Section 1536.10  General

The purpose of this program is to encourage the planting, management, use, and regeneration of forests.

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

b)     An application for the cost-shared practice must be completed by the timber grower and/or landowner and submitted to the Illinois Department of Natural Resource's District Forester, hereinafter referred to as the District Forester.  The requirements for installation of the practice will be described in the approved forest management plan, hereafter called the "Plan".  The cost-shared practice can not be started until the application is approved by the District Forester.

c)     The reimbursement for the approved cost-shared practice will be based on the landowner's documentation of cost to install the practice and will not exceed the established cost-share percentages and will not exceed maximum amounts per unit allowed in this Part.

d)     Timber growers and/or landowners must provide an itemized statement with paid receipts for expenses of more than $10 in the implementation of the approved practice.  In determining the cost of a timber grower and/or landowner or family member doing the practices, the labor rate shall not exceed $12 per hour.  Reimbursement for amounts less than $50 will not be processed for payment.

e)     This is a reimbursement cost-share program.  Advance payment will not be allowed.  Furthermore, cost-share payment cannot be made to a third party or to vendors.

f)      When Federal or other cost-share program practices are utilized concurrently with the Illinois Forestry Development Act (IFDA) Cost-Share Program, the cost-share percentage shall equal the percentage of the other concurrent cost-share program in effect in the county where the practice is installed.  The IFDA cost-share percentage and the "not to exceed per practice unit amount" shall be adjusted proportionately from the standard rate now in effect. Timber growers and/or landowners may not be reimbursed more than the actual cost not to exceed the base cost of the practice.  The base cost represents the amount upon which the cost-share maximum is derived.  The adjusted maximum fixed rate is determined by taking the federal cost-share percent rate times the average cost per acre.  Federal programs will be used for initial payment.

g)     A practice cannot be repeated on the same land within a 10 year period and must be effective for a minimum of 10 years, except as allowed under Sections 1536.30 and 1536.70.

h)     Property upon which cost-shared practices are installed must be protected from wildlife and grazing by measures set forth in the Plan.

i)      Chemicals used in performing this practice 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 sale has occurred within 2 State of Illinois fiscal years prior to the approval of a cost shared practice, then landowners and/or timber growers will have their cost-share increased by an amount not to exceed 50% of their harvest fee.  The combined payment for the practice and the harvest fee rebate shall not exceed 100% of the landowner's and/or timber grower's practice cost.  Landowners and/or timber growers who sold timber based upon provisions of the Plan shall have priority for harvest fee rebates. Federal cost share programs cannot be used with the harvest fee rebate.

k)     While this program may be combined with a federal program for implementation of a specific practice, it cannot be combined with another State program for the same practice.

l)      Only approved and satisfactorily completed practices provide the basis for reimbursement to landowners.  All components must be completed and approved before payment is approved.

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

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 10473, effective June 1, 1998)