READ FIRST TIME 02/03/10.   

     AN ACT Relating to maximizing the ecosystem services provided by forestry through the promotion of the economic success of the forest products industry; amending RCW 76.09.010 and 76.09.040; reenacting and amending RCW 76.09.020; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that sustainably managed commercial forestry produces jobs and revenue while also providing clean water, clean air, renewable energy, wildlife habitat, open space, and carbon storage, among other ecological values. For these reasons, maintaining a base of forest lands that may be utilized for sustainably managed commercial forestry is of utmost importance to the state.
     (2) The legislature finds that the promotion and fostering of the economic success of the forest products industry with the goal of keeping sustainably managed forestry as a priority land use, and helping to secure the timber managing, growing, harvesting, transporting, and manufacturing jobs is made possible by a vibrant working forest land base.
     (3) The legislature further finds that maintaining sustainable working forests is important for the quality of life of all Washingtonians, and that sustainable forest practices can help to maintain and restore the vitality of Washington's communities while also helping to preserve Washington's natural landscapes and ecosystems.
     (4) The legislature further finds that it is necessary to assist landowners in gaining access to additional sources of revenue, such as emerging ecosystem services markets, and to help landowners diversify their incomes, improve the ecological functions of their lands, and pass their lands and the lands' associated benefits to future generations.
     (5) The legislature further finds that the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems provide services to the residents of the state that help improve water and habitat quality, help avoid carbon emissions, help address impacts associated with climate change, and help natural resources adapt to these impacts.
     (6) The legislature further finds that ecosystem services markets can lead to efficient, innovative, and effective conservation and restoration actions and facilitate improved integration of public and private investment.
     (7) Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to develop tools to facilitate small and industrial forest landowners' access to market capital from existing and emerging ecosystem services markets.
     (8) The legislature further intends to enable forest landowners who provide ecosystem services access to financing to protect, restore, and maintain the ecological values provided by protection of public resources.

Sec. 2   RCW 76.09.010 and 1999 sp.s. c 4 s 901 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature hereby finds and declares that the forest land resources are among the most valuable of all resources in the state; that a viable forest products industry is of prime importance to the state's economy; that it is in the public interest for public and private commercial forest lands to be managed consistent with sound policies of natural resource protection; that coincident with maintenance of a viable forest products industry, it is important to afford protection to forest soils, fisheries, wildlife, water quantity and quality, air quality, recreation, and scenic beauty.
     (2) The legislature further finds and declares it to be in the public interest of this state to create and maintain through the adoption of this chapter a comprehensive statewide system of laws and forest practices rules which will achieve the following purposes and policies:
     (a) Afford protection to, promote, foster and encourage timber growth, and require such minimum reforestation of commercial tree species on forest lands as will reasonably utilize the timber growing capacity of the soil following current timber harvest;
     (b) Afford protection to forest soils and public resources by utilizing all reasonable methods of technology in conducting forest practices;
     (c) Recognize both the public and private interest in the profitable growing and harvesting of timber;
     (d) Promote efficiency by permitting maximum operating freedom consistent with the other purposes and policies stated herein;
     (e) Provide for regulation of forest practices so as to avoid unnecessary duplication in such rules;
     (f) Provide for interagency input and intergovernmental and tribal coordination and cooperation;
     (g) Achieve compliance with all applicable requirements of federal and state law with respect to nonpoint sources of water pollution from forest practices;
     (h) To consider reasonable land use planning goals and concepts contained in local comprehensive plans and zoning regulations;
     (i) Foster cooperation among managers of public resources, forest landowners, Indian tribes and the citizens of the state; ((and))
     (j) Develop a watershed analysis system that addresses the cumulative effect of forest practices on, at a minimum, the public resources of fish, water, and public capital improvements of the state and its political subdivisions; and
     (k) Assist forest landowners in accessing market capital and financing for the ecosystem services provided to the public as a result of the protection of public resources.
     (3) The legislature further finds and declares that it is also in the public interest of the state to encourage forest landowners to undertake corrective and remedial action to reduce the impact of mass earth movements and fluvial processes.
     (4) The legislature further finds and declares that it is in the public interest that the applicants for state forest practices permits should assist in paying for the cost of review and permitting necessary for the environmental protection of these resources.

Sec. 3   RCW 76.09.040 and 2009 c 246 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) Where necessary to accomplish the purposes and policies stated in RCW 76.09.010, and to implement the provisions of this chapter, the board shall adopt forest practices rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW and in accordance with the procedures enumerated in this section that:
     (((a))) (i) Establish minimum standards for forest practices;
     (((b))) (ii) Provide procedures for the voluntary development of resource management plans which may be adopted as an alternative to the minimum standards in (a)(i) of this subsection if the plan is consistent with the purposes and policies stated in RCW 76.09.010 and the plan meets or exceeds the objectives of the minimum standards;
     (((c))) (iii) Set forth necessary administrative provisions;
     (((d))) (iv) Establish procedures for the collection and administration of forest practice fees as set forth by this chapter; and
     (((e))) (v) Allow for the development of watershed analyses.
     (b) Forest practices rules pertaining to water quality protection shall be adopted by the board after reaching agreement with the director of the department of ecology or the director's designee on the board with respect thereto. All other forest practices rules shall be adopted by the board.
     (c) Forest practices rules shall be administered and enforced by either the department or the local governmental entity as provided in this chapter. Such rules shall be adopted and administered so as to give consideration to all purposes and policies set forth in RCW 76.09.010.
     (2)(a) The board shall prepare proposed forest practices rules consistent with this section and chapter 34.05 RCW. In addition to any forest practices rules relating to water quality protection proposed by the board, the department of ecology may submit to the board proposed forest practices rules relating to water quality protection.
     (b)(i) Prior to initiating the rule-making process, the proposed rules shall be submitted for review and comments to the department of fish and wildlife and to the counties of the state. After receipt of the proposed forest practices rules, the department of fish and wildlife and the counties of the state shall have thirty days in which to review and submit comments to the board, and to the department of ecology with respect to its proposed rules relating to water quality protection.
     (ii) After the expiration of ((such)) the thirty day period, the board and the department of ecology shall jointly hold one or more hearings on the proposed rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW. ((At such hearing(s))) Any county representative may propose specific forest practices rules relating to problems existing within ((such)) the county at the hearings.
     (iii) The board may adopt and the department of ecology may approve such proposals if they find the proposals are consistent with the purposes and policies of this chapter.
     (3)(a) The board shall establish by rule a program for the acquisition of riparian open space and critical habitat for threatened or endangered species as designated by the board. Acquisition must be a conservation easement. Lands eligible for acquisition are forest lands within unconfined channel migration zones or forest lands containing critical habitat for threatened or endangered species as designated by the board. Once acquired, these lands may be held and managed by the department, transferred to another state agency, transferred to an appropriate local government agency, or transferred to a private nonprofit nature conservancy corporation, as defined in RCW 64.04.130, in fee or transfer of management obligation. The board shall adopt rules governing the acquisition by the state or donation to the state of such interest in lands including the right of refusal if the lands are subject to unacceptable liabilities. The rules shall include definitions of qualifying lands, priorities for acquisition, and provide for the opportunity to transfer such lands with limited warranties and with a description of boundaries that does not require full surveys where the cost of securing the surveys would be unreasonable in relation to the value of the lands conveyed. The rules shall provide for the management of the lands for ecological protection or fisheries enhancement. For the purposes of conservation easements entered into under this section, the following apply:
     (((a))) (i) For conveyances of a conservation easement in which the landowner conveys an interest in the trees only, the compensation must include the timber value component, as determined by the cruised volume of any timber located within the channel migration zone or critical habitat for threatened or endangered species as designated by the board, multiplied by the appropriate quality code stumpage value for timber of the same species shown on the appropriate table used for timber harvest excise tax purposes under RCW 84.33.091;
     (((b))) (ii) For conveyances of a conservation easement in which the landowner conveys interests in both land and trees, the compensation must include the timber value component in (a)(i) of this subsection plus such portion of the land value component as determined just and equitable by the department. The land value component must be the acreage of qualifying channel migration zone or critical habitat for threatened or endangered species as determined by the board, to be conveyed, multiplied by the average per acre value of all commercial forest land in western Washington or the average for eastern Washington, whichever average is applicable to the qualifying lands. The department must determine the western and eastern Washington averages based on the land value tables established by RCW 84.33.140 and revised annually by the department of revenue.
     (((4))) (b) Subject to appropriations sufficient to cover the cost of such an acquisition program and the related costs of administering the program, the department must establish a conservation easement in land that an owner tenders for purchase; provided that such lands have been taxed as forest lands and are located within an unconfined channel migration zone or contain critical habitat for threatened or endangered species as designated by the board. Lands acquired under this section shall become riparian or habitat open space. These acquisitions shall not be deemed to trigger the compensating tax of chapters 84.33 and 84.34 RCW.
     (((5))) (c) Instead of offering to sell interests in qualifying lands, owners may elect to donate the interests to the state.
     (((6))) (d) Any acquired interest in qualifying lands by the state under this section shall be managed as riparian open space or critical habitat.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) The department of natural resources shall, to the degree that resources are available, develop, consistent with this section, proposals for the development of appropriate landowner conservation incentives that support forest landowners maintaining their land in forestry. These incentives may include, but are not limited to, incentives that are related to ecosystem service markets, tax incentives, easements, technical assistance, and recognition or certification.
     (2) The department of natural resources shall consult with the forest practices board, representatives of federal, state, and local government, Indian tribes, small forest landowners, conservation groups, industrial foresters, and other individuals deemed beneficial by the department in implementing this section.
     (3) By December 31, 2011, the department of natural resources must present their research and any proposed incentives to the governor, the appropriate committees of the legislature, the commissioner of public lands, and the forest practices board. The department of natural resources shall also offer to present their findings and recommendations to the Washington congressional delegation, local governments, and any state or federal agency that has as a portion of their mission the support of Washington's working land base and the jobs, products, and ecological values that working lands provide.
     (4) Neither the activities nor outcome of the department of natural resources' actions or decisions under this section shall cause, promote, or delay rule making by the forest practices board in the execution of its applicable duties.
     (5) The department of natural resources is authorized to seek federal and private funds, and in-kind contributions to complete the work in this act. At the discretion of the department of natural resources, the department must comply with this act only to the degree that existing or acquired nonstate resources permit.
     (6) This section expires July 1, 2012.

Sec. 5   RCW 76.09.020 and 2009 c 354 s 5 and 2009 c 246 s 4 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Adaptive management" means reliance on scientific methods to test the results of actions taken so that the management and related policy can be changed promptly and appropriately.
     (2) "Appeals board" means the forest practices appeals board created by RCW 76.09.210.
     (3) "Application" means the application required pursuant to RCW 76.09.050.
     (4) "Aquatic resources" includes water quality, salmon, other species of the vertebrate classes Cephalaspidomorphi and Osteichthyes identified in the forests and fish report, the Columbia torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton kezeri), the Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae), the Olympic torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton olympian), the Dunn's salamander (Plethodon dunni), the Van Dyke's salamander (Plethodon vandyke), the tailed frog (Ascaphus truei), and their respective habitats.
     (5) "Board" means the forest practices board created in RCW 76.09.030.
     (6) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public lands.
     (7) "Contiguous" means land adjoining or touching by common corner or otherwise. Land having common ownership divided by a road or other right-of-way shall be considered contiguous.
     (8) "Conversion to a use other than commercial timber operation" means a bona fide conversion to an active use which is incompatible with timber growing and as may be defined by forest practices rules.
     (9) "Department" means the department of natural resources.
     (10) "Fish passage barrier" means any artificial instream structure that impedes the free passage of fish.
     (11) "Forest land" means all land which is capable of supporting a merchantable stand of timber and is not being actively used for a use which is incompatible with timber growing. Forest land does not include agricultural land that is or was enrolled in the conservation reserve enhancement program by contract if such agricultural land was historically used for agricultural purposes and the landowner intends to continue to use the land for agricultural purposes in the future. As it applies to the operation of the road maintenance and abandonment plan element of the forest practices rules on small forest landowners, the term "forest land" excludes:
     (a) Residential home sites, which may include up to five acres; and
     (b) Cropfields, orchards, vineyards, pastures, feedlots, fish pens, and the land on which appurtenances necessary to the production, preparation, or sale of crops, fruit, dairy products, fish, and livestock exist.
     (12) "Forest landowner" means any person in actual control of forest land, whether such control is based either on legal or equitable title, or on any other interest entitling the holder to sell or otherwise dispose of any or all of the timber on such land in any manner. However, any lessee or other person in possession of forest land without legal or equitable title to such land shall be excluded from the definition of "forest landowner" unless such lessee or other person has the right to sell or otherwise dispose of any or all of the timber located on such forest land.
     (13) "Forest practice" means any activity conducted on or directly pertaining to forest land and relating to growing, harvesting, or processing timber, including but not limited to:
     (a) Road and trail construction;
     (b) Harvesting, final and intermediate;
     (c) Precommercial thinning;
     (d) Reforestation;
     (e) Fertilization;
     (f) Prevention and suppression of diseases and insects;
     (g) Salvage of trees; and
     (h) Brush control.
"Forest practice" shall not include preparatory work such as tree marking, surveying and road flagging, and removal or harvesting of incidental vegetation from forest lands such as berries, ferns, greenery, mistletoe, herbs, mushrooms, and other products which cannot normally be expected to result in damage to forest soils, timber, or public resources.
     (14) "Forest practices rules" means any rules adopted pursuant to RCW 76.09.040.
     (15) "Forest road," as it applies to the operation of the road maintenance and abandonment plan element of the forest practices rules on small forest landowners, means a road or road segment that crosses land that meets the definition of forest land, but excludes residential access roads.
     (16) "Forest trees" does not include hardwood trees cultivated by agricultural methods in growing cycles shorter than fifteen years if the trees were planted on land that was not in forest use immediately before the trees were planted and before the land was prepared for planting the trees. "Forest trees" includes Christmas trees, but does not include Christmas trees that are cultivated by agricultural methods, as that term is defined in RCW 84.33.035.
     (17) "Forests and fish report" means the forests and fish report to the board dated April 29, 1999.
     (18) "Operator" means any person engaging in forest practices except an employee with wages as his or her sole compensation.
     (19) "Person" means any individual, partnership, private, public, or municipal corporation, county, the department or other state or local governmental entity, or association of individuals of whatever nature.
     (20) "Public resources" means water, fish and wildlife, and in addition shall mean capital improvements of the state or its political subdivisions.
     (21) "Small forest landowner" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 76.09.450.
     (22) "Timber" means forest trees, standing or down, of a commercial species, including Christmas trees. However, "timber" does not include Christmas trees that are cultivated by agricultural methods, as that term is defined in RCW 84.33.035.
     (23) "Timber owner" means any person having all or any part of the legal interest in timber. Where such timber is subject to a contract of sale, "timber owner" shall mean the contract purchaser.
     (24) "Unconfined channel migration zone" means the area within which the active channel of an unconfined stream is prone to move and where the movement would result in a potential near-term loss of riparian forest adjacent to the stream. Sizeable islands with productive timber may exist within the zone.
     (25) "Unconfined stream" means generally fifth order or larger waters that experience abrupt shifts in channel location, creating a complex floodplain characterized by extensive gravel bars, disturbance species of vegetation of variable age, numerous side channels, wall-based channels, oxbow lakes, and wetland complexes. Many of these streams have dikes and levees that may temporarily or permanently restrict channel movement.
     (26) "Ecosystem services" means the benefits that the public enjoys as a result of natural processes and biological diversity.
     (27) "Ecosystem services market" means a system in which providers of ecosystem services can access financing or market capital to protect, restore, and maintain ecological values, including the full spectrum of regulatory, quasiregulatory, and voluntary markets.