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Bill would require plan to reduce delayed timber harvests on state forest lands
Summary
The committee heard that S.477 would require the commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation to report on delayed timber harvests and propose steps — including staffing or contracting with licensed private foresters — to reduce delays and estimate costs and jobs created.
Michael Grady, legislative counsel, introduced S.477 as “an act relating to forest management harvest on state forest lands,” saying the bill responds to concerns that necessary timber harvests and forest management activities on state lands have fallen behind schedule.
Grady told the council the bill would require the commissioner of Vermont’s Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) to develop a plan to reduce the number of delayed timber harvests on state forest lands and to include in the report: a summary of delayed harvests and reasons for delay, whether licensed private foresters could be contracted to reduce delays, and an estimate of costs and benefits including the number of harvesting jobs that could be created.
Members said COVID‑era constraints, leadership changes and limited staffing contributed to delays. Grady noted the department had fewer field visits during the pandemic, changes in leadership, and that assessing and preparing a public forest harvest plan is time‑consuming because it typically requires site assessment, public planning and discussion about what should be cut.
Committee members raised options the bill might consider: hiring additional FPR staff; contracting licensed private foresters to mark and prepare harvests; and identifying whether existing current‑use or other revenue streams were ever dedicated to staffing county foresters. Grady said he would check whether any dedicated ongoing revenue was created when current use was adopted and that the state has about 374,000 acres of timberland while noting some areas are designated no‑touch.
No formal motions or votes were recorded during the briefing. Members asked FPR for factual follow‑up on staffing levels, historical funding for county foresters and options for contracting to accelerate harvest schedules.
The bill frames the issue as a trade‑off between the department’s current staffing and the possibility of using private contractors where agency capacity cannot meet scheduling needs.
