Montana Code 77-5-214. Statement of policy
77-5-214. Statement of policy. (1) The application of contract harvesting on Montana’s trust lands provides an opportunity to improve forest health and long-term productivity, increase options for managing forests in environmentally sensitive areas, and provide potential revenue benefits for trust beneficiaries.
Terms Used In Montana Code 77-5-214
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Contract harvesting: means a timber harvest or timber sale occurring on state trust lands by which:
(a)the department solicits bids and contracts with a firm or individual awarded the bid to:
(i)perform all necessary work to harvest and process trees into merchantable forest products;
(ii)sort trees pursuant to contract specifications and department use standards; and
(iii)transport and deliver the products to forest product purchasers; and
(b)the department sells the forest products to one or more forest product purchasers through the competitive bidding process pursuant to 77-5-201(1) and (2). See Montana Code 77-5-215
- Forest products: means any product produced from the forest that the department can sell through competitive bid or direct negotiation. See Montana Code 77-5-215
- Log sorts: means trees or portions of trees that are grouped and sorted into various product categories, including but not limited to pulp logs, sawlogs, and house logs. See Montana Code 77-5-215
- Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Montana Code 1-1-202
(2)It is important that the department has clear authorization and direction for conducting contract harvesting, including marketing and selling log sorts and other forest products.
(3)A clear funding mechanism addressing the receipt of revenue and payment for costs associated with contract harvesting projects provides the transparent process that allows beneficiaries to understand the costs and benefits associated with contract harvesting.
(4)Contract harvesting has the potential to result in increased bidder activity, better use and merchandising of products, improved harvesting results and environmental protection, and quicker completion of projects when time constraints are a factor.