SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHJM 4033

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES,

                               FEBRUARY 27, 1992

Brief Description:  Requesting Congress and the President to enact the Forests and Families Protection Act.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Natural Resources & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives Hargrove, Basich, Riley, Beck, Sheldon, Jones, Bowman, Morton, Morris, Brumsickle, P. Johnson, Dorn, Rasmussen, J. Kohl, Kremen, Fuhrman, Wynne, Ogden, O'Brien, H. Myers and Paris)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Oke, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Barr, Conner, Owen, Snyder, Sumner, and Sutherland.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786‑7469)

Hearing Dates: February 27, 1992

BACKGROUND:

The northern spotted owl, which inhabits old-growth forests, was declared a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in June, 1990.  Since that time, in order to protect the owl, much of the old growth forest in the Pacific Northwest has been unavailable for harvest, resulting in a significantly reduced timber supply.  In some areas of Washington, the reduced timber supply has been a major contributor to high levels of unemployment.  Unemployment in the timber industry is of major concern at both the state and national levels.

SUMMARY:

Congress and the President of the United States are asked to enact the Forests and Families Protection Act.  The current proposal before Congress deals with balancing the needs for:  1) old growth reserves, 2) spotted owl protection, 3) timber program stability, and 4) worker assistance and economic adjustment measures.  Copies of the memorial are to be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the state of Washington.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The federal act will benefit unemployed loggers and local economics.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Tim Boyd, WFPA; Sharla Moffett, American Forest Alliance; Ralph Saperstein, Northwest Forest Association; Victoria Chichi, Washington Citizens for World Trade