S-1627

AN ACT Relating to primary and secondary forest roads; creating new sections; and making appropriations.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is important that the state of Washington provide adequate access to outdoor recreation opportunities, while at the same time ensuring that such access is compatible with prudent land management and species protection under the forests and fish agreement and the department of natural resources habitat conservation plan. The legislature recognizes that nonhighway road access is a critical component of outdoor recreation opportunity, either as a means for reaching a recreation destination, or as part of the recreation experience itself. As road access decreases on federal and private lands due to road closures, public use of roads on state-owned lands is increasing. This places a greater burden, from potential overuse of roads and increased public misuse, on state land management agencies such as the department of natural resources. The legislature also recognizes the importance of fully understanding the feasibility and associated costs of increasing public access to public lands, while maintaining the safety of the public and employees of land management agencies and avoiding additional environmental impacts or loss of public resources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The department of natural resources shall undertake a study of state trust lands and report back to the legislature by July 1, 2003, concerning:

(1) Problems created by vandalism, garbage, and illegal materials dumping, other misuses of public resources, and the causes of such problems;

(2) Recommendations on how to collaboratively approach these problems, including issues of law enforcement;

(3) Recommendations on needed state legislation;

(4) The estimated costs to implement such recommendations; and

(5) An analysis of road standards, current and anticipated public use of roads on public lands, the estimated costs associated with ensuring that roads are maintained to standards that will provide a greater value to the state land management agencies, and the public's future use and benefit. This analysis must be consistent with road maintenance and abandonment plans required under the forests and fish agreement. Special consideration must be given to forest roads and public access issues in the Cascade foothills region of Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties.

In carrying out the study, the department of natural resources must involve federal and state land management agencies, including, but not limited to, the United States department of agriculture, the United States forest service, the bureau of land management, the national park service, the United States fish and wildlife service, the Washington department of fish and wildlife, the state parks and recreation commission, and the interagency committee for outdoor recreation. The department of natural resources must also involve representatives of private landowners, county parks, recreation groups, members of the disabled community, and the federally recognized tribes in Washington state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, from the general fund to the department of natural resources for the purposes of this act.

(2) The sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, from the general fund to the department of natural resources for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If specific funding for the purposes of this act referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2001, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.