HB2203 Summary

• Authorizes mayors of cities/towns and county boards of supervisors or sheriffs to determine if catastrophic wildland fuel loads exist on state or federal land within their boundaries, considering factors like tree density, insect infestation, fuel loads, and watershed protection.

• Requires local officials to notify managing agencies (federal or state) of catastrophic fuel load determinations and demand a plan to abate the condition within at least 30 days, with notice copies sent to the governor, attorney general, and congressional delegation for federal lands.

• Allows local officials to pursue all legal remedies if federal agencies fail to respond or refuse to abate catastrophic wildland fuel loads that threaten public health, safety, water supplies, or air quality, while attempting to coordinate with state and federal agencies.

• Amends state forester's powers to include removal of nonnative woody biomass, overgrowth of woody biomass, or catastrophic wildland fuel loads from state lands for watershed protection and enhancement, with nonmerchantable materials sold to highest bidder.

• Allows state forester to enter cooperative agreements with cities, towns, and counties to remove catastrophic wildland fuel loads from their lands and provides that nonmerchantable removed materials can be auctioned, with purchasers retaining rights to enhanced value conversions.