5187-S.E AMH WATE JOND 345

ESSB 5187 - H AMD TO H AMD (H-1823.1/23) 524

By Representative Waters

WITHDRAWN 04/03/2023

On page 359, line 27, increase the natural climate solutions account--state appropriation by $83,000,000

On page 360, line 19, correct the total.

On page 367, after line 34, insert the following:

"(33) $83,000,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely for the purchase of property to be managed for increased carbon sequestration and carbon storage through sustainable harvests and as replacement trust lands for existing encumbered forested state trust lands and for structurally complex, carbon dense, forested state trust lands that may be transferred from trust status. The amount provided in this subsection is also to be used to carry out additional silvicultural activities on state trust lands and to hold a series of forest policy discussions. Of the amount provided in this subsection:

(a) $70,000,000 is provided solely for land purchases in westside timber counties, including forest land, commercial land, or other private or public land. The land must be purchased within a willing county identified in coordination with the Washington association of counties. The land once purchased must be considered as part of the land bank created in RCW 79.19.020. The property must be purchased before the sale or exchange of any existing trust land is considered. Transfers must utilize the trust land transfer process.

(i) Up to 2,000 acres of the new land may be considered as replacement land for any existing structurally complex, carbon dense forest existing on state trust lands. Any state forest land considered for replacement must have agreement from the specific county beneficiary.

(ii) The remainder of the new purchased land may be used as exchange land for any encumbered state forest lands in Clallam, Jefferson, Pacific, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties. Any exchanged land under this purpose must be designated as state forest transfer land.

(b) $10,000,000 is provided solely for the department to enhance forest stand growth on managed trust lands in western Washington, employing silviculture to increase growth and vigor of the trees, for healthy, resilient forests.

(c) $3,000,000 is provided solely for the department to contract with a facilitator for the purpose of convening a stakeholder group to collaborate on the protection of older timber stands on department of natural resources managed lands, the protection of a viable wood supply for the current timber market, and the definition of terms to be used when developing future forest policy pertaining to the storage of carbon and perpetual forests, while meeting the department's trust management responsibilities. The group should also provide recommendation for defining the management regime of the lands purchased with amounts provided by this subsection intended to increase forest sequestration above what it would otherwise be in the absence of the purchase by the department of natural resources, as well as for using consulting businesses for buying large forest parcels in a competitive marketplace, and may include contracting with researchers and universities for additional analysis. A report of the stakeholder group's recommendations must be submitted to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2024."

On page 564, after line 13, insert the following:

"Climate Investment Account: For transfer to the natural climate solutions account, $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, no earlier than June 1, 2025. . . $26,000,000"

--- END ---