Timber Bulletin May/Jun - Minnesota Forest Industries

BondingIn numerous meetings withlegislators, TPA requested thatmoney for tree planting that wasvetoed by Governor Ventura berestored. The Senate CapitalInvestment Committee included$1.5 million (the vetoed amount)for tree planting in its proposal. Asmall bonding bill was passed butit did not include funding for treeplanting.TransportationThe Department ofTransportation bill to provide for anew northern zone for winterweights was passed. Anamendment was added in theSenate committee which wouldeliminate individual axleoverweight restrictions during thewinter if the total gross weightlimit was not exceeded. This billalso contains a provision to allowfull winter weights on nine-tonroads.An amendment was offered tothe House Transportation Financebill on the floor of the House toallow 88,000 pound trucks yearround. The amendment wasdefeated on a 120 – 11 vote.The TPA TransportationCommittee met with Capt. KenUrquhart, head of commercialvehicle enforcement, to resolveissues relating to truck-mountedlog loaders. TPA was successful inadding these vehicles to thedefinition of “special mobileequipment.” This means that thesevehicles will not need to belicensed but will be subject to DOTInspections.DNR Timber SalesLegislation to allow shiftingtimber security from one sale toanother, when a sale has beenopened but not operated, waspassed. This legislation alsoprovides the ability to post aperformance security to allowroads and landings to beconstructed before the full securityis provided to operate the sale.County Intermediate SalesTwo separate approaches toprovide a statutory framework forcounty intermediate sales wereconsidered. One of the approachesincluded language to allow the useof letters of credit as security. Thecounties were divided on this topicand decided not to pursuelegislation until 2004.ATV’sThe final compromise that wasworked out on this issue andpassed included languageclarifying that the exemption foroff-trail ATV use for forestrypurposes remains in effect.In summary, as a result of thisyear’s legislative actions: 1) theDNR should be able to sell its fullallowable cut; 2) a new far northernzone for winter weights and areconfigured northern zone shouldbe established; 3) full winterweights will be allowed on ninetonroutes; 4) truck-mounted logloaders will not need to be licensedbut will be subject to DOTinspection; and 5) DNR timber salepurchasers will be able to shiftsecurity on unoperated sales andwill be able to establish roads andlandings with a performance bond.Timber Bulletin May/June 200327