Changes made to protect those who reside near potential landslide areas

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Seattle TImes reports timber companies that want to harvest near potentially dangerous landslide areas will now have to conduct geologic reviews before getting a logging permit from the state, a change announced on Friday by the Department of Natural Resources.

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark states the new requirement applies if DNR determines a proposed harvest could affect public safety, an added precaution following the deadly landslide in Oso.

Reports from geologists are already required when the logging is to take place on potentially unstable slopes, according to DNR.

Commissioner Goldmark is acting on recommendations following the recent conclusions from a study of 2007 landslides in Southwest Washington.

A special meeting underway today in Olympia of the Washington State Forest Practices Board will review what’s known about the Oso Landslide, consider the latest scientific information, and discuss the state’s regulatory approach to protecting public safety and public resources.

The board’s discussions will continue tomorrow at its regularly scheduled meeting

When: Today, May 12, 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Where:  John A. Cherberg Building, Hearing Room 1
304 15th Ave. SW, Olympia

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Read more about it here: “State: Review now required before logging near risky landslide areas” from The Seattle Times on May 9, 2014 at 8:57 p.m.

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3 Responses to “Changes made to protect those who reside near potential landslide areas”

  1. Darren Hall says:

    If people want to build at the base of a large hill or mountain then they should also know that those steep slopes were cut by slides not by logging.

  2. Darren Hall says:

    I’m sure record rainfalls in a very short time frame had nothing to do with those slides……
    People need to get real and accept that slides have been happening for centuries and it is not all the loggers fault.
    The Oso slide is in an area that has been sliding for centuries. The Glenoma slide happened where a slide occurred in the early 1800’s also.
    Do people wonder why they don’t see any old growth stumps in those areas…??
    Because they have been slide areas for centuries and it is not because of logging.

  3. Bill S says:

    Nobody was killed in the Glenoma landslides a few years ago but clear cutting those steep hillsides cost the taxpayer and private landowners millions.

    The timber companies walked away scott free. Helps to have good lawyers.

    Does it make sense to make a few bucks cutting these steep slopes and somebody else paying millions for the damage and cleanup?