AB 504

Under the Managed Forest Land (MFL) Program administered by the

Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the owner of a parcel of land designated

as MFL makes an annual acreage share payment that is lower than, and in lieu of,

the property taxes that normally would be payable on the land. In exchange, the

owner must comply with certain forestry practices. Under the program, MFL is

designated as either "open" or "closed" to public access. MFL that is designated as

"open" must be kept open for hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, and

cross-country skiing (recreational activities). For MFL that is designated as "closed"

the owner must make an additional payment per acre (closed acreage payment).

This bill exempts from the requirement that recreational activities be allowed

on MFL that is designated as open if the MFL is within a site for which a mining

company has notified DNR that it intends to file an application for an iron mining

permit (proposed mining site). Instead, under the bill, the mining company and DNR

may enter into an agreement to allow any or all of the recreational activities on all

or part of the MFL during the entire year or during certain times of the year.

However, the owner must make the closed acreage payment for each acre that is

located within the proposed mining site and that is closed to any of the recreational

activities during any time during the previous calendar year.

The bill also requires DNR to post on its website information regarding

recreational activities that are allowed under agreements that are entered into

between a mining company and DNR.