S-3519               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6242

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senators Warnke, Metcalf and Anderson

Read first time 1/15/88 and referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to closing lands or roads to public entry by the department of natural resources; and amending RCW 79.01.244.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 61, chapter 255, Laws of 1927 as last amended by section 9, chapter 109, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 79.01.244 are each amended to read as follows:

          All state lands ((hereafter leased for grazing or agricultural purposes)) and associated access roads shall be open and available to the public for purposes of hunting and fishing or other recreational activity unless closed to public entry because of fire hazard or unless the department of natural resources ((gives prior written approval and the area is lawfully posted by lessee to prohibit hunting and fishing thereon in order)) determines closure is necessary to prevent damage to crops or other land cover, to improvements on the land, to livestock, to ((the)) a lessee, or to the general public, or closure is necessary to avoid undue interference with carrying forward a departmental or agency program.  ((In the event)) State lands and associated access roads that are closed to public entry shall be so posted.  If any such lands are so closed and posted it ((shall be)) is unlawful for any person to ((hunt or fish on)) enter any such posted lands or roads.

          The department of natural resources shall insert the provisions of this section in all grazing and agricultural leases hereafter issued.

Before closing any state land or access road to public entry, except closures relating to fire hazard, the department shall hold at least one public hearing in the general vicinity of the area or access road to be closed to determine whether the closure is in the best interest of the state.