WAC 222-08-160   Continuing review of forest practices rules.  *(1) Annual evaluations. The department, after consulting with affected state agencies, Indian tribes, forest landowners, fish and wildlife, natural resources, and environmental interest groups, shall report annually to the forest practices board. This reporting will be an assessment of how the rules and voluntary processes, including the Cultural Resources Protection and Management Plan, as committed in the 1999 Forests and Fish Report, Appendix O (O.3), are working.

     *(2) Adaptive management program. The adaptive management program will be used to determine the effectiveness of forest practices rules in aiding the state's salmon recovery effort and provide recommendations to the board on proposed changes to forest practices rules to meet timber industry viability and salmon recovery. The program provides assurances that rules and guidance not meeting aquatic resource objectives will be modified in a streamlined and timely manner. The board may also use this program to adjust other forest practice rules and guidance in order to further the purposes of chapter 76.09 RCW. The specific components of the adaptive management program are set forth in WAC 222-12-045.

     (3) Resource management plans. The department is directed to develop a method for cooperative voluntary resource management planning among forest landowners, governmental agencies, affected Indian tribes, and environmental groups which would result in the development of plans which might be used as an alternative to the forest practice rules in achieving the purposes and policies set forth in the act. This should be done through pilot projects, at least one of which should be located on the east side of the Cascade summit and one on the west side of the Cascade summit.

     (4) Compliance monitoring. The department shall conduct compliance monitoring that addresses the following key question: "Are forest practices being conducted in compliance with the rules?" The department shall provide statistically sound, biennial compliance audits and monitoring reports to the board for consideration and support of rule and guidance analysis. Compliance monitoring shall determine whether forest practices rules are being implemented on the ground. An infrastructure to support compliance will include adequate compliance monitoring, enforcement, training, education and budget.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 05-12-119, § 222-08-160, filed 5/31/05, effective 7/1/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050,[76.09.]370 , 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, recodified as § 222-08-160, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 97-24-091, § 222-08-035, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-08-035, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88.]