H-1970.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2004

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Thompson, Fuhrman, Goldsmith, Buck, Elliot, Cairnes and Sheldon

Read first time 02/21/95.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Taking emergency measures to protect the health of the Loomis state forest.

    AN ACT Relating to necessary emergency measures for the Loomis state forest; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that an emergency forest health situation exists in the Loomis state forest.  Thousands of acres of state trust lands are infested with insects and diseased, and the department of natural resources is not taking adequate action to rectify this dangerous situation.  If this forest health problem is not addressed immediately, the insect infestation will accelerate, further damaging precious state trust resources and spreading to private lands.  The current fragile state of the diseased trees is also posing a large and unnecessary risk of catastrophic fire in the Loomis forest and the surrounding area, and the lack of action on the part of the department of natural resources is putting other important public resources at serious risk.  The legislature finds it necessary to initiate immediate action to rectify this dangerous situation.  Once the dead and diseased trees are removed, the department of natural resources can replant and reestablish a healthy forest in the Loomis, simultaneously benefiting the trust beneficiaries and providing healthier habitat for the lynx and other species of concern.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The department of natural resources shall immediately remove the dead, dying, and diseased trees in the Loomis state forest as well as timber at risk of insect infestation.  The department of natural resources shall maximize its efforts to receive the greatest income possible from the infested trees that the department removes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The actions required under section 2 of this act are exempt from consideration under chapter 43.21C RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

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