76.13.140 - Small forest landowners -- Value of buffer trees. - Washington Statutes

Small forest landowners — Value of buffer trees.

In order to assist small forest landowners to remain economically viable, the legislature intends that the small forest landowners be able to net fifty percent of the value of the trees left in the buffer areas. The amount of compensation offered in RCW 76.13.120 shall also include the compliance costs for participation in the riparian easement program. For purposes of this section, "compliance costs" includes the cost of preparing and recording the easement, and any business and occupation tax and real estate excise tax imposed because of entering into the easement. The office may contract with private consultants that the office finds qualified to perform timber cruises of forestry riparian easements or to lay out streamside buffers and comply with other forest and fish regulatory requirements related to the forest riparian easement program. The department shall reimburse small forest landowners for the actual costs incurred for laying out the streamside buffers and marking the qualifying timber once a contract has been executed for the forestry riparian easement program. Reimbursement is subject to the work being acceptable to the department. The small forest landowner office shall determine how the reimbursement costs will be calculated.

[2002 c 120 § 3; 2001 c 280 § 3.]