Illinois Administrative Code › Title 17 - CONSERVATION › Part 1536 - FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT COST-SHARE PROGRAM › Section 1536.10 - General

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
The purpose of this program is to encourage the establishment,
				management, and sustainable use and benefits of forests. Definitions located at
				17 Ill. Adm. Code 1537 apply to this Part as well.
a) Timber growers participating in this
			 program may also be eligible for federal cost-share programs administered by
			 agencies of the United States.
b)
			 An application for cost-shared practices must be signed and dated by the timber
			 grower or the timber grower's legally authorized agent and submitted to an
			 Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Forester. The requirements for
			 installation of the practices must be described in the approved Forest
			 Management Plan (Plan) (see 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1537). Any practice variations or
			 deviations must be submitted in writing and approved by the IDNR Forester. The
			 cost-share practice shall not be started until the application is approved by
			 the IDNR Forester.
c) Reimbursement
			 for approved cost-share practices shall never exceed the established base cost
			 of the practice.
d) Timber growers
			 must keep records and receipts of practice implementation costs.
e) This is a timber grower reimbursement
			 cost-share program. Advance payment is not allowed and cost-share payment will
			 not be made to a third party or to vendors.
f) When federal or other cost-share programs
			 are utilized concurrently with the Illinois Forestry Development Act (FDA) the
			 combined FDA, federal and other reimbursements will not exceed the established
			 base cost of the practice. The base cost represents the cost of implementing
			 the practice.
g) A practice will
			 not be repeated with FDA cost share on the same area of land within a 10 year
			 period and must be maintained for a minimum of 10 years, except as allowed
			 under Sections
			 1536.30,
			 1536.65,
			 1536.70
			 and 1536.77.
h) Property upon which
			 cost-share practices are installed must be protected from wildfire and grazing
			 unless specifically prescribed in the Plan.
i) Pesticides used in implementing practices
			 must be federally, State and locally registered and must be applied strictly in
			 accordance with authorized registered uses, directions on the label, and other
			 federal and State requirements.
j)
			 If a timber grower has paid an IDNR timber harvest fee within 2 State fiscal
			 years prior to the approval of a Plan or practice, timber growers will have
			 their cost-share increased toward recouping up to 100% of their harvest fee.
			 The combined payment for the practice implementation and the harvest fee rebate
			 shall not exceed 100% of the timber grower's actual and reasonable practice
			 implementation costs. Timber growers and/or landowners who sold timber based
			 upon provisions of the Plan shall have priority for harvest fee
			 rebates.
k) Only IDNR approved and
			 satisfactorily completed practices provide the authority for reimbursement to
			 timber growers. All practice components must be completed and approved before
			 payment is authorized.
l)
			 Cost-share practices shall not be authorized for any action that is determined
			 to be harmful to threatened or endangered nonplant species or their
			 habitat.
m) Cost-share payments
			 shall not be authorized for practices totaling less than one acre.
n) Cost-share will not be authorized for more
			 than a single practice that treats, removes, affects or establishes the same
			 material, stems or growing vegetation or that is prescribed to achieve the same
			 forest management result on the same acre.