§620c Restriction on exports of unprocessed timber from State and other public lands

Summary

Exports of unprocessed timber that comes from public lands are banned. For States that sell 400,000,000 board feet or less a year, the ban started June 1, 1993. For States that sell more than 400,000,000 board feet a year, the ban started November 14, 1997. The rule also generally stops people from buying public‑land timber if they would use it to replace timber exported from private land, or if they exported private‑land timber in the past 24 months, unless a State has an approved program or other exceptions apply. Contracts made before September 10, 1990 (for the smaller States) or before January 1, 1991 (for the larger States), and contracts that allowed exports under a Secretary’s order in effect before October 23, 1992, are not covered. The Secretary of Commerce must quickly decide which tree species, grades, and locations are covered, and write rules to enforce the ban, unless a State is running an approved program. A Governor can send a program to the Secretary for approval; the Secretary must approve it within 30 days unless it would allow illegal exports. States that had qualifying programs on May 3, 1993 may notify the Secretary within 30 days after July 1, 1993 and keep them in force until the end of the 9‑month period after the Secretary issues federal rules. The Secretary can exempt specific surplus timber by rule and can withdraw that exemption later. The President may suspend or change the ban after public notice and comment if a World Trade Organization or other trade ruling finds it breaks U.S. trade obligations (with at least 120 days’ notice and comment), may remove or change bans for national economic reasons if a State asks, and may annually suspend the ban starting January 1, 1998 if it no longer serves the law’s purposes (suspension takes effect 90 days after notifying Congress). Federal authority to respond to foreign actions and certain earlier federal laws remain in effect.