SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5911

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Amondson, Stratton, Hayner, Owen, McDonald, Newhouse, Anderson, Matson, Johnson, Smith, Lee, Bailey, Cantu, Thorsness, Patterson, Benitz, Nelson, Saling, Sellar, Craswell, Barr, McCaslin, Conner, Rasmussen, DeJarnatt and Bauer)

Providing for the sale of state timber.

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 28, 1989; March 1, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5911 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Bauer, Cantu, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Newhouse, Owen, Saling, Smith, Warnke.

Senate Staff:Ken Kanikeberg (786-7715)

                  April 14, 1989

House Committe on Natural Resources & Parks

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 13, 1989

BACKGROUND:

A portion of common school trust fund lands are located on the Olympic Peninsula.  About two-thirds of such lands have been logged.  On the remainder, the Department of Wildlife has notified the Department of Natural Resources of concern about spotted owl habitat and the need to preserve old growth timber.

Some of these lands had been scheduled to be cut in 1988 and 1989 and are now delayed.  The Commissioner of Public lands has appointed an "Old Growth Alternatives Commission" to study the matter and make recommendations.  The report is due in June 1989.

SUMMARY:

Timber sales on state lands which have been deferred because the land has been designated as spotted owl habitat shall be offered for sale.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      requested February 17, 1989

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: PRO:  Charles TenPas, Superintendent, White Pass School District; Ann Goos, concerned citizen; Dr. William Boulton, Superintendent Mount Baker School District; Heidi Mezo, concerned citizen; Theresa Sygitowitz, concerned citizen; Ellen Bickell, concerned citizen; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association; CON:  Marcy Golde, WEC; Mark Lawler, Sierra Club; Dan Vanderkolk, concerned citizen; Ken Richards, concerned citizen; Steve Herman, Ornithologist, The Evergreen State College; Steve Bono, concerned citizen; Ron Barnes, concerned citizen

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

Programs are established which (1) allow counties to sell timber to certain eligible firms; (2) require several reports from the Department of Natural Resources; (3) offer economic development assistance; (4) create a forest resource council; and (5) provide for education and research.

Appropriations of $2,486,000 are made from the general fund consisting of the following:

      --$752,000 to the Department of Trade and Economic Development

      --$900,000 to the Department of Community Development

      --$529,000 to the Department of Natural Resources

      --$150,000 to the Washington Forest Resource Council

      --$150,000 to the University of Washington

An appropriation of $2,800,000 from the resource cost management account is made to the Department of Natural Resources.