Subject of Possible Rule Making: The forest practices board is considering rule making to amend portions of TITLE 222 WAC pertaining to the completion date required for forest landowners to complete road improvement activities according to road maintenance and abandonment plans (RMAPs).

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 76.09.040.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Due to the state and federal economic downturn and the decline in timber prices accompanied by low harvest rates, the board is considering extending the deadline for forest landowners to complete road improvement work. The deadline currently specified in WAC 222-24-050 and 222-24-051 is July 1, 2016.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The board will request input from interested stakeholders to develop rule language. Also, the board will seek agreement from the department of ecology, and solicit input from counties, the Washington department of fish and wildlife, and tribes pursuant to RCW 76.09.040(2).

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by mailing, faxing, or e-mailing comments to Patricia Anderson, Forest Practices Board Rules Coordinator, Department of Natural Resources, Forest Practices Division, P.O. Box 47012, Olympia, WA 98504-7012, fax (360) 902-1428, e-mail forest.practicesboard@dnr.wa.gov.

August 23, 2010

Peter Goldmark

Chair

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