Regulatory Prescription to create healthy forests and a healthy economy Rep. Richard DeBolt, Washington State Legislature
Timber and Washington’s Economy Forest products manufacturing is the second largest sector in the state. Forest products manufacturing account for more than 15% of total manufacturing income in the state. Employment in the logging, wood product & paper product sectors has been in decline. Unemployment in timber dependent counties remains higher than in urban counties
Timber and Washington’s Economy
Timber Industry Employment – 1990 to present
Timber and Washington’s Economy
Forestland Ownership
Timber and Washington’s Economy
Volume of Timber Harvested by Ownership FY 2002 In millions of board feed While the federal government manages 43.6% of the timberlands, only 2% of the timber harvested comes from federal forestlands.
Timber and Washington’s Economy
Statewide Washington Harvests Total Hardwoods
Timber and Washington’s Economy
Forest Products Gross Business Income Trends
Timber and Washington’s Economy
Timber Industry Regulations in Washington Hydraulics Code GuidelinesWDFW National Environmental Policy ActEPA Federal Clean Air ActEPA Wash. Clean Air ActDNR/DOE State Environmental Policy ActDOE State Shorelines Management ActDOE Wash. Pesticide Control ActWSDA Insecticide, Fungicide & Rodenticide ActEPA Federal Clean Water ActEPA State Water Pollution Control ActDOE Federal Endangered Species ActUSFW/NMFS State Forest Practices ActDNR 1997 Habitat Conservation Agreement with Feds 1999 Forest & Fish LawDNR Forest practices rules have been amended and strengthened thirteen times since they were implemented in 1975.
Timber and Washington’s Economy
Impact of environmental regulations Deterioration of forest health Higher costs to taxpayer Fire suppression Lost revenue for trust beneficiaries Lost revenue for local government Higher risk of fire damage to public and private property
Timber and Washington’s Economy
Prescription for a healthier forest Recent Legislative Efforts to Improve Forest Health Changes to the Forest & Fish Law Stormwater fees on timberlands prohibited Contract harvesting program implemented Statewide forest health legislation
Prescription for a healthier forest DNRs new preferred alternative plan 10-year plan Increase in sustained yield Increase in net revenue Precommercial thinning in riparian areas (mainly where hardwoods exist) No management in riparian areas other than road access Adoption expected this summer
Outlook for timber harvest (DNR preferred alternative)
Prescription for a healthier forest Streamline the environmental appeals process Improve accountability in rulemaking Expand “contract harvesting” Provide emergency powers to remove of fuel loads in conservation areas Allow more flexibility for harvesting of hardwoods in riparian areas.
Prescription for a healthier forest Fully fund the Forest Riparian Easement Program to compensate landowners Review Forest Practices Act to determine if desired outcomes are being achieved Verify federal acceptance of Forest & Fish law by June Revisit and revise Forest & Fish Law to resolve unintended consequences
Regulatory Prescription to create healthy forests and a healthy economy Rep. Richard DeBolt, Washington State Legislature