Nothing in this chapter shall authorize a person working a mine or quarry upon such lands, to cut or destroy any timber whatever, except such trees as it may be actually necessary to remove in order to uncover or make a road to such mine or quarry. For all trees which are cut, the party operating such mine or quarry shall pay into the State Treasury, as soon as the amount thereof is determined, such sums as the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, by a writing filed with the Commissioner of Buildings and General Services, declares to be the value of such trees. Such value in the case of merchantable timber shall, in no instance, be less than $5.00 per 1,000. (Amended 1959, No. 328 (Adj. Sess.), § 16(d); 1995, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(c)(2), eff. May 6, 1996.)