HB 2311-S - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 2ND SUB)

     Revises provisions relating to small forest landowners.

     Authorizes the office to contract with private consultants that the office finds qualified to perform timber cruises of forestry riparian easements or to lay out streamside buffers and comply with other forest and fish regulatory requirements related to the forest riparian easement program.  The department shall reimburse small forest landowners for the actual costs incurred for laying out the streamside buffers and marking the qualifying timber once a contract has been executed for the forestry riparian easement program.

     Declares an intent that small forest landowners have access to alternate plan processes or alternate harvest restrictions, or both if necessary, that meet the public resource protection standard set forth in RCW 76.09.370(3), but which also lowers the overall cost of regulation to small forest landowners including, but not limited to, timber value forgone, layout costs, and operating costs.