Source: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Law/WSR/1999/16/99-16-081.htm
Timestamp: 2020-08-09 08:52:22
Document Index: 537638855

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§1536', '§4321', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222', '§ 222']

WSR 99-16-081
[ Filed August 3, 1999, 3:08 p.m. ]
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 76.09.040 and [76.09.]050, and RCW 34.05.
Other Authority: RCW 43.21C.
Shade and Stream Temperature. Shade is needed to provide cool water temperatures. Shade is most critical for species and stocks that are present during the summer. Temperatures above 10 to 18°C, depending on the species and feeding conditions, may cause declining health, reduced growth or weight loss, displacement to less desirable habitat, and, under prolonged or extreme conditions, death.
To restore and maintain natural cool water temperatures, trees along the riparian zones of fish-bearing streams and along contributing nonfish-bearing streams must be retained to assure that the solar radiation does not warm the streams beyond their natural range. Solar heating is a cumulative effect, such that the loss of shade in upstream channels may reduce habitat quality downstream. Because of this, it is important to extend shading upstream into perennial nonfish-bearing waters. On a watershed scale, excessive loss of shade will reduce that amount of habitat available for rearing during the summer. The current Class AA water quality standard (16°C) was intended to fully protect salmonids; however, this standard has since been shown to be inadequate for bull trout and possibly other species. Water temperature standards are currently under review by the Washington Department of Ecology, and recommended revisions are expected some time this year.
Spring Chinook Salmon: The life history and habitat requirements of spring chinook are similar to fall chinook, with the exception that adult migration in freshwater starts prior to July 1, and spawning occurs in August and September. Thus, there are special habitat requirements associated with oversummer holding and spawning during the time when flow is very low and temperatures are at their peak. Many spring chinook stocks are associated with cold, often glacial, river systems.
Bull Trout. Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), a native char, is a cold water species that moved north and into higher elevations after the last glacial period. Bull trout exhibit both migratory and nonmigratory life history forms (Brown 1994). Resident populations generally spend their entire lives in small headwater streams, whereas migratory populations spawn and rear in headwater tributary streams for several years before migrating to either larger river systems (fluvial), lakes and reservoirs (adfluvial), or the ocean (anadromous) for adult rearing. Bull trout generally concentrate in reaches influenced by groundwater where temperature and flow conditions may be more stable (MBTSG 1998; Baxter et al., in press; Baxter and Hauer, in prep.).
Large Woody Debris and Bull Trout: Large woody debris is important for the formation of deep pools and habitat complexity needed by bull trout. Adult bull trout prefer deep cold pools, often associated with the cover of large woody debris, for foraging and for holding during migration (Shepard et al. 1984b, Fraley and Shepherd 1989, Goetz 1989, Brown 1994). Juvenile rearing of bull trout is also often associated with pools with shelter providing large organic debris or clean cobble (McPhail and Murray 1979). A strong preference exists for plunge and scour pools over all other habitat types in southeast Washington (Brown 1994). Large woody debris is also necessary to maintain the step pool formation in steeper headwater streams inhabited by bull trout, and for sediment storage.
Fish Passage and Bull Trout: Due to loss of connectivity, many bull trout populations have become fragmented throughout their range, and remnant headwater populations are all that remain for some drainages. Fish passage barriers result in the loss of genetic exchange, loss in the ability to respond to changes in seasonal habitat requirements and conditions, loss in the ability to recolonize habitats after disturbance regimes, and often extinction of local populations (Rieman et al. 1993, MBTSG 1998). Barriers not only include manmade barriers at road crossings, but also low flows caused from aggregation of excessive coarse sediment, and elevated temperatures.
2. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LISTINGS AND THE FOREST PRACTICES ACT: The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was enacted to conserve threatened and endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. ESA salmonid listings are given above.
Oregon had developed a plan to protect salmonids which was relied on by NMFS in its decision not to list certain species of salmonids as threatened. The Oregon plan was based largely on future actions and voluntary efforts. In June 1998, a federal court rejected this decision as inadequate to prevent endangerment to salmonids under the ESA. In Washington, the forest practice rules also rely on voluntary efforts. The watershed analysis process ( WAC 222-22) is entirely voluntary. Voluntary efforts are not adequate to prevent endangerment to already listed salmonids. Emergency action is necessary because of the state’s obligation to comply with the ESA. This emerging and unexpected development makes it clear that the existing rules are not adequate and the listed species are in jeopardy.
The Forest Practices Act ( RCW 76.09) requires protection of public resources. In order to protect these listed salmonids, the habitat associated with spawning, rearing and migration needs to be protected.
Large Woody Debris: Under the current rules, LWD is only provided at a minimal level. The number of leave trees required to be retained in the RMZ is not based on the ability to improve both near and long-term continuous LWD recruitment. Input of LWD to stream channels generally occurs within one tree height from the channel edge (FEMAT 1993, McDade et al. 1990). Removal of trees from within this area results in a reduction of LWD recruitment to the stream channel. Furthermore, current rules often allow harvest of the larger multiple rotation conifers within the RMZ, which are needed to provide functioning LWD in streams larger than 10' wide.
4. PROTECTING PUBLIC RESOURCES AND CLASS IV-SPECIAL CLASSIFICATION:
The Forest Practices Act requires that forest practices which have the potential for a substantial impact on the environment be classified as Class IV so that they receive additional environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act ( RCW 43.21C). SEPA recognizes the critical importance of restoring and maintaining environmental quality to the public welfare and the importance of full disclosure of adverse environmental impacts caused by agency actions. The Forest Practices Board is obligated under the law to identify those forest practices that have potential for substantial impact on the environment and classify them as Class IV-Special so that additional SEPA review is conducted. If there is the potential for damage to the habitat of a state or federal listed species, then there is potential for substantial impact on the environment. An emergency rule would not necessarily prohibit harvest; it would require additional review to evaluate environmental impacts. This process includes public notice and a public comment period.
The intent of the Forest Practices Act is to meet water quality standards under the Water Pollution Control Act. As indicated by the 2,600 miles of Washington’s streams and rivers listed under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, water quality standards are not being met. Temperature increases attributed to forestry activities cause 303(d) listings. In 1996, streams with elevated temperatures comprised the largest group on the entire 303(d) list. Temperature limits in the water quality standards are intended to fully protect in-stream beneficial uses by preventing any decrease in salmonid health or reproductive success. These temperature standards are being updated in the near future. This goal is consistent with the state water quality antidegradation regulatory requirements. These requirements demand that the beneficial in-stream uses, such as salmonid habitat, be fully protected. Changes in water quality are not allowed that violate the standards set to fully protect these uses. Further, degradation of water quality, even where it does not cause a violation of the standards, is not allowed unless all known, available, and reasonable best management practices are being used to reduce the effect on water quality; and the activity has been found to be in the overriding public interest.
The Forest Practices Board and the Department of Ecology maintain rule making files for this emergency rule that have detailed background information supporting these findings. Please contact Judith Holter, DNR at (360) 902-1412 or Helen Bressler, DOE at (360) 407-6180 if you would like to inspect these files.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 34.05. 97-24-091, § 222-10-040, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98. Statutory Authority: Chapters RCW 76.09 and RCW 34.05 RCW. 96-12-038 and 96-14-081, § 222-10-040, filed 5/31/96 and 7/1/96, effective 7/1/96 and 8/1/96.]
"Act" means the Forest Practices Act, RCW 76.09.
"Local government entity" means the governments of counties and the governments of cities and towns as defined in RCW 35.01.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 34.05. WSR 98-07-047, § 222-16-010, filed 3/13/98, effective 5/1/98; 97-24-091, § 222-16-010, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 97-15-105, § 222-16-010, filed 7/21/97, effective 8/21/97. Statutory Authority: Chapters RCW 76.09 and RCW 34.05 RCW. 96-12-038, § 222-16-010, filed 5/31/96, effective 7/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 34.05. 94-17-033, § 222-16-010, filed 8/10/94, effective 8/13/94; 93-12-001, § 222-16-010, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, RCW 76.09.050 and RCW 34.05. 92-15-011, § 222-16-010, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, RCW 76.09.050 and RCW 34.05.350. 92-03-028, § 222-16-010, filed 1/8/92, effective 2/8/92; 91-23-052, § 222-16-010, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 88-19-112 (Order 551, Resolution No. 88-1), § 222-16-010, filed 9/21/88, effective 11/1/88; 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-16-010, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-16-010, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-16-010, filed 6/16/76.]
*(d) Construction of roads, landings, rock quarries, gravel pits, borrow pits, and spoil disposal areas on slide prone areas as defined in WAC 222-24-020(6) and field verified by the department, in a watershed administrative unit that has not undergone a watershed analysis under WAC 222-22, when such slide prone areas occur on an uninterrupted slope above water typed pursuant to WAC 222-16-030, Type A or Type B Wetland, or capital improvement of the state or its political subdivisions where there is potential for a substantial debris flow or mass failure to cause significant impact to public resources.
*(e) Timber harvest in a watershed administrative unit that has not undergone a watershed analysis under WAC 222-22, on slide prone areas, field verified by the department, where soils, geologic structure, and local hydrology indicate that canopy removal has the potential for increasing slope instability, when such areas occur on an uninterrupted slope above any water typed pursuant to WAC 222-16-030, Type A or Type B Wetland, or a capital improvement of the state or its political subdivisions where there is a potential for a substantial debris flow or mass failure to cause significant impact to public resources.
(f) Timber harvest, in a watershed administrative unit that has not undergone a watershed analysis under WAC 222-22, construction of roads, landings, rock quarries, gravel pits, borrow pits, and spoil disposal areas on snow avalanche slopes within those areas designated by the department, in consultation with department of transportation, as high avalanche hazard.
*(h) Forest practices subject to a watershed analysis conducted under WAC 222-22 in an area of resource sensitivity identified in that analysis which deviates from the prescriptions (which may include an alternate plan) in the watershed analysis.
(m) Slash burning pursuant to a burning permit ( RCW 76.04.205).
*(p) Aerial application of chemicals (except insecticides), outside of the CRGNSA special management area when applied to not more than 40 contiguous acres if the application is part of a combined or cooperative project with another landowner and where the application does not take place within 100 feet of lands used for farming, or within 200 feet of a residence, unless such farmland or residence is owned by the forest landowner. Provisions of WAC 222-38 shall apply.
(4) "Class II." Certain forest practices have been determined to have a less than ordinary potential to damage a public resource and may be conducted as Class II forest practices: Provided, That no forest practice enumerated below may be conducted as a Class II forest practice if the operation requires a hydraulic project approval ( RCW 75.20.100) or is within a "shorelines of the state," or involves a bond in lieu of landowners signature (other than renewals). Such forest practices require an application. No forest practice enumerated below may be conducted as a "Class II" forest practice if it takes place on lands platted after January 1, 1960, or on lands being converted to another use. Such forest practices require a Class IV application. Class II forest practices are the following:
(a) Those requiring hydraulic project approval ( RCW 75.20.100).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 34.05. WSR 98-07-047, § 222-16-050, filed 3/13/98, effective 5/1/98; 97-24-091, § 222-16-050, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 93-12-001, § 222-16-050, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, RCW 76.09.050 and RCW 34.05. 92-15-011, § 222-16-050, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, RCW 76.09.050 and RCW 34.05.350. 91-23-052, § 222-16-050, filed 11/15/91, effective 12/16/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 88-19-112 (Order 551, Resolution No. 88-1), § 222-16-050, filed 9/21/88, effective 11/1/88; 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-16-050, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-16-050, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-16-050, filed 6/16/76.]
(6) Regardless of any other provision in this section, forest practices applications shall not be classified as Class IV-Special based on critical wildlife habitat (state) ( WAC 222-16-080(1)) or critical habitat (federal) ( WAC 222-16-050 (1)(b)(ii)) for a species if the forest practices are consistent with one of the following proposed for protection of the species:
(a) A habitat conservation plan and permit or an incidental take statement covering such species approved by the Secretary of the Interior or Commerce pursuant to 16 U.S.C. §1536 (b) or 1539 (a); an "unlisted species agreement" covering such species approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or National Marine Fisheries Service; or a "no-take letter" or other cooperative or conservation agreement entered into with a federal or state fish and wildlife agency pursuant to its statutory authority for fish and wildlife protection that addresses the needs of the affected species and that is subject to review under the National Environmental Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. §4321 et seq., or the State Environmental Policy Act, RCW 43.21C, as applicable;
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 34.05. 97-24-091, § 222-16-080, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 97-15-105, § 222-16-080, filed 7/21/97, effective 8/21/97. Statutory Authority: Chapters RCW 76.09 and RCW 34.05 RCW. 96-12-038, § 222-16-080, filed 5/31/96, effective 7/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 34.05. 93-12-001, § 222-16-080, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, RCW 76.09.050 and RCW 34.05. 92-15-011, § 222-16-080, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92.]
(b) Landowners with 500 acres or more of ownership within the areas on the salmonid listed map in WAC 222-16-088 and in a watershed administrative unit that has not undergone a watershed analysis under WAC 222-22, must submit within 90 days after notification in the spring or by June 30 after notification in the fall by the department, for department approval, a road maintenance and abandonment plan for those drainages or road systems, within the identified watershed administrative units, that are active or will be active within two years. This subsection does not apply to landowners with an approved habitat conservation plan that has specific provisions for road maintenance.
(c) Landowners with less than 500 acres within the areas on the salmonid listed map in WAC 222-16-088 and in a watershed administrative unit that has not undergone a watershed analysis under WAC 222-22 must submit a road maintenance and abandonment plan covering their entire ownership within the priority WAUs as per (a) of this subsection to the department prior to or concurrently with a forest practice notification or application for proposed road or harvest activities. Once approved, the landowner should attach or reference the approved road maintenance and abandonment plan when submitting subsequent applications.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 34.05. 97-24-091, § 222-24-050, filed 12/3/97, effective 1/3/98; 93-12-001, § 222-24-050, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, RCW 76.09.050 and RCW 34.05. 92-15-011, § 222-24-050, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-24-050, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-24-050, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-24-050, filed 6/16/76.]
(((d))) (iv) Temperature criteria defined for stream classes in WAC 173-201A.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 34.05. 93-12-001, § 222-30-040, filed 5/19/93, effective 6/19/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, RCW 76.09.050 and RCW 34.05. 92-15-011, § 222-30-040, filed 7/2/92, effective 8/2/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-30-040, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and RCW 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-30-040, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-30-040, filed 6/16/76.]