SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5853

BYSenators Kreidler and Rinehart

Revising provisions relating to burning of forest debris.

Senate Committee on Parks & Ecology

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 24, 1987; March 5, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5853 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Kreidler, Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Hansen

Senate Staff:Henry Yates (786-7708)

                  March 5, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON PARKS & ECOLOGY, MARCH 5, 1987

BACKGROUND:

According to the Department of Ecology, burning of forest residue or "slash" following harvest creates 43.5 percent of the air emissions generated in the state between early May and late October.  While the large particles from the emissions tend to fall to the ground quickly, the smaller ones fall sometimes days after the slash burn and many times in other counties or states. The smaller particles are especially harmful because they can enter the lungs.

Currently, slash burning is controlled almost solely by the Department of Natural Resources and permits are required for most burning in the state.  All slash burns must comply with air pollution law, but because of variances in weather it is hard to keep the smoke from entering sensitive, high population areas.

The Department of Natural Resources protects air quality through its smoke management plan which requires that certain conditions be met before burning can occur.  It includes a visibility protection program, adopted by the Department of Ecology in 1981 that forbids burning on clear weekend days when certain atmospheric conditions are present.  It does not provide the same protection during the weekdays or for highly populated areas.  The program is the result of federal requirements to protect visibility in eight designated national park areas in the state.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Natural Resources is prohibited from issuing burning permits for forest debris removal within 10 miles of four designated high population areas between the July 4 weekend and the Labor Day weekend.  If adverse economic impacts, to be determined by rule, will occur as a result of the prohibition, limited burning may take place.  Federally designated Class 1 areas (mostly national parks) are protected from slash burn smoke during the July 4 weekend through Labor Day weekend period on clear days.

The Department of Natural Resources is to revise its rule that requires isolation or reduction of 800 or more acres of forest debris so that burning is discouraged.

A task force is established consisting of representatives from government, the forest industry, and the public.  It is to identify ways of increasing forest debris markets, assessing state facilities for debris burning, solid waste incinerators and industrial plants for forest debris usage and identifying ways of reducing the amount of debris burned.  The task force develops guidelines for analyzing alternative site preparation activities that would not require burning.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Department of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the Department of Ecology, will revise the State Smoke Management Plan to:  1) provide protection of Class I areas (national parks); 2) reduce allowable tonnage burned; 3) reduce mandated burning; and 4) expand areas designated for protection from smoke because of population.  The agencies are to report to the Legislature by December 1, 1988. The Department of Natural Resources and other agencies will compile information on previous work done to reduce the burning of forest debris in ways other than burning.  The agencies will provide recommendations on ways the state can assist in encouraging alternative ways to handle slash and reduce debris burning by December 1, 1987.

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: John Keatley, Weyerhaeuser Forest Products Co.; Lloyd Anderson, Forestry & Fire Management, Inc.; John Gorman, Simpson Timber Co.; Bob Dick, WFPA; Cleve Pinnix, DNR; Bob Nichols, WDOE