Title 76 — Title 76 FORESTS AND FOREST PRODUCTS

As used in this chapter:(1) "Department" means the department of natural resources;(2) "Forestland" means any lands considered best adapted for the growing of trees; and(3) The term "owner" means and includes individuals, partnerships, corporations, associations, federal land man…

The Yacolt burn situated in Clark, Skamania, and Cowlitz counties in townships 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 north, ranges 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7 1/2 and 8 east is hereby designated a high hazard forest area requiring rehabilitation by the establishment of extensive protection facilities and by …

This chapter shall be administered by the department.[ 1988 c 128 s 38; 1953 c 74 s 3.]

The department shall use funds placed at its disposal to map, survey, fell snags, build firebreaks and access roads, increase forest protection activities and do all work deemed necessary to protect forestlands from fire in the rehabilitation zone, and to perform reforestation an…

The department is authorized to cooperate with owners of land located in the area described in RCW 76.14.020 in establishing firebreaks in their most logical position regardless of land ownership. The department may by gift, purchase, condemnation or otherwise acquire easements f…

Nothing in the provisions of RCW 76.14.050 as now or hereafter amended shall be construed to otherwise alter the terms of any existing agreements heretofore entered into by the state and private parties under the authority of RCW 76.14.050 as now or hereafter amended.[ 1975 1st e…

The department shall have authority to acquire the right by purchase, condemnation or otherwise to cause snags on private land to be felled, slash to be disposed of, and to take such other measures on private land necessary to carry out the objectives of this chapter.[ 1988 c 128…

The department shall have authority to expend public money for the purposes and objectives provided in this chapter.[ 1988 c 128 s 42; 1955 c 171 s 4.]

The department shall develop fire protection projects within the high hazard forest area and shall determine the boundaries thereof in accordance with the lands benefited thereby and shall assess one-sixth of the cost of such projects equally upon all forestlands within the proje…

Notice of each project, the estimated assessment per acre, and a description of the boundaries thereof shall be given by publication in a local newspaper of general circulation thirty days in advance of commencing work. Any person owning land within the project may within ten day…

Except when the owner has notified the department in writing that he or she will make payment on the deferred plan, the assessment shall be collected by the department reporting the same to the county assessor of the county in which the property is situated upon completion of the…

Where the department finds that a portion of the work in any project, except road building, has been done by private expenditures for fire protection purposes only and that the work was not required by other forestry laws having general application, then the department shall appr…

This chapter shall not relieve the landowner of providing adequate fire protection for forestland pursuant to RCW 76.04.610 or, in lieu thereof, of paying the forest fire protection assessment specified, but shall be deemed as providing solely for extra fire protection needed in …

Projects pursuant to RCW 76.14.080 shall not be developed to include lands outside the following described boundary within the high hazard forest areas: Beginning at a point on the east boundary of section 24, township 4 north, range 4 east 1/4 mile south of the northeast corner;…