§ 5451.3 Performance bond reduction.

(a) As contract provisions are satisfactorily completed, the authorized officer may, in his discretion, reduce the amount of the required performance bond: Provided, however, That the amount of the performance bond shall not be reduced below the minimum required by § 5451.1 until (1) Payment of no less than 60 percent of the total purchase price has been made, or (2) Road construction required under the contract has been completed, the value of which when combined with contract payments is equal to no less than 60 percent of the total purchase price. (b) At the request of the purchaser, when the requirements set forth in the proviso to paragraph (a) of this section have been met, the amount of the performance bond may be reduced to 10 percent of the total purchase price or the entire cost of the uncompleted post-harvest contract requirements, whichever is greater. The amount of the performance bond shall not be reduced below 10 percent of the total purchase price until payment for all the timber sold under the terms of the contract is complete. (c) For the purpose of this section, the value of completed road construction shall be based on the Bureau's appraisal allowance. Satisfactory completion of portions of the required road construction, to reasonable points that can be easily identified in the road construction appraisal, shall be considered as completed road construction for the purpose of this section.