(1) What is DNR's authority to determine which timber sale decisions are exempt from SEPA review? Under WAC 197-11-830 DNR may determine which decisions to sell timber from public lands do not have potential for significant impact on the environment. Such decisions are categorically exempt from the threshold determination and EIS requirements of SEPA under WAC 197-11-830. This determination applies only to DNR's decision to sell timber harvested from public lands not requiring approval from the board of natural resources.

(2) What is the threshold for determining that timber sale decisions are exempt from SEPA?

(a) The following DNR timber sale decisions do not have a potential for significant impact on the environment and are categorically exempt from SEPA:

(i) Timber sales containing harvest units of less than twenty acres that DNR appraises to be less than the amount specified in RCW 79.11.130; and

(ii) Thinning or salvage timber sales of any unit size that DNR appraises to be less than the amount specified in RCW 79.11.130.

(b) These sales are small sales not requiring approval by the board of natural resources and have low volume and low acreage. DNR has not extended this determination to sales requiring approval by the board of natural resources because of the public values associated with public lands. However, this determination is not intended to alter DNR's SEPA compliance responsibility for regulatory decisions concerning forest practice applications for state and private lands under RCW 76.09.050 and WAC 222-16-050.