[HISTORY: Adopted by the Tribal Council of the Nottawaseppi
Huron Band of the Potawatomi 11-6-2007 by Res. No. 11-06-07-03 (Ord. No.
07-05). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The title of this chapter shall be the "Forest Protection and
Timber Harvesting Ordinance."
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate timber cutting, firewood
handling and timber removal from property belonging to the Tribe,
and to preserve timber resources belonging to the Tribe, including
those trees that have significant cultural and historical importance
to the Tribe. In addition this chapter is to protect the forest and
timber resources of the Tribe by regulating the importation of firewood
onto tribal lands.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions
will be used:
The Environmental Department of the Tribe and its agents
and employees.
Those areas of tribal property designated by the Department
to be off-limits to timber harvesting.
Logs, spars, piles, poles, and every form into which a felled
tree may be cut, which shall include but not be limited to firewood,
stove wood, cord wood, posts and rails.
Any conduct relating to the burning, sale, harvesting, cutting,
logging, thinning, salvaging, dumping, gathering, and processing of
timber or other forest products such as firewood.
Any permission, in writing, issued by the Department pursuant
to this chapter.
A person authorized by tribal permit to perform an act or
acts authorized by this chapter.
An individual, corporation, partnership, association, state
or political subdivision thereof, federal agency, municipality, interstate
body, tribal member, person residing on tribal property, and tribal
employees.
The land or real estate owned by the Tribe or intending to
be purchased by the Tribe.
The executive and legislative body of the Tribe.
The person that carries out the executive and administrative
functions of the Tribe at the direction of the Tribal Council.
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians (NHBPI).
A.
No person shall conduct any forestry activity on any property of
the Tribe without first obtaining a permit from the Department to
do so.
B.
The Department shall determine how many, if any, permits are issued
for forestry activity in any calendar year, and whether permits will
be issued for designated preserve lands.
C.
The Department shall not permit any person to cut or harvest any
forest product determined by the Tribe to have cultural or historical
significance to the Tribe. The Department may cut or harvest such
forest products based on cultural, historical or scientific considerations.
D.
The Department shall develop a permit request form within thirty
(30) days of this chapter being approved by Tribal Council. No permit
shall be valid in excess of one (1) year.
E.
There will be no cost for permits to tribal members. Nonmembers shall
pay $25 for a one-year permit. Tribal employees shall pay $15 for
a one-year permit.
A.
No person, in applying for a permit pursuant to this chapter, shall
make any false or misleading statement to secure the permit. If it
is determined that a permit was obtained under false circumstances,
that permit shall be considered null and void and subject to immediate
revocation by the Department.
B.
No person shall fail to keep such records of forestry activity as
required by the Department. Failure to keep required records or falsification
of required records shall result in immediate revocation of any permits
held by that person.
C.
No person shall cause, aid, abet or conspire with any other person
to violate any provision of this chapter.
D.
No person shall conduct any forestry activity without first obtaining
a permit from the Department.
E.
No person shall obstruct or interfere with the Department in the
performance of its duties pursuant to this chapter.
F.
No person shall remove, alter, or destroy any boundary marker or
landmark erected by the Tribe on tribal property including any signs
related to demarcating designated preserves.
G.
No person shall set fire to any timber, woods, meadow, marsh or field
on tribal property, except in accordance with any permit issued by
the Department and under its supervision.
H.
No person shall apply any pesticide to or significantly alter any
timber, woods, meadow, marsh or field on tribal property, except in
accordance with any permit issued by the Department and under its
supervision.
I.
No person shall import any firewood onto tribal property, due to
the threat of invasive species.
A.
The Department shall establish a procedure for the issuance of permits
pursuant to this chapter. The Department shall also prepare record
keeping regulations that require all permittees to keep record of
all forestry products taken from tribal property.
B.
The Department shall investigate all violations or alleged violations
of this chapter in accordance with procedures set forth in regulations
promulgated pursuant to this chapter.
C.
The Department shall inspect the forest and timber resources belonging
to the Tribe on a regular basis, but not less than once every six
(6) months. In order to conduct this inspection, the Department may
enter onto any lands, real estate, waters or premises, except into
any dwellings, on tribal property. The Department may remain thereon
while performing such duties. No entry by the Department made pursuant
to this act will constitute trespass.
D.
The Department shall have the authority, pursuant to its duty to
investigate violations of this chapter, to require the driver of any
motor vehicle, being operated for the purpose of conducting forestry
activity on tribal property, to stop and display their permit. The
Department may also search any legally stopped motor vehicle and inspect
it for possible violations of this chapter.
A.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter, upon
conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100
for each occurrence or imprisonment for not more than thirty (30)
days for each occurrence.
B.
Each day of the violation shall be considered a separate occurrence,
except for any time designated by the Department for the remediation
of any violation of this chapter.
A.
The Tribal Council is charged by Article VII of the Constitution
to manage the timber reserves for the benefit of the members of the
entire Tribe.
B.
Any cash from the sale of any forest product or fee from any forestry
activity shall be accounted for by the Department, and the Department
shall make a quarterly report to the Tribal Council accounting for
said cash and fees.
C.
At its discretion Tribal Council may designate some or all of the
cash and fees for the operation of Department activities pursuant
to this chapter.
