There are four classes of forest practices created by the act. All forest practices (including those in Classes I and II) on nonfederal forest lands must be conducted in accordance with the forest practices rules. The department determines the classification of each forest practices proposal.

(1) "Class IV-special." Except as provided in WAC 222-16-051, application to conduct forest practices involving the following circumstances requires an environmental checklist in compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and SEPA guidelines, as they have been determined to have potential for a substantial impact on the environment. It may be determined that additional information or a detailed environmental statement is required before these forest practices may be approved.

*(a) Aerial application of pesticides in a manner identified as having the potential for a substantial impact on the environment under WAC 222-16-070 or ground application of a pesticide within a Type A or B wetland.

(b) Specific forest practices listed in WAC 222-16-080 on lands designated as critical habitat (state) of threatened or endangered species.

(c) Harvesting, road construction, aerial application of pesticides and site preparation on all lands within the boundaries of any national park, state park, or any park of a local governmental entity, except harvest of less than five thousand board feet within any developed park recreation area and park managed salvage of merchantable forest products.

*(d) Timber harvest, or construction of roads, landings, gravel pits, rock quarries, or spoil disposal areas, on potentially unstable slopes or landforms described in (d)(i) of this subsection that has the potential to deliver sediment or debris to a public resource or that has the potential to threaten public safety, and which has been field verified by the department (see WAC 222-10-030 SEPA policies for potentially unstable slopes and landforms).

(i) For the purpose of this rule, potentially unstable slopes or landforms are one of the following: (See board manual section 16 for more descriptive definitions.)

(A) Inner gorges, convergent headwalls, or bedrock hollows with slopes steeper than thirty-five degrees (seventy percent);

(B) Toes of deep-seated landslides, with slopes steeper than thirty-three degrees (sixty-five percent);

(D) Outer edges of meander bends along valley walls or high terraces of an unconfined meandering stream; or

(E) Any areas containing features indicating the presence of potential slope instability which cumulatively indicate the presence of unstable slopes.

(ii) The department will base its classification of the application or notification on professional knowledge of the area, information such as soils, geologic or hazard zonation maps and reports, review of approved watershed analysis mass wasting prescriptions according to WAC 222-22-090(6) or other information provided by the applicant.

(iii) An application would not be classified as Class IV-special for potentially unstable slopes or landforms under this subsection if:

(A) The proposed forest practice is located within a watershed administrative unit (WAU) that is subject to an approved watershed analysis;

(B) The forest practices are to be conducted in accordance with approved prescriptions from the watershed analysis; and

(C) The applicable prescriptions are specific to the site or situation, as opposed to a prescription that calls for additional analysis. The need for an expert to determine whether the site contains specific landforms will not be considered "additional analysis," as long as specific prescriptions are established for such landforms.

*(e) Timber harvest, in a WAU not subject to an approved watershed analysis under chapter 222-22 WAC, construction of roads, landings, rock quarries, gravel pits, borrow pits, and spoil disposal areas on snow avalanche slopes within those areas designated by the department, in consultation with department of transportation and local government, as high avalanche hazard where there is the potential to deliver sediment or debris to a public resource, or the potential to threaten public safety.

(f) Timber harvest or construction of roads, landings, rock quarries, gravel pits, borrow pits, and spoil disposal areas on the following except in (f)(iv) of this subsection:

(i) Archaeological sites or historic archaeological resources as defined in RCW 27.53.030; or

(ii) Historic sites eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or the Washington Heritage Register as determined by the Washington state department of archaeology and historic preservation; or

(iii) Sites containing evidence of Native American cairns, graves, or glyptic records as provided for in chapters 27.44 and 27.53 RCW. The department of archaeology and historic preservation shall consult with affected Indian tribes in identifying such sites.

(iv) A forest practice would not be classified as Class IV-special under this subsection if:

(A) Cultural resources management strategies from an approved watershed analysis conducted under chapter 222-22 WAC are part of the proposed forest practices, and the landowner states this in the application; or

(B) A management plan agreed to by the landowner, the affected Indian tribe, and the department of archaeology and historic preservation is part of the proposed application, and the landowner states this in the application.

*(g) Forest practices subject to an approved watershed analysis conducted under chapter 222-22 WAC in an area of resource sensitivity identified in that analysis which deviates from the prescriptions (which may include an alternate plan).

*(h) Filling or draining of more than 0.5 acre of a wetland.

(2) "Class IV-general." Applications involving the following circumstances are Class IV-general forest practices unless they are listed in Class IV-special. Forest practices applications classified Class IV-general are subject to the SEPA review process described in subsection (1) of this section.

*(a) Forest practices (other than those in Class I) on lands that are being converted to another use;

(b) Forest practices that would otherwise be Class III, but are taking place on lands that are not to be reforested because of likelihood of future conversion to urban development (see WAC 222-16-060 and 222-34-050); or

(c) Where the regulatory authority for forest practices has not been transferred from the department to the local governmental entity pursuant to RCW 76.09.240(1), forest practices involving timber harvesting or road construction on lands that are contained within urban growth areas, designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except where the forest landowner provides one of the following:

(i) A written statement of intent signed by the forest landowner not to convert to a use other than commercial timber operations for ten years. This statement must be accompanied by either a written forest management plan acceptable to the department or documentation that the land is enrolled under the provisions of chapter 84.33 or 84.34 RCW; or

(ii) A conversion option harvest plan approved by the local governmental entity and submitted to the department as part of the application.

Upon receipt of an application, the department will determine the lead agency for purposes of compliance with SEPA pursuant to WAC 197-11-924 and 197-11-938(4) and RCW 43.21C.037(2). Such applications are subject to a thirty-day period for approval unless the lead agency determines a detailed statement under RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(c) is required. Upon receipt, if the department determines the application is for a proposal that will require a permit from a local governmental entity acting under the powers enumerated in RCW 76.09.240, the department shall notify the applicable local governmental entity under WAC 197-11-924 that the department has determined according to WAC 197-11-938(4) that the local governmental entity is the lead agency for purposes of compliance with the SEPA.

(3) "Class I." Operations that have been determined to have no direct potential for damaging a public resource are Class I forest practices. When the conditions listed in Class IV-special are not present, these operations may be commenced without notification or application.

(a) Culture and harvest of Christmas trees and seedlings.

*(b) Road maintenance except: Replacement of bridges and culverts across Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters; or movement of material that has a direct potential for entering Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters or Type A or B Wetlands.

*(c) Construction of landings less than one acre in size, if not within a shoreline area of a Type S Water, the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, a wetland management zone, a wetland, or the CRGNSA special management area.

*(d) Construction of less than six hundred feet of road on a sideslope of forty percent or less if the limits of construction are not within the shoreline area of a Type S Water, the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, a wetland management zone, a wetland, or the CRGNSA special management area.

*(e) Installation or removal of a portable water crossing structure where such installation does not take place within the shoreline area of a Type S Water and does not involve disturbance of the beds or banks of any waters.

*(f) Initial installation and replacement of relief culverts and other drainage control facilities not requiring an application.

(g) Rocking an existing road.

(h) Loading and hauling timber from landings or decks.

(i) Precommercial thinning and pruning, if not within the CRGNSA special management area.

(j) Tree planting and seeding.

(k) Cutting and/or removal of less than five thousand board feet of timber (including live, dead and down material) for personal use (i.e., firewood, fence posts, etc.) in any twelve-month period, if not within the CRGNSA special management area.

(l) Emergency fire control and suppression.

(m) Slash burning pursuant to a burning permit (RCW 76.04.205).

*(n) Other slash control and site preparation not involving either off-road use of tractors on slopes exceeding forty percent or off-road use of tractors within the shorelines of a Type S Water, the riparian management zone of any Type F Water, or the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, a wetland management zone, a wetland, or the CRGNSA special management area.

*(o) Ground application of chemicals, if not within the CRGNSA special management area. See WAC 222-38-020 and 222-38-030.

*(p) Aerial application of chemicals (except insecticides), outside of the CRGNSA special management area when applied to not more than forty contiguous acres if the application is part of a combined or cooperative project with another landowner and where the application does not take place within one hundred feet of lands used for farming, or within two hundred feet of a residence, unless such farmland or residence is owned by the forest landowner. Provisions of chapter 222-38 WAC shall apply.

(q) Forestry research studies and evaluation tests by an established research organization.

*(r) Any of the following if none of the operation or limits of construction takes place within the shoreline area of a Type S Water or the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, the bankfull width of a Type Np Water or flowing Type Ns Water, or within the CRGNSA special management area and the operation does not involve off-road use of tractor or wheeled skidding systems on a sideslope of greater than forty percent:

(i) Any forest practices within the boundaries of existing golf courses.

(ii) Any forest practices within the boundaries of existing cemeteries which are approved by the cemetery board.

(iii) Any forest practices involving a single landowner where contiguous ownership is less than two acres in size.

(4) "Class II." Certain forest practices have been determined to have a less than ordinary potential to damage a public resource and may be conducted as Class II forest practices: Provided, that no forest practice enumerated below may be conducted as a Class II forest practice if the operation is within a "shorelines of the state," or involves owner of perpetual timber rights subject to RCW 76.09.067 (other than renewals). Such forest practices require an application. No forest practice enumerated below may be conducted as a Class II forest practice if it takes place on lands that are being converted to another use. Unless the conditions described in (f) or (g) of this subsection are met, no forest practice enumerated below involving timber harvest or road construction may be conducted as a Class II if it takes place within urban growth areas designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW. Such forest practices require a Class IV application. Class II forest practices are the following:

(a) Renewal of a prior Class II notification where no change in the nature and extent of the forest practices is required under rules effective at the time of renewal.

(b) Renewal of a previously approved Class III or IV forest practices application where:

(i) No modification of the uncompleted operation or of a forest practices hydraulic project design is proposed;

(ii) No notices to comply, stop work orders or other enforcement actions are outstanding with respect to the prior application;

(iii) No change in the nature and extent of the forest practice is required under rules effective at the time of renewal; and

(iv) The application is not a multiyear permit that is located within an area subject to reanalysis of a watershed analysis under WAC 222-22-090(6).

*(c) Any of the following if none of the operation or limits of construction takes place within the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, within the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, within a wetland management zone, within a wetland, or within the CRGNSA special management area:

(i) Construction of advance fire trails.

(ii) Opening a new pit of, or extending an existing pit by, less than one acre.

*(d) Salvage of logging residue if none of the operation or limits of construction takes place within the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, within the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, within a wetland management zone or within a wetland; and if none of the operations involve off-road use of tractor or wheeled skidding systems on a sideslope of greater than forty percent.

*(e) Any of the following if none of the operation or limits of construction takes place within the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, within the bankfull width of a Type Np Water, within a wetland management zone, within a wetland, or within the CRGNSA special management area, and if none of the operations involve off-road use of tractor or wheeled skidding systems on a sideslope of greater than forty percent, and if none of the operations are located on lands with a likelihood of future conversion (see WAC 222-16-060):

(i) West of the Cascade summit, partial cutting of forty percent or less of the live timber volume.

(ii) East of the Cascade summit, partial cutting of five thousand board feet per acre or less.

(iii) Salvage of dead, down, or dying timber if less than forty percent of the total timber volume is removed in any twelve-month period.

(iv) Any harvest on less than forty acres.

(v) Construction of six hundred or more feet of road, provided that the department shall be notified at least two business days before commencement of the construction.

*(f) Forest practices involving timber harvesting or road construction listed in (a) through (e) of this subsection within urban growth areas (UGAs) designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, if the landowner provides one of the following:

(i) A written statement of intent signed by the forest landowner not to convert to a use other than commercial timber operations for ten years. This statement must be accompanied by either a written forest management plan acceptable to the department, or documentation that the land is enrolled under the provisions of chapter 84.33 or 84.34 RCW; or

(ii) A conversion option harvest plan approved by the local governmental entity and submitted to the department as part of the application.

*(g) Forest practices listed in (a) through (e) of this subsection within UGAs, and where the regulatory authority for forest practices has been transferred to the local governmental entity pursuant to RCW 76.09.240(1), may nonetheless be Class II forest practices and regulated by the department if:

(i) The forest practice is on a landowner's ownership of contiguous forest land equal to or greater than twenty acres; and

(ii) The landowner provides documentation described in (f)(i) or (ii) of this subsection.

(5) "Class III." Forest practices not listed under Classes IV, I or II above are Class III forest practices. Among Class III forest practices are the following:

*(a) Forest practices hydraulic projects except where classed as Class I, II, and IV forest practices.

*(b) Those within the shorelines of the state other than those in a Class I forest practice.

*(c) Aerial application of insecticides, except where classified as a Class IV forest practice.

*(d) Aerial application of chemicals (except insecticides), except where classified as Class I or IV forest practices.

*(e) Harvest or salvage of timber except where classed as Class I, II or IV forest practices.

*(f) All road construction except as listed in Classes I, II and IV forest practices.

(g) Opening of new pits or extensions of existing pits over one acre.

*(h) Road maintenance involving:

(i) Replacement of bridges or culverts across Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters; or

(ii) Movement of material that has a direct potential for entering Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters or Type A or B Wetlands.

(i) Operations involving owner of perpetual timber rights subject to RCW 76.09.067.

(j) Site preparation or slash abatement not listed in Classes I or IV forest practices.

(k) Harvesting, road construction, site preparation or aerial application of pesticides on lands which contain cultural, historic or archaeological resources which, at the time the application or notification is filed, have been identified to the department as being of interest to an affected Indian tribe.

(l) Harvesting exceeding nineteen acres in a designated difficult regeneration area.

(m) Utilization of an alternate plan. See WAC 222-12-040.

*(n) Any filling of wetlands, except where classified as Class IV forest practices.

*(o) Multiyear permits.

*(p) Small forest landowner long-term applications that are not classified Class IV-special or Class IV-general, or renewals of previously approved Class III or IV long-term applications.

*(q) Forest practices involving timber harvest or road construction listed in (a) through (p) of this subsection within urban growth areas (UGAs) designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, if the landowner provides documentation described in subsection (4)(f)(i) or (ii) of this section.

*(r) Forest practices listed in (a) through (p) of this subsection within UGAs, and where the regulatory authority for forest practices has been transferred to the local governmental entity pursuant to RCW 76.09.240(1), may nonetheless be Class III forest practices and regulated by the department if:

(i) The forest practice is on a landowner's ownership of contiguous forest land equal to or greater than twenty acres; and

(ii) The landowner provides documentation described in subsection (4)(f)(i) or (ii) of this section.

(s) Removal of beaver structures from culverts on forest roads.

PDFWAC 222-16-050

*Classes of forest practices.