Bill that may have encouraged Washington to sell state forest lands amended

LEGISLATION – A section of a bill that would have studied the economic benefit of selling some state forest lands to counties and timber companies was scrapped after conservation groups raised concerns.

Section 6 of SB 6410 called for the Department of Natural Resources to “evaluate lands portfolio and revenue streams, management practices, and transaction processes, and develop options and recommendations designed to ensure the state’s fiduciary duty is being met and increase the amount and stability of revenue from state lands and state forestland over time.”

The amendment mentioned specifically selling or transferring land to counties and timber companies. Conservation Northwest, the Washington chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and others opposed the amendment.

According to Conservation Northwest more than 400 people contacted legislatures with concerns about the bill.

Last week the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources removed the land transfer language from section 6.