§620f Regulations and Review

Summary

The law requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to work together and write matching rules to carry out sections 620–620j on lands they manage. The Secretary of Commerce must write any rules or guidance needed to do the same. Those rules had to be issued not later than June 1, 1998, and any rules in effect before September 8, 1995 remain until the new rules are made. The law lets the Secretary require reasonable painting, branding, or other marking of unprocessed timber when the benefits are greater than the costs and when the marks are needed to prevent illegal export or substitution. Marks cannot be required on a log face under 7 inches in diameter or on timber under 8 feet long or less than one-third sound wood. The Secretary may grant waivers for low‑risk areas, for private timber guaranteed to be processed at a named U.S. mill, or under log‑yard agreements; waivers should be reviewed about once a year and last until ended. The Secretary must also set reporting and documentation rules when worth the cost, with possible waivers after audits or advance processing agreements. Finally, the Agriculture and Interior Secretaries must review the definition of “unprocessed timber” and report recommendations to Congress not later than 18 months after August 20, 1990.