state in any such proceeding.
(6394-4) 1925 c 276 s 4; 1961 c 202 s 5; 1986 c 444
The attorney general shall prosecute or cause to be prosecuted by the county attorney when the public interest so requires any person who may be charged with any indictable offense under this chapter.
The county attorneys of the several counties shall promptly report to the commissioner all trespasses committed upon state lands which may come to their knowledge and when directed by the attorney general shall prosecute all actions for any trespass or injury thereto, for the recovery of the possession thereof, or otherwise.
The county attorneys shall prosecute all actions for trespass on lands or timber on lands held in trust by the state for the counties in their respective counties.
(6394-5) 1925 c 276 s 5; 1955 c 387 s 2; 1961 c 202 s 6
Subdivision 1.Violations and penalty.
(a) Any state scaler or state appraiser who shall accept any compensation or gratuity for services as such from any other source except the state of Minnesota, or any state scaler, or other person authorized to scale state timber, or state appraiser, who shall make any false report, or insert in any such report any false statement, or shall make any such report without having examined the land embraced therein or without having actually been upon the land, or omit from any such report any statement required by law to be made therein, or who shall fail to report any known trespass committed upon state lands, or who shall conspire with any other person in any manner, by act or omission or otherwise, to defraud or unlawfully deprive the state of Minnesota of any land or timber, or the value thereof, shall be guilty of a felony. Any material discrepancy between the facts and the scale returned by any such person scaling timber for the state shall be considered prima facie evidence that such person is guilty of violating this statute.
(b) No such appraiser or scaler who has been once discharged for cause shall ever again be appointed. This provision shall not apply to resignations voluntarily made by and accepted from such employees.
[Repealed, 2013 c 114 art 4 s 108]
(6394-26, 6394-27) 1925 c 276 s 26,27; 1961 c 202 s 29; 1967 c 568 s 13; 1969 c 366 s 11; 1986 c 444; 2013 c 114 art 4 s 61
The records kept by the commissioner pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed notice of the facts therein set forth. All these records shall be prima facie true and correct.
(6394-36) 1925 c 276 s 36; 1961 c 202 s 28
The statutes of this state limiting the time for bringing either civil or criminal actions shall not apply to any action brought by the state for trespass upon any of its lands, or for violating any of the terms of the permit under which timber is removed from state lands, or for failure to pay the state for all the timber removed under any such permit, or to any criminal prosecution instituted under this chapter. Any civil action brought under this chapter may, at the election of the attorney general, be brought in any county in this state.
(6394-37) 1925 c 276 s 37
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed or construed as authorizing the sale, cutting, or removal, or as excusing damage or injury to any timber reserved to the state and set aside for any purpose, including state forests set aside under the Constitution of the state of Minnesota, Article XI, Section 11, and laws enacted in furtherance thereof, except as provided in the laws directly relating to such reserved timber.
All persons cutting or removing state timber shall be subject to all laws now in force or hereafter enacted governing the burning and disposition of slashings or other debris resulting from timber operations, and concerning forest fires, including the setting or spreading or prevention or control thereof or liability therefor.
(6394-38) 1925 c 276 s 38; 1965 c 51 s 14; 1976 c 2 s 172
[Renumbered 90.111, subdivision 1]
MS 1957 [Repealed, 1961 c 202 s 31,38]
MS 1961 [Renumbered 90.111, subd 2]
[Renumbered 90.111, subd 3]
MS 1957 [Repealed, 1961 c 202 s 33,38]
MS 1961 [Renumbered 90.111, subd 4]
MS 1957 [Repealed, 1961 c 202 s 34,38]
MS 1961 [Renumbered 90.111, subd 5]
[Renumbered 90.111, subd 6]