Hazard-reduction program—Notice to landowners within areas selected for review—Proposed plans—Objections to plan, procedure—Final plans—Appeal.
(1) The department shall send a notice to all forestland owners, both public and private, within the geographic area selected for review, stating that the department intends to study the area as part of the hazard-reduction program.
(2) The department shall prepare a proposed plan for each geographic area studied. The department shall provide the proposed plan to affected landowners, Indian tribes, interested parties, and to the advisory committee, if established pursuant to RCW 76.09.305.
(3) Any aggrieved landowners, agencies, tribes, and other persons who object to any or all of the proposed hazard-reduction plan may, within thirty days of issuance of the plan, request the department in writing to schedule a conference. If so requested, the department shall schedule a conference on a date not more than thirty days after receiving such request.
(4) Within ten days after such a conference, the department shall either amend the proposed plan or respond in writing indicating why the objections were not incorporated into the plan.
(5) Within one hundred twenty days following the issuance of the proposed plan as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the department shall distribute a final hazard-reduction plan designating those sites for which hazard-reduction measures are recommended and those sites where no action is recommended. For each hazard-reduction measure recommended, a description of the work and cost estimate shall be provided.
(6) Any aggrieved landowners, agencies, tribes, and other persons are entitled to appeal the final hazard-reduction plan to the appeals board if, within thirty days of the issuance of the final plan, the party transmits a notice of appeal to the appeals board and to the department.
(7) A landowner's failure to object to the recommendations or to appeal the final hazard-reduction plan shall not be deemed an admission that the hazard-reduction recommendations are appropriate.
(8) The department shall provide a copy of the final hazard-reduction plan to the department of ecology and to each affected county.
NOTES:
Intent—Effective dates—Application—Pending cases and rules—2010 c 210: See notes following RCW 43.21B.001.