Orcutt: Wise Timber Harvest Benefit Washington Environment, Economy

For Representative Ed Orcutt, some of the most pressing agriculture issues in Olympia this session deal with timber management.  The Kalama Republican says the state does not need to tighten forestry regulations, but rather the state needs to encourage responsible timber harvest.

“Which is absolutely critical for helping with school construction helping construct buildings on our university and college campuses, there’s money that goes for a variety of things, that is non tax revenue, so we don’t have to tax somebody to be able to do these things, because our timber is providing that kind of revenue for us.”

Orcutt adds the state can help environments damages by large wildfires by allowing for the harvest of fire damaged timer.  Which he says House Bill 1710 would encourage.

“As a professional forester by trade, I can tell you this is something that’s actually going to be beneficial to the environment rather than detrimental.”

Orcutt said relaxing a few regulations can help the timber industry and environment across Washington.

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