HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1467

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to the composition of the forest practices board.

Brief Description:  Changing the composition of the forest practices board.

Sponsors:  Representatives Anderson, Barlean, Regala, Dunshee, Ruderman, Ogden, Constantine, Lovick, Schual‑Berke, Stensen, Eickmeyer, Linville, Veloria, Keiser, Cooper, Fisher, Scott, Tokuda, McIntire, Gombosky and Kenney.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  2/9/99, 2/24/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Adds the director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, or his or her designee, to the Forest Practices Board.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Buck, Republican Co-Chair; Regala, Democratic Co-Chair; Anderson, Democratic Vice Chair; Sump, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit; Eickmeyer; Ericksen; Pennington; Rockefeller and Stensen.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives G. Chandler and Clements.

Staff:  Carole Richmond (786-7114).

Background:

The Forest Practices Board was established in 1974.  It promulgates rules establishing minimum standards for forest practices, provides procedures for the voluntary development of resource management plans that may be adopted as alternatives to the minimum standards, sets forth administrative procedures, and establishes procedures for the collection of forest practices fees as set forth in chapter 76.09 RCW.

The board is currently comprised of 11 members, including five that are named in statute, and six that are members of the general public appointed by the Governor.  Of the five members named in statute, one is the Commissioner of Public Lands or his or her designee, three are state agency directors or their designees, and one is an elected member of a county legislative authority.  Of the six members appointed by the Governor, one represents a large forest landowner, one represents a small forest landowner, and the remainder represent a variety of interests.

The Forest Practices Act is intended to protect public resources, including water, fish and wildlife, and capital improvements of the state and its subdivisions, coincident with the maintenance of a viable forest products industry. 

Summary of Bill:

The director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, or his or her designee, is added to the Forest Practices Board. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Someone with expertise in fisheries should be on the board. Many issues are currently before the board involving fish and wildlife habitat.  Many rules are adopted that affect habitat.  The integration of Hydraulic Project Approvals in the Forestry Module and the Forest Practices rules requires the expertise of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:   Representative Dave Anderson, prime sponsor; Ron Schultz, National Audubon Society; Tim Boyd, Washington Forest Protection Association; Greg Hueckel, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Amy Bell, Department of Natural Resources.