SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SSJM 8024

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 11, 1992

Brief Description:  Petitioning congress for the right to salvage downed timber in the Olympic National Forest.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Conner, Owen, Snyder, Jesernig and Anderson)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Joint Memorial No. 8024 be substituted therefor, and the substitute joint memorial do pass.

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

Staff:  Vic Moon (786‑7469)

Hearing Dates: January 30, 1992; February 3, 1992

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

BACKGROUND:

There is a substantial amount of blown-down timber in the forests of western Washington.  With cutbacks in the supply of timber available from federal lands, the timber industry, and especially small mill owners, need lumber to keep their mills in operation.  One source of that timber supply can come from salvaged timber. 

SUMMARY:

The memorial asks that blown down timber in Washington's National Forests should be salvaged.  Access to downed timber would make more than 70 million board feet available to local mills.  Carefully supervised removal of downed trees would leave the old growth forest substantially undamaged.  Congress is asked to authorize the Forest Service to offer salvaged timber sales in Washington's federal forests.  The memorial is sent to the President of the United States, to the Forest Service, and to the United States Congress.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The memorial is needed to get Congress and the Forest Service to release the downed timber before it rots on the ground. 

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Ted LaDoux, Northwest Independent Forest Manufacturers; Bill Pickell, Washington Contract Loggers; Nick Kerhmire, Washington Citizens for World Trade; Rich Nafziger, Governor's Office; Larry Mason, Washington Commercial Forest Action Committee; Ron Humphrey, U.S. Forest Service; Jeff Parsons, National Audubon Society

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

The prevention of wildfires is added to the needs for salvage of downed timber.