Section 0080-07-01-.12 - FREE USE AREAS FOR FIREWOOD REMOVAL(1) The district forester shall designate a "free use area" for each state forest where Tennessee residents may remove downed and dead timber from a state forest, without cost, for their own personal use as firewood for home heating and cooking, provided that none of the firewood is offered for sale.(2) Permits to remove downed and dead timber from free use areas for use as firewood shall be issued by the district forester or representative for each state forest during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at other times at the district forester's discretion.(3) Permits will be valid for a specified date and time; will include a unique identifying number; and may be issued by any reasonable means, including by telephone, in person or by Internet.(4) Permit requests may be made by persons 18 years of age or older and shall include the permittee's name, vehicle license number, and county to which the firewood will be transported.(5) The district forester or representative may refuse to issue a permit if he or she determines that refusal is necessary for safety reasons or in the best interest of the state forest.(6) Permits will not be issued during hunts managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.(7) Permits are not transferable.(8) Permit shall be displayed on the permittee's vehicle at all times during timber removal.(9) Permittee is prohibited from setting fires during firewood cutting and removal, and equipment used shall have appropriate spark arrestors.(10) Permittee shall remove all trash and litter resulting from Permittee's activities.(11) Permittee shall comply with the division's guidelines on firewood transport posted on the department's internet website and available at all division offices.(12) Timber or firewood removal outside the designated free use area is strictly prohibited.(13) Permittee and permitted activities are subject to all applicable state laws and regulations.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-07-01-.12
Original rule filed December 28, 2018; effective 3/28/2019.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-3-201, et seq. and 11-4-807.