Title 36

SECTION 223.194

223.194 Procedures for reporting the acquisition and disposition of unprocessed private timber.

§ 223.194 Procedures for reporting the acquisition and disposition of unprocessed private timber.

(a) Notice of domestic processing requirement. Each person who acquires unprocessed timber originating from Federal lands located west of the 100th meridian in the 48 contiguous States, and who also possesses or acquires unprocessed timber from private lands located west of the 100th meridian in the 48 contiguous States that requires domestic processing, including unprocessed timber originating within an approved sourcing area, and in turn sells, trades or otherwise conveys such unprocessed private timber to another person, must include a statement notifying the person acquiring the unprocessed private timber that such private timber must be domestically processed. Unprocessed timber originating from private lands located outside of a sourcing area may be transferred by the holder of the sourcing area, or by persons acquiring such unprocessed timber who are eligible to export such timber, without including such a statement.

(b) The notification statement, pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, shall accompany each transaction involving unprocessed private timber that requires domestic processing. The statement shall be on a form provided by the Forest Service or a legible copy of such form.

(1) On such form, described in paragraph (b) of this section, the person transferring the timber shall:

(i) Give notice to the person receiving the unprocessed private timber that exporting that timber would violate the Act and its implementing regulations;

(ii) Give notice to the person receiving the unprocessed private timber that the timber has been identified for domestic manufacturing by a spot of highway yellow paint on each log end that must be retained on the timber;

(iii) Agree to send a signed copy of the transaction statement to the Regional Forester within 10 calendar days of the transaction;

(iv) Agree to retain records of all transactions involving the acquisition and disposition of unprocessed timber for a period of three (3) years from the date of disposal by manufacturing or transfer and to make such records available for inspection upon the request of an authorized official of the United States;

(v) Acknowledge that failure to completely and accurately report and identify unprocessed timber is a violation of the Act, and regulations issued under the Act, and the False Statements Act (18 U.S.C. 1001); and

(vi) Certify that the form has been read and understood.

(2) On such form, described in paragraph (b), the person acquiring the timber shall:

(i) Acknowledge receipt of the notice of requirement to domestically process timber originating from private land;

(ii) Certify that a statement pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) will be included in any subsequent transaction documents;

(iii) Agree to maintain yellow paint markings on each log end until the timber is domestically processed or transferred;

(v) Agree to send a signed copy of the transaction statement to the Regional Forester within 10 calendar days of the transaction;

(vi) Agree to allow authorized officials access to log storage and processing facilities for the purpose of monitoring compliance with the Act and its implementing regulations;

(vii) Acknowledge that failure to comply with the domestic manufacturing requirements for unprocessed timber or failure to notify subsequent persons of this requirement may subject the certifier to the civil penalties and administrative remedies provided in the Act and regulations issued under the Act;

(viii) Acknowledge that failure to completely and accurately report and identify unprocessed timber is a violation of the Act, and regulations issued under the Act, and the False Statements Act (18 U.S.C. 1001); and

(ix) Certify that the form has been read and understood.

(c) Except as otherwise provided by law, a person who transfers unprocessed private timber to another person and meets all notice, certification, acknowledgement, distribution, reporting and record keeping requirements contained in this section shall be relieved from further liability for such timber with regard to the export and substitution restrictions pursuant to the Act.