SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHJM 4035

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Natural Resources & Parks, February 20, 1998

Brief Description:  Urging legislation facilitating forest land exchange.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Dyer, Butler, Schoesler, Mastin, Linville, Sehlin, Buck, Huff, Mulliken, Chandler and Koster).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  2/19/98, 2/20/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Jacobsen, Morton, Snyder, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  For a number of years, the U.S. Forest Service and Plum Creek Timber Company have been exploring a land exchange.  The land proposed for exchange that is currently owned by Plum Creek is approximately 60,000 acres near the Interstate 90 corridor and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area.  Much of this ownership is in a checkerboard pattern with U.S. Forest Service lands.  The land proposed for exchange that is currently owned by the  U.S. Forest Service is approximately 40,000 acres in three national forests:  the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, the Wenatchee, and the Gifford Pinchot.

Summary of Bill:   The memorial makes a number of findings regarding the value Washington citizens place upon their natural heritage and the growing demand for recreational use of the state=s natural resources, with attendant environmental impacts.  The memorial discusses the proposed land exchange between Plum Creek Timber Company and the U.S. Forest Service, finding that the process has involved extensive public participation and that the exchange complements the President=s forest plan.  The memorial also finds that time is of the essence because the longer it takes to complete the exchange, the less private land will be precluded from harvest activities.  The memorial then asks the United States government to promptly complete the proposed exchange.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Testimony For:  This is the same memorial which has passed the Senate, SSJM 8022.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Steve Gano, Plum Creek Timber Company.