Sec.12-107d-2. Training, certification and conduct of foresters in evaluating land proposed for forest land classification

(a) Upon adoption of sections 12-107d-1 to 12-107d-5, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and not less than once per year thereafter, the State Forester or his or her designee shall make training in the content and practical application of sections 12-107d-1 to 12-107d-5, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies available to any forester.

(b) Upon a forester's satisfactory completion of the training described in subsection (a) of this section, the State Forester shall issue a certificate to the forester, accrediting the forester as qualified to evaluate land proposed for classification as Forest Land pursuant to section 12-107d of the Connecticut General Statutes. The accreditation shall be valid for up to four years.

(c) Satisfactory completion of the training shall be attained when the forester correctly answers all of the questions in a written or oral examination administered by the State Forester or his or her designee at the conclusion of the training described in subsection (a) of this section.

(d) Upon satisfactory completion of the training described in subsection (a) of this section, a notation that the forester is qualified to evaluate land for classification as Forest Land pursuant to section 12-107d of the Connecticut General Statutes may be included in any listing or directory of foresters certified under section 23-65h of the Connecticut General Statutes that may be published by the State Forester.

(e) Each forester who has satisfactorily completed the training described in subsection (a) of this section shall submit to the State Forester, on or before June 1 of each year, one copy of a representative forester's report authored by said forester during the previous year and a listing of the landowners who have received forester's reports from that forester during the previous year. The listing shall include the name of the landowner and the town(s) within which the subject land is located.

(f) The State Forester may suspend, revoke or deny such accreditation to evaluate land for classification as Forest Land pursuant to section 12-107d of the Connecticut General Statutes if, in the State Forester's opinion, the forester fails to comply with the requirements of subsection (e) of this section or fails to comply with the standards and procedures established in sections 12-107d-3 and 12-107d-4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(g) Upon suspending, revoking or denying accreditation pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, any existing notation that the forester is qualified to evaluate land for classification as Forest Land pursuant to section 12-107d of the Connecticut General Statutes shall be removed from any listing or directory of foresters certified under section 23-65h of the Connecticut General Statutes that may be published by the State Forester.

(h) A forester whose accreditation as a qualified forester under sections 12-107d-1 to 12-107d-5, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies has been revoked shall not be so accredited again until said forester has satisfactorily completed the training in subsection (a) of this section not less than two (2) years after the date of the revocation.

(Adopted effective July 27, 2006)