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Olympia, WA -- Gov. Christine
Gregoire and Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland today signed
documents representing a landmark step to protecting Washington's streams
and forests.
The two jointly signed an application to the federal government for a
programmatic, statewide Habitat Conservation Plan. One of a kind because
of its scope and collaborative development, the plan is a 50-year contract
with the federal government for greatly increased protection of
Washington's streams and forests.
It will also assure private landowners that practicing forestry in
Washington state meets federal Endangered Species requirements for aquatic
species.
Set in motion by the Forests and Fish Agreement, the plan covers 60,000
miles of streams running through 9.1 million acres of forestland.
At a joint news conference, the two elected officials signed the
application and presented it to David Allen, regional director of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and Bob Lohn, regional administrator of National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.
"The Forests and Fish Agreement is a high-level illustration of
sustainability at work," Gov. Gregoire said. "Traditionally
opposing sides - the timber industry and the natural resources agencies
and the tribes - were able to come together in this agreement."
"It's a testament to how our great state meets the challenge of
protecting our precious natural resources - our salmon and clean water -
along with retaining jobs in our rural forest communities," Gov.
Gregoire said.
She noted the importance that the best available science be used to show
where changes need to be made along the way.
"The term 'win-win' is sometimes overused, but this really is a great
example of all sides benefiting from an action," she said. "Our
streams, fisheries and wildlife get much greater protection. At the same
time, an important segment of our economy is able to continue operations
with some certainty that they are in compliance with existing laws.
"Congratulations to you, Commissioner Sutherland, for bringing the
Forests and Fish partners to this historic moment. This is a model for
other industries in our state to follow."
Lands Commissioner Sutherland thanked the collaborative Forests and Fish
partners. He said, "The individuals here today have personally spent
years, if not decades, working together collaboratively in order to reach
this point. They have one thing in common - a deep love and respect for
the
natural resources of our state. We owe these partners a tremendous debt of
thanks for their hard work forging a plan that will help preserve healthy
forests and clean streams for our wild salmon and other aquatic species,
and that will also provide jobs and secure the sustainable and
responsible management of our forests, now and for future generations.
"They represent the State Department of Ecology, the Department of
Fish and Wildlife, the Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine
Fisheries Service/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
the environmental community, the Washington Farm Forestry Association, the
Washington Forest Protection Association, the Washington State Association
of Counties and the State Department of Natural Resources. They have
dedicated thousands of hours of research, negotiation, collaboration and
coordination to achieve this HCP," he said.
Sutherland also acknowledged the essential contributions other elected
officials have made to Forests and Fish.
"We must also thank former Gov. Locke for his Statewide Salmon
Recovery Strategy, declaring that our streams and rivers needed to be
clean and protected," he said.
"And we are grateful to the Washington state legislators whose
bipartisan leadership sponsored the original Forests and Fish law,
especially Rep. Jim Buck, Sen. Debbie Regala, and Sen. Mark Doumit. And we
wouldn't be here
today without the support of our entire Congressional delegation, in
particular Congressman Norm Dicks and Sen. Patty Murray who have made it
possible to maintain momentum for this agreement with funding support in
Washington, D.C.," said Sutherland.
The Forests and Fish Act, passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov.
Locke in 1999, directed the Forest Practices Board to adopt the Forests
and Fish Report into the State Forest Practices Rules. The Forest
Practices Board adopted those rules in 2001. Founded on science, the rules
give Washington state the greatest level of protection for forested
streams in the United States. The act also directed the governor, or the
governor's designee,
to obtain Endangered Species Act assurances on behalf of the state of
Washington.
As designated by former Gov. Locke, Commissioner Sutherland directed the
Department of Natural Resources to work closely with the various partners
to develop the necessary document to submit this application to the
federal
government.
Following today's submission of the application, the Federal Register will
print a notice of availability, which will begin the 90-day public comment
period and a series of public meetings across the state.
More information about Forests and Fish is available at www.DNR.WA.Gov
or from Debora Brown-Munguia at 360-902-1048.
Contact:
Jerry
Gilliland
Governor's Communications Office
360-902-4136
Patty Henson
Commissioner of Public Lands Communications Office
360-902-1023
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