(A) The State Commission of Forestry may make available forestry services consisting of scientific, technical, and practical services to landowners of the State to assist them in the afforestation, reforestation, and maximum production of their woodland. These services consist of specialized equipment and operators or rental of the equipment to perform labor and services necessary to carry out approved forestry practices including mechanical and chemical site preparation, processing forest tree seed, forest tree planting, insect and disease control, prescribed burning, firebreak plowing, and other appropriate practices to assist landowners in maximum production of their woodland.
(B) For the services or rentals a reasonable fee representing the commission's estimate of not less than the cost of the services or rentals must be charged. When the State Forester considers it in the public interest the services may be provided without charge to encourage the use of approved scientific forestry practices on private or other forestlands within the State or for the purposes of providing practical demonstrations of the practices.
(C) One hundred percent of the receipts from these activities and rentals must be retained by the commission for administration and operation of the forestry services program in the units which the estimated costs determine the fees charged generating these receipts, provided, the receipts from processing forest tree seed may be used agencywide. The administration of this section is under the State Forester. The landowner shall compensate the commission according to rates established by it. The commission may carry forward unexpended funds under this subsection to be used for these purposes.
(D) The commission may cooperate and offer the same services to counties, municipalities, and state agencies and make the forestry services and rental equipment available to them. Counties, municipalities, and state agencies shall reimburse the commission according to its fee schedule.
HISTORY: 1981 Act No. 178, Part II, Section 9; 1992 Act No. 468, Section 1.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation
Chapter 23 - Forestry Generally
Section 48-23-10. State Commission of Forestry.
Section 48-23-20. Terms of office of members of commission.
Section 48-23-30. Chairman of commission; meetings.
Section 48-23-40. Payment of commission members' expenses.
Section 48-23-50. Appointment, qualifications, and duties of State Forester.
Section 48-23-60. State Forester to be secretary to commission.
Section 48-23-70. Unlawful acts; penalties.
Section 48-23-80. General powers of commission.
Section 48-23-90. General duties of commission.
Section 48-23-95. Official summons form for making arrests; disposition of charges.
Section 48-23-97. Wood load tickets required for certain ticket sales; exceptions; penalties.
Section 48-23-110. Conveyance of State-owned wasteland to commission.
Section 48-23-120. Acquisition of real estate for timber production and other purposes.
Section 48-23-130. Acquisition of lands for state forests.
Section 48-23-132. Purposes for which revenues from specified sources may be used.
Section 48-23-135. Authorization to borrow; amount and terms.
Section 48-23-136. Pledge of revenue.
Section 48-23-140. Acceptance of gifts, conveyances, and leases.
Section 48-23-145. Compensation supplements paid to personnel of State Commission of Forestry.
Section 48-23-150. Disbursement of funds.
Section 48-23-160. Sale, exchange, or lease of lands.
Section 48-23-170. Execution of deeds, mortgages, or contracts.
Section 48-23-180. Marking and tallying forestry products.
Section 48-23-190. Telephone line attachments to commission's poles; charges.
Section 48-23-200. Rules and regulations.
Section 48-23-205. Local regulation of development affecting forest land.
Section 48-23-210. Pledge of income for repayment of labor costs pertaining to reforestation.
Section 48-23-220. Borrowing by commission.
Section 48-23-230. Liability of State for commission's obligations; source of funds for repayment.
Section 48-23-240. Liability of State for obligations for acquisition of land.
Section 48-23-250. Use of revenues from land; generally.
Section 48-23-265. Payment to landowner for forest products purchased; penalties.