§1683 Pilot Projects; Requirements; Residue Removal Credits as Compensation; Implementation Guidelines

Summary

Allows the Secretary to run pilot projects where buyers of National Forest timber under contracts made before October 1, 1986, can be asked to remove leftover wood they did not buy. Those buyers would get "residue removal credits" that lower what they owe for the timber. The projects are used only when they can give important information about ways to use wood leftovers for homes, businesses, industry, or power plants and when that information can’t be learned during normal timber sales. Credits must match the expected cost of removing the wood and cannot be more than the buyer still owes after other charges and credits. The Secretary cannot allow removal when the cost is expected to exceed the value except for fire prevention, site preparation for replanting, wildlife habitat work, or other land management needs. Removed residues may be sold for at least their appraised value. Projects must not hurt programs that give timber away free. Collection must avoid soil loss and protect wildlife. For section 500, removal credits count as money received, and sales proceeds equal the sale price minus any applied credit and Forest Service processing and storage costs.