HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1985
As Reported by House Committee On:
Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks
Title: An act relating to establishing the future of Washington forests review council.
Brief Description: Establishing the future of Washington forests review council.
Sponsors: Representatives Buck and B. Sullivan.
Brief History:
Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks: 2/18/05, 2/22/05 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ECOLOGY & PARKS
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives B. Sullivan, Chair; Upthegrove, Vice Chair; Buck, Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, DeBolt, Dickerson, Eickmeyer, Orcutt and Williams.
Staff: Jason Callahan (786-7117).
Background:
There are basically four categories of forest land owners in Washington: tribes, the federal
government, the state government, and private landowners. The Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) manages most of the state's forest landholdings, while the U.S. Forest
Service manages the majority of the federal acreage in Washington. Tribes and private
landowners are directly responsible for the management of their own lands. Of these owners,
the state government and private landowners must follow the Forest Practice Rules and the
requirements of what is known as the "Forests and Fish" law.
In 1990, the Legislature commissioned the University of Washington to study the possible
future of the timber supply situation in the state. The study included the two broad objectives
of identifying the potential range of future timber harvest in Washington and translating
harvest and inventory projections into prospective impacts on key economic and
environmental quality measures. This report, known as the 1992 Timber Supply Study, has
not been officially updated. However, since 1992, there has been various other state-funded
reports and studies that have looked at the state's forests under a number of different filters.
These processes have included studies by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
and environmental impact statements for various new state regulations.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
Council created
The Future of Washington Forests Review Council (Council) is created. The Council is
composed of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Commissioner of Public Lands,
and staffed by the Office of Financial Management, the Department of Natural Resources,
and the Office of the Governor.
Purpose of Council
The Council's purpose is to gather the data necessary to understand the contributions of the
forest products industry in relation to the economy, the environment, and recreation in
Washington, as well as the trends that will influence the industry into the future, and the
trends and dynamics commercial and residential development play in the conversion of
Washington's forests. In addition, the Council is charged with developing recommendations
for policy changes that will contribute to the maintenance of economic stability and growth in
the forest products industry.
Council's required final product
To fulfill its purpose, the Council must summarize the current and potential roles of
non-federal forests in Washington, and their contributions to the state's economy, quality of
life, recreation, environmental quality, and rural vitality over the coming 50 years. The
Council must then use this information to develop recommendations for policy changes that
will:
The Council may form technical advisory committees to assist it with the completion of its
tasks.
Reports required to be commissioned by the Council
The recommendations put forth by the Council must be based on the results of studies and
assessments commissioned by the Council. These studies must include an update of a 1992
timber supply study conducted by the University of Washington, an independent assessment
of the economic contributions of the forest products industry, and a comparison of
Washington's forest products industry with those of other leading states or regions in the
United States. The latter study must compare Washington with other state and regions based
on factors such as tax burden, cost of regulations, and other competitive comparisons.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill adds to the purpose of the Council the goal of gathering data to understand
the trends and dynamics commercial and residential development play in the conversion of
Washington's forests, and adds an expiration date.
Appropriation: $100,000 is appropriated from the general fund for both fiscal year 2006 and 2007.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: (In support) The Council will be a good mechanism for taking advantage of
a lot of good work that has already been completed and will have a good source of data to
draw on. This is a process that needs to be done.
(With concerns) The Council should also look at the impacts of urban growth and
encroachment on Washington forest lands. Also, if the Council is not to sunset, then
additional designees with a broader mission should be included.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Bill Garvin, Washington Forest Protection Association.
(With concerns) Pat McElroy, Department of Natural Resources; and Miguel Parez-Gibson,
Cascade Lake Conservancy.