[Filed June 3, 2026, 10:18 a.m.]

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 332-41-833 Timber sales categories, describes those timber sales that are not subject to the State Environmental Policy Act.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: WAC 332-41-833 includes reference to a statute that has been revised per legislative action. That reference needs to be replaced. This does not change the effect of the rule.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: The reference needs to be replaced to be compliant with statute.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapters 43.21C and 34.05 RCW; WAC 197-11-830, 197-11-902(2), and 197-11-904(1).

Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 43.21C RCW.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Name of Proponent: Department of natural resources, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Rochelle Goss, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 360-902-2117; Implementation: Derwood Duncan, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 360-280-3113; and Enforcement: Michael Sly, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 360-902-1600.

This notice meets the following criteria to use the expedited adoption process for these rules:

Relates only to internal governmental operations that are not subject to violation by a person.

Corrects typographical errors, makes address or name changes, or clarifies language of a rule without changing its effect.

THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Rochelle Goss, Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 47015, phone 360-902-2117, email Rochelle.goss@dnr.wa.gov, BEGINNING June 4, 2026, 6:00 a.m., AND RECEIVED BY August 4, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-08-021, filed 3/27/07, effective 4/27/07)

WAC 332-41-833Timber sales categories.

(1) What is DNR's authority to determine which timber sale decisions are exempt from SEPA review? Under WAC 197-11-830 DNR may determine which decisions to sell timber from public lands do not have potential for significant impact on the environment. Such decisions are categorically exempt from the threshold determination and EIS requirements of SEPA under WAC 197-11-830. This determination applies only to DNR's decision to sell timber harvested from public lands not requiring approval from the board of natural resources.

(2) What is the threshold for determining that timber sale decisions are exempt from SEPA?

(a) The following DNR timber sale decisions do not have a potential for significant impact on the environment and are categorically exempt from SEPA:

(i) Timber sales containing harvest units of less than ((twenty))20 acres that DNR appraises to be less than the amount specified in RCW ((79.11.130))79.15.080(1); and

(ii) Thinning or salvage timber sales of any unit size that DNR appraises to be less than the amount specified in RCW ((79.11.130))79.15.080(1).

(b) These sales are small sales not requiring approval by the board of natural resources and have low volume and low acreage. DNR has not extended this determination to sales requiring approval by the board of natural resources because of the public values associated with public lands. However, this determination is not intended to alter DNR's SEPA compliance responsibility for regulatory decisions concerning forest practice applications for state and private lands under RCW 76.09.050 and WAC 222-16-050.