Van De Wege moves quickly to allow blown-down timber harvesting

March 5, 2008

OLYMPIA – An amendment attached to legislation voted out of the House today will allow storm-damaged timber to be harvested without penalty.  The amendment allows small timberland owners to harvest downed trees immediately, without being moved into the tax rates applied to large timber harvesters. 

Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, offered the amendment to help harvesters dealing with storm damage.

“These harvesters are already getting hit with the housing slowdown and a flooded timber market,” Van De Wege said.  “We don’t need to compound those problems by charging an unreasonable tax rate.” 

Small harvesters are currently limited to 2 million board feet a year before higher tax rates would kick in.  Van De Wege’s amendment increases the allowed amount to 5 million board feet for those in declared emergency areas. 

The issue was brought to Van De Wege’s attention last week when he heard that certain harvesters would be hurt for putting downed timber into the market, under current law.

“Some say the state doesn’t move quickly, but this is an example of us responding almost immediately,” Van De Wege said.  “I know it doesn’t always work this way, so I’m glad this amendment was added to moving legislation and people will be helped by it.”

The amended legislation, Senate Bill 6950, will now go back to the Senate for them to approve amendments added in the House.