WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest will offer commercial fuelwood cutting permits for the 2019 season beginning May 31 for the Williams Ranger District. The 2019 commercial fuelwood cutting season will run from May 31 to December 31.
It is considered a commercial use when a permittee intends to sell the fuelwood that is collected. All commercial uses of forest products require a paid permit.
There will be a limited number of commercial units available. Assignment of these units to the permittees will be determined through an incorporated lottery system. Entry forms for the lottery will be mailed on May 10 to known prospective commercial fuelwood cutters. These forms can also be obtained on the Kaibab National Forest website at https://bit.ly/KNFCommercialUse.
The lottery forms for the 2019 season are due no later than May 24. Recipients of commercial units will then be notified on May 29. The permits will be good for 10 cords at a price of $5 per cord, for a $50 permit. These fuelwood cutting permits can then be purchased by the lottery winners at the Williams Ranger District office Mondays through Fridays, excluding federal holidays:
· Williams Ranger District, 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (928) 635-5600
The associated unit maps and additional information will be provided when the permit is purchased. All commercial fuelwood permits issued by the Kaibab National Forest will include a map and detailed cutting regulations as well as load tags, which must be physically attached to each ½ cord of fuelwood and visible from the rear of the vehicle. The goal of this load tagging system is to ensure accountability for the amount of wood removed from the forest and to contribute to future planning efforts for commercial fuelwood cutting units to meet both public need and forest restoration objectives.
The removal of commercial fuelwood on the Kaibab National Forest is permitted only from the specific unit for which the permit is issued. Fuelwood cutters are reminded to take strict note of cutting unit boundaries and to avoid cutting outside of those boundaries.
Detailed commercial fuelwood cutting information and maps will be posted on the Kaibab National Forest website at https://bit.ly/KNFCommercialUse. Those interested in these permits should check the site for updates as the commercial fuelwood season approaches.
For additional information on the commercial fuelwood program, please contact Jason Brugh on the Williams Ranger District at jason.brugh@usda.gov or (928) 635-5641.