BILL REQ. #:  Z-0249.2 

Read first time 01/15/2003.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water.

     AN ACT Relating to protecting forest health; amending RCW 76.06.010, 76.06.020, 76.06.030, 76.06.050, 76.09.050, and 17.24.171; reenacting and amending RCW 76.09.060; adding new sections to chapter 76.06 RCW; and repealing RCW 76.06.040, 76.06.060, 76.06.070, 76.06.080, 76.06.090, and 76.06.110.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 76.06.010 and 1951 c 233 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislature finds that:
     (1) Forest insects and forest tree diseases ((which threaten the)) that create an imminent threat of permanent ((timber production of)) damage to the forested areas of the state of Washington are ((hereby declared to be)) a public nuisance.
     (2) Native forest insects and forest tree diseases are found in all forest ecosystems. At endemic levels, native forest insects and tree diseases are important components of a healthy forest, serving as critical agents in forest succession and renewal, and in meeting habitat needs of other forest species. Forest insect and tree disease outbreaks that reach epidemic levels can result in unhealthy forests, put other forest resources at risk, threaten the values enjoyed by forest landowners and the public, and increase risk of catastrophic fire. It is in the public interest to monitor forest insects and diseases, to identify potential areas of concern, and to promote cooperative efforts to assist forest landowners in managing forests to maintain insect and disease populations at appropriate levels.
     (3) Exotic forest insects or diseases, even in small numbers, can constitute serious threats to native forests. Native tree species may lack natural immunity. There are often no natural control agents such as diseases, predators, or parasites to limit populations of exotic forest insects or diseases. Exotic forest insects or diseases can also outcompete, displace, or destroy habitat of native species. It is in the public interest to identify, control, and eradicate outbreaks of exotic forest insects or diseases that threaten the diversity, abundance, and survivability of native forest trees and the environment.

Sec. 2   RCW 76.06.020 and 2000 c 11 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((As used in)) The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter((:)) unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) (("Agent" means the recognized legal representative, representatives, agent, or agents for any owner;)) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public lands.
     (2) "Department" means the department of natural resources((;
     (3) "Owner" means and includes individuals, partnerships, corporations, and associations;)).
     (((4) "Timber land")) (3) "Endemic" means a population level of forest insects or diseases that is generally not large or potent enough to overcome and kill a significant number of otherwise healthy trees.
     (4) "Epidemic" means a population level of forest insects or diseases that is large or potent enough to overcome and kill a significant number of otherwise healthy trees over a large area.
     (5) "Exotic" means not native to forest lands in Washington state.
     (6) "Forest land" means any nontribal and nonfederal land on which there ((is a)) are sufficient numbers and distribution of trees((, standing or down, to constitute, in the judgment of the department, a)) and associated species to contribute to the spread of forest insect or forest disease ((breeding ground of a nature to constitute a menace,)) outbreaks that could be injurious ((and dangerous)) to ((permanent)) forest ((growth in the district under consideration)) health.
     (7) "Forest health" means the condition of a forest being sound in ecological function, sustainable, resilient and resistant to insects, diseases, fire, and other disturbance, and having the capacity to meet landowner objectives.
     (8) "Forest health emergency" means the introduction of, or an outbreak of, an exotic forest insect or disease that poses an imminent danger of damage to the environment by threatening the survivability of native tree species.
     (9) "Forest insect or disease" means a living stage of an insect, other invertebrate animal, or disease causing organism or agent that can directly or indirectly injure or cause disease or damage in trees, or parts of trees, or in processed or manufactured wood, or other products of trees.
     (10) "Forest landowner" means the owner, or their recognized legal representative, representatives, agent, or agents of any nontribal or nonfederal forest land.
     (11) "Integrated pest management" means a strategy that uses various combinations of pest control methods, biological, cultural, and chemical, in a compatible manner to achieve satisfactory control and ensure favorable economic and environmental consequences.
     (12) "Native" means having populated Washington's forested lands prior to European settlement.
     (13) "Outbreak" means a rapidly expanding population of insects or diseases with potential to spread.
     (14) "Owner" includes persons, partnerships, corporations, associations, state agencies, or political subdivisions of the state that own forest land.
     (15) "Person" means any individual, partnership, private, public, or municipal corporation, county, federal, state, or local governmental agency, tribes, or association of individuals of whatever nature.

Sec. 3   RCW 76.06.030 and 1988 c 128 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) This chapter shall be administered by the department.
     (2) The department is authorized to use those funds as are made available to monitor the health of the forest lands of the state, provide forest health information and assistance to landowners and managers, promote integrated forest pest management, and conduct and assist in cooperative forest health management programs and projects.
     (3) The department is authorized to coordinate, support, and assist in the establishment of cooperative forest health projects to control and contain outbreaks of forest insects or diseases that threaten forest resources on affected areas, or that have the potential to spread onto adjoining forest lands. Priority for assistance authorized under this section must be given to forest lands within forest health areas of concern and in areas where forest health decline has resulted in increased risk to public safety from catastrophic wildfire.
     (4) The department is not obligated to provide assistance, and the authority under this section does not limit or replace any other authority the department may have. The state and its officers and employees are not liable for damages to a person or their property to the extent that liability is asserted to arise from providing or failing to provide assistance.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 76.06 RCW to read as follows:
     Landowners are encouraged to maintain their forest lands in a healthy, vigorous condition in order to meet their individual ownership objectives and to avoid contributing to forest insect or disease outbreaks or increasing the risk of catastrophic fire.

Sec. 5   RCW 76.06.050 and 1988 c 128 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
     Whenever the department ((finds timber lands threatened by infestations of forest insects or forest tree diseases, and if it finds that such infestation is of such character as to threaten destruction of timber stands)) identifies forest lands where poor forest health is creating a threat of widespread loss of forest resource values, the department ((shall)) may declare a forest health area of concern and ((certify an infestation control district and fix and declare the)) map its boundaries ((thereof)), so as to ((definitely describe such district)) clearly identify the area. ((Said district may include timber lands threatened by the infestation as well as those timber lands already infested.)) Forest health areas of concern may include, but are not limited to, forest lands threatened by forest insect or disease outbreaks, forest lands already affected, and areas where public safety is at risk of catastrophic fire due to overstocking and poor vigor of tree species highly susceptible to insects, diseases, and wild fire.
     ((Thereafter)) The department shall ((at once serve written)) provide notice to ((all)) owners of ((timber)) forest lands or their agents within the ((said district to proceed under the provisions of this chapter without delay to control, destroy and eradicate the said forest insect pests or forest tree diseases as provided herein)) forest health area of concern. The ((said)) notice may be made by personal ((service, or)) contact, by mail ((addressed to the last known place or address of such owner or agent)), through local media, or through cooperative educational programs. ((Said)) The notice shall ((list and describe the method or methods of action that will be acceptable to the department if the owner or agent elects to control, destroy and eradicate said insects or diseases on his own property.
     Said notice when published for five consecutive days in at least one daily newspaper or in two consecutive issues of a weekly newspaper, either paper having a general circulation in said district will serve as the written notice to owners of noncommercial timber lands)) identify the forest health area of concern and describe the insect or disease species of concern, or other forest health problem. The department must list and describe the range of integrated pest management methods of action that are most likely to be effective in controlling the spread of the insects or diseases, or in reducing the risk of catastrophic fire.
     Landowners should utilize the methods that will best meet their individual ownership objectives but should take appropriate action to prevent the spread of forest insect or disease outbreaks and to reduce the risk of wildfire spreading onto adjoining forest lands.
     When the department determines that forest insect or disease control work within a designated forest health area of concern is no longer necessary or feasible, the department must dissolve the forest health area of concern.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 76.06 RCW to read as follows:
     The department is authorized to contribute resources and expertise to assist the department of agriculture in control or eradication efforts authorized under chapter 17.24 RCW in order to protect forest lands of the state.
     If either the department of agriculture has not taken action under chapter 17.24 RCW or the commissioner finds that additional efforts are required to control or prevent an outbreak of an exotic forest insect or disease that poses an imminent danger of damage to the environment by threatening the diversity, abundance, and survivability of native trees species, or both, the commissioner may declare a forest health emergency.
     Upon declaration of a forest health emergency, the department must delineate the area at risk and determine the most appropriate integrated pest management methods to control the outbreak, in consultation with other interested agencies and landowners. The department must notify affected landowners of its intent to conduct control operations.
     Upon declaration of a forest health emergency by the commissioner, the department is authorized to enter into agreements with landowners, companies, individuals, and other agencies to accomplish control of exotic forest insects or diseases on any affected forest lands using such funds as have been, or may be, made available.
     The department must proceed with the control of the exotic forest insects or diseases on affected forest lands with or without the cooperation of the owner. The department may reimburse cooperating landowners and agencies for actual cost of equipment, labor, and materials utilized in cooperative exotic forest insect or disease control projects, as agreed to by the department.
     A forest health emergency no longer exists when the department finds that the exotic forest insect or disease has been controlled or eradicated, that the imminent threat no longer exists, or that there is no longer good likelihood of effective control.
     Nothing under this chapter diminishes the authority and responsibility of the department of agriculture under chapter 17.24 RCW.

Sec. 7   RCW 76.09.050 and 2002 c 121 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall establish by rule which forest practices shall be included within each of the following classes:
     Class I: Minimal or specific forest practices that have no direct potential for damaging a public resource and that may be conducted without submitting an application or a notification except that when the regulating authority is transferred to a local governmental entity, those Class I forest practices that involve timber harvesting or road construction within "urban growth areas," designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, are processed as Class IV forest practices, but are not subject to environmental review under chapter 43.21C RCW;
     Class II: Forest practices which have a less than ordinary potential for damaging a public resource that may be conducted without submitting an application and may begin five calendar days, or such lesser time as the department may determine, after written notification by the operator, in the manner, content, and form as prescribed by the department, is received by the department. However, the work may not begin until all forest practice fees required under RCW 76.09.065 have been received by the department. Class II shall not include forest practices:
     (a) On lands platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW or on lands that have or are being converted to another use;
     (b) Which require approvals under the provisions of the hydraulics act, RCW 77.55.100;
     (c) Within "shorelines of the state" as defined in RCW 90.58.030;
     (d) Excluded from Class II by the board; or
     (e) Including timber harvesting or road construction within "urban growth areas," designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, which are Class IV;
     Class III: Forest practices other than those contained in Class I, II, or IV. A Class III application must be approved or disapproved by the department within thirty calendar days from the date the department receives the application. However, the applicant may not begin work on that forest practice until all forest practice fees required under RCW 76.09.065 have been received by the department;
     Class IV: Forest practices other than those contained in Class I or II: (a) On lands platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW, (b) on lands that have or are being converted to another use, (c) on lands which, pursuant to RCW 76.09.070 as now or hereafter amended, are not to be reforested because of the likelihood of future conversion to urban development, (d) involving timber harvesting or road construction on lands that are contained within "urban growth areas," designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except where the forest landowner provides: (i) A written statement of intent signed by the forest landowner not to convert to a use other than commercial forest product operations for ten years, accompanied by either a written forest management plan acceptable to the department or documentation that the land is enrolled under the provisions of chapter 84.33 RCW; or (ii) a conversion option harvest plan approved by the local governmental entity and submitted to the department as part of the application, and/or (e) which have a potential for a substantial impact on the environment and therefore require an evaluation by the department as to whether or not a detailed statement must be prepared pursuant to the state environmental policy act, chapter 43.21C RCW. Such evaluation shall be made within ten days from the date the department receives the application: PROVIDED, That nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any local or regional governmental entity from determining that a detailed statement must be prepared for an action pursuant to a Class IV forest practice taken by that governmental entity concerning the land on which forest practices will be conducted. A Class IV application must be approved or disapproved by the department within thirty calendar days from the date the department receives the application, unless the department determines that a detailed statement must be made, in which case the application must be approved or disapproved by the department within sixty calendar days from the date the department receives the application, unless the commissioner of public lands, through the promulgation of a formal order, determines that the process cannot be completed within such period. However, the applicant may not begin work on that forest practice until all forest practice fees required under RCW 76.09.065 have been received by the department.
     Forest practices under Classes I, II, and III are exempt from the requirements for preparation of a detailed statement under the state environmental policy act.
     (2) Except for those forest practices being regulated by local governmental entities as provided elsewhere in this chapter, no Class II, Class III, or Class IV forest practice shall be commenced or continued after January 1, 1975, unless the department has received a notification with regard to a Class II forest practice or approved an application with regard to a Class III or Class IV forest practice containing all information required by RCW 76.09.060 as now or hereafter amended. However, in the event forest practices regulations necessary for the scheduled implementation of this chapter and RCW 90.48.420 have not been adopted in time to meet such schedules, the department shall have the authority to regulate forest practices and approve applications on such terms and conditions consistent with this chapter and RCW 90.48.420 and the purposes and policies of RCW 76.09.010 until applicable forest practices regulations are in effect.
     (3) Except for those forest practices being regulated by local governmental entities as provided elsewhere in this chapter, if a notification or application is delivered in person to the department by the operator or the operator's agent, the department shall immediately provide a dated receipt thereof. In all other cases, the department shall immediately mail a dated receipt to the operator.
     (4) Except for those forest practices being regulated by local governmental entities as provided elsewhere in this chapter, forest practices shall be conducted in accordance with the forest practices regulations, orders and directives as authorized by this chapter or the forest practices regulations, and the terms and conditions of any approved applications.
     (5) Except for those forest practices being regulated by local governmental entities as provided elsewhere in this chapter, the department of natural resources shall notify the applicant in writing of either its approval of the application or its disapproval of the application and the specific manner in which the application fails to comply with the provisions of this section or with the forest practices regulations. Except as provided otherwise in this section, if the department fails to either approve or disapprove an application or any portion thereof within the applicable time limit, the application shall be deemed approved and the operation may be commenced: PROVIDED, That this provision shall not apply to applications which are neither approved nor disapproved pursuant to the provisions of subsection (7) of this section: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That if seasonal field conditions prevent the department from being able to properly evaluate the application, the department may issue an approval conditional upon further review within sixty days: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the department shall have until April 1, 1975, to approve or disapprove an application involving forest practices allowed to continue to April 1, 1975, under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section. Upon receipt of any notification or any satisfactorily completed application the department shall in any event no later than two business days after such receipt transmit a copy to the departments of ecology and fish and wildlife, and to the county, city, or town in whose jurisdiction the forest practice is to be commenced. Any comments by such agencies shall be directed to the department of natural resources.
     (6) For those forest practices regulated by the board and the department, if the county, city, or town believes that an application is inconsistent with this chapter, the forest practices regulations, or any local authority consistent with RCW 76.09.240 as now or hereafter amended, it may so notify the department and the applicant, specifying its objections.
     (7) For those forest practices regulated by the board and the department, the department shall not approve portions of applications to which a county, city, or town objects if:
     (a) The department receives written notice from the county, city, or town of such objections within fourteen business days from the time of transmittal of the application to the county, city, or town, or one day before the department acts on the application, whichever is later; and
     (b) The objections relate to lands either:
     (i) Platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW; or
     (ii) On lands that have or are being converted to another use.
     The department shall either disapprove those portions of such application or appeal the county, city, or town objections to the appeals board. If the objections related to subparagraphs (b)(i) and (ii) of this subsection are based on local authority consistent with RCW 76.09.240 as now or hereafter amended, the department shall disapprove the application until such time as the county, city, or town consents to its approval or such disapproval is reversed on appeal. The applicant shall be a party to all department appeals of county, city, or town objections. Unless the county, city, or town either consents or has waived its rights under this subsection, the department shall not approve portions of an application affecting such lands until the minimum time for county, city, or town objections has expired.
     (8) For those forest practices regulated by the board and the department, in addition to any rights under the above paragraph, the county, city, or town may appeal any department approval of an application with respect to any lands within its jurisdiction. The appeals board may suspend the department's approval in whole or in part pending such appeal where there exists potential for immediate and material damage to a public resource.
     (9) For those forest practices regulated by the board and the department, appeals under this section shall be made to the appeals board in the manner and time provided in RCW 76.09.220(8). In such appeals there shall be no presumption of correctness of either the county, city, or town or the department position.
     (10) For those forest practices regulated by the board and the department, the department shall, within four business days notify the county, city, or town of all notifications, approvals, and disapprovals of an application affecting lands within the county, city, or town, except to the extent the county, city, or town has waived its right to such notice.
     (11) For those forest practices regulated by the board and the department, a county, city, or town may waive in whole or in part its rights under this section, and may withdraw or modify any such waiver, at any time by written notice to the department.
     (12) Notwithstanding subsections (2) through (5) of this section, forest practices applications or notifications are not required for exotic insect and disease control operations conducted in accordance with RCW 76.09.060(8).

Sec. 8   RCW 76.09.060 and 1997 c 290 s 3 and 1997 c 173 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     The following shall apply to those forest practices administered and enforced by the department and for which the board shall promulgate regulations as provided in this chapter:
     (1) The department shall prescribe the form and contents of the notification and application. The forest practices rules shall specify by whom and under what conditions the notification and application shall be signed or otherwise certified as acceptable. The application or notification shall be delivered in person to the department, sent by first class mail to the department or electronically filed in a form defined by the department. The form for electronic filing shall be readily convertible to a paper copy, which shall be available to the public pursuant to chapter 42.17 RCW. The information required may include, but is not limited to:
     (a) Name and address of the forest landowner, timber owner, and operator;
     (b) Description of the proposed forest practice or practices to be conducted;
     (c) Legal description and tax parcel identification numbers of the land on which the forest practices are to be conducted;
     (d) Planimetric and topographic maps showing location and size of all lakes and streams and other public waters in and immediately adjacent to the operating area and showing all existing and proposed roads and major tractor roads;
     (e) Description of the silvicultural, harvesting, or other forest practice methods to be used, including the type of equipment to be used and materials to be applied;
     (f) Proposed plan for reforestation and for any revegetation necessary to reduce erosion potential from roadsides and yarding roads, as required by the forest practices rules;
     (g) Soil, geological, and hydrological data with respect to forest practices;
     (h) The expected dates of commencement and completion of all forest practices specified in the application;
     (i) Provisions for continuing maintenance of roads and other construction or other measures necessary to afford protection to public resources;
     (j) An affirmation that the statements contained in the notification or application are true; and
     (k) All necessary application or notification fees.
     (2) Long range plans may be submitted to the department for review and consultation.
     (3) The application for a forest practice or the notification of a Class II forest practice is subject to the three-year reforestation requirement.
     (a) If the application states that any such land will be or is intended to be so converted:
     (i) The reforestation requirements of this chapter and of the forest practices rules shall not apply if the land is in fact so converted unless applicable alternatives or limitations are provided in forest practices rules issued under RCW 76.09.070 as now or hereafter amended;
     (ii) Completion of such forest practice operations shall be deemed conversion of the lands to another use for purposes of chapters 84.33 and 84.34 RCW unless the conversion is to a use permitted under a current use tax agreement permitted under chapter 84.34 RCW;
     (iii) The forest practices described in the application are subject to applicable county, city, town, and regional governmental authority permitted under RCW 76.09.240 as now or hereafter amended as well as the forest practices rules.
     (b) Except as provided elsewhere in this section, if the application or notification does not state that any land covered by the application or notification will be or is intended to be so converted:
     (i) For six years after the date of the application the county, city, town, and regional governmental entities shall deny any or all applications for permits or approvals, including building permits and subdivision approvals, relating to nonforestry uses of land subject to the application;
     (A) The department shall submit to the local governmental entity a copy of the statement of a forest landowner's intention not to convert which shall represent a recognition by the landowner that the six-year moratorium shall be imposed and shall preclude the landowner's ability to obtain development permits while the moratorium is in place. This statement shall be filed by the local governmental entity with the county recording officer, who shall record the documents as provided in chapter 65.04 RCW, except that lands designated as forest lands of long-term commercial significance under chapter 36.70A RCW shall not be recorded due to the low likelihood of conversion. Not recording the statement of a forest landowner's conversion intention shall not be construed to mean the moratorium is not in effect.
     (B) The department shall collect the recording fee and reimburse the local governmental entity for the cost of recording the application.
     (C) When harvesting takes place without an application, the local governmental entity shall impose the six-year moratorium provided in (b)(i) of this subsection from the date the unpermitted harvesting was discovered by the department or the local governmental entity.
     (D) The local governmental entity shall develop a process for lifting the six-year moratorium, which shall include public notification, and procedures for appeals and public hearings.
     (E) The local governmental entity may develop an administrative process for lifting or waiving the six-year moratorium for the purposes of constructing a single-family residence or outbuildings, or both, on a legal lot and building site. Lifting or waiving of the six-year moratorium is subject to compliance with all local ordinances.
     (F) The six-year moratorium shall not be imposed on a forest practices application that contains a conversion option harvest plan approved by the local governmental entity unless the forest practice was not in compliance with the approved forest practice permit. Where not in compliance with the conversion option harvest plan, the six-year moratorium shall be imposed from the date the application was approved by the department or the local governmental entity;
     (ii) Failure to comply with the reforestation requirements contained in any final order or decision shall constitute a removal of designation under the provisions of RCW 84.33.140, and a change of use under the provisions of RCW 84.34.080, and, if applicable, shall subject such lands to the payments and/or penalties resulting from such removals or changes; and
     (iii) Conversion to a use other than commercial forest product operations within six years after approval of the forest practices without the consent of the county, city, or town shall constitute a violation of each of the county, municipal city, town, and regional authorities to which the forest practice operations would have been subject if the application had so stated.
     (c) The application or notification shall be signed by the forest landowner and accompanied by a statement signed by the forest landowner indicating his or her intent with respect to conversion and acknowledging that he or she is familiar with the effects of this subsection.
     (4) Whenever an approved application authorizes a forest practice which, because of soil condition, proximity to a water course or other unusual factor, has a potential for causing material damage to a public resource, as determined by the department, the applicant shall, when requested on the approved application, notify the department two days before the commencement of actual operations.
     (5) Before the operator commences any forest practice in a manner or to an extent significantly different from that described in a previously approved application or notification, there shall be submitted to the department a new application or notification form in the manner set forth in this section.
     (6) Except as provided in RCW 76.09.350(4), the notification to or the approval given by the department to an application to conduct a forest practice shall be effective for a term of two years from the date of approval or notification and shall not be renewed unless a new application is filed and approved or a new notification has been filed. At the option of the applicant, an application or notification may be submitted to cover a single forest practice or a number of forest practices within reasonable geographic or political boundaries as specified by the department. An application or notification that covers more than one forest practice may have an effective term of more than two years. The board shall adopt rules that establish standards and procedures for approving an application or notification that has an effective term of more than two years. Such rules shall include extended time periods for application or notification approval or disapproval. On an approved application with a term of more than two years, the applicant shall inform the department before commencing operations.
     (7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no prior application or notification shall be required for any emergency forest practice necessitated by fire, flood, windstorm, earthquake, or other emergency as defined by the board, but the operator shall submit an application or notification, whichever is applicable, to the department within forty-eight hours after commencement of such practice or as required by local regulations.
     (8) Forest practices applications or notifications are not required for forest practices conducted to control exotic forest insect or disease outbreaks, when conducted by or under the direction of the department of agriculture in carrying out an order of the governor or director of the department of agriculture to implement pest control measures as authorized under chapter 17.24 RCW, and are not required when conducted by or under the direction of the department in carrying out emergency measures under a forest health emergency declaration by the commissioner of public lands as provided in section 6 of this act.
     (a) For the purposes of this subsection, exotic forest insect or disease has the same meaning as defined in RCW 76.06.020.
     (b) In order to minimize adverse impacts to public resources, control measures must be based on integrated pest management, as defined in RCW 17.15.010, and must follow forest practices rules relating to road construction and maintenance, timber harvest, and forest chemicals, to the extent that control objectives can still be met.
     (c) Agencies conducting or directing control efforts must provide advance notice to the forest practice section of the department of the operations that would be subject to exemption from forest practices application or notification requirements.
     (d) When the department is notified under (c) of this subsection, a member of the department's forest practices staff must consult with other interested agencies, including the department of ecology and tribes, and assist notifying agencies in the development of integrated pest management plans to comply with forest practices rules as required under (b) of this subsection.
     (e) Nothing under this subsection relieves agencies conducting or directing control efforts from requirements of the federal clean water act as administered by the department of ecology under RCW 90.48.260.
     (f) Forest lands where trees have been cut as part of an exotic forest insect or disease control effort under this subsection are subject to reforestation requirements under RCW 76.09.070.
     (g) The exemption from obtaining approved forest practices applications or notifications does not apply to forest practices conducted after the governor, the director of the department of agriculture, or the commissioner of public lands have declared that an emergency no longer exists because control objectives have been met, that there is no longer an imminent threat, or that there is no longer a good likelihood of control.

Sec. 9   RCW 17.24.171 and 1991 c 257 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) If the director determines that there exists an imminent danger of an infestation of plant pests or plant diseases that seriously endangers the agricultural or horticultural industries of the state, or that seriously threatens life, health, ((or)) economic well-being, or the environment, the director shall request the governor to order emergency measures to control the pests or plant diseases under RCW 43.06.010(((14))) (13). The director's findings shall contain an evaluation of the affect of the emergency measures on public health.
     (2) If an emergency is declared pursuant to RCW 43.06.010(((14))) (13), the director may appoint a committee to advise the governor through the director and to review emergency measures necessary under the authority of RCW 43.06.010(((14))) (13) and this section and make subsequent recommendations to the governor. The committee shall include representatives of the agricultural industries, state and local government, public health interests, technical service providers, and environmental organizations.
     (3) Upon the order of the governor of the use of emergency measures, the director is authorized to implement the emergency measures to prevent, control, or eradicate plant pests or plant diseases that are the subject of the emergency order. Such measures, after thorough evaluation of all other alternatives, may include the aerial application of pesticides.
     (4) Upon the order of the governor of the use of emergency measures, the director is authorized to enter into agreements with individuals ((or)), companies, or ((both)) agencies, to accomplish the prevention, control, or eradication of plant pests or plant diseases, notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 15.58 or 17.21 RCW, or any other statute.
     (5) The director shall continually evaluate the emergency measures taken and report to the governor at intervals of not less than ten days. The director shall immediately advise the governor if he or she finds that the emergency no longer exists or if certain emergency measures should be discontinued.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 76.06.040 (Owner must control pests and diseases) and 1951 c 233 s 4;
     (2) RCW 76.06.060 (Department to control pests and diseases if owner fails) and 1988 c 128 s 18 & 1951 c 233 s 6;
     (3) RCW 76.06.070 (Lien for costs of control -- Collection) and 1988 c 128 s 19 & 1951 c 233 s 7;
     (4) RCW 76.06.080 (Owner complying with notice is exempt) and 1988 c 128 s 20 & 1951 c 233 s 11;
     (5) RCW 76.06.090 (Dissolution of infestation control district) and 1988 c 128 s 21 & 1951 c 233 s 12; and
     (6) RCW 76.06.110 (Deposit of moneys in general fund -- Allotment as unanticipated receipts) and 1979 ex.s. c 67 s 12 & 1951 c 233 s 9.