BILL REQ. #:  S-2604.2 

Read first time 03/25/2003.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water.

     AN ACT Relating to the costs of processing forest practices applications; amending RCW 76.09.065; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature that the costs incurred by the department of natural resources for processing forest practices applications and notifications be partially recovered by imposing a fee based on the volume of timber harvested.

Sec. 2   RCW 76.09.065 and 2000 c 11 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((Effective July 1, 1997,)) An applicant shall pay an application fee and a recording fee, if applicable, at the time an application or notification is submitted to the department or to the local governmental entity as provided in this chapter.
     (2) For applications and notifications submitted to the department, the application fee shall be fifty dollars for class II, III, and IV forest practices applications or notifications relating to the commercial harvest of timber. However, the fee shall be five hundred dollars for class IV forest practices applications on lands being converted to other uses or on lands which are not to be reforested because of the likelihood of future conversion to urban development or on lands that are contained within "urban growth areas," designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except the fee shall be fifty dollars on those lands where the forest landowner provides:
     (a) 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
     (b) A conversion option harvest plan approved by the local governmental entity and submitted to the department as part of the forest practices application.
All money collected from fees under this subsection shall be deposited in the state general fund.
     (3) For applications submitted to the local governmental entity, the fee shall be five hundred dollars for class IV forest practices on lands being converted to other uses or lands that are contained within "urban growth areas," designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except as otherwise provided in this section, unless a different fee is otherwise provided by the local governmental entity.
     (4) Recording fees shall be as provided in chapter 36.18 RCW.
     (5) In addition to the fees imposed under subsections (1) and (2) of this section, at the time an application or notification is submitted to the department, the applicant shall pay a fee of ten cents per thousand board feet to be harvested under the application or notification. The fee imposed by this subsection shall not apply to applications submitted to a local government entity as provided in this chapter. The department may adjust the amount due under this subsection to reflect the actual volume of timber harvested under an application or notification.
     (6) An application fee under subsection (2) of this section shall be refunded or credited to the applicant if either the application or notification is disapproved by the department or the application or notification is withdrawn by the applicant due to restrictions imposed by the department.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2003.