FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5653

                          C 116 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Concerning the sale of salvageable timber from state‑owned lands.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks (originally sponsored by Senators Oke and Snyder; by request of Commissioner of Public Lands and Department of Natural Resources).

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

House Committee on Natural Resources

Background:  Damage to timber on state trust forest land during the 1996 storms has created potentially salvageable timber that is worth thousands of dollars.  Department of Natural Resources statutes limit the sale of timber or other valuable materials to small dollar amounts.  Direct sales are sales of small quantities of wood or valuable materials, such as gravel, that are exempt by law from advertising requirements.  Direct sales are used only when the sale has a small environmental impact.  The sale of small amounts of timber after storm or fire damage allows the department to recoup some money for the trust before insects, fungi, and other organisms degrade the value of the timber or before it is consumed by forest fire.

Summary:  The Board of Natural Resources is given authority to establish the dollar amount for direct sales of timber of up to $20,000 in appraised value.   The board must establish procedures  to assure that competitive market prices and accountability are guaranteed.  The Board of Natural Resources must adopt procedures to protect cedar from theft and to guarantee wide marketing.

The direct sale of valuable materials may be sold to applicants for cash at full appraised value without notice or hearing.  The value of the direct sale must not exceed $20,000, and competitive market prices and accountability must be guaranteed.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 47 0

House     96 0

Effective:  July 27, 1997