Section 79.150.050. Evaluation of supply agreements under RCW 79.150.030 and 79.150.040—Report to the legislature—Demonstration project authorized.

(1) For the purpose of improving forest health on state trust lands, and to better clarify the relationship of forest biomass with the by-products of forest health and fuel reduction treatments that have been traditionally utilized for other products, the department of natural resources shall evaluate how the supply agreements in RCW 79.150.030 and 79.150.040 could be utilized to sustain or create rural jobs and timber manufacturing infrastructure, and to sell state timber to traditional types of timber purchasers. The department shall report its findings to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 15, 2010, and the evaluation must at a minimum identify how such supply agreements could:

(a) Ensure the department of natural resources meets its fiduciary responsibility to the state's trust beneficiaries;

(b) Restore or sustain a competitive market for state timber sales;

(c) Generate returns for the trust that are commensurate with fluctuating market prices; and

(d) Ensure environmental compliance with all pertinent state and federal laws, and provide for ecologically and operationally sustainable biomass removal.

(2) For the purposes of proving the concepts evaluated in this section, the department may, in addition to the authorities granted in RCW 79.150.030, establish a five-year forest health and fuel reduction supply agreement demonstration project. Solicitation of private industry partners for such a project must be competitive, must focus on areas where traditional forest products manufacturing infrastructure and rural jobs have been lost, and should consider prioritizing partners utilizing materials for both traditional forest products and biomass energy conversion.

[ 2010 c 126 § 5.]

2010 c 126 § 5.