Forms
Non-PA SFI Course Credit Form
Training courses taken from other sources may qualify for PA SFI continuing education credit, provided the subject of the course is relevant to the SFI program. Individuals seeking CE credit must submit this completed course registration form, a course agenda, and the required administrative fees to the PA SFI Implementation Committee office. One year of CE credit will be given for a 4-hour course and two years of credit will be given for an 8-hour course.
AgConnect Application for Incumbent Worker Training Funds
AgConnect offers SFI training participants with a reimbursement of up to 50% for SFI logger training course registration fees. Funding is provided through grants by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Chester County Workforce Development Board. Trainees must be employed residents of Pennsylvania, must report training outcomes, and must provide their social security number and date of birth. Additional details can be found on the application packet available through the link below.
PA SFI Treatment Unit Sustainability Assessment Form (TUSAF)
Provides forest landowners and forestry practitioners with a tool to assess their current forest condition, develop a desired forest condition, and evaluate the results of their harvesting operation. This assessment form can be used in combination with the TUSAF Sustainability Key below. Click here to learn more about TUSAF.
PA SFI Timber Harvest Checklist
This checklist provides a handy reference for foresters, landowners, and timber harvesting professionals to make sure they are conducting their forest operations in accordance with the principles and objectives of the SFI program.
PA SFI Timber Harvesting Assessment Form
Provides forest landowners and timber sale administrators with specific items to evaluate during or after a silvicultural operation to ensure water quality protection, sustainable forest management practices, and more.
PA SFI Inconsistent Practices Form
The Pennsylvania SFI Implementation Committee (SIC) responds to allegations of practices that appear inconsistent with the SFI Standard principles and objectives. Inconsistent practices either cause or have the potential to cause, problems associated with a timber harvest. Likely issues are soil erosion, stream sedimentation, failed regeneration, and/or poor residual stand conditions. The Inconsistent Practices Program provides a venue for reporting and addressing these concerns.
Erosion & Sediment (E&S) Control Plan Template for a Timber Harvesting Operation
(DEP Doc# 3800-FM-BCW0539) – In Pennsylvania a written Erosion and Sedimentation Control (E&S) Plan is required for all operations that involve 5,000 square feet (0.11 acres) or more of earth disturbance, or that occur in a special protection watershed (classified HQ/EV). An E&S Plan is a site-specific plan identifying the use of E&S Best Management Practices (BMPs) to minimize accelerated erosion and sedimentation. The pertinent regulations can be found in the Pennsylvania Code, Title 25. Environmental Protection, Chapter 102.4(b). This template plan can be used to comply with these regulations. (See also below – BMP Inspection Template; Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency Plan Template)
Timber Harvesting BMP Inspection Template
It is a requirement of 25 PA Code §102.4(b)(5)(x) that a maintenance program be conducted to provide for the operation and maintenance of all BMPs to be inspected on a weekly basis and after each stormwater event. The program must provide for completion of a written report documenting each inspection, and all BMP repair, or replacement and maintenance activities (reflected in Section 12 of the Erosion & Sediment Control Plan Template). This optional template is being provided as an acceptable standard format for written BMP inspection reports on non-permitted timber harvesting operations. It has been approved for use by DEP and satisfies the requirements of the E&S Plan. Inspection forms do not need to be submitted for review but must be maintained on-site with the E&S Plan.
Preparedness, Prevention, and Contingency (PPC) Plan Template for Timber Harvesting Operations
Timber harvesting operations that store, use or transport fuels, chemicals, solvents, pesticides, fertilizers, petrochemicals, solid wastes or other hazardous materials onto, on or from the harvest site during earth disturbance activities must prepare and implement a written Preparedness, Prevention, and Contingency (PPC) Plan under 25 PA. Code § 91.34(b) and § 102.5(l). These regulations are reflected in Section 13 of the Erosion & Sediment Control Plan Template. The purpose of the PPC Plan is to prevent and control accidental discharges of polluting materials to surface or groundwater. This optional plan template is designed to be used in conjunction with an Erosion & Sediment Control Plan. It has been approved for use by DEP and satisfies the requirements of the E&S Plan. The PPC plan does not need to be submitted for review but a copy of the plan and any subsequent revisions must be maintained on-site with the E&S Plan.
DEP General Permit (GP) 7: Minor Road Crossings (permanent)
(DEP Doc# 3150-PM-BWEW0507) – Authorizes: (1) the construction, operation and maintenance of minor road crossings across wetlands which individually disturbs less than 0.1 acre of wetlands with cumulative impacts that total less than 0.25 acres; (2) the construction, operation and maintenance of a minor road crossing across a stream where the watershed drainage area is 1.0 square mile or less; and (3) the removal of an existing minor road crossing across a stream where the drainage area is 1.0 square mile or less. Inquiries as to whether or not a permit is required should be addressed to the local county conservation district or DEP Regional Office.
DEP General Permit (GP) 8: Temporary Road Crossings
(DEP Doc# 3150-PM-BWEW0508) – Authorizes the construction, operation and maintenance of temporary road crossings across regulated waters of this Commonwealth for one year, including wetland crossings less than 200 feet, where no practicable alternatives exist. Inquiries as to whether or not a permit is required should be addressed to the local county conservation district or DEP Regional Office.
DEP is now accepting Chapter 105 General Permit Applications electronically via the DEPGreenPort website. The link below provides a guide with information on how to successfully administer Chapter 105 General Permits on the DEPGreenPort website and use the functions available trough the e-permitting Application. Click the link below for more information.
DEP Erosion and Sedmient Control Permit (ESCP)
(DEP Doc# 3800-PM-BCW0019a) – Pennsylvania timber harvesting or road maintenance operations involving 25 acres or more of earth disturbance require a permit from DEP (The earth disturbance area is the total area of haul roads, landings, and skid trails). Inquiries as to whether or not a permit is required should be addressed to the local county conservation district or DEP Regional Office. See below for helpful Standard Operating Procedures.
Click the link below for standard Operating Procedures (SOP) describing the procedures and work flows associated with the review of new Erosion and Sediment Control Permit (ESCP) applications (above) for stormwater discharges associated with timber harvesting and road maintenance activities.
DEP is now accepting Chapter 102 E&S Permit applications electronically via the DEPGreenPort website. The link below provides a guide with information on how to successfully administer Chapter 102 Permits on the DEPGreenPort website and use the functions available trough the e-permitting Application. Click the link below for more information.
