Page 448

The information must be readily available and easy to access for the 1 public. 2 (b) The department must not disclose sensitive or confidential 3 information regarding departmental leases. Nothing in this subsection 4 authorizes the disclosure of information that is otherwise 5 confidential. 6 (39) $10,000,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state 7 appropriation is provided solely for the department to prepare 8 commercial thinning timber sales for the purposes of restoring 9 spotted owl and riparian habitat as specified in the 1997 state lands 10 habitat conservation plan, facilitating access to more timber volume 11 than is possible under normal operating funding and increasing carbon 12 sequestration. Thinning operations in designated spotted owl 13 management areas must be conducted in stands that do not yet meet 14 spotted owl habitat conditions. Thinning in riparian areas must 15 comply with department procedures for restoring riparian habitat 16 under the 1997 state lands habitat conservation plan. 17 (40) $5,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for 18 fiscal year 2024 and $5,000,000 of the general fund—state 19 appropriation for fiscal year 2025 are provided solely to continue to 20 address the maintenance backlog associated with providing recreation 21 on lands managed by the department. Allowable uses include, but are 22 not limited to, maintenance, repair, or replacement of trails, toilet 23 facilities, roads, parking lots, campgrounds, picnic sites, water 24 access areas, signs, kiosks, and gates. The department is encouraged 25 to partner with nonprofit organizations in the maintenance of public 26 lands. 27 (41) $175,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal 28 year 2024 and $175,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for 29 fiscal year 2025 are provided solely for the department to implement 30 a pilot project to evaluate the costs and benefits of marketing and 31 selling specialty forest products including cedar salvage, alder, and 32 other hardwood products. The pilot project must include: Identifying 33 suitable areas for hardwood or cedar sales within the administrative 34 areas of the Olympic and Pacific Cascade regions, preparing and 35 conducting sales, and evaluating the costs and benefits from 36 conducting the sales. 37 (a) The pilot project must include an evaluation that: 38 p. 447 ESSB 5187.SL