AN ACT Relating to timber management for the future in Washington state; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; making appropriations; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature hereby establishes the timber management mission for all state agencies and subdivisions. It is the intent of the state of Washington to create a stable, predictable, and ongoing timber supply for all timber producing lands in the state. All timber producing entities including state, local, federal, tribal, and private are encouraged to cooperate and participate in the tasks provided for by this chapter. Full public participation is encouraged for each planning and policy development stage of this program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. In order to achieve a coordinated planning process and uniform management principals through the twenty-first century and beyond, the task force established in section 5 of this act shall recommend proposed legislation to the 1991 session of the legislature to achieve:

(1) Common definitions of timber and forest nomenclature for use by all timber land managers including but not limited to: Old growth, sustained yield, second growth, virgin forest, natural areas, wildlife habitat, scientific and research forests, set-aside lands, environmentally sensitive areas, and timber rotation cycles;

(2) Coordinated state, federal, private, and tribal management alternatives to achieve the requirements of section 1 of this act;

(3) State and local management reorganization and agency restructuring to achieve this chapter's goals;

(4) Region by region management policies to guarantee a stable timber supply for all areas of the state;

(5) A coordinated program which includes public, private, and tribal timber land management to secure a guaranteed sustained yield and even supply flow for each area;

(6) A consistent delineation of each timber producing market and production area to be used for planning and management purposes; and

(7) Legislative recommendations to provide coordinated mission goals for long-term timber and environmental management for all areas of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. All state agencies in cooperation with private land holders, the Indian tribes, and the United States forest service shall develop legislative proposals and internal management programs to achieve:

(1) Long-term timber supply stability for each timber producing area of the state;

(2) Improved marketing for processed timber and timber for export for each region of the state as developed by the task force and provided for by the legislature; and

(3) Management policy recommendations to protect wildlife habitat, the natural environment and the integrity of forest lands to ensure predictability and a common purpose for timber land management.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The task force created by section 5 of this act shall prepare initial legislative recommendations by January 1, 1991, and shall develop additional proposals as needed to carry out the goals and intent of this chapter. The recommendations shall include at least the following areas of concern:

(1) Incentives to encourage private industry modernization of timber mills;

(2) Methods to coordinate and stabilize timber supply from all public and private forest lands region by region;

(3) Computerization of an ongoing softwood and hardwood inventory that will always be current;

(4) An adequate inventory of timber on private lands;

(5) Management strategies to provide a sustained yield area by area to ensure supply to mills in each area;

(6) Programs for economic diversification of timber dominated communities; and

(7) Methods to limit urbanization of key timber producing lands.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A state timber policy task force is established to set guidelines and make legislative and executive recommendations. The task force shall consist of:

(1) The governor or the governor's representative;

(2) The land commissioner or the land commissioner's representative;

(3) Two representatives of the United States forest service selected by the director of the Northwest regional office of the United States forest service;

(4) Two representatives of Indian tribes appointed by the governor;

(5) The directors of the departments of ecology, fisheries, wildlife, community development, revenue, and commerce and economic development;

(6) Three private sector representatives who shall be appointed jointly by the governor and the commissioner of public lands;

(7) Two local government representatives appointed by the governor; and

(8) Three public representatives to be appointed jointly by the governor and the commissioner of public lands.

Chairs and ranking minority members of each house of the legislature's natural resources committee shall serve ex officio.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The task force may apply for and receive grant funds and such other funds as may be available from public and private sources to carry out the requirements of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The public members of the task force shall receive per diem and travel expenses as provided by RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The task force shall be jointly chaired by the governor and the commissioner of public lands and shall meet at least bimonthly until its tasks are accomplished. All meetings and hearings shall be open to the public. The task force is encouraged to meet in all areas of the state to receive public comment on recommendations and policy alternatives.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The sum of .......... dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the governor's office for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. The sum of .......... dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the resource management cost account to the department of natural resources to carry out the requirements of this act with respect to state trust land programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. Sections 1 through 8 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.