SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6436

BYSenators Bailey, Kreidler, Metcalf, Barr and Conner

Promoting the reforestation of forest lands.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 29, 1990

Senate Staff:Vic Moon (786-7469)

AS OF JANUARY 26, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Increasing urbanization and the demand for timber for both domestic and foreign use has caused pressures on the use of state, federal and private forests.  Urbanization is causing problems which are tending to reduce the number of forests producing areas in the state of Washington.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature declares that forests are among our most precious natural resources and that private landowners will invest in timber production if they know for certain that harvesting will be permitted when the timber trees are mature.

The forest lands reforestation fund is created in the State Treasurer.  The Department of Natural Resources may use funds from the account to reforest lands when a private landowner fails to do so.  The department is authorized to engage in reforestation operations and the department will adopt rules which relate to the department's reforestation on private lands program.  The department will prepare verified statements of the expenses occurred and the department costs will be a lien to be prorated per acre on the property or properties involved.

The practice of clear cutting is restricted to parcels of land which are 100 acres or less unless an exemption is approved by the Forest Practices Board.

The Forest Practices Board shall develop and maintain standards to review punitive impact, determine areas where urban growth will reduce the commercial forest space, determine which urban areas are presently affecting the timber harvest, propose policies and rules to maintain the forest land base so that timber will be available on a sustained yield basis for local timber mills.  The board is directed to update the timber, fish and wildlife agreement of 1987 and adopt rules to provide that local governments, the timber industry and the general public are aware of the process.

Reforestation following logging operations is required to be completed within two, rather three, years and satisfactory reforestation is required regardless of plans to convert the lands to another use.

The Board of Natural Resources and the department will make recommendations to the Legislature concerning reforestation, tax regulations, methods to allow greater specificity in timber harvest documents, methods to adjust open space taxation to allow one house on surrounding forest lands of 20 acres or less, and programs to increase statewide public education relating to the timber industry.

$400,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Natural Resources to establish a forest lands reforestation fund.

Appropriation:    $400,000 from the state general fund to establish a revolving account for the Department of Natural Resources reforestation.

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested