The following shall be the minimum standards for issuance of
a timber harvesting permit .
A.
A copy of the timber harvesting permit, including all accompanying
documents, plans, specifications, approvals, conditions, etc., shall
be available on site during the timber harvesting operation.
B.
An applicant proposing to engage in timber harvesting on landslide-prone
soils must provide a forestry plan prepared by a professional forester
that describes the best management practices to be employed to ensure
stabilization of soils and demonstrates compliance with the Penn State
College of Agricultural Sciences publication entitled "Best Management
Practices for Pennsylvania Forests."
[Amended 7-12-2016 by Ord. No. 2653]
C.
The clear-cutting or seed-tree cutting methods, or any other method
deemed by the Municipality to be similarly intensive, may not be performed
on areas with a slope exceeding 4H:1V out of a concern for destabilizing
the earth, unless the applicant can demonstrate that the proposed
method employs best management practices to ensure stabilization of
the slope and is the method recommended by the professional forester
to sustain the forest.
[Amended 7-12-2016 by Ord. No. 2653]
D.
In order to minimize environmental degradation, timber harvesting
operations shall be confined, to the maximum extent practical, to
the drier summer and fall seasons.
E.
Buffer zones shall be maintained on the property on which the timber
harvesting operation is being conducted as follows:
(1)
Along abutting properties and streets: 25 feet, unless a reason for
harvesting within the buffer zone exists and is explained in the forestry
plan.
[Amended 7-12-2016 by Ord. No. 2653]
(2)
Around wetlands, vernal pools, lakes, ponds, creeks, streams, or
other waters of this commonwealth, an applicant shall provide proof
that the buffer distances that are required under the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection's regulations and those recommended
in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences publication entitled
"Best Management Practices for Pennsylvania Forests" are included
in the forestry and E&S plans.
[Amended 7-12-2016 by Ord. No. 2653]
F.
All cutting, removing, skidding and transporting of trees as part
of the timber harvesting operation shall be planned and performed
in such a manner as to minimize the disturbance of or damage to other
trees, vegetation and the land itself.
G.
Roads, trails, landings, etc., shall be constructed, maintained and
abandoned in such manner as to prevent soil erosion and permanent
damage to soils and waterways.
H.
Roads, trails, landings, etc., shall only be wide enough to accommodate
the type of equipment used, and grades of such roads and trails shall
be kept as low as possible. Such areas generally shall have a transverse
slope meant to distribute runoff uniformly as sheet flow instead of
concentrating flow.
I.
Stream crossings shall be avoided, but, where deemed necessary, crossings
shall be made at a right angle across suitable culverts or bridges
in accordance with appropriate state and federal regulations.
J.
Skidding across live or intermittent streams is prohibited except
over culverts or bridges in accordance with appropriate state and
federal regulations.
K.
All limbs and stubs shall be removed from felled trees prior to skidding.
L.
All trees bent or held down by felled trees shall be promptly released.
M.
No trees shall be left lodged in the process of felling.
N.
Felling or skidding on or across property of others is prohibited
without the express written consent of those property owners. Felling
or skidding on or across any public street is prohibited without the
written permission of the appropriate municipal, county or state government
agency.
O.
No tops or slash shall be left within 25 feet of any adjoining property,
public street, stream and/or historic or scenic trail; or within 10
feet of any drainage ditch.
P.
The stumps of all felled trees shall be permitted to remain in the
soil for stabilization purposes.
Q.
Upon completion of the timber harvesting operation, all timbering
roads shall be graded to eliminate any wheel ruts, and access to such
roads from public streets by motor vehicles of any kind shall be effectively
blocked.
R.
Debris deposited on public streets or thoroughfares or adjacent property
as a result of work shall be removed immediately.
S.
The operation shall comply with applicable health and safety measures,
including but not limited to adequate warning signs, traffic controls,
sanitary measures, environmental measures and other applicable measures.
T.
All disturbed areas shall be graded and seeded immediately upon termination
of their use. The permittee shall not wait until the entire project
is complete to begin stabilization of disturbed areas but will restore
the areas incrementally as they are abandoned.
U.
All trees shall be cut at a maximum of 18 inches above the ground
surface.
V.
Ingress/egress points shall be located as determined and approved
by the Municipality.
W.
Litter resulting from any logging operation shall be cleaned up and
removed from the site before it is vacated by the operator.
