Timber Rights.
Section 16-B
SECTION 16-B. Timber Rights. — Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the operator may cut trees or timber within his coal contract area subject to applicable law and to the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Forest Development as may be necessary for the exploration, development and exploitation of his coal contract area; Provided, That if the lands covered in the coal contract area are already covered by existing timber concessions, the amount of timber needed and manner of cutting and removal thereof shall be subject to the same rules and agreed upon by the operator and the timber concessionaire; Provided, further, that in case no agreement can be reached between the operator and the timber concessionaire, the matter shall be submitted to the Energy Development Board whose decision shall be final. The operator granted a timber right shall be obligated to perform reforestation works within the coal contract area in accordance with the regulations of the Bureau of Forest Development.