Washington Forest Practices Rules. The Washington Forest Practices Rules, embodied in WAC Title 222, were first adopted in 1976 to give direction on how to implement the Forest Practices Act (see Section 1.2.5.1). They apply to nonfederal and nontribal forest lands in the state and require all forest landowners to conduct their forest management activities according to the Forest Practices Rules. Landowners that cut more than 5,000 board feet per year, or when certain environmental conditions are present, are required to submit a Forest Practices Application/Notification. However, the Forest Practices Rules provide for exceptions to operating under standard rules, including conducting forest management operations under a SHA and/or a federal conservation plan authorized under Section 10 of the ESA. Forests & Fish Report The “Forests & Fish Report,” signed in 1999 by multiple stakeholders, recommended a collaborative approach to management and restoration of riparian habitat on nonfederal forest lands in Washington. It recommended, initially through emergency rules and then through passage of the Salmon Recovery Act of 1999, adding buffers to streams, rivers, unstable slopes, and other sensitive features, which then led to the revision of forest practice laws in the state, including changes to the Forest Practices Act (see Section 1.2.5.1) and Forest Practices Rules (see Section 1.2.5.2) that adopted the goals of the Forests & Fish Report as state law. The recommended protections detailed in the Forests & Fish Report were also then incorporated into the 2005 FPHCP (see Section 1.2.5.5). Interaction between the Forests & Fish Report and the ESA As stated in the proposed SHA, at the time of its execution, the signatories to the Forests & Fish Report, including USFWS, recognized that the buffers on streams, rivers, unstable slopes, and other sensitive features could lead to the development of habitat for other listed species, including the marbled murrelet (USFWS et al. 1999, Appendix M.1(g), M.2(e) at 83-85). USFWS and the other signatory parties acknowledged the potential issue related to forest landowners who “grow” habitat for ESA-listed species that are not covered under the FPHCP (USFWS et al. 1999, Appendix M.2(e) at 85): The authors agree to seek to develop and secure federal assurances under the Endangered Species Act so that forest landowners who adopt the recommendations of this Report and thereby “grow” habitat for threatened or endangered species other than covered resources will n...
Washington Forest Practices Rules. In 1974, the State Legislature passed the Forest Practices Act. The Forest Practices Act was designed to provide protection to forest soils, fisheries, wildlife, water quality and quantity, air quality, recreation, and scenic beauty. At the same time, the Act was intended to allow the maintenance of a viable forest products industry by regulating forest practices such as timber removal, road construction and maintenance, reforestation, and the use of forest chemicals. The Washington Forest Practices Rules, embodied in WAC Title 222, were first adopted in 1976 and apply to non-Federal and nontribal forest lands in the State. All forest landowners must conduct their forest management activities according to the Forest Practices Rules but only landowners that cut at least 5,000 board feet per year have to file a Forest Practices Application/Notification. Forest Practices Rules provide for exceptions to operating under standard rules, including Federal conservation plans authorized under Section 10 of the ESA. The Forest Practice Rules are available on the web at xxxx://xxx.xxx.xx.xxx/BusinessPermits/Topics/ForestPracticesRules/Pages/fp_rules.aspx.
