The division is authorized to make and enforce rules and regulations not in conflict with any law now in force as it deems necessary for the prevention and suppression of forest or brush fires, and for the control of forest pests and for the application of commercial forest practices within the state. The rule-making power includes but is not limited to 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 commercial forest vegetative types to be harvested in such manner as to support forest practices that maintain and enhance the economic benefits of forests and forest resources to New Mexico. Rules and regulations shall be provided to all interested parties upon request. Nothing in the Forest Conservation Act [68-2-1 to 68-2-25 NMSA 1978] shall prevent a landowner hereafter 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 epidemic.

History: 1953 Comp., § 62-3-11, enacted by Laws 1959, ch. 122, § 11; 1961, ch. 113, § 1; 1977, ch. 254, § 85; 1979, ch. 395, § 5.

Cross references. — For penalty for violation of rules and regulations, see 68-2-17 NMSA 1978.

State power not exclusive. — The provisions of Sections 68-2-14 and 9-5A-4 NMSA 1978 and this section do not give the forestry division exclusive power to enforce and administer laws and regulations relating to timber harvesting and do not expressly prohibit local governments from enacting and enforcing such laws. Rancho Lobo, Ltd. v. Devargas, 303 F.3d 1195 (10th Cir. 2002), cert. denied, 538 U.S. 906, 123 S. Ct. 1483, 155 L. Ed. 2d 225 (2003).

In passing the Forest Conservation Act, Section 68-2-1 NMSA 1978 et seq., the legislature left room for concurrent jurisdiction over local forestry issues; thus, the act does not impliedly preempt a county ordinance, dealing, inter alia, with economic development, local employment, and hours of operation, by occupying the entire field of regulation relating to timber harvesting in New Mexico. Rancho Lobo, Ltd. v. Devargas, 303 F.3d 1195 (10th Cir. 2002), cert. denied, 538 U.S. 906, 123 S. Ct. 1483, 155 L. Ed. 2d 225 (2003).

Rules held legitimate exercise of rule-making power. — Rules 5 to 8 of the "Rules and Regulations Relating to the Prevention and Suppression of Forest Fires" are a legitimate exercise of the rule-making power granted to the forest conservation commission (now forestry division of energy, minerals and natural resources department). 1970 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 70-97 (rendered under prior law).

Law reviews. — For note, "Forest Fire Protection on Public and Private Lands in New Mexico," see 4 Nat. Resources J. 374 (1964).

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 52 Am. Jur. 2d Logs and Timber § 61.

98 C.J.S. Woods and Forests §§ 3, 13.