AH

WSR 97-16-065

AGENDA

FOREST PRACTICES BOARD

[Filed August 1, 1997, 1:03 p.m.]

The following sections of Title 222 WAC, Forest Practices Board, are in the rule-making process or being developed. The board's mandate is to adopt rules to protect the state's natural resources while maintaining a viable forest products industry.

1. Stream typing rules - CR-102 filed with the code reviser July 11, 1997.

WAC 222-16-030 Water typing systems. The proposed rule modifies the definitions of Type 2 and 3 Waters so that appropriate riparian protection is provided along fish-bearing streams.

WAC 222-12-090(13) implementation guidelines in the Forest Practices Board manual.

Timber, Fish and Wildlife participants are presently developing a more comprehensive revision of the stream typing rules, called the "Forestry Module." They anticipate making a proposed rule recommendation to the Forest Practices Board in early 1998, after which the board may consider initiating the rule adoption process. In the interim, the board has adopted an emergency stream typing rule.

2. Columbia River Gorge national scenic area--Negotiated rules.

Forest practices within this national scenic area would meet requirements of the National Scenic Act and the guidelines of the management plan. An MOU is being developed between the Forest Practices Board, Department of Natural Resources, the United States Forest Service and the Gorge Commission. This negotiated rule making was begun in August 1996 and the Preproposal Statement of Inquiry was filed in November 1996. The draft proposal includes changes to two existing chapters and two new sections:

WAC 222-16-010 General definitions.

WAC 222-16-050 Classes of forest practices.

WAC 222-20-010 Applications and notifications--Policy.

WAC 222-20-040 Approval conditions.

New Sections:

WAC 222-20-130 Notice in CRGNSA special management area.

WAC 222-46-015 Enforcement within the CRGNSA special management area.

If agreement among the negotiating parties is reached, the board could begin the permanent rule making before the end of 1997. (Per RCW 76.09.040, they must conduct the thirty-day agency review first).

3. Small Landowner Pilot Rule Making.

The Forest Practices Board's Small Landowner Committee has been meeting with interested stakeholders to develop a process for developing a pilot rule-making proposal. These meetings will continue between now and the end of the year. The committee anticipates presenting a proposal for landscape pilots to the board at its November meeting. Rule language will be drafted after information from the pilot tests is gathered. No code reviser filings are anticipated in 1997.

4. Editorial Corrections.

The board may consider making editorial corrections to Title 222 WAC using the expedited rule-making process.