§1683 Pilot projects; requirements; residue removal credits as compensation; implementation guidelines

Summary

The Secretary in charge of National Forests can run pilot projects where buyers of National Forest timber from contracts made before October 1, 1986, may be required to remove leftover wood they did not buy. Buyers can get paid with "residue removal credits" that are applied against what they owe for the timber. The projects are meant to learn how to increase use of wood residues in homes, businesses, industry, or power plants and are done only when that learning can’t reasonably happen except with normal timber sales. The law limits how the pilots work. Removal won’t be required if expected removal costs are higher than expected value, unless the removal is needed for fire prevention, preparing a site for new trees, improving wildlife habitat, or other land management needs. Credits cannot be larger than the remaining timber payment after other charges or credits. The Secretary may sell removed residues for no less than their appraised value. Projects must not harm any program that furnishes timber free under other laws. Residues must be collected so soil and wildlife are protected. For accounting, residue removal credits count as money received, and sales proceeds equal the sale price minus any applied credits and the Forest Service’s processing and storage costs.