Attorney General No.

SA97RF0047

Secretary of State No.

772

Description

TIMBER HARVEST PRACTICES. DISCHARGES OR RELEASES INTO WATERCOURSES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Restricts discharge or release of material harmful to fish or water quality by industrial timber operators on commercial or federal timberland. Adds new requirements/fees to obtain permits before commencing operations; conduct inspections; monitor compliance; submit annual reports. Limits permits to five-year maximum. Provides judicial review of permits issued by regional boards. Administrative and civil enforcement actions, with burden on defendants to prove compliance. Authorizes injunctions, fines for violations. Imposes reporting requirements upon designated government employees and registered foresters who become aware of violations, with criminal penalties for nondisclosure. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Unknown reduction in state and local revenues, potentially a few million to over ten million dollars annually, to extent timber harvesting is reduced. Unknown long term impact on state and local revenues due to changes in economic activities. State costs for permit process and other regulatory activities by state and regional water boards, potentially in millions to tens of millions of dollars annually, offset by fees. Unknown impact on costs to other state agencies to implement timber harvest regulations; any costs would be offset by fees. Annual savings of about $13 million to various state funds from filing fee revenues for timber harvest plans.

Proponents

William Verick William F. Grader, Jr C/O Mr. James Wheaton Environmental Law Foundation, 1736 Franklin Street, 8Th Floor, Oakland, Ca. 94612 (510) 208-4555

Date

12-8-1997

Document Type

Initiative

Qualified

Failed to Qualify

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