Timber Harvesting Plan

When a THP is submitted to CAL FIRE within 10 days of receipt:

• The THP is assigned a number.
• Copies are distributed to all state and federal reviewing agencies.
• A Notice of Intent is sent to landowners within 300 feet of the THP, the office of the county clerk within the THP county, and the local CAL FIRE unit headquarters.
• A Notice of Submission is sent to anyone who has requested notification in writing.
• A first review of the THP is done by a multi-agency team that includes CAL FIRE, the California Department of Fish and Game, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California Geological Survey, and other agencies as needed. This first review is meant to assess whether the THP is complete, accurate and in proper order. Any incomplete applications are returned to the Registered Professional Forester (RPF) who prepared the THP. The RPF must answer any questions or concerns raised by the review team before the THP is processed any further.
• Once all review team concerns are clarified and the THP is deemed complete, it is officially "filed." A Notice of Filing is sent to the person who submitted the THP, the office of the County Clerk, and to anyone who has requested notification in writing.

The public may submit to CAL FIRE comments concerning a filed THP. Comments will be accepted by the Department in writing,  via e-mail or submitted online through CalTREES (https://caltreesplans.resources.ca.gov/caltrees/Default.aspx) up until the close of business on the designated final date for public comment. The public shall be informed as to where they may send their e-mail comments on all public notices and postings. All comments regarding plans shall be in writing and shall be addressed to the Director at the regional office where the plan is filed. CAL FIRE responds in writing to public comments that raise significant environmental issues. The names of the assigned e-mail mailboxes for electronic comments are as follows:

santarosapubliccomment@fire.ca.gov - Santa Rosa
CALFIREReddingpubliccomment@fire.ca.gov - Redding
fresnopubliccomment@fire.ca.gov - Fresno

Public comments pertaining to CEQA documents normally reviewed by the Environmental Coordinator in Sacramento, should be sent to:
sacramentopubliccomment@fire.ca.gov - Sacramento

• Incoming e-mail messages will not be accepted by the system if they exceed 20 megabytes in size.
• Incoming e-mails with virus-laden attachments will be scanned and rejected by the CAL FIRE virus wall.
• Undecipherable e-mail messages shall be discarded.
• It is the responsibility of the sender to provide the Department with clear and complete messages when providing public comment through our e-mail system.
• Hypertext e-mail links to other web pages or publications shall not be deemed the equivalent of written comment.
• Not all comment formats may be compatible with current CAL FIRE software.
• Obscene, threatening, or offensive comments may be reported to CAL FIRE Law Enforcement Staff.

• CAL FIRE Unit Forest Practice Inspectors will periodically inspect the logging operation to ensure compliance with the approved THP and all laws and regulations.
• Any violations will be promptly acted upon. Enforcement actions range from violation notices requiring corrective actions, assessment of civil penalties and fines, and criminal proceedings through the court system. Action may also be taken against the licenses of the timber operator and/or the RPF on the operation.
• When a THP operation has been completed, the timber owner has the responsibility for submitting a completion report to CAL FIRE. CAL FIRE then inspects the area to certify that all rules were followed.
• The landowner must restock (replant) the area according to the Forest Practice Rules requirements. A stocking report must be filed with CAL FIRE to certify that these requirements were met. If the landowner fails to restock the land, CAL FIRE may hire a contractor to do the work and bill the landowner.