FINAL BILL REPORT

                           ESSB 5981

                          C 443 L 93

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Regulating forest lands to maintain a viable forest products industry.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Owen, Spanel and Rinehart; by request of Office of Financial Management)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

BACKGROUND:

The Forest Practices Board is made up of the Commissioner of Public Lands, directors of the Departments of Trade and Economic Development, Agriculture, Ecology, a county commissioner, and six members of the general public.  The Forest Practices Board is responsible for establishing administrative rules relating to forest practices.

Forest practices permits are required for most activities conducted on forest land that involve growing and harvesting timber, road building and aerial herbicide application.

Forest practices are separated into four classes.  Class I forest practices have no direct potential for damaging a public resource and may be conducted without an application or notification to the Department of Natural Resources.  Class II forest practices have a less than ordinary potential for damaging a public resource.  Class II forest practices may be conducted with written notification to the Department of Natural Resources.  Class IV forest practices have a potential for substantial impact on the environment and hence require an environmental impact statement or are practices on lands to be converted to a use other than forestry.  Class III forest practices are those that are not class I, II or IV.  Class III and IV forest practices cannot be conducted until approved by the Department of Natural Resources.

The forest practice review and approval program is financed by the general fund.  The current level cost for the 1993-95 biennium is about $14 million.  No fees are collected for forest practices permits.

SUMMARY:

Fees for class II, class III and class IV forest practices are established and set at $50 per application.  Application fees for class IV general forest practices dealing with planned or likely conversion of forest land to other uses are set at $500.

Fees may be refunded if the application is denied or withdrawn.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    26   22

House     49   48   (House amended; failed)

House     55   42   (House reconsidered)

Senate    28   19   (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:May 15, 1993