Credits granted to purchasers of timber in the national forests in exchange for the construction of permanent roads specified in the timber sale contract. The amount of the credits is the Forest Service’s estimate of construction costs, and the credits can be used to pay for timber harvested. Occasionally, when stumpage prices are at or near the base rates, some or all of the credits cannot be used, and are then termed ineffective road credits. The authority to grant credits was terminated in the FY1999 appropriations act (P.L. 105-277, October 21, 1998).