PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The forest practices board is considering rule making to amend WAC 222-16-010 to include forest biomass removal in the "forest practice" definition.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 76.09.040.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: There is an emerging industry in Washington state to convert biomass to energy and energy products. Forest residue is an important source of biomass feedstock for this industry and is being removed from forest lands and transported for that purpose. The board is considering adding forest biomass removal to the definition of "forest practice" to ensure the public's understanding that this activity is a forest practice and subject to the resource protection measures required in TITLE 222 WAC and chapter 76.09 RCW.
Process for Developing New Rule: The board will request input from interested stakeholders to develop rule language. Also, the board will seek agreement from the department of ecology, and solicit input from counties, the Washington department of fish and wildlife, and tribes pursuant to RCW 76.09.040(2).
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by mailing, faxing, or e-mailing comments to Patricia Anderson, Forest Practices Board, Rules Coordinator, Department of Natural Resources, Forest Practices Division, P.O. Box 47012, Olympia, WA 98504-7012, fax (360) 902-1428, e-mail forest.practicesboard@dnr.wa.gov.
August 23, 2010
Peter Goldmark
Chair