S.F No. 2852 is an agency bill from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) designed to allow the DNR to streamline administrative procedures in various service areas. The bill has been referred to the State and Local Government Operations Committee because section 4 of the bill would allow the Commissioner of Natural Resources to establish fees for certain recreational uses of state forest lands. The bill exempts those fees from the rulemaking provisions of Chapter 14.

SECTIONS

Section 1. AUTHORITY. allows the DNR to reimburse appraisal costs to donors of land or interests in land.

Section 2. ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR FACILITIES. allows the DNR Commissioner to acquire land or interests in land outside of the boundaries of state parks if the interests in land are needed for management of the parks.

Section 3. EMPLOYMENT OF COMPETENT FORESTERS. clarifies that the forest management services provided to private landowners under Minnesota Statutes, section 88.79, include tree-planting equipment and written stewardship and forest management plans.

Section 4. USES OF STATE FOREST LANDS; FEES. authorizes the Commissioner of Natural Resources, by written order, to establish fees for the use of state forest lands, including various recreational uses. This authority is exempt from the rulemaking provisions of Chapter 14, and from other provisions that would ordinarily apply to exempt rules. Proceeds from fees collected under this authority must be deposited in the Natural Resources Fund.

Sections 5 to 9. TIMBER SALES. make changes to the state's timber sales program designed to improve effectiveness and efficiency.

Section 10. EXPLORATORY BORING. names additional minerals covered by the exploratory borings law, which require appropriate abandonment of exploration drill holes to protect groundwater.

Section 11. REPEALER. repeals certain outdated elements of the statewide forest resource planning requirements.

TSB:rdr

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