SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5653

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Natural Resources & Parks, February 28, 1993

Title:  An act relating to the establishment of procedures for direct sale of timber from state‑owned land.

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

Sponsors:  Senators Oke and Snyder; by request of Commissioner of Public Lands and Department of Natural Resources.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  2/18/97, 2/28/97 [DPS-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5653 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  Damage to timber on state trust land forest during the recent 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 the advertising requirements required for sales of large quantities.  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 of Substitute Bill:  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.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Provisions are included to control cedar theft and to ensure wide marketing of cedar salvage.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Inflation and the recent timber damage from storms has made more small sales necessary and the dollar amount needs to be increased.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Kaleen Cottingham, Department of Natural Resources (pro).