SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 1984

BYRepresentatives Hargrove, Belcher, Basich, Jones, Sayan, Raiter, Vekich, Beck, Brumsickle, Bowman, Doty, Winsley, Kremen, Cooper and H. Myers 

Requiring the department of natural resources to prepare a timber supply report.

House Committe on Natural Resources & Parks

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 30, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Amondson, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Benitz, Kreidler, Owen, Patterson, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:John Korvell (786-7473)

                  March 30, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES, MARCH 30, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Washington's forest products industry has undergone significant changes since the last full scale statewide timber inventory was done in 1975.  In the past fourteen years the industry has been subject to boom, bust, pressing environmental issues and, recently, international investment.  Each has affected the state's timber resource and local economies that depend upon it.

Considering the past changes to this industry, and to meet future demands on forest resources that will affect state and local economies, there is a need to update this timber inventory.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Natural Resources will prepare a state timber supply inventory report.  This will be submitted to appropriate Senate and House committees by December 1, 1990.

The report will include a present timber inventory, inventory quantity that may be available for future use that considers assumptions of landowner management, changes in land base, capital investment, and expected resource harvest age.

The report will categorize the inventory findings by region, land ownership and productivity, as well as major timber species.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The U.S. Forest Service has requested moneys from Congress for a similar state by state timber inventory.  This will replace the state's appropriation.  If this federal appropriation is not received by October 1989, the DNR must complete this project planning and design phase by June 1991.  $330,000 is appropriated.

The University of Washington's College of Forest Resources is to assess the cost of developing a computerized comprehensive forest resource information system that includes data from the timber inventory report.

The Department of Natural Resources is to contract with the College of Forest Resources to prepare a study on the impact incremental withdrawals of commercially available timber, and bans on log exports have on economic and social conditions.  This study will compare these impacts against current timber practices and uses.  The report is due by June 30, 1991 and requests an $80,000 general fund appropriation.  An effective date of July 1, 1989 is added.

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative James Hargrove, prime sponsor (for); Pat McElroy, DNR (for)