§ 5-303. Development of programs; regulations

   (a) Duty of Department to develop Program. -- The Department shall develop and implement a Woodland Incentives Program to assist eligible landowners in conducting a program of woodland management.

(b) Adoption of regulations by Secretary. --

   (1) The Secretary shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.

   (2) Regulations under subsection (a) of this section shall include consideration of:

      (i) The establishment of land size limits for which cost-share assistance may be granted;

      (ii) A determination of practices that are eligible for cost-sharing assistance;

      (iii) Subject to the limitations imposed by this subtitle, the establishment of maximum amounts of assistance that an eligible landowner may receive for implementation of an approved practice;

      (iv) The establishment of criteria for prioritizing applications, including size of land, soil productivity, and tree species;

      (v) A periodic review of actual costs of woodland development practices;

      (vi) The establishment of criteria for Department assistance in implementation of an approved practice;

      (vii) The imposition by the Department of reasonable charges for implementation assistance; and

      (viii) A system of monitoring the implementation of approved practices.

HISTORY: 1986, ch. 620.