FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1267

                          C 10 L 91

                     Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing the board of natural resources  to reconvey lands leased to counties used for sanitary    landfills.

By Representatives Holland, Scott, Beck, Valle, Winsley and Wynne; by request of Department of Natural Resources.

House Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Background:  Currently, the Department of Natural Resources may acquire county lands that are suitable as state forest lands.  The department has acquired deeds from several counties for such lands.  The lands are held in trust, protected, managed and administered by the department.  Some of those lands are leased back to the counties for use as sanitary landfills or transfer stations.

Several counties have expressed an interest in regaining ownership of forest lands which are currently leased by the counties for use as sanitary landfills.  The Department of Natural Resources does not have specific legislative authority to reconvey forest lands to the counties.  Reconveyance of forest lands back to a county is only allowed if the land is needed by the county for public park use in accordance with county and state outdoor recreation plans.

Counties which could be impacted by an additional reconveyance provision are King, Clallam, Mason and Snohomish. The landfills on forest lands located in those counties are Cedar Hill, Blue Mountain, Belfair and Darrington, respectively.

Summary:  The Department of Natural Resources may reconvey forest lands which have been leased for use as a sanitary landfill or transfer station back to a county. The land will be reconveyed with a quitclaim deed.  A county will indemnify the state from any liability that arises related to the reconveyed land.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  91   3

Senate 44   0

Effective:    July 28, 1991