Section 1536.10  General

The purpose of this program is to encourage the establishment, management, and sustainable use and benefits of forests.  Definitions located at 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1537 apply to this Part as well.

a)         Timber growers participating in this program may also be eligible for federal cost-share programs administered by agencies of the United States.

b)         An application for cost-shared practices must be signed and dated by the timber grower or the timber grower's legally authorized agent and submitted to an Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Forester.  The requirements for installation of the practices must be described in the approved Forest Management Plan (Plan) (see 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1537).  Any practice variations or deviations must be submitted in writing and approved by the IDNR Forester.  The cost-share practice shall not be started until the application is approved by the IDNR Forester.

c)         Reimbursement for approved cost-share practices shall never exceed the established base cost of the practice.

d)         Timber growers must keep records and receipts of practice implementation costs.

e)         This is a timber grower reimbursement cost-share program.  Advance payment is not allowed and cost-share payment will not be made to a third party or to vendors.

f)         When federal or other cost-share programs are utilized concurrently with the Illinois Forestry Development Act (FDA) the combined FDA, federal and other reimbursements will not exceed the established base cost of the practice.  The base cost represents the cost of implementing the practice.

g)         A practice will not be repeated with FDA cost share on the same area of land within a 10 year period and must be maintained for a minimum of 10 years, except as allowed under Sections 1536.30, 1536.65, 1536.70 and 1536.77.

h)         Property upon which cost-share practices are installed must be protected from wildfire and grazing unless specifically prescribed in the Plan.

i)          Pesticides used in implementing practices must be federally, State and locally registered and must be applied strictly in accordance with authorized registered uses, directions on the label, and other federal and State requirements.

j)          If a timber grower has paid an IDNR timber harvest fee within 2 State fiscal years prior to the approval of a Plan or practice, timber growers will have their cost-share increased toward recouping up to 100% of their harvest fee.  The combined payment for the practice implementation and the harvest fee rebate shall not exceed 100% of the timber grower's actual and reasonable practice implementation costs.  Timber growers and/or landowners who sold timber based upon provisions of the Plan shall have priority for harvest fee rebates. 

k)         Only IDNR approved and satisfactorily completed practices provide the authority for reimbursement to timber growers.  All practice components must be completed and approved before payment is authorized.

l)          Cost-share practices shall not be authorized for any action that is determined to be harmful to threatened or endangered nonplant species or their habitat.

m)        Cost-share payments shall not be authorized for practices totaling less than one acre.

n)         Cost-share will not be authorized for more than a single practice that treats, removes, affects or establishes the same material, stems or growing vegetation or that is prescribed to achieve the same forest management result on the same acre.

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 4272, effective March 31, 2017)