WHERAS, The State of Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manage 2 million acres of timberland in Washington and administers forest practice rules on an additional 10 million acres of private timberland in the State of Washington, and
WHERAS, DNR lands produce 692,000 MBF annually of timber sales for use by the forest products industry in Washington and Oregon, and revenue to operate public schools and government in the State of Washington, and
WHERAS, these lands and rules fall under the management of the Commissioner of Public Lands, a 4 year position elected by the citizens of Washington, and
WHERAS, On November 4, 2008 Peter Goldmark was elected Commissioner of Public Lands.
NOW, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oregon Logging Conference (OLC) go on record to encourage Commissioner Goldmark to maintain the DNR timber sale program without any reduction in the annual harvest, and keep the Washington Forest Practices Act in its current form without modifications to stream side riparian rules or adding new restrictions which adversely affect timber harvest on private and state lands in Washington.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the OLC urges the Commissioner of Public Lands to work with the forest products industry and county governments of Washington to develop ways of maximizing timber harvest in the state while protecting 12,000,000 acres of timberland managed under rules of the Forest Practices Act.