New Mexico § 68-2-16 - Rules of division

§ 68-2-16. Rules of division

The forestry division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department is

authorized to make and enforce rules not in conflict with any law now in force as

it deems necessary for the prevention and suppression of forest fires, for the control

of forest insects or diseases and for the application of commercial or silvicultural

forest practices within the state. The rulemaking power includes the requiring of registration of sawmills, declaring

of designated areas to be high hazard fire areas and closing them to entry by the

general public for reasonable periods and requiring native forest vegetative types

to be harvested or treated in such manner as to support forest practices that maintain

and enhance the benefits of forests and forest resources to New Mexico. Rules shall be provided to all interested parties upon request. Nothing in the Forest Conservation Act shall prevent a landowner from converting

forest vegetative types to nonforest vegetative types for such purposes as range,

wildlife habitat, farming, surface mining or subdivision development; provided, however,

any slash resulting from such conversion shall be treated in a manner that will minimize

the spread of forest fires and the possibility of insect or disease epidemic.