RULE-MAKING ORDER CR-103 (June 2004) (Implements RCW …

RULE-MAKING ORDER CR-103 (June 2004)

(Implements RCW 34.05.360) Agency: Forest Practices Board

Permanent Rule Emergency Rule

Effective date of rule: Permanent Rules

31 days after filing. Other (specify) (If less than 31 days after filing, a

specific finding under RCW 34.05.380(3) is required and should be stated below)

Effective date of rule: Emergency Rules

Immediately upon filing. Later (specify)

Any other findings required by other provisions of law as precondition to adoption or effectiveness of rule? Yes No If Yes, explain: Purpose: Authorize the Department of Natural Resources to grant approvals of small forest landowners’ applications for terms of up to 15 years. Citation of existing rules affected by this order: Repealed: None Amended: WACs 222-12-030, 222-12-0401, 222-12-0402, 222-16-010, 222-16-050, 222-20-010, 222-20-015, 222-20-020, 222-20-030, 222-20-040, 222-20-050, 222-20-060, 222-20-080, 222-20-100, 222-20-120 Suspended: None Statutory authority for adoption: RCW 76.09.040, RCW 76.09.010(2)(d) Other authority : PERMANENT RULE ONLY (Including Expedited Rule Making)

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 07-14-039 on June 27, 2007. Describe any changes other than editing from proposed to adopted version:

1) The proposed amendment to WAC 222-12-090(18) was not adopted. The amendment would have replaced one of the listed Board Manual sections with a Board manual to guide small forest landowners in developing long-term applications. The guidance will instead be published in the form of a brochure and other informational documents.

2) The Board adopted additional language to make sure it’s understood that small forest landowner applications may be classified Class III and Class IV (except conversions to a use other then commercial timber production).

If a preliminary cost-benefit analysis was prepared under RCW 34.05.328, a final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting:

Name: Gretchen Robinson Address: PO Box 47012, Olympia, WA 98504-7012

phone (360) 902-1705 fax (360) 902-1428 e-mail [email protected]

EMERGENCY RULE ONLY Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds: That immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest. That state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.

Reasons for this finding: Date adopted: September 11, 2007

NAME (TYPE OR PRINT) Victoria Christiansen

SIGNATURE

TITLE Chair

CODE REVISER USE ONLY

(COMPLETE REVERSE SIDE)

Note: If any category is left blank, it will be calculated as zero.

No descriptive text.

Count by whole WAC sections only, from the WAC number through the history note. A section may be counted in more than one category.

The number of sections adopted in order to comply with:

Federal statute: New Amended Repealed Federal rules or standards: New Amended Repealed

Recently enacted state statutes: New Amended Repealed

The number of sections adopted at the request of a nongovernmental entity:

New 2 Amended __ Repealed __ The number of sections adopted in the agency’s own initiative:

New __ Amended 15 Repealed __ The number of sections adopted in order to clarify, streamline, or reform agency procedures:

New Amended 8 Repealed The number of sections adopted using:

Negotiated rule making: New Amended Repealed Pilot rule making: New Amended Repealed

Other alternative rule making: New 2 Amended 15 Repealed

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AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 01-12-042, filed 5/30/01,effective 7/1/01)

WAC 222-12-030 ((Classes of forest practices.)) Applicationinformation and classes of forest practices. Forest practices aredivided into four classes as specified by RCW 76.09.050((. Incertain emergencies, as defined in RCW 76.09.060(7), theapplication or notification may be submitted within 48 hours aftercommencement of the practice.)) and described in WAC 222-16-050.Review periods and application and notification requirements differas follows:

(1) Class I forest practices require no application ornotification, but do require compliance with all other forestpractices rules.

(2) Class II forest practices require a notification to thedepartment, and may begin ((5)) five calendar days (or such lessertime as the department may determine) after receipt of a completenotification by the department.

(3) Class III forest practices must be approved or disapprovedwithin ((30)) thirty or fewer calendar days of receipt of ((an)) acomplete application by the department. The department is directedto approve or disapprove within ((14)) fourteen calendar days ClassIII applications not requiring additional field review. Exceptionsare:

(a) Multiyear applications must be approved or disapprovedwithin ((45)) forty-five days of receipt of ((an)) a completeapplication by the department.

(b) Small forest landowner long-term applications are reviewedin two steps as described in WAC 222-20-016.

(4) Class IV forest practices are divided into "Class IV -special," and "Class IV - general," and must be approved ordisapproved within ((30)) thirty calendar days of receipt of ((an))a complete application by the department((, except that if adetailed environmental statement is necessary, additional time forapproval or disapproval as specified in RCW 76.09.050 will berequired)). Exceptions are:

(a) Small forest landowner long-term applications are reviewedin two steps as described in WAC 222-20-016.

(b) If a detailed environmental statement is necessary,additional time for approval or disapproval as specified in RCW76.09.050 will be required.

(5) In certain emergencies as defined in RCW 7.09.060(7), theapplication or notification may be submitted within forty-eighthours after commencement of the practice.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 222-12-035 .*Small forest landowner long-termapplications. In order to facilitate flexibility for small forestlandowners in the timing of their forest practices activities, thedepartment will receive, and approve or disapprove, long-termforest practices applications. Small forest landowners as definedin WAC 222-21-010(13) are eligible to submit long-term applicationsunless proposing a conversion to a use other than commercial timberproduction. An approved long-term application will be effectivefor a term of three to fifteen years at the discretion of thelandowner. These applications may contain alternate plans for allor portions of the forest land area included in the long-termapplication. Alternate plan portions of long-term applicationswill be reviewed according to the alternate plan process describedin WAC 222-12-0401. The process for small forest landowner long-term applications is described in WAC 222-20-016.


WAC 222-12-0401 .*Alternate plans--Process. (1) Application.A landowner may submit an alternate plan that departs from thespecific provisions of chapters 222-22 through 222-38 WAC for anyor all of the activities described in the application. Alternateplans must be submitted with ((either)) a two-year ((or)),multiyear, or small forest landowner long-term application.Alternate plans may support a single forest practices applicationor multiple applications if the sites included in the plan havesufficient common physical characteristics and elements to justifybeing considered together. See board manual section 21.

(2) Plan preparation. The landowner is responsible forpreparing and submitting an alternate plan. Small forestlandowners may wish to seek the assistance of the small forestlandowner office. See WAC 222-12-0402.

(3) Contents of alternate plans. Alternate plans must containall of the following:

(a) A map of the area covered, at a scale acceptable to thedepartment showing the location of any affected streams and otherwaters, wetlands, unstable slopes, and existing roads. The mapmust also show the location of proposed road construction, timberharvest, and other forest practices;

(b) A description of how the alternate plan provides publicresource protection to meet the approval standard, including adescription of the proposed alternate management strategy,prescriptions, and where applicable, aquatic resource enhancements;

(c) A list of the forest practices rules that the alternatemanagement plan is intended to replace;

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(d) Where applicable, descriptions of monitoring and adaptivemanagement strategies, including landowner plans for annualperformance reviews;

(e) Where applicable, descriptions of an implementationschedule; and

(f) When multiple forest practices applications are submittedwith the same alternate plan or when an alternate plan has beenused for previous applications, justification that the sitesincluded in the plan share sufficient common physicalcharacteristics and elements to be considered together.

(4) Review of proposed plan. Upon receipt of a forestpractices application together with an alternate plan, thedepartment will do all of the following:

(a) Appoint an interdisciplinary team.(b) Establish a deadline for completion of the

interdisciplinary team review that is consistent with therequirements of subsection (5) of this rule; and

(c) Within ((5)) five business days of receipt of anapplication with an alternate plan, provide copies of theapplication and alternate plan to the departments of ecology andfish and wildlife, affected Indian tribes, the National MarineFisheries Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, andother parties that have expressed an interest in alternate plans inthe area of the application. If the landowner is a small forestlandowner under WAC 222-21-010(((11))) (13), copies should also beprovided to the small forest landowners office.

(5) Interdisciplinary team.(a) The department will determine the members invited to

participate on an interdisciplinary team. Teams will includemembers with the qualifications necessary to evaluate the alternateplan. A representative of any affected Indian tribe, anddepartments of ecology and fish and wildlife will be invited toparticipate. Each team will include a representative of thelandowner and a professional forester employed by the departmentand shall be led by a department employee.

(b) The interdisciplinary team will conduct a site visit andsubmit a recommendation to the department at least ((3)) three daysprior to the expiration of the application time limit in WAC 222-20-020. The interdisciplinary team may submit a recommendationwithout a site visit if a small forest landowner under WAC 222-21-010(((11))) (13) submitted the alternate plan using a templatecontained in ((the)) board manual section 21 and is a low impactalternate plan and the team determines a visit is not necessary toevaluate the site specific application of a template or a lowimpact alternate plan.

(c) The recommendation of the interdisciplinary team shallindicate whether the alternate plan meets the approval standard, orwhat revisions are necessary to meet the approval standard. Theteam is intended to work with the landowner in an attempt to reachconsensus on the efficacy of the alternate plan. In the absence ofconsensus, the team will forward reports reflecting the majorityand minority opinions, or the landowner may elect to withdraw or

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revise the proposal.(6) Approval standard. An alternate plan must provide

protection for public resources at least equal in overalleffectiveness to the protection provided in the act and rules.

(7) Approval, conditions, or disapproval. Upon receipt of theinterdisciplinary team's recommendation, the department shalldetermine whether to approve, disapprove, or condition theapplication based on the approval standard. The department shallgive substantial weight to the recommendations of theinterdisciplinary team in cases where a consensus recommendation isforwarded. If the department disapproves or conditions a forestpractices application with an alternate plan, the department willprovide a written statement to the landowner explaining why theapplication was conditioned or denied.


WAC 222-12-0402 .*Assistance available for small forestlandowners. (1) The small forest landowner office has beenestablished within the department to be a resource and focal pointfor small forest landowner concerns and policies. A small forestlandowner is defined in WAC 222-21-010(((11))) (13). Thelegislature recognized that the further reduction in harvestabletimber owned by small forest landowners would further erode smallforest landowner's economic viability and willingness or ability tokeep the lands in forestry use, and, therefore, reduced the amountof habitat available for salmon recovery and conservation of otheraquatic resources. The legislature has directed that office toassist small forest landowners in preparing alternate plansappropriate to small forest landowners. See RCW 76.13.100 and76.13.110(3).

(2) Small forest landowners interested in alternate plans areencouraged to contact the small forest landowner office forassistance in preparing an alternate plan. The office may providetechnical assistance in understanding and using ((the)) boardmanual section 21 for alternate plans (((section 21))), assistancein developing an individualized alternate plan for the small forestlandowner and facilitation of small forest landowner interactionswith the department, other state agencies, federal agencies,affected Indian tribes and the interdisciplinary team that mayreview the small forest landowner's alternate plan.

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WAC 222-16-010 .*General definitions. Unless otherwiserequired by context, as used in these rules:

"Act" means the Forest Practices Act, chapter 76.09 RCW."Affected Indian tribe" means any federally recognized Indian

tribe that requests in writing from the department information onforest practices applications and notification filed on specifiedareas.

"Alluvial fan" see "sensitive sites" definition."Appeals board" means the forest practices appeals board

established in the act."Aquatic resources" means water quality, fish, the Columbia

torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton kezeri), the Cascade torrentsalamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae), the Olympic torrent salamander(Rhyacotriton olympian), the Dunn's salamander (Plethodon dunni),the Van Dyke's salamander (Plethodon vandyke), the tailed frog(Ascaphus truei) and their respective habitats.

"Area of resource sensitivity" means areas identified inaccordance with WAC 222-22-050 (2)(d) or 222-22-060(2).

"Bankfull depth" means the average vertical distance betweenthe channel bed and the estimated water surface elevation requiredto completely fill the channel to a point above which water wouldenter the flood plain or intersect a terrace or hillslope. Incases where multiple channels exist, the bankfull depth is theaverage depth of all channels along the cross-section. (See boardmanual section 2.)

"Bankfull width" means:(a) For streams - the measurement of the lateral extent of the

water surface elevation perpendicular to the channel at bankfulldepth. In cases where multiple channels exist, bankfull width isthe sum of the individual channel widths along the cross-section(see board manual section 2).

(b) For lakes, ponds, and impoundments - line of mean highwater.

(c) For tidal water - line of mean high tide.(d) For periodically inundated areas of associated wetlands -

line of periodic inundation, which will be found by examining theedge of inundation to ascertain where the presence and action ofwaters are so common and usual, and so long continued in allordinary years, as to mark upon the soil a character distinct fromthat of the abutting upland.

"Basal area" means the area in square feet of the crosssection of a tree bole measured at 4 1/2 feet above the ground.

"Bedrock hollows" (colluvium-filled bedrock hollows, orhollows; also referred to as zero-order basins, swales, or bedrock

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depressions) means landforms that are commonly spoon-shaped areasof convergent topography within unchannelled valleys on hillslopes.(See board manual section 16 for identification criteria.)

"Board" means the forest practices board established by theact.

"Bog" means wetlands which have the following characteristics:Hydric organic soils (peat and/or muck) typically 16 inches or morein depth (except over bedrock or hardpan); and vegetation such assphagnum moss, Labrador tea, bog laurel, bog rosemary, sundews, andsedges; bogs may have an overstory of spruce, western hemlock,lodgepole pine, western red cedar, western white pine, Oregoncrabapple, or quaking aspen, and may be associated with open water.This includes nutrient-poor fens. (See board manual section 8.)

"Borrow pit" means an excavation site outside the limits ofconstruction to provide material necessary to that construction,such as fill material for the embankments.

"Bull trout habitat overlay" means those portions of EasternWashington streams containing bull trout habitat as identified onthe department of fish and wildlife's bull trout map. Prior to thedevelopment of a bull trout field protocol and the habitat-basedpredictive model, the "bull trout habitat overlay" map may bemodified to allow for locally-based corrections using current data,field knowledge, and best professional judgment. A landowner maymeet with the departments of natural resources, fish and wildlifeand, in consultation with affected tribes and federal biologists,determine whether certain stream reaches have habitat conditionsthat are unsuitable for supporting bull trout. If such adetermination is mutually agreed upon, documentation submitted tothe department will result in the applicable stream reaches nolonger being included within the definition of bull trout habitatoverlay. Conversely, if suitable bull trout habitat is discoveredoutside the current mapped range, those waters will be includedwithin the definition of "bull trout habitat overlay" by a similarprocess.

Bull Trout Overlay Map

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"Channel migration zone (CMZ)" means the area where the activechannel of a stream is prone to move and this results in apotential near-term loss of riparian function and associatedhabitat adjacent to the stream, except as modified by a permanentlevee or dike. For this purpose, near-term means the time scalerequired to grow a mature forest. (See board manual section 2 fordescriptions and illustrations of CMZs and delineation guidelines.)

"Chemicals" means substances applied to forest lands or timberincluding pesticides, fertilizers, and other forest chemicals.

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"Clearcut" means a harvest method in which the entire stand oftrees is removed in one timber harvesting operation. Except asprovided in WAC 222-30-110, an area remains clearcut until:

It meets the minimum stocking requirements under WAC 222-34-010(2) or 222-34-020(2); and

The largest trees qualifying for the minimum stocking levelshave survived on the area for five growing seasons or, if not, theyhave reached an average height of four feet.

"Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area or CRGNSA" meansthe area established pursuant to the Columbia River Gorge NationalScenic Area Act, 16 U.S.C. § 544b(a).

"CRGNSA special management area" means the areas designated inthe Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act, 16 U.S.C. §544b(b) or revised pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 544b(c). For purposesof this rule, the special management area shall not include anyparcels excluded by 16 U.S.C. § 544f(o).

"CRGNSA special management area guidelines" means theguidelines and land use designations for forest practices developedpursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 544f contained in the CRGNSA managementplan developed pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 544d.

"Commercial tree species" means any species which is capableof producing a merchantable stand of timber on the particular site,or which is being grown as part of a Christmas tree or ornamentaltree-growing operation.

"Completion of harvest" means the latest of:Completion of removal of timber from the portions of forest

lands harvested in the smallest logical unit that will not bedisturbed by continued logging or an approved slash disposal planfor adjacent areas; or

Scheduled completion of any slash disposal operations wherethe department and the applicant agree within 6 months ofcompletion of yarding that slash disposal is necessary or desirableto facilitate reforestation and agree to a time schedule for suchslash disposal; or

Scheduled completion of any site preparation or rehabilitationof adjoining lands approved at the time of approval of theapplication or receipt of a notification: Provided, That delay ofreforestation under this paragraph is permitted only to the extentreforestation would prevent or unreasonably hinder such sitepreparation or rehabilitation of adjoining lands.

"Constructed wetlands" means those wetlands voluntarilydeveloped by the landowner. Constructed wetlands do not includewetlands created, restored, or enhanced as part of a mitigationprocedure or wetlands inadvertently created as a result of currentor past practices including, but not limited to: Roadconstruction, landing construction, railroad construction, orsurface mining.

"Contamination" means introducing into the atmosphere, soil,or water, sufficient quantities of substances as may be injuriousto public health, safety or welfare, or to domestic, commercial,industrial, agriculture or recreational uses, or to livestock,wildlife, fish or other aquatic life.

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"Convergent headwalls" (or headwalls) means teardrop-shapedlandforms, broad at the ridgetop and terminating where headwatersconverge into a single channel; they are broadly concave bothlongitudinally and across the slope, but may contain sharp ridgesseparating the headwater channels. (See board manual section 16for identification criteria.)

"Conversion option harvest plan" means a voluntary plandeveloped by the landowner and approved by the local governmentalentity indicating the limits of harvest areas, road locations, andopen space.

"Conversion to a use other than commercial timber operation"means a bona fide conversion to an active use which is incompatiblewith timber growing.

"Cooperative habitat enhancement agreement (CHEA)" see WAC222-16-105.

"Critical habitat (federal)" means the habitat of anythreatened or endangered species designated as critical habitat bythe United States Secretary of the Interior or Commerce underSections 3 (5)(A) and 4 (a)(3) of the Federal Endangered SpeciesAct.

"Critical nesting season" means for marbled murrelets - April1 to August 31.

"Critical habitat (state)" means those habitats designated bythe board in accordance with WAC 222-16-080.

"Cultural resources" means archaeological and historic sitesand artifacts, and traditional religious, ceremonial and socialuses and activities of affected Indian tribes.

"Cumulative effects" means the changes to the environmentcaused by the interaction of natural ecosystem processes with theeffects of two or more forest practices.

"Daily peak activity" means for marbled murrelets - one hourbefore official sunrise to two hours after official sunrise and onehour before official sunset to one hour after official sunset.

"Debris" means woody vegetative residue less than 3 cubic feetin size resulting from forest practices activities which wouldreasonably be expected to cause significant damage to a publicresource.

"Deep-seated landslides" means landslides in which most of thearea of the slide plane or zone lies below the maximum rootingdepth of forest trees, to depths of tens to hundreds of feet. (Seeboard manual section 16 for identification criteria.)

"Demographic support" means providing sufficient suitablespotted owl habitat within the SOSEA to maintain the viability ofnorthern spotted owl sites identified as necessary to meet theSOSEA goals.

"Department" means the department of natural resources."Desired future condition (DFC)" is a reference point on a

pathway and not an endpoint for stands. DFC means the standconditions of a mature riparian forest at 140 years of age, themidpoint between 80 and 200 years. Where basal area is the onlystand attribute used to describe 140-year old stands, these arereferred to as the "Target Basal Area."

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"Diameter at breast height (dbh)" means the diameter of a treeat 4 1/2 feet above the ground measured from the uphill side.

"Dispersal habitat" see WAC 222-16-085(2)."Dispersal support" means providing sufficient dispersal

habitat for the interchange of northern spotted owls within oracross the SOSEA, as necessary to meet SOSEA goals. Dispersalsupport is provided by a landscape consisting of stands ofdispersal habitat interspersed with areas of higher qualityhabitat, such as suitable spotted owl habitat found within RMZs,WMZs or other required and voluntary leave areas.

"Drainage structure" means a construction technique or featurethat is built to relieve surface runoff and/or intercepted groundwater from roadside ditches to prevent excessive buildup in watervolume and velocity. A drainage structure is not intended to carryany typed water. Drainage structures include structures such as:Cross drains, relief culverts, ditch diversions, water bars, orother such structures demonstrated to be equally effective.

"Eastern Washington" means the geographic area in Washingtoneast of the crest of the Cascade Mountains from the internationalborder to the top of Mt. Adams, then east of the ridge linedividing the White Salmon River drainage from the Lewis Riverdrainage and east of the ridge line dividing the Little WhiteSalmon River drainage from the Wind River drainage to theWashington-Oregon state line.

Eastern Washington Definition Map

"Eastern Washington timber habitat types" means elevationranges associated with tree species assigned for the purpose ofriparian management according to the following:

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Timber Habitat Types Elevation Rangesponderosa pine 0 - 2500 feetmixed conifer 2501 - 5000 feethigh elevation above 5000 feet

"Edge" of any water means the outer edge of the water'sbankfull width or, where applicable, the outer edge of theassociated channel migration zone.

"End hauling" means the removal and transportation ofexcavated material, pit or quarry overburden, or landing or roadcut material from the excavation site to a deposit site notadjacent to the point of removal.

"Equipment limitation zone" means a 30-foot wide zone measuredhorizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width of a Type Npor Ns Water. It applies to all perennial and seasonal nonfishbearing streams.

"Erodible soils" means those soils that, when exposed ordisplaced by a forest practices operation, would be readily movedby water.

"Even-aged harvest methods" means the following harvestmethods:

Clearcuts;Seed tree harvests in which twenty or fewer trees per acre

remain after harvest;Shelterwood regeneration harvests in which twenty or fewer

trees per acre remain after harvest;Group or strip shelterwood harvests creating openings wider

than two tree heights, based on dominant trees;Shelterwood removal harvests which leave fewer than one

hundred fifty trees per acre which are at least five years old orfour feet in average height;

Partial cutting in which fewer than fifty trees per acreremain after harvest;

Overstory removal when more than five thousand board feet peracre is removed and fewer than fifty trees per acre at least tenfeet in height remain after harvest; and

Other harvesting methods designed to manage for multiple ageclasses in which six or fewer trees per acre remain after harvest.

Except as provided above for shelterwood removal harvests andoverstory removal, trees counted as remaining after harvest shallbe at least ten inches in diameter at breast height and have atleast the top one-third of the stem supporting green, live crowns.Except as provided in WAC 222-30-110, an area remains harvested byeven-aged methods until it meets the minimum stocking requirementsunder WAC 222-34-010(2) or 222-34-020(2) and the largest treesqualifying for the minimum stocking levels have survived on thearea for five growing seasons or, if not, they have reached anaverage height of four feet.

"Fen" means wetlands which have the following characteristics:Peat soils 16 inches or more in depth (except over bedrock); andvegetation such as certain sedges, hardstem bulrush and cattails;fens may have an overstory of spruce and may be associated with

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open water."Fertilizers" means any substance or any combination or

mixture of substances used principally as a source of plant food orsoil amendment.

"Fill" means the placement of earth material or aggregate forroad or landing construction or other similar activities.

"Fish" means for purposes of these rules, species of thevertebrate taxonomic groups of Cephalospidomorphi and Osteichthyes.

"Fish habitat" means habitat, which is used by fish at anylife stage at any time of the year including potential habitatlikely to be used by fish, which could be recovered by restorationor management and includes off-channel habitat.

"Fish passage barrier" means any artificial in-streamstructure that impedes the free passage of fish.

"Flood level - 100 year" means a calculated flood event flowbased on an engineering computation of flood magnitude that has a1 percent chance of occurring in any given year. For purposes offield interpretation, landowners may use the following methods:

Flow information from gauging stations;Field estimate of water level based on guidance for

"Determining the 100-Year Flood Level" in the forest practicesboard manual section 2.

The 100-year flood level shall not include those lands thatcan reasonably be expected to be protected from flood waters byflood control devices maintained by or under license from thefederal government, the state, or a political subdivision of thestate.

"Forest land" means all land which is capable of supporting amerchantable stand of timber and is not being actively used for ause which is incompatible with timber growing. Forest land doesnot include agricultural land that is or was enrolled in theconservation reserve enhancement program by contract if suchagricultural land was historically used for agricultural purposesand the landowner intends to continue to use the land foragricultural purposes in the future. For small forest landownerroad maintenance and abandonment planning only, the term "forestland" excludes the following:

(a) Residential home sites. A residential home site may be upto five acres in size, and must have an existing structure in useas a residence;

(b) Cropfields, orchards, vineyards, pastures, feedlots, fishpens, and the land on which appurtenances necessary to theproduction, preparation, or sale of crops, fruit, dairy products,fish, and livestock exist.

"Forest landowner" means any person in actual control offorest land, whether such control is based either on legal orequitable title, or on any other interest entitling the holder tosell or otherwise dispose of any or all of the timber on such landin any manner. However, any lessee or other person in possessionof forest land without legal or equitable title to such land shallbe excluded from the definition of "forest landowner" unless suchlessee or other person has the right to sell or otherwise dispose

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of any or all of the timber located on such forest land. Thefollowing definitions apply only to road maintenance andabandonment planning:

(1) "Large forest landowner" is a forest landowner who is nota small forest landowner.

(2) "Small forest landowner" is a forest landowner who at thetime of submitting a forest practices application or notificationmeets all of the following conditions:

! Has an average annual timber harvest level of two millionboard feet or less from their own forest lands in Washington state;

! Did not exceed this annual average harvest level in thethree year period before submitting a forest practices applicationor notification;

! Certifies to the department that they will not exceed thisannual harvest level in the ten years after submitting the forestpractices application or notification.

However, the department will agree that an applicant is asmall forest landowner if the landowner can demonstrate that theharvest levels were exceeded in order to raise funds to pay estatetaxes or to meet equally compelling and unexpected obligations suchas court-ordered judgments and extraordinary medical expenses.

"Forest practice" means any activity conducted on or directlypertaining to forest land and relating to growing, harvesting, orprocessing timber, including but not limited to:

Road and trail construction;Harvesting, final and intermediate;Precommercial thinning;Reforestation;Fertilization;Prevention and suppression of diseases and insects;Salvage of trees; andBrush control."Forest practice" shall not include: Forest species seed

orchard operations and intensive forest nursery operations; orpreparatory work such as tree marking, surveying and road flagging;or removal or harvest of incidental vegetation from forest landssuch as berries, ferns, greenery, mistletoe, herbs, mushrooms, andother products which cannot normally be expected to result indamage to forest soils, timber or public resources.

"Forest road" means ways, lanes, roads, or driveways on forestland used since 1974 for forest practices. "Forest road" does notinclude skid trails, highways, or local government roads exceptwhere the local governmental entity is a forest landowner. Forroad maintenance and abandonment planning purposes only, "forestroad" does not include forest roads used exclusively forresidential access located on a small forest landowner's forestland.

"Forest trees" does not include hardwood trees cultivated byagricultural methods in growing cycles shorter than 15 years if thetrees were planted on land that was not in forest use immediatelybefore the trees were planted and before the land was prepared forplanting the trees. "Forest trees" includes Christmas trees but

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does not include Christmas trees that are cultivated byagricultural methods, as that term is defined in RCW 84.33.035.

"Full bench road" means a road constructed on a side hillwithout using any of the material removed from the hillside as apart of the road. This construction technique is usually used onsteep or unstable slopes.

"Green recruitment trees" means those trees left after harvestfor the purpose of becoming future wildlife reserve trees under WAC222-30-020(11).

"Ground water recharge areas for glacial deep-seated slides"means the area upgradient that can contribute water to thelandslide, assuming that there is an impermeable perching layer inor under a deep-seated landslide in glacial deposits. (See boardmanual section 16 for identification criteria.)

"Headwater spring" means a permanent spring at the head of aperennial channel. Where a headwater spring can be found, it willcoincide with the uppermost extent of Type Np Water.

"Herbicide" means any substance or mixture of substancesintended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any tree, bush,weed or algae and other aquatic weeds.

"Historic site" includes:Sites, areas and structures or other evidence of human

activities illustrative of the origins, evolution and developmentof the nation, state or locality; or

Places associated with a personality important in history; orPlaces where significant historical events are known to have

occurred even though no physical evidence of the event remains."Horizontal distance" means the distance between two points

measured at a ((0%)) zero percent slope."Hyporheic" means an area adjacent to and below channels where

interstitial water is exchanged with channel water and watermovement is mainly in the downstream direction.

"Identified watershed processes" means the followingcomponents of natural ecological processes that may in someinstances be altered by forest practices in a watershed:

Mass wasting;Surface and road erosion;Seasonal flows including hydrologic peak and low flows and

annual yields (volume and timing);Large organic debris;Shading; andStream bank and bed stability."Inner gorges" means canyons created by a combination of the

downcutting action of a stream and mass movement on the slopewalls; they commonly show evidence of recent movement, such asobvious landslides, vertical tracks of disturbance vegetation, orareas that are concave in contour and/or profile. (See boardmanual section 16 for identification criteria.)

"Insecticide" means any substance or mixture of substancesintended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any insect, otherarthropods or mollusk pests.

"Interdisciplinary team" (ID Team) means a group of varying

[ 11 ] OTS-9824.2

size comprised of individuals having specialized expertise,assembled by the department to respond to technical questionsassociated with a proposed forest practices activity.

"Islands" means any island surrounded by salt water in Kitsap,Mason, Jefferson, Pierce, King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island,or San Juan counties.

"Limits of construction" means the area occupied by thecompleted roadway or landing, including the cut bank, fill slope,and the area cleared for the purpose of constructing the roadway orlanding.

"Load bearing portion" means that part of the road, landing,etc., which is supportive soil, earth, rock or other materialdirectly below the working surface and only the associated earthstructure necessary for support.

"Local governmental entity" means the governments of countiesand the governments of cities and towns as defined in chapter 35.01RCW.

"Low impact harvest" means use of any logging equipment,methods, or systems that minimize compaction or disturbance ofsoils and vegetation during the yarding process. The departmentshall determine such equipment, methods or systems in consultationwith the department of ecology.

"Marbled murrelet detection area" means an area of landassociated with a visual or audible detection of a marbledmurrelet, made by a qualified surveyor which is documented andrecorded in the department of fish and wildlife data base. Themarbled murrelet detection area shall be comprised of the sectionof land in which the marbled murrelet detection was made and theeight sections of land immediately adjacent to that section.

"Marbled murrelet nesting platform" means any horizontal treestructure such as a limb, an area where a limb branches, a surfacecreated by multiple leaders, a deformity, or a debris/moss platformor stick nest equal to or greater than 7 inches in diameterincluding associated moss if present, that is 50 feet or more abovethe ground in trees 32 inches dbh and greater (generally over 90years of age) and is capable of supporting nesting by marbledmurrelets.

"Median home range circle" means a circle, with a specifiedradius, centered on a spotted owl site center. The radius for themedian home range circle in the Hoh-Clearwater/Coastal Link SOSEAis 2.7 miles; for all other SOSEAs the radius is 1.8 miles.

"Merchantable stand of timber" means a stand of trees thatwill yield logs and/or fiber:

Suitable in size and quality for the production of lumber,plywood, pulp or other forest products;

[ 12 ] OTS-9824.2

Of sufficient value at least to cover all the costs of harvestand transportation to available markets.

"Multiyear permit" means a permit to conduct forest practiceswhich is effective for longer than two years but no longer thanfive years.

"Northern spotted owl site center" means:(1) Until June 30, 2007, the location of northern spotted

owls:(a) Recorded by the department of fish and wildlife as status

1, 2 or 3 as of November 1, 2005; or(b) Newly discovered, and recorded by the department of fish

and wildlife as status 1, 2 or 3 after November 1, 2005.(2) After June 30, 2007, the location of status 1, 2 or 3

northern spotted owls based on the following definitions:

Status 1: Pair or reproductive - a male and female heardand/or observed in close proximity to each other onthe same visit, a female detected on a nest, or oneor both adults observed with young.

Status 2: Two birds, pair status unknown - the presence orresponse of two birds of opposite sex where pairstatus cannot be determined and where at least onemember meets the resident territorial singlerequirements.

Status 3: Resident territorial single - the presence orresponse of a single owl within the same generalarea on three or more occasions within a breedingseason with no response by an owl of the oppositesex after a complete survey; or three or moreresponses over several years (i.e., two responsesin year one and one response in year two, for thesame general area).

In determining the existence, location, and status of northernspotted owl site centers, the department shall consult with thedepartment of fish and wildlife and use only those sites documentedin substantial compliance with guidelines or protocols and qualitycontrol methods established by and available from the department offish and wildlife.

"Notice to comply" means a notice issued by the departmentpursuant to RCW 76.09.090 of the act and may require initiationand/or completion of action necessary to prevent, correct and/orcompensate for material damage to public resources which resultedfrom forest practices.

"Occupied marbled murrelet site" means:(1) A contiguous area of suitable marbled murrelet habitat

where at least one of the following marbled murrelet behaviors orconditions occur:

(a) A nest is located; or(b) Downy chicks or eggs or egg shells are found; or(c) Marbled murrelets are detected flying below, through, into

or out of the forest canopy; or(d) Birds calling from a stationary location within the area;

[ 13 ] OTS-9824.2

or(e) Birds circling above a timber stand within one tree height

of the top of the canopy; or(2) A contiguous forested area, which does not meet the

definition of suitable marbled murrelet habitat, in which any ofthe behaviors or conditions listed above has been documented by thedepartment of fish and wildlife and which is distinguishable fromthe adjacent forest based on vegetative characteristics importantto nesting marbled murrelets.

(3) For sites defined in (1) and (2) above, the sites will bepresumed to be occupied based upon observation of circlingdescribed in (1)(e), unless a two-year survey following the 2003Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) protocol has been completed and anadditional third-year of survey following a method listed below iscompleted and none of the behaviors or conditions listed in (1)(a)through (d) of this definition are observed. The landowner maychoose one of the following methods for the third-year survey:

(a) Conduct a third-year survey with a minimum of nine visitsconducted in compliance with 2003 PSG protocol. If one or moremarbled murrelets are detected during any of these nine visits,three additional visits conducted in compliance with the protocolof the first nine visits shall be added to the third-year survey.Department of fish and wildlife shall be consulted prior toinitiating third-year surveys; or

(b) Conduct a third-year survey designed in consultation withthe department of fish and wildlife to meet site specificconditions.

(4) For sites defined in (1) above, the outer perimeter of theoccupied site shall be presumed to be the closer, measured from thepoint where the observed behaviors or conditions listed in (1)above occurred, of the following:

(a) 1.5 miles from the point where the observed behaviors orconditions listed in (1) above occurred; or

(b) The beginning of any gap greater than 300 feet widelacking one or more of the vegetative characteristics listed under"suitable marbled murrelet habitat"; or

(c) The beginning of any narrow area of "suitable marbledmurrelet habitat" less than 300 feet in width and more than 300feet in length.

(5) For sites defined under (2) above, the outer perimeter ofthe occupied site shall be presumed to be the closer, measured fromthe point where the observed behaviors or conditions listed in (1)above occurred, of the following:

(a) 1.5 miles from the point where the observed behaviors orconditions listed in (1) above occurred; or

(b) The beginning of any gap greater than 300 feet widelacking one or more of the distinguishing vegetativecharacteristics important to murrelets; or

(c) The beginning of any narrow area of suitable marbledmurrelet habitat, comparable to the area where the observedbehaviors or conditions listed in (1) above occurred, less than 300feet in width and more than 300 feet in length.

[ 14 ] OTS-9824.2

(6) In determining the existence, location and status ofoccupied marbled murrelet sites, the department shall consult withthe department of fish and wildlife and use only those sitesdocumented in substantial compliance with guidelines or protocolsand quality control methods established by and available from thedepartment of fish and wildlife.

"Old forest habitat" see WAC 222-16-085 (1)(a)."Operator" means any person engaging in forest practices

except an employee with wages as his/her sole compensation."Ordinary high-water mark" means the mark on the shores of all

waters, which will be found by examining the beds and banks andascertaining where the presence and action of waters are so commonand usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to markupon the soil a character distinct from that of the abuttingupland, in respect to vegetation: Provided, That in any area wherethe ordinary high-water mark cannot be found, the ordinary high-water mark adjoining saltwater shall be the line of mean high tideand the ordinary high-water mark adjoining freshwater shall be theline of mean high-water.

"Other forest chemicals" means fire retardants when used tocontrol burning (other than water), nontoxic repellents, oil, dust-control agents (other than water), salt, and other chemicals usedin forest management, except pesticides and fertilizers, that maypresent hazards to the environment.

"Park" means any park included on the parks registermaintained by the department pursuant to WAC 222-20-100(2).Developed park recreation area means any park area developed forhigh density outdoor recreation use.

"Partial cutting" means the removal of a portion of themerchantable volume in a stand of timber so as to leave an uneven-aged stand of well-distributed residual, healthy trees that willreasonably utilize the productivity of the soil. Partial cuttingdoes not include seedtree or shelterwood or other types ofregeneration cutting.

"Pesticide" means any insecticide, herbicide, fungicide, orrodenticide, but does not include nontoxic repellents or otherforest chemicals.

"Plantable area" is an area capable of supporting a commercialstand of timber excluding lands devoted to permanent roads, utilityrights of way, that portion of riparian management zones wherescarification is not permitted, and any other area devoted to a useincompatible with commercial timber growing.

"Power equipment" means all machinery operated with fuelburning or electrical motors, including heavy machinery, chainsaws, portable generators, pumps, and powered backpack devices.

"Preferred tree species" means the following species listed indescending order of priority for each timber habitat type:

Ponderosa pinehabitat type

Mixed coniferhabitat type

all hardwoods all hardwoodsponderosa pine western larch

Ponderosa pinehabitat type

Mixed coniferhabitat type

[ 15 ] OTS-9824.2

western larch ponderosa pineDouglas-fir western red cedarwestern red cedar western white pine

Douglas-firlodgepole pine

"Public resources" means water, fish, and wildlife and inaddition means capital improvements of the state or its politicalsubdivisions.

"Qualified surveyor" means an individual who has successfullycompleted the marbled murrelet field training course offered by thedepartment of fish and wildlife or its equivalent.

"Rehabilitation" means the act of renewing, or making usableand reforesting forest land which was poorly stocked or previouslynonstocked with commercial species.

"Resource characteristics" means the following specificmeasurable characteristics of fish, water, and capital improvementsof the state or its political subdivisions:

For fish and water:Physical fish habitat, including temperature and turbidity;Turbidity in hatchery water supplies; andTurbidity and volume for areas of water supply.For capital improvements of the state or its political

subdivisions:Physical or structural integrity.If the methodology is developed and added to the manual to

analyze the cumulative effects of forest practices on othercharacteristics of fish, water, and capital improvements of thestate or its subdivisions, the board shall amend this list toinclude these characteristics.

"Riparian function" includes bank stability, the recruitmentof woody debris, leaf litter fall, nutrients, sediment filtering,shade, and other riparian features that are important to bothriparian forest and aquatic system conditions.

"Riparian management zone (RMZ)" means:(1) For Western Washington(a) The area protected on each side of a Type S or F Water

measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width orthe outer edge of the CMZ, whichever is greater (see table below);and

Site ClassWestern Washington Total

RMZ WidthI 200'II 170'III 140'IV 110'V 90'

(b) The area protected on each side of Type Np Waters,

[ 16 ] OTS-9824.2

measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width.(See WAC 222-30-021(2).)

(2) For Eastern Washington(a) The area protected on each side of a Type S or F Water

measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width orthe outer edge of the CMZ, whichever is greater (see table below);and

Site ClassEastern Washington Total

RMZ WidthI 130'II 110'III 90' or 100'.*IV 75' or 100'.*V 75' or 100'.*

.* Dependent upon stream size. (See WAC 222-30-022.)

(b) The area protected on each side of Type Np Waters,measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width.(See WAC 222-30-022(2).)

(3) For exempt 20 acre parcels, a specified area alongsideType S and F Waters where specific measures are taken to protectwater quality and fish and wildlife habitat.

"RMZ core zone" means:(1) For Western Washington, the 50 foot buffer of a Type S or

F Water, measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfullwidth or the outer edge of the channel migration zone, whichever isgreater. (See WAC 222-30-021.)

(2) For Eastern Washington, the ((30)) thirty foot buffer ofa Type S or F Water, measured horizontally from the outer edge ofthe bankfull width or the outer edge of the channel migration zone,whichever is greater. (See WAC 222-30-022.)

"RMZ inner zone" means:(1) For Western Washington, the area measured horizontally

from the outer boundary of the core zone of a Type S or F Water tothe outer limit of the inner zone. The outer limit of the innerzone is determined based on the width of the affected water, siteclass and the management option chosen for timber harvest withinthe inner zone. (See WAC 222-30-021.)

(2) For Eastern Washington, the area measured horizontallyfrom the outer boundary of the core zone 45 feet (for streams lessthan 15 feet wide) or 70 feet (for streams more than 15 feet wide)from the outer boundary of the core zone. (See WAC 222-30-022.)

"RMZ outer zone" means the area measured horizontally betweenthe outer boundary of the inner zone and the RMZ width as specifiedin the riparian management zone definition above. RMZ width ismeasured from the outer edge of the bankfull width or the outeredge of the channel migration zone, whichever is greater. (See WAC222-30-021 and 222-30-022.)

"Road construction" means either of the following:(a) Establishing any new forest road;

[ 17 ] OTS-9824.2

(b) Road work located outside an existing forest road prism,except for road maintenance.

"Road maintenance" means either of the following:(a) All road work located within an existing forest road

prism;(b) Road work located outside an existing forest road prism

specifically related to maintaining water control, road safety, orvisibility, such as:

! Maintaining, replacing, and installing drainage structures;! Controlling road-side vegetation;! Abandoning forest roads according to the process outlined

in WAC 222-24-052(3)."Rodenticide" means any substance or mixture of substances

intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate rodents or anyother vertebrate animal which the director of the state departmentof agriculture may declare by regulation to be a pest.

"Salvage" means the removal of snags, down logs, windthrow, ordead and dying material.

"Scarification" means loosening the topsoil and/or disruptingthe forest floor in preparation for regeneration.

"Sensitive sites" are areas near or adjacent to Type Np Waterand have one or more of the following:

(1) Headwall seep is a seep located at the toe of a cliff orother steep topographical feature and at the head of a Type NpWater which connects to the stream channel network via overlandflow, and is characterized by loose substrate and/or fracturedbedrock with perennial water at or near the surface throughout theyear.

(2) Side-slope seep is a seep within 100 feet of a Type NpWater located on side-slopes which are greater than 20 percent,connected to the stream channel network via overland flow, andcharacterized by loose substrate and fractured bedrock, excludingmuck with perennial water at or near the surface throughout theyear. Water delivery to the Type Np channel is visible by someonestanding in or near the stream.

(3) Type Np intersection is the intersection of two or moreType Np Waters.

(4) Headwater spring means a permanent spring at the head ofa perennial channel. Where a headwater spring can be found, itwill coincide with the uppermost extent of Type Np Water.

(5) Alluvial fan means a depositional land form consisting ofcone-shaped deposit of water-borne, often coarse-sized sediments.

(a) The upstream end of the fan (cone apex) is typicallycharacterized by a distinct increase in channel width where astream emerges from a narrow valley;

(b) The downstream edge of the fan is defined as the sedimentconfluence with a higher order channel; and

(c) The lateral margins of a fan are characterized by distinctlocal changes in sediment elevation and often show disturbedvegetation.

Alluvial fan does not include features that were formed underclimatic or geologic conditions which are not currently present or

[ 18 ] OTS-9824.2

that are no longer dynamic."Shorelines of the state" shall have the same meaning as in

RCW 90.58.030 (Shoreline Management Act)."Side casting" means the act of moving excavated material to

the side and depositing such material within the limits ofconstruction or dumping over the side and outside the limits ofconstruction.

"Site class" means a grouping of site indices that are used todetermine the 50-year or 100-year site class. In order todetermine site class, the landowner will obtain the site classindex from the state soil survey, place it in the correct indexrange shown in the two tables provided in this definition, andselect the corresponding site class. The site class will thendrive the RMZ width. (See WAC 222-30-021 and 222-30-022.)

(1) For Western Washington

Site class50-year site index range

(state soil survey)I 137.+II 119-136III 97-118IV 76-96V <75

(2) For Eastern Washington

Site class

100-year siteindex range

(state soil survey)

50-year siteindex range

(state soil survey)I 120.+ 86.+II 101-120 72-85III 81-100 58-71IV 61-80 44-57V #60 <44

(3) For purposes of this definition, the site index at anylocation will be the site index reported by the Washington StateDepartment of Natural Resources State Soil Survey, (soil survey)and detailed in the associated forest soil summary sheets. If thesoil survey does not report a site index for the location orindicates noncommercial or marginal forest land, or the majorspecies table indicates red alder, the following apply:

(a) If the site index in the soil survey is for red alder, andthe whole RMZ width is within that site index, then use site classV. If the red alder site index is only for a portion of the RMZwidth, or there is on-site evidence that the site has historicallysupported conifer, then use the site class for conifer in the mostphysiographically similar adjacent soil polygon.

(b) In Western Washington, if no site index is reported in thesoil survey, use the site class for conifer in the mostphysiographically similar adjacent soil polygon.

(c) In Eastern Washington, if no site index is reported in thesoil survey, assume site class III, unless site specific

[ 19 ] OTS-9824.2

information indicates otherwise.(d) If the site index is noncommercial or marginally

commercial, then use site class V.See also section 7 of the board manual."Site preparation" means those activities associated with the

removal of slash in preparing a site for planting and shall includescarification and/or slash burning.

"Skid trail" means a route used by tracked or wheeled skiddersto move logs to a landing or road.

"Slash" means pieces of woody material containing more than 3cubic feet resulting from forest practices activities.

"Small forest landowner long-term application" means aproposal from a small forest landowner to conduct forest practicesactivities for terms of three to fifteen years. Small forestlandowners as defined in WAC 222-21-010(13) are eligible to submitlong-term applications.

"SOSEA goals" means the goals specified for a spotted owlspecial emphasis area as identified on the SOSEA maps (see WAC 222-16-086). SOSEA goals provide for demographic and/or dispersalsupport as necessary to complement the northern spotted owlprotection strategies on federal land within or adjacent to theSOSEA.

"Spoil" means excess material removed as overburden orgenerated during road or landing construction which is not usedwithin limits of construction.

"Spotted owl dispersal habitat" see WAC 222-16-085(2)."Spotted owl special emphasis areas (SOSEA)" means the

geographic areas as mapped in WAC 222-16-086. Detailed maps of theSOSEAs indicating the boundaries and goals are available from thedepartment at its regional offices.

"Stop work order" means the "stop work order" defined in RCW76.09.080 of the act and may be issued by the department to stopviolations of the forest practices chapter or to prevent damageand/or to correct and/or compensate for damages to public resourcesresulting from forest practices.

"Stream-adjacent parallel roads" means roads (includingassociated right of way clearing) in a riparian management zone ona property that have an alignment that is parallel to the generalalignment of the stream, including roads used by others undereasements or cooperative road agreements. Also included are streamcrossings where the alignment of the road continues to parallel thestream for more than 250 feet on either side of the stream. Notincluded are federal, state, county or municipal roads that are notsubject to forest practices rules, or roads of another adjacentlandowner.

"Sub-mature habitat" see WAC 222-16-085 (1)(b)."Suitable marbled murrelet habitat" means a contiguous

forested area containing trees capable of providing nestingopportunities:

(1) With all of the following indicators unless thedepartment, in consultation with the department of fish andwildlife, has determined that the habitat is not likely to be

[ 20 ] OTS-9824.2

occupied by marbled murrelets:(a) Within 50 miles of marine waters;(b) At least ((40%)) forty percent of the dominant and

codominant trees are Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western redcedar or sitka spruce;

(c) Two or more nesting platforms per acre;(d) At least 7 acres in size, including the contiguous

forested area within 300 feet of nesting platforms, with similarforest stand characteristics (age, species composition, foreststructure) to the forested area in which the nesting platformsoccur.

"Suitable spotted owl habitat" see WAC 222-16-085(1)."Temporary road" means a forest road that is constructed and

intended for use during the life of an approved forest practicesapplication/notification. All temporary roads must be abandoned inaccordance to WAC 222-24-052(3).

"Threaten public safety" means to increase the risk to thepublic at large from snow avalanches, identified in consultationwith the department of transportation or a local government, orlandslides or debris torrents caused or triggered by forestpractices.

"Threatened or endangered species" means all species ofwildlife listed as "threatened" or "endangered" by the UnitedStates Secretary of the Interior or Commerce, and all species ofwildlife designated as "threatened" or "endangered" by theWashington fish and wildlife commission.

"Timber" means forest trees, standing or down, of a commercialspecies, including Christmas trees. However, timber does notinclude Christmas trees that are cultivated by agriculturalmethods, as that term is defined in RCW 84.33.035.

"Unconfined avulsing stream" means generally fifth order orlarger waters that experience abrupt shifts in channel location,creating a complex flood plain characterized by extensive gravelbars, disturbance species of vegetation of variable age, numerousside channels, wall-based channels, oxbow lakes, and wetlandcomplexes. Many of these streams have dikes and levees that maytemporarily or permanently restrict channel movement.

"Validation," as used in WAC 222-20-016, means thedepartment's agreement that a small forest landowner has correctlyidentified and classified resources, and satisfactorily completeda roads assessment for the geographic area described in Step 1 ofa long-term application.

"Water bar" means a diversion ditch and/or hump in a trail orroad for the purpose of carrying surface water runoff into thevegetation duff, ditch, or other dispersion area so that it doesnot gain the volume and velocity which causes soil movement anderosion.

"Watershed administrative unit (WAU)" means an area shown onthe map specified in WAC 222-22-020(1).

"Watershed analysis" means, for a given WAU, the assessmentcompleted under WAC 222-22-050 or 222-22-060 together with theprescriptions selected under WAC 222-22-070 and shall include

[ 21 ] OTS-9824.2

assessments completed under WAC 222-22-050 where there are no areasof resource sensitivity.

"Weed" is any plant which tends to overgrow or choke out moredesirable vegetation.

"Western Washington" means the geographic area of Washingtonwest of the Cascade crest and the drainages defined in EasternWashington.

"Wetland" means those areas that are inundated or saturated bysurface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient tosupport, and under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence ofvegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions,such as swamps, bogs, fens, and similar areas. This includeswetlands created, restored, or enhanced as part of a mitigationprocedure. This does not include constructed wetlands or thefollowing surface waters of the state intentionally constructedfrom wetland sites: Irrigation and drainage ditches, grass linedswales, canals, agricultural detention facilities, farm ponds, andlandscape amenities.

"Wetland functions" include the protection of water qualityand quantity, providing fish and wildlife habitat, and theproduction of timber.

"Wetland management zone" means a specified area adjacent toType A and B Wetlands where specific measures are taken to protectthe wetland functions.

"Wildlife" means all species of the animal kingdom whosemembers exist in Washington in a wild state. The term "wildlife"includes, but is not limited to, any mammal, bird, reptile,amphibian, fish, or invertebrate, at any stage of development. Theterm "wildlife" does not include feral domestic mammals or thefamily Muridae of the order Rodentia (old world rats and mice).

"Wildlife reserve trees" means those defective, dead, damaged,or dying trees which provide or have the potential to providehabitat for those wildlife species dependent on standing trees.Wildlife reserve trees are categorized as follows:

Type 1 wildlife reserve trees are defective or deformed livetrees that have observably sound tops, limbs, trunks, and roots.They may have part of the top broken out or have evidence of othersevere defects that include: "Cat face," animal chewing, oldlogging wounds, weather injury, insect attack, or lightning strike.Unless approved by the landowner, only green trees with visiblecavities, nests, or obvious severe defects capable of supportingcavity dependent species shall be considered as Type 1 wildlifereserve trees. These trees must be stable and pose the leasthazard for workers.

Type 2 wildlife reserve trees are dead Type 1 trees with soundtops, limbs, trunks, and roots.

Type 3 wildlife reserve trees are live or dead trees withunstable tops or upper portions. Unless approved by the landowner,only green trees with visible cavities, nests, or obvious severedefects capable of supporting cavity dependent species shall beconsidered as Type 3 wildlife reserve trees. Although the rootsand main portion of the trunk are sound, these reserve trees pose

[ 22 ] OTS-9824.2

high hazard because of the defect in live or dead wood higher up inthe tree.

Type 4 wildlife reserve trees are live or dead trees withunstable trunks or roots, with or without bark. This includes"soft snags" as well as live trees with unstable roots caused byroot rot or fire. These trees are unstable and pose a high hazardto workers.

"Windthrow" means a natural process by which trees areuprooted or sustain severe trunk damage by the wind.

"Yarding corridor" means a narrow, linear path through ariparian management zone to allow suspended cables necessary tosupport cable logging methods or suspended or partially suspendedlogs to be transported through these areas by cable loggingmethods.

"Young forest marginal habitat" see WAC 222-16-085 (1)(b).


WAC 222-16-050 .*Classes of forest practices. There are 4classes of forest practices created by the act. All forestpractices (including those in Classes I and II) must be conductedin accordance with the forest practices rules.

(1) "Class IV - special." Except as provided in WAC 222-16-051, application to conduct forest practices involving thefollowing circumstances requires an environmental checklist incompliance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and SEPAguidelines, as they have been determined to have potential for asubstantial impact on the environment. It may be determined thatadditional information or a detailed environmental statement isrequired before these forest practices may be conducted.

.*(a) Aerial application of pesticides in a manner identifiedas having the potential for a substantial impact on the environmentunder WAC 222-16-070 or ground application of a pesticide within aType A or B wetland.

(b) Specific forest practices listed in WAC 222-16-080 onlands designated as critical habitat (state) of threatened orendangered species.

(c) Harvesting, road construction, aerial application ofpesticides and site preparation on all lands within the boundariesof any national park, state park, or any park of a localgovernmental entity, except harvest of less than ((5)) five MBFwithin any developed park recreation area and park managed salvageof merchantable forest products.

.*(d) Timber harvest, or construction of roads, landings,gravel pits, rock quarries, or spoil disposal areas, on potentiallyunstable slopes or landforms described in (i) below that has thepotential to deliver sediment or debris to a public resource or

[ 23 ] OTS-9824.2

that has the potential to threaten public safety, and which hasbeen field verified by the department (see WAC 222-10-030 SEPApolicies for potential unstable slopes and landforms).

(i) For the purpose of this rule, potentially unstable slopesor landforms are one of the following: (See ((the)) board manualsection 16 for more descriptive definitions.)

(A) Inner gorges, convergent headwalls, or bedrock hollowswith slopes steeper than ((35)) thirty-five degrees (((70%))seventy percent);

(B) Toes of deep-seated landslides, with slopes steeper than((33)) thirty-three degrees (((65%)) sixty-five percent);

(C) Ground water recharge areas for glacial deep-seatedlandslides;

(D) Outer edges of meander bends along valley walls or highterraces of an unconfined meandering stream; or

(E) Any areas containing features indicating the presence ofpotential slope instability which cumulatively indicate thepresence of unstable slopes.

(ii) The department will base its classification of theapplication((/)) or notification on professional knowledge of thearea, information such as soils, geologic or hazard zonation mapsand reports or other information provided by the applicant.

(iii) An application would not be classified as Class IV-Special for potentially unstable slopes or landforms under thissubsection if:

(A) The proposed forest practice is located within a WAU thatis subject to an approved watershed analysis;

(B) The forest practices are to be conducted in accordancewith an approved prescription from the watershed analysis (or asmodified through the ((5)) five-year review process); and

(C) The applicable prescription is specific to the site orsituation, as opposed to a prescription that calls for additionalanalysis. The need for an expert to determine whether the sitecontains specific landforms will not be considered "additionalanalysis," as long as specific prescriptions are established forsuch landforms.

.*(e) Timber harvest, in a watershed administrative unit notsubject to an approved watershed analysis under chapter 222-22 WAC,construction of roads, landings, rock quarries, gravel pits, borrowpits, and spoil disposal areas on snow avalanche slopes withinthose areas designated by the department, in consultation withdepartment of transportation and local government, as highavalanche hazard where there is the potential to deliver sedimentor debris to a public resource, or the potential to threaten publicsafety.

(f) Timber harvest, construction of roads, landings, rockquarries, gravel pits, borrow pits, and spoil disposal areas onarchaeological or historic sites registered with the Washingtonstate ((office)) department of archaeology and historicpreservation, or on sites containing evidence of Native Americancairns, graves, or glyptic records, as provided for in chapters27.44 and 27.53 RCW. The department shall consult with affected

[ 24 ] OTS-9824.2

Indian tribes in identifying such sites..*(g) Forest practices subject to an approved watershed

analysis conducted under chapter 222-22 WAC in an area of resourcesensitivity identified in that analysis which deviates from theprescriptions (which may include an alternate plan) in thewatershed analysis.

.*(h) Filling or draining of more than 0.5 acre of a wetland.(2) "Class IV - general." Applications involving the

following circumstances are "Class IV - general" forest practicesunless they are listed in "Class IV - special."

(a) Forest practices (other than those in Class I) on landsplatted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW;

(b) Forest practices (other than those in Class I) on landsthat have been or are being converted to another use;

(c) Forest practices which would otherwise be Class III, butwhich are taking place on lands which are not to be reforestedbecause of likelihood of future conversion to urban development(see WAC 222-16-060 and 222-34-050); or

(d) Forest practices involving timber harvesting or roadconstruction on lands that are contained within urban growth areas,designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except where the forestlandowner provides one of the following:

(i) A written statement of intent signed by the forestlandowner not to convert to a use other than commercial forestproducts operations for ten years accompanied by either a writtenforest management plan acceptable to the department ordocumentation that the land is enrolled under the provisions ofchapter 84.33 RCW; or

(ii) A conversion option harvest plan approved by the localgovernmental entity and submitted to the department as part of theapplication.

Upon receipt of an application, the department will determinethe lead agency for purposes of compliance with the ((StateEnvironmental Policy Act)) SEPA pursuant to WAC 197-11-924 and 197-11-938(4) and RCW 43.21C.037(2). Such applications are subject toa ((30)) thirty-day period for approval unless the lead agencydetermines a detailed statement under RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(c) isrequired. Upon receipt, if the department determines theapplication is for a proposal that will require a license from acounty/city acting under the powers enumerated in RCW 76.09.240,the department shall notify the applicable county/city under WAC197-11-924 that the department has determined according to WAC 197-11-938(4) that the county/city is the lead agency for purposes ofcompliance with the ((State Environmental Policy Act)) SEPA.

(3) "Class I." Those operations that have been determined tohave no direct potential for damaging a public resource are ClassI forest practices. When the conditions listed in "Class IV -Special" are not present, these operations may be commenced withoutnotification or application.

(a) Culture and harvest of Christmas trees and seedlings..*(b) Road maintenance except: (((i))) Replacement of bridges

and culverts across Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters; or

[ 25 ] OTS-9824.2

(((ii))) movement of material that has a direct potential forentering Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters or Type A or BWetlands.

.*(c) Construction of landings less than ((1)) one acre insize, if not within a shoreline area of a Type S Water, theriparian management zone of a Type F Water, the bankfull width ofa Type Np Water, a wetland management zone, a wetland, or theCRGNSA special management area.

.*(d) Construction of less than ((600)) six hundred feet ofroad on a sideslope of ((40)) forty percent or less if the limitsof construction are not within the shoreline area of a Type SWater, the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, the bankfullwidth of a Type Np Water, a wetland management zone, a wetland, orthe CRGNSA special management area.

.*(e) Installation or removal of a portable water crossingstructure where such installation does not take place within theshoreline area of a Type S Water and does not involve disturbanceof the beds or banks of any waters.

.*(f) Initial installation and replacement of relief culvertsand other drainage control facilities not requiring a hydraulicpermit.

(g) Rocking an existing road.(h) Loading and hauling timber from landings or decks.(i) Precommercial thinning and pruning, if not within the

CRGNSA special management area.(j) Tree planting and seeding.(k) Cutting and/or removal of less than ((5,000)) five

thousand board feet of timber (including live, dead and downmaterial) for personal use (i.e., firewood, fence posts, etc.) inany ((12)) twelve-month period, if not within the CRGNSA specialmanagement area.

(l) Emergency fire control and suppression.(m) Slash burning pursuant to a burning permit (RCW

76.04.205)..*(n) Other slash control and site preparation not involving

either off-road use of tractors on slopes exceeding ((40)) fortypercent or off-road use of tractors within the shorelines of a TypeS Water, the riparian management zone of any Type F Water, or thebankfull width of a Type Np Water, a wetland management zone, awetland, or the CRGNSA special management area.

.*(o) Ground application of chemicals, if not within the CRGNSAspecial management area. (See WAC 222-38-020 and 222-38-030.)

.*(p) Aerial application of chemicals (except insecticides),outside of the CRGNSA special management area when applied to notmore than ((40)) forty contiguous acres if the application is partof a combined or cooperative project with another landowner andwhere the application does not take place within ((100)) onehundred feet of lands used for farming, or within ((200)) twohundred feet of a residence, unless such farmland or residence isowned by the forest landowner. Provisions of chapter 222-38 WACshall apply.

(q) Forestry research studies and evaluation tests by an

[ 26 ] OTS-9824.2

established research organization..*(r) Any of the following if none of the operation or limits

of construction takes place within the shoreline area of a Type SWater or the riparian management zone of a Type F Water, thebankfull width of a Type Np Water or flowing Type Ns Water, orwithin the CRGNSA special management area and the operation doesnot involve off-road use of tractor or wheeled skidding systems ona sideslope of greater than ((40)) forty percent:

(i) Any forest practices within the boundaries of existinggolf courses.

(ii) Any forest practices within the boundaries of existingcemeteries which are approved by the cemetery board.

(iii) Any forest practices involving a single landowner wherecontiguous ownership is less than two acres in size.

(s) Removal of beaver structures from culverts on forestroads. A hydraulics project approval from the Washingtondepartment of fish and wildlife may be required.

(4) "Class II." Certain forest practices have been determinedto have a less than ordinary potential to damage a public resourceand may be conducted as Class II forest practices: Provided, Thatno forest practice enumerated below may be conducted as a Class IIforest practice if the operation requires a hydraulic projectapproval (RCW 77.55.100) or is within a "shorelines of the state,"or involves owner of perpetual timber rights subject to RCW76.09.067 (other than renewals). Such forest practices require anapplication. No forest practice enumerated below may be conductedas a "Class II" forest practice if it takes place on lands plattedafter January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW, or onlands that have been or are being converted to another use. Noforest practice enumerated below involving timber harvest or roadconstruction may be conducted as a "Class II" if it takes placewithin urban growth areas designated pursuant to chapter 37.70ARCW. Such forest practices require a Class IV application. ClassII forest practices are the following:

(a) Renewal of a prior Class II notification where no changein the nature and extent of the forest practices is required underrules effective at the time of renewal.

(b) Renewal of a previously approved Class III or IV forestpractices application where:

(i) No modification of the uncompleted operation is proposed;(ii) No notices to comply, stop work orders or other

enforcement actions are outstanding with respect to the priorapplication; and

(iii) No change in the nature and extent of the forestpractice is required under rules effective at the time of renewal.

(iv) Renewal of a previously approved multiyear permit forforest practices within a WAU with an approved watershed analysisrequires completion of a necessary ((5)) five-year review of thewatershed analysis.

.*(c) Any of the following if none of the operation or limitsof construction takes place within the riparian management zone ofa Type F Water, within the bankfull width of a Type Np Water,

[ 27 ] OTS-9824.2

within a wetland management zone, within a wetland, or within theCRGNSA special management area:

(i) Construction of advance fire trails.(ii) Opening a new pit of, or extending an existing pit by,

less than ((1)) one acre..*(d) Salvage of logging residue if none of the operation or

limits of construction takes place within the riparian managementzone of a Type F Water, within the bankfull width of a Type NpWater, within a wetland management zone or within a wetland; and ifnone of the operations involve off-road use of tractor or wheeledskidding systems on a sideslope of greater than ((40)) fortypercent.

.*(e) Any of the following if none of the operation or limitsof construction takes place within the riparian management zone ofa Type F Water, within the bankfull width of a Type Np Water,within a wetland management zone, within a wetland, or within theCRGNSA special management area, and if none of the operationsinvolve off-road use of tractor or wheeled skidding systems on asideslope of greater than ((40)) forty percent, and if none of theoperations are located on lands with a likelihood of futureconversion (see WAC 222-16-060):

(i) West of the Cascade summit, partial cutting of ((40))forty percent or less of the live timber volume.

(ii) East of the Cascade summit, partial cutting of ((5,000))five thousand board feet per acre or less.

(iii) Salvage of dead, down, or dying timber if less than((40)) forty percent of the total timber volume is removed in any((12)) twelve-month period.

(iv) Any harvest on less than ((40)) forty acres.(v) Construction of ((600)) six hundred or more feet of road,

provided that the department shall be notified at least ((2)) twobusiness days before commencement of the construction.

(5) "Class III." Forest practices not listed under ClassesIV, I or II above are "Class III" forest practices. Among ClassIII forest practices are the following:

(a) Those requiring hydraulic project approval (RCW77.55.100).

.*(b) Those within the shorelines of the state other than thosein a Class I forest practice.

.*(c) Aerial application of insecticides, except whereclassified as a Class IV forest practice.

.*(d) Aerial application of chemicals (except insecticides),except where classified as Class I or IV forest practices.

.*(e) Harvest or salvage of timber except where classed asClass I, II or IV forest practices.

.*(f) All road construction except as listed in Classes I, IIand IV forest practices.

(g) Opening of new pits or extensions of existing pits over 1acre.

.*(h) Road maintenance involving:(i) Replacement of bridges or culverts across Type S, F or

flowing Type Np Waters; or

[ 28 ] OTS-9824.2

(ii) Movement of material that has a direct potential forentering Type S, F or flowing Type Np Waters or Type A or BWetlands.

(i) Operations involving owner of perpetual timber rightssubject to RCW 76.09.067.

(j) Site preparation or slash abatement not listed in ClassesI or IV forest practices.

(k) Harvesting, road construction, site preparation or aerialapplication of pesticides on lands which contain cultural, historicor archaeological resources which, at the time the application ornotification is filed, are:

(i) On or are eligible for listing on the National Register ofHistoric Places; or

(ii) Have been identified to the department as being ofinterest to an affected Indian tribe.

(l) Harvesting exceeding ((19)) nineteen acres in a designateddifficult regeneration area.

(m) Utilization of an alternate plan. See WAC 222-12-040..*(n) Any filling of wetlands, except where classified as Class

IV forest practices..*(o) Multiyear permits..*(p) Small forest landowner long-term applications that are

not classified Class IV-special or Class IV-general, or renewals ofpreviously approved Class III or IV long-term applications.

[ 1 ] OTS-9825.3


WAC 222-20-010 Applications and notifications--Policy. (1)No Class II, III or IV forest practices shall be commenced orcontinued unless the department has received a notification forClass II forest practices, or approved an application for Class IIIor IV forest practices pursuant to the act. Where the time limitfor the department to act on the application has expired, and noneof the conditions in WAC 222-20-020(1) exist, the operation maycommence. (NOTE: OTHER LAWS AND RULES AND/OR PERMIT REQUIREMENTS MAY APPLY. SEE CHAPTER 222-50WAC.) (2) The department shall prescribe the form and contents ofthe notification and application, which shall specify whatinformation is needed for a notification, and the informationrequired for the department to approve or disapprove theapplication.

(3) Except as provided in subpart (4) below, applications andnotifications shall be signed by the landowner, the timber ownerand the operator, or the operator and accompanied by a consent formsigned by the timber owner and the landowner. A consent form maybe another document if it is signed by the landowner(s) and itcontains a statement acknowledging that he/she is familiar with theForest Practices Act, including the provisions dealing withconversion to another use (RCW 76.09.060(3)).

(4) In lieu of a landowner's signature, where the timberrights have been transferred by deed to a perpetual owner who isdifferent from the forest landowner, the owner of perpetual timberrights may sign a forest practices application or notification foroperations not converting to another use and the statement ofintent not to convert for a set period of time. The holder ofperpetual timber rights shall serve the signed forest practicesapplication or notification and the signed statement of intent onthe forest landowner. The forest practices application shall notbe considered complete until the holder of perpetual timber rightshas submitted evidence acceptable to the department that suchservice has occurred.

(5) Where an application for a conversion is not signed by thelandowner or accompanied by a consent form, as outlined insubsection (3) of this section, the department shall not approvethe application. Applications and notifications for thedevelopment or maintenance of utility rights of way shall not beconsidered to be conversions.

(6) Transfer of the approved application or notification to anew landowner, timber owner or operator requires written notice bythe ((original)) former landowner or ((applicant)) timber owner tothe department and should include the original application or

[ 2 ] OTS-9825.3

notification number. This written notice shall be in a formacceptable to the department and shall contain an affirmationsigned by the new landowner, timber owner, or operator, asapplicable, that he/she agrees to be bound by all conditions on theapproved application or notification. In the case of a transfer ofan application previously approved without the landowner'ssignature the new timber owner or operator must submit a bondsecuring compliance with the requirements of the forest practicesrules as determined necessary by the department. If an applicationor notification indicates that the landowner or timber owner isalso the operator, or an operator signed the application, no noticeneed be given regarding any change in subcontractors or similarindependent contractors working under the supervision of theoperator of record.

(7) ((Applications and notifications must be delivered to thedepartment at the appropriate region office. Delivery should be inperson or by registered or certified mail.

(8))) Applications and notifications ((shall)), if complete,will be considered officially received on the date and time shownon any registered or certified mail receipt, or the written receiptgiven at the time of personal delivery, or at the time of receiptby general mail delivery. The department will immediately providea dated receipt to the applicant. Applications or notificationsthat are not complete, or are inaccurate will not be consideredofficially received until the applicant furnishes the necessaryinformation to complete the application.

(a) A review statement from the U.S. Forest Service thatevaluates compliance of the forest practices with the CRGNSAspecial management area guidelines is necessary information for anapplication or notification within the CRGNSA special managementarea. The review statement requirement shall be waived if theapplicant can demonstrate the U.S. Forest Service received acomplete plan application and failed to act within ((45)) forty-five days.

(b) An environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-315) is necessaryinformation for all Class IV applications.

(c) A local governmental entity clearing and/or grading permitis necessary information for all Class IV applications on landsthat have been or will be converted to a use other than commercialtimber production or on lands which have been platted after January1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW, if the localgovernmental entity has jurisdiction and has an ordinance requiringsuch permit.

(d) A checklist road maintenance and abandonment plan isnecessary information for all small forest landowners' applicationsor notifications for timber harvest (including salvage), unlessexempt under WAC 222-24-0511, or unless the application is a smallforest landowner long-term application which requires a roadsassessment. ((If a notification or application is delivered inperson to the department by the operator or the operator'sauthorized agent, the department shall immediately provide a datedreceipt. In all other cases, the department shall immediately mail

[ 3 ] OTS-9825.3

a dated receipt to the applicant.(9))) (8) An operator's name, if known, must be included on

any forest practices application or notification. The landowner ortimber owner must provide notice of hiring or change of operator tothe department within ((48)) forty-eight hours. The departmentshall promptly notify the landowner if the operator is subject toa notice of intent to disapprove under WAC 222-46-070. Oncenotified, the landowner will not permit the operator, who issubject to a notice of intent to disapprove, to conduct the forestpractices specified in the application or notification, or anyother forest practices until such notice of intent to disapprove isremoved by the department.

(((10))) (9) Financial assurances may be required by thedepartment prior to the approval of any future forest practicesapplication or notification to an operator or landowner under theprovisions of WAC 222-46-090.


WAC 222-20-015 Multiyear permits. (1) Where a watershedanalysis has been approved for a WAU under WAC 222-22-080,landowner(s) may apply for a multiyear permit. The informationprovided and level of detail must be comparable to that requiredfor a two-year permit. At a minimum, the application must include:

(a) A description of the forest practices to be conductedduring the period requested for the permit, and a map(s) showingtheir locations; and

(b) Prescriptions must be identified where operations areproposed within or include areas of resource sensitivity.

(2) A landowner with an approved road maintenance andabandonment plan (other than a checklist) may apply for a multiyearpermit to perform road maintenance(([,])), road abandonment, and/orassociated right of way timber harvest, if the schedule forimplementing the plan is longer than two years.

(3) A landowner may apply for a multiyear permit to perform anapproved alternate plan.

NEW SECTION

WAC 222-20-016 Small forest landowner long-term applications.(1) Application. A small forest landowner may submit a forestpractices application that includes planned forest practicesactivities on all or part of a landowner's ownership within one of

[ 4 ] OTS-9825.3

the department's geographic region boundaries. The application canbe for terms of three to fifteen years at the discretion of thelandowner. The landowner will submit the application to thedepartment in two steps.

(2) Review of proposed application.(a) Step 1: Resource and roads assessment review. The

landowner will submit the resource and roads assessment portion ofthe application. As part of the review, the department willdetermine any additional known resources or threats to publicsafety and initiate one or more site reviews in consultation withthe department of ecology, the department of fish and wildlife, andthe affected Indian tribes. The department will notify thelandowner and the landowner's representative to attend the sitereview(s). Within forty-five days of receiving the completeassessment, the department will notify the landowner in writing ofits validation or rejection of the assessment. If rejected, thedepartment will provide a written statement to the landownerexplaining why the assessment was rejected.

(b) Step 2: Resource protection strategies review. Thedepartment will accept for review the resource protectionstrategies portion of the long-term application after thedepartment validates Step 1. The required elements of Step 2 willinclude a description of proposed forest practices activities andstrategies for protection of all resources identified in Step 1.The department will approve, condition, or disapprove Step 2 withinforty-five days of receiving the complete Step 2 portion, except ifa detailed environmental statement is necessary, additional timefor approval or disapproval as specified in RCW 76.09.050 will berequired. If disapproved, the department will provide a writtenstatement to the landowner explaining why the proposed strategieswere disapproved.

(3) Activity notice. At least five business days before alandowner starts an approved forest practices activity thelandowner will submit to the department an activity notice in aformat acceptable to the department.

(4) Amendments to long-term applications.(a) The department may authorize nonsubstantial amendments as

authorized in WAC 222-20-060.(b) If the board considers new or amended rules to achieve

resource protection objectives, the department and the board willdo the following regarding existing approved long-termapplications:

(i) The department, in consultation with the departments ofecology, fish and wildlife, and affected Indian tribes will review,and if necessary analyze the effects of approved long-termapplications on the public resources the proposed rules areintended to protect.

(ii) The department will report the results of its reviewand/or analysis to the board prior to rule adoption.

(iii) Upon rule adoption, the board may direct the departmentto condition existing approved long-term applications to protectresources.

[ 5 ] OTS-9825.3

(iv) The department will notify impacted landowners in writingof the board's decision.


WAC 222-20-020 Application time limits. (1) ((A properlycompleted application shall be approved, conditioned ordisapproved)) When the department officially receives anapplication, the department will approve, condition or disapproveit within ((30)) thirty calendar days for Class III and Class IVforest practices, except:

(a) To the extent the department is prohibited from approvingthe application by the act.

(b) For "Class IV" applications when the department or thelead agency has determined that a detailed environmental statementmust be made, the application must be approved, conditioned ordisapproved within ((60)) sixty days, unless the commissioner ofpublic lands promulgates a formal order specifying a later date forcompletion of the detailed environmental statement and final actionon the application. At least ((10)) ten days before promulgationof such an order extending the time, the applicant shall be givenwritten notice that the department is requesting such extension;giving the reasons the process cannot be completed within suchperiod; and stating that the applicant may comment in writing tothe commissioner of public lands or obtain an informal conferencewith the department regarding the proposed extension.

(c) When they involve lands described in (c)(i) through (iv)of this subsection, the applicable time limit shall be no less than((14)) fourteen business days from transmittal to the localgovernmental entity unless the local governmental entity has waivedits right to object or has consented to approval of theapplication:

(i) Lands platted after January 1, 1960, as provided inchapter 58.17 RCW;

(ii) Lands that have been or are being converted to anotheruse;

(iii) Lands which are not to be reforested because oflikelihood of future conversion to urban development (see WAC 222-16-060 and 222-24-050); or

(iv) Forest practices involving timber harvesting or roadconstruction on lands that are contained within urban growth areas,designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW.

(d) Applications for multiyear permits will be approved,conditioned, or disapproved within forty-five days of thedepartment receiving a complete application, except if a detailedenvironmental statement is necessary, additional time for approvalor disapproval as specified in RCW 76.09.050 will be required.

[ 6 ] OTS-9825.3

(e) Small forest landowner long-term applications will bereviewed in two steps as described in WAC 222-20-016. Thedepartment will review Step 1 and issue a decision within forty-five days of receiving a complete resource and roads assessment.The department will review and approve, condition, or disapproveStep 2 within forty-five days of receiving a complete resourceprotection strategies portion of the long-term application, exceptif a detailed environmental statement is necessary, additional timefor approval or disapproval as specified in RCW 76.09.050 will berequired.

(2) Unless the local governmental entity has waived its rightsunder the act or consents to approval, the department shall notapprove an application involving lands platted after January 1,1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW, or lands that have been orare being converted to another use until at least ((14)) fourteenbusiness days from the date of transmittal to the localgovernmental entity.

(3) Where a notification is submitted for operations which thedepartment determines involve Class III or IV forest practices, thedepartment shall issue a stop work order or take other appropriateaction. If the operations were otherwise in compliance with theact and forest practices rules, no penalty should be imposed forthose operations which occurred prior to the enforcement action:Provided, That no damage to a public resource resulted from suchoperations, and the operations commenced more than ((5)) five daysfrom receipt by the department of the notification.

(4) If the department fails to approve or disapprove anapplication or any portion thereof within the applicable timelimit, the application shall be deemed approved and the operationmay commence except that this provision shall not apply where:

(a) The local governmental entity objects and the applicationinvolves lands platted after January 1, 1960, as provided inchapter 58.17 RCW, or lands that have been or are being convertedwhere the county's right of objection is ((14)) fourteen businessdays which may be longer than the approval time limit.

(b) The department is prohibited from approving theapplication by the act.

(c) Compliance with the State Environmental Policy Actrequires additional time.

(5) If seasonal field conditions prevent the department frombeing able to properly evaluate the application, the department maydisapprove the application until field conditions allow for an on-site review.

(((6) An application for a multiyear permit must be approved,conditioned or disapproved by the department within 45 days ofreceiving a complete application.))

[ 7 ] OTS-9825.3

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 551, Resolution No. 88-1, filed9/21/88, effective 11/1/88)

WAC 222-20-030 Delivery of notifications and applications--Receipts--File numbers. (1) Notifications and applications shouldbe delivered ((in person or by registered or certified mail)) tothe department at the appropriate region office. Notifications andapplications actually received at the appropriate region office byother means may be accepted or returned to the applicant.

(2) Upon delivery of a complete notification or application((to the appropriate region office,)) the department will providea written receipt ((for such notification or application shall beissued by the department as follows:

(a) If delivery is in person, a dated receipt shall be issuedimmediately to the applicant.

(b) If delivery is by registered or certified mail, a datedreceipt shall be mailed immediately to the applicant.

(c) If delivery is by other means, a receipt dated on the daythe department begins processing the application shall be mailed tothe applicant)) to the landowner, timber owner, and operator.

(3) Each receipt will indicate the file number assigned to thenotification or application.


WAC 222-20-040 Approval conditions. (1) Whenever an approvedapplication authorizes a forest practice which, because of soilcondition, proximity to a water course or other unusual factor, hasa potential for causing material damage to a public resource, asdetermined by the department, the applicant shall, when requestedon the approved application, notify the department ((2)) twobusiness days before the commencement of actual operations.

(2) All approvals are subject to any conditions stipulated onthe approved application and to any subsequent additionalrequirements set forth in a stop work order or a notice to comply.

(3) Local governmental entity conditions.(a) RCW 76.09.240(4) allows a local governmental entity to

exercise limited land use planning or zoning authority on certaintypes of forest practices. This subsection is designed to ensurethat local governmental entities exercise this authority consistentwith chapter 76.09 RCW and the rules in Title 222 WAC. The systemprovided for in this subsection is optional.

(b) This subsection only applies to Class IV generalapplications on lands that have been or are being converted to ause other than commercial timber production or to Class IV generalapplications on lands which have been platted after January 1,1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW.

[ 8 ] OTS-9825.3

(c) The department shall transmit the applications to theappropriate local governmental entity within two business days fromthe date the department officially receives the application.

(d) The department shall condition the application consistentwith the request of the local governmental entity if:

(i) The local governmental entity has adopted a clearingand/or grading ordinance that addresses the items listed in (e) ofthis subsection and requires a permit;

(ii) The local governmental entity has issued a permit underthe ordinance in (i) that contains the requested conditions; and

(iii) The local governmental entity has entered into aninteragency agreement with the department consistent with WAC 222-50-030 addressing enforcement of forest practices.

(e) The local governmental entity conditions may only cover:(i) The location and character of open space and/or vegetative

buffers;(ii) The location and design of roads;(iii) The retention of trees for bank stabilization, erosion

prevention, and/or storm water management; or(iv) The protection of critical areas designated pursuant to

chapter 36.70A RCW.(f) Local governmental entity conditions shall be filed with

the department within twenty-nine days of the ((filing of theapplication with the)) department's official receipt of theapplication or within fourteen business days of the transmittal ofthe application to the local governmental entity or one day beforethe department acts on the application, whichever is later.

(g) The department shall incorporate local governmental entityconditions consistent with this subsection as conditions of theforest practices approval.

(h) Any exercise of local governmental entity authorityconsistent with this subsection shall be considered consistent withthe forest practices rules in this chapter.

(4) Lead agency mitigation measures.(a) This subsection is designed to specify procedures for a

mitigated DNS process that are consistent with chapters 76.09 and43.21C RCW and the rules in Title 222 WAC and chapter 197-11 WAC.

(b) This subsection applies to all Class IV applications inwhich the department is not the lead agency under ((SEPA)) theState Environmental Policy Act. (See WAC 197-11-758.)

(c) The department shall transmit the application to the leadagency within two business days from the date the departmentofficially receives the application.

(d) The lead agency may specify mitigation measures pursuantto WAC 197-11-350.

(e) The lead agency threshold determination and any mitigationmeasures must be filed with the department within the later of(((i))) twenty-nine days of the official receipt of the applicationby the department, (((ii))) fourteen business days of thetransmittal of the application to the lead agency if the leadagency is a local governmental entity; or (((iii))) one day beforethe department acts on the application.

[ 9 ] OTS-9825.3

(f) Unless the applicant clarifies or changes the applicationto include mitigation measures specified by the lead agency, thedepartment must ((deny)) disapprove the application or require an((EIS)) environmental impact statement. (See WAC 197-11-738.)

(g) If the department does not receive a thresholddetermination from the lead agency by the time it must act on theapplication, the department shall ((deny)) disapprove theapplication.

(5) Small forest landowner approval conditions. Thedepartment shall not disapprove a small forest landowner'sapplication((/)) or notification on the basis that fish passagebarriers have not been removed or replaced if the landowner hascommitted to participate in the department's family forest fishpassage program for:

((!)) (a) Any barriers on their forest roads located withinthe boundaries of their application((/)) or notification; and

((!)) (b) Any barriers on their forest roads needed for theirproposed forest practice, but located outside the boundaries of theapplication((/)) or notification.

(6) CRGNSA special management area.(a) Policy. The states of Oregon and Washington have entered

into a Compact preauthorized by Congress to implement the CRGNSAAct, 16 U.S.C. §§ 544, et seq. chapter 43.97 RCW, 16 U.S.C. § 544c.The purposes of the CRGNSA Act are:

(i) To establish a national scenic area to protect and providefor the enhancement of the scenic, cultural, recreational, andnatural resources of the Columbia River Gorge; and

(ii) To protect and support the economy of the Columbia RiverGorge area by encouraging growth to occur in existing urban areasand by allowing future economic development in a manner that isconsistent with paragraph (1). 16 U.S.C. § 544a.

The forest practices rules addressing forest practices in theCRGNSA special management area recognize the intent of Congress andthe states expressed in the CRGNSA Act and Compact and the intentof the Washington state legislature in the Forest Practices Act.These rules are designed to recognize the public interest in soundnatural resource protection provided by the Act and the Compact,including the protection to public resources, recreation, andscenic beauty. These rules are designed to achieve a comprehensivesystem of laws and rules for forest practices in the CRGNSA specialmanagement area which avoids unnecessary duplication, provides forinteragency input and intergovernmental and tribal coordination andcooperation, considers reasonable land use planning goals containedin the CRGNSA management plan, and fosters cooperation among publicresources managers, forest landowners, tribes and the citizens.

(b) The CRGNSA special management area guidelines shall applyto all forest practices within the CRGNSA special management area.Other forest practices rules also apply to these forest practices.To the extent these other rules are inconsistent with theguidelines, the more restrictive requirement controls. To theextent there is an incompatibility between the guidelines andanother rule, the guidelines control. Copies of the guidelines can

[ 10 ] OTS-9825.3

be obtained from the department's Southeast and Pacific Cascaderegional offices and Olympia office, as well as from the ColumbiaRiver Gorge commission and the U.S. Forest Service.

(c) The department shall review and consider the U.S. ForestService review statement and shall consult with the U.S. ForestService and the Columbia River Gorge commission prior to making anydetermination on an application or notification within the CRGNSAspecial management area.


WAC 222-20-050 Conversion to nonforest use. (1) If anapplication to harvest signed by the landowner indicates thatwithin ((3)) three years after completion, the forest land will beconverted to a specified active use which is incompatible withtimber growing, the reforestation requirements of these rules shallnot apply and the information relating to reforestation on theapplication form need not be supplied. However, if such specifiedactive use is not initiated within ((3)) three years after suchharvest is completed, the reforestation requirements (see chapter222-34 WAC) shall apply and such reforestation shall be completedwithin ((1)) one additional year.

(2) For Class II, III, and IV special forest practices, if alandowner wishes to maintain the option for conversion to a useother than commercial timber ((operation)) growing, the landownermay request the appropriate local governmental entity to approve aconversion option harvest plan. This plan, if approved by thelocal governmental entity and followed by the landowner, shallrelease the landowner from the six-year moratorium on futuredevelopment, but does not create any other rights. The conversionoption harvest plan shall be attached to the application ornotification as a condition. Violation of the conversion optionharvest plan will result in the reinstatement of the localgovernmental entity's right to the six-year moratorium.Reforestation requirements will not be waived in the conversionoption harvest plan. Reforestation rules shall apply at thecompletion of the harvest operation as required in chapter 222-34WAC. Nothing herein shall preclude the local governmental entityfrom charging a fee to approve such a plan. (See RCW 76.09.060(3)(b)(i).)

(3) If the application or notification does not state that anyland covered by the application or notification will be or isintended to be converted to a specified active use incompatiblewith commercial timber ((operations)) growing, or if the forestpractice takes place without a required application ornotification, then the provisions of RCW 76.09.060 (3)(b)(i)regarding the six-year moratorium apply.

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WAC 222-20-060 Deviation from prior application ornotification. Substantial deviation from a notification or anapproved application requires a ((revised)) new notification orapplication. Other deviations may be authorized by a supplementaldirective, notice to comply or stop work order. The departmentshall notify the departments of fish and wildlife, and ecology, andaffected Indian tribes and the appropriate local governmentalentity of any supplemental directive, notice to comply or stop workorder involving a deviation from a prior notification or approvedapplication, except where such notice has been waived.


WAC 222-20-080 Application and notification expiration. (1)The approval given by the department to an application to conducta forest practice shall be effective for a term of two years fromthe date of approval, with the following exceptions ((of multiyearpermits.)):

(a) Multiyear permits are effective for ((up)) three to fiveyears. ((The)) A multiyear permit for lands included in awatershed analysis pursuant to chapter 222-22 WAC is not renewableif a five-year watershed analysis review is found necessary by thedepartment and has not been completed.

(b) Small forest landowner long-term applications areeffective for terms of three to fifteen years.

(2) A notification is ((also)) effective for a term of twoyears beginning five days from the date ((of receipt)) it isofficially received.


WAC 222-20-100 Notice to parks and ((OAHP)) DAHP. (1) Noticeto parks. The department shall send to the affected agency, within((2)) two business days of receipt, a copy of any notification or

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application for forest practices within ((500)) five hundred feetof the boundary of any park entity registered according tosubsection (2) of this section.

(2) Parks register. The department shall establish and updateevery ((5)) five years a parks register listing all publicly ownedparks where the affected owner has filed a written request with thedepartment for inclusion on such register. The department shallnotify owners of all public parks inventoried on the statecomprehensive outdoor recreation plan (SCORP) of the opportunity toregister.

(3) DNR to provide information to ((OAHP)) DAHP. Thedepartment shall provide the ((office)) department of archaeologyand historic preservation (((OAHP)) DAHP) with copies of allapplications and notifications for forest practices to be conductedon lands known to contain historic sites or archaeologicalresources as identified by ((OAHP)) DAHP.

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 535, filed 11/16/87, effective1/1/88)

WAC 222-20-120 Notice of forest practices to affected Indiantribes. (1) The department shall notify affected Indian tribes ofall applications of concern to such tribes, including thoseinvolving cultural resources, identified by the tribes.

(2) Where an application involves cultural resources thelandowner shall meet with the affected tribe(s) with the objectiveof agreeing on a plan for protecting the archaeological or culturalvalue. The department may condition the application in accordancewith the plan.

(3) Affected Indian tribes shall determine whether plans forprotection of cultural resources will be forwarded to the((office)) department of archaeological and historic preservation(((OAHP)) DAHP).

Documents

RULE-MAKING ORDER CR-103 (June 2004) (Implements RCW …