Enforcement.

1. Inspections. The Township Zoning Officer may go upon the site of any timber harvesting operation before, during or after active logging to: (A) review the logging plan or any other required documents for compliance with this chapter; and (B) inspect the operation for compliance with the logging plan and other on-site requirements of this chapter.

2. Violation Notices; Suspensions. Upon finding that a forestry or timber harvesting operation is in violation of any provision of this chapter, the Township Zoning Officer shall issue the operator and the landowner a written notice of violation describing each violation and specifying a date by which corrective action must be taken. The Township Zoning Officer may order the immediate suspension of any operation upon finding that: (A) corrective action has not been taken by the date specified in a notice of violation; (B) the operation is proceeding without a logging plan; or (C) the operation is causing an environmental risk. Suspension orders shall be in writing, shall be issued to the operator and the landowner, and shall remain in effect until, as determined by the Township Zoning Officer, the operation is brought into compliance with this chapter, or other applicable statutes or regulations. The landowner or the operator may appeal an order or decision of the Zoning Officer in accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.

3. Penalties. Any landowner or operator who: (A) violates any provision of this chapter, or who fails to comply with a notice of violation or suspension order issued under Subsection 2, above, shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500, nor more than $1,000, plus costs and attorneys fees, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq. Each day of continued violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.

4. Any operator who knowingly and willfully removes trees not designated for removal in the approved forest management plan or removes trees outside of the areas designated for removal by the forest management plan shall be subject to a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000 per tree removed in violation of the provisions of the forest management plan and this chapter.

See Part 27: FORESTRY AND TIMBER HARVESTING for complete, detailed information.