WAC 222-24-052   Road maintenance.  *(1) Forest roads. Forest roads are defined in WAC 222-16-010. To the extent necessary to prevent potential or actual damage to public resources, the following maintenance shall be conducted on forest roads, except as addressed in subsections *(5) and *(6) of this section:

     (a) Drainage structures shall be kept functional.

     (b) Ground water that has been captured by ditchline must be diverted onto stable portions of the forest floor by using ditchouts, culverts or drivable dips.

     (c) Road surface must be maintained as necessary to:

     (i) Minimize erosion of the surface and the subgrade; and

     (ii) Minimize direct delivery of surface water to typed water; and

     (iii) Minimize sediment entry to typed water; and

     (iv) Direct any ground water that is captured by the road surface onto stable portions of the forest floor.

     (d) During and on completion of the following operations, the road surface shall be crowned, outsloped, or water barred and berms removed from the outside edge except those intentionally constructed for protection of fills:

     (i) Log, pulp, chip, or specialized forest product haul;

     (ii) Rock haul; and

     (iii) Road building.

     (e) Before the first winter rainy season following termination of operations, drainage structures must be cleared and the road surface must be crowned, outsloped, water barred or otherwise left in a condition which prevents accelerated erosion, interruption of water movement within wetlands, mass wasting, or direct delivery of water or sediment to a typed water. (See the board manual section 3 for specific guidance.)

     (f) Thereafter, except as provided in (d) of this subsection, the landowner must clear or repair ditches or drainage structures that are known or should be known to be nonfunctional and causing or likely to cause material damage to a public resource.

     (g) The landowner will not be liable for penalties or monetary damages, under the act, for damage occurring from a condition brought about by public use, unless the landowner fails to make repairs as directed by a notice to comply.

     (h) During the regular course of road maintenance on stream-adjacent parallel roads, down wood that is blocking vehicle passage shall be placed on the side of the road closest to the adjacent water.

     *(2) Additional drainage structure maintenance. If the department determines, based on a field inspection and physical evidence, that the above road maintenance has been or will be inadequate to protect public resources, and that additional measures will provide adequate protection, the department will require the landowner or operator to install additional or larger drainage structures or other drainage improvements identified as necessary by the department.

     *(3) Abandoned roads. An abandoned road is a road which the forest landowner has abandoned in accordance with procedures of (a) through (e) of this subsection. Roads are exempt from maintenance under this section only after (e) of this subsection is completed.

     (a) Roads are outsloped, water barred, or otherwise left in a condition suitable to control erosion and maintain water movement within wetlands and natural drainages;

     (b) Ditches are left in a suitable condition to reduce erosion;

     (c) The road is blocked so that four wheel highway vehicles cannot pass the point of closure at the time of abandonment;

     (d) Water crossing structures and fills on all typed waters are removed, except where the department determines other measures would provide adequate protection to public resources; and

     (e) The department shall determine whether the road has been abandoned according to procedures of this subsection. If the department determines the road is properly abandoned, it must notify the landowner in writing within thirty days that the road is officially abandoned.

     *(4) Orphaned roads. An orphaned road is a road or railroad grade that the forest landowner has not used for forest practices activities since 1974. Many of these roads are overgrown or closed off, but have not satisfied the abandonment process.

     (a) An inventory and assessment, of the risk to public resources, or public safety must be completed by the landowner in conjunction with the road maintenance and abandonment plan.

     (b) Five years after the effective date of this rule, when the extent of any problems associated with the orphaned roads is known, the hazard-reduction statute will be evaluated to determine if it is still needed and if funds for cost-sharing are needed to effect repair or abandonment of orphan roads. See RCW 76.09.300.

     (c) Landowners are not obligated under this rule to repair or abandon such roads before the end of the five year period, but they can voluntarily take this action.

     *(5) Brush control. Chemical control of roadside brush will be done in accordance with WAC 222-38-020.

     *(6) Road surface treatment.

     (a) Apply oil to the road surface only when the temperature is above 55 degrees F and during the season when there is a minimal chance of rain for the next 48 hours. Use of waste oil is subject to RCW 70.95I.060(5).

     (b) Water the road surface prior to application of oil to assist in penetration.

     (c) Construct a temporary berm along the road shoulder wherever needed to control runoff of the applied chemical.

     (d) Take extreme care to avoid excess application of road chemicals. Shut off the flow at all bridges.

     (e) Dispose of the rinse water fluids on the road surface or in a place safe from potential contamination of water when cleaning out chemical storage and application equipment tanks used for storage and application of road treatment materials.

     (f) Comply with WAC 222-38-020 when using dry road chemicals.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040,[76.09.]050 , [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-24-052, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]