LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS 



By: Ted Doney 



Several proposals are being pre- 

 pared by the Montana Department of 

 Natural Resources and Conservation 

 for consideration by the second 

 session of the 43rd Legislature, 

 whi h will convene in January. 



I . The Montana Forest Practices 

 Act , SB 405, was held over from the 

 last session. Review and revision 

 of the bill by the Department, with 

 the assistance of a seven-member 

 Forest Practices Advisory Council, 

 have been completed, and recommended 

 rules for the Act's implementation 

 have been developed. Following cir- 

 culation of a draft environmental 

 impact statement on the proposed 

 law and rules, public hearings 

 will be held in Kalispell (Nov. 5), 

 Missoula (Nov. 6), Helena (Nov 7), 

 Lewistown (Nov. 8) and Bozeman 

 (Nov. 9). 



Basically the Act would vest 

 authority in the Board of Natural 

 Resources and Conservation to adopt 

 rules establishing minimum standards 

 for certain forest practices on 

 state and private forest lands. Such 

 affirmative actions include refores- 

 tation, road construction, tree har- 

 vest, use of chemicals and fertilizers 

 and the disposal of slash, but the use 

 and management of forest lands would 

 not be controlled. 



Two requirements would be made by 

 the Act: (a) complying with the rules 

 as adopted, and (b) notifying the 

 Department of an intention to con- 

 duct a forest practice operation. 

 Although neither permits nor bonds 

 would be required, enforcement reme- 

 dies have been included. 



In the opinion of the Department, 

 the Forest Practices Act represents 

 a well-reasoned and acceptable 

 approach which will help ensure the 

 perpetual growing and harvesting of 

 tree species while simultaneously 

 protecting the soil, air, water and 

 wildlife resources on forest lands. 



2. Minor amendments may be proposed 

 to clarify the Montana Water Use Act , 

 which became effective on July 1st, and 



to make its administration more efficient. 

 For example, outside a controlled ground- 

 water area, a new water right may be 

 acquired without a permit for domestic, 

 agriculture or livestock purposes by 

 means of a developed spring or well with 

 a maximum yield of less than 100 gallons 

 per minute. However, within 60 days 

 after completion, the appropriator must 

 file Form No. 602, "Notice of Completion 

 of Water Development," and the well 

 driller must file Form No. 603, "Well 

 Log Report". The Department will propose 

 that only one form, rather than two, 

 need be filed in this situation. 



3. H.B. 586 , which also was held over 

 from the last session, would increase 

 assessments made on owners of classified 

 forest land for fire protection and sup- 

 pression services provided by the Depart- 

 ment's Division of Forestry. As the 

 bill now stands in the Senate, the in- 

 crease would be from lOii to 18(t per acre 

 per year on Class I land, and from 3^ to 

 6i on Class 2 land. 



4. SB 401 , the Sediment Control Bill, 

 was also introduced and held over during 

 the last session. The Department is 

 looking forward to a positive expression 

 of support from the Montana Association of 

 Conservation Districts and the individual 

 districts before deciding whether to 

 endorse this bill . 



Any questions or comments concerning 

 these proposals would be welcomed by the 

 Department. 



#### 



In Hospital - 



Ole Ueland, Editor of Treasure Acres and 

 Chief of the Soil Conservation Bureau, 

 DNRC, was injured at his ranch Oct. 15, 1973. 

 He has been hospitalized since then at the 

 St. James Community Hospital and will be 

 recuperating at his ranch at Silver Bow 

 for many weeks yet. We know that he 

 would appreciate hearing from you. 



