Ensuring Sustainability in the Emerging Forest Biomass Sector: DNR’s Proactive Approach

2. Ensuring Sustainability in the Emerging Forest Biomass Sector: DNR’s Proactive Approach Rachael Jamison June 2012

3. Overview Heading Here • Initiative Overview • Biomass Defined • Initiative Principles • Pilot Project (HB 2165 update) • Long-term Contracts (state lands) • Forest Practices Work-Group • Supply Study • Bulleted text here • Type size & font are embedded • Leave equal space on sides of text • Always use good quality images for projection • Images shouldn’t look stretched Large vertical photo here

4. Initiative Overview • Began in 2009 by Commissioner Goldmark • 3 pieces of legislation passed to date (HB 2165, SSHB 2481, SHB 1422) • 2 pilot projects fully permitted and under construction • Authority to sell biomass from public lands • $1M USFS grant to evaluate biomass supply and conduct forest health work • “Biomass” added to definition of “Forest Practice” in Forest Practices rules

5. Initiative Principles • Articulation of initiative values • Appropriate scale • Appropriate location • Highly efficient • Outreach • Comprehensive website • White papers • Stakeholder group participation • State, Region Bioenergy teams • Energy policy groups

6. Forest Biomass: Defined • Forest Biomass is: Material from trees and woody plants that are by-products of forest management, ecosystem restoration, or hazardous fuel reduction treatments. • Forest Biomass is NOT: Traditional timber or whole trees that would otherwise be made into lumber, paper, and other products; Downed logs and standing dead trees required to be left on site by forest practice regulations; material incorporated into the forest floor; stumps; Treated wood; Wood and wood products from old growth forests.

7. Forest Biomass: Pilot Projects (HB 2165)

8. Long-term Supply Contracts • (2SHB 2481) • Authorizes DNR to enter into long-term contracts to convey forest biomass from DNR-managed lands in 5 ways: • Authorize separate sale within valuable materials contracts. • Long-term competitive contracts (5 years + 3 5-year renewals) • Direct sales contracts w/o public auction • 15 year initial contract for entities making a qualifying capital investment of $50M. • Lease state lands for the purpose of integrated supply area/facility siting. • Supply analysis required prior to entering into long term contracts.

9. Forest Practices Biomass Work-Group Forest Practices Biomass Work-Group Purpose: “Educate ourselves on the science/policy and available technologies related to biomass harvest, the Forest Practices rules that apply to such harvest and biomass harvest BMP’s. Discuss and determine if specific BMP’s and/or Forest Practices rules and/or rule revisions related to biomass harvest are needed in Washington. If so, identify a path toward identifying what is needed. Topics Covered: Soil Health and Productivity, Silviculture and Roads, Disturbance (Fire, Pest, Disease), Dead wood, Slash disposal, carbon storage, Water quality, Riparian Zones/Unstable Slopes, Water Infiltration, Wildlife, Biodiversity and Cultural Resources. Report to Forest Practices Board expected in August 2012.

10. Forest Practices Biomass Work-Group WAC 222-16-010 "Forest practice" means any activity conducted on or directly pertaining to forest land and relating to growing, harvesting, or processing timber or forest biomass, including but not limited to:     Road and trail construction;     Harvesting, final and intermediate;     Precommercial thinning;     Reforestation;     Fertilization;     Prevention and suppression of diseases and insects;     Salvage of trees; and     Brush control.

11. Washington Forest Biomass Supply Assessment • Methods • Research team (UW) created a comprehensive database of forest biomass production (in BDT) for Washington with projections of future biomass production as a result of traditional timber operations for 2010, 2020, and 2030. • The database is spatially explicit which allows for summarization by forest type, ownership and forest management across the state. • Forest biomass was studied under four distinct stages of processing: felling of trees in the woods, bringing tops and branches to roadsides, processing piles by biomass operators, and delivery of forest biomass to markets.

12. Washington Forest Biomass Supply Assessment

14. Washington Forest Biomass Supply Assessment • Outcomes: • Utilization could more than double (from the 1.4 million BDT that is currently able to go to market) without any increase in timber harvests. • The lack of facilities influenced the volume of piled and roadside biomass that processor had access to from reaching markets • 2. If prices went up as little as $10/BDT, competition among facilities could be seen. • 3. Sustainability. Across the state, there is already negligible to 72 million BDT of biomass on site. This volume will REMAIN on-site after harvest.

15. Washington Forest Biomass Supply Assessment • Outcomes: • 4. After timber harvest, there is an ADDITIONAL volume of biomass (the 1.4 million BDT that never left the site to be piled) that will be added to the pre-existing volume. • Western Washington: Approx. 32 BDT/acre • Eastern Washington: Approx. 22 BDT/acre • 5. Study concludes that there is sufficient biomass left on-site to ensure ecosystem functionality.

16. Questions