Section 46.165. Certified plan writer.

 

(1)   Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish a program to identify and qualify non-department individuals to become certified to prepare management plans for the department under the managed forest land program.

(2)   Training materials and guidance. The department shall provide training materials and department guidance for management plan development.

(3)   Certification requirements. The department shall certify an individual as a plan writer if the individual:

(a) Applies and submits information required consistent with application deadlines specified by the department on forms prepared and provided by the department for certification to prepare applications under the managed forest land program.

(b) Is a cooperating forester as defined in s. NR 1.21 (2) (b) and participates and complies with the "cooperating forester program" as provided in s. NR 1.213 .

(c) Completes the basic training session sponsored by the department.

(d) Submits within 120 days of attending the basic training session under par. (c) any required training materials which must be reviewed and approved by the department.

(4)   Certification maintenance. To maintain plan writer certification, the certified plan writer shall:

(a) Comply with all guidelines, manuals and directives provided by the department at the time of application and during training to maintain certification status.

(b) Prepare a minimum of one managed forest law management plan every 2 years which has been approved by the department.

(c) Attend one department sponsored update training session each year.

(d) Prepare managed forest law management plans consistent with department guidelines, manuals and directives.

(e) Maintain status as a cooperating forester as defined in s. NR 1.21 (2) (b) and participate and comply with the "cooperating forester program" as provided in s. NR 1.213 .

(f) On or before May 1 of each year submit a report of managed forest law management plan fees charged as an independent certified plan writer during the preceding 12 months in a method approved by the department. The report shall include the cost per acre, the county where the land was located and the acres covered by the plan.

(5)   Revoking certification.

(a) The department may revoke the certification of a plan writer for failure to comply with any certification maintenance requirements in sub. (4) .

(b) Revocation may be for a period of no more than 2 years if revocation is the result of failure to comply with sub. (4) (a) or (d) .

(c) Certified plan writers shall be notified of the cause for revocation.

(6)   Certification following revocation.

(a) If certification was revoked for a failure to comply with sub. (4) (b) , (c) , (e) or (f) , the individual may immediately apply to be certified by completing the requirements under sub. (3) .

(b) If certification was revoked for a failure to comply with sub. (4) (a) or (d) , the individual may not apply to be certified until the period of revocation has been completed. Applicants shall:

1. Comply with the requirements under sub. (3) (a) , (b) and (c) .

2. Submit within 120 days of attending the basic training session 2 managed forest law management plans prepared after the certification was revoked which are approved by the department.

CR 04-136 : cr. Register July 2005 No. 595 , eff. 8-1-05; emerg. cr. (4) (f) and am. (6) (a), eff. 10-4-05; CR 05-087 : cr. (4) (f), am. (6) (a) Register May 2006 No. 605 , eff. 6-1-06; CR 10-031 : am. (4) (f) Register October 2010 No. 658 , eff. 11-1-10; CR 11-013 : am. (3) (a), (d), (4) (f) Register December 2011 No. 672 , eff. 1-1-12.