8. The department shall adopt, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of P.L.2009, c.256 (C. 13:1L-29 et al.), including rules and regulations:

a. setting forth policies, guidelines and best management practices that establish standards designed to ensure the sustainability of forest lands, which may be applicable to any publicly and privately owned forest land;

b. establishing, in consultation with the forest stewardship advisory committee established pursuant to subsection d. of this section, professional standards and requirements of persons in addition to foresters on the list approved by the department, authorized to prepare forest stewardship plans pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2009, c.256 (C. 13:1L-31);

c. establishing, in consultation with the forest stewardship advisory committee established pursuant to subsection d. of this section, a cost-sharing program modeled upon the federal forest land enhancement program established pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 2103 to provide individual grants to private owners to assist with a portion of the costs associated with the implementation of forest stewardship plans approved by the department pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2009, c.256 (C. 13:1L-31); and identifying eligibility criteria, establishing the reimbursement rate, and developing a priority ranking system for grant applications; and

d. establishing a forest stewardship advisory committee, consistent with the federal requirements for the establishment of a State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 2113, to advise the department (1) on issues related to forest stewardship and recommend programs, actions and standards, including rules and regulations, policies, guidelines and best management practices, for the conservation and stewardship of forest lands, and (2) with respect to the standards and requirements to be established pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

L.2009, c.256, s.8.