MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — The Department of Natural Resources’ plans for state-managed timberlands has become even more tangled in legal underbrush.
Last week we reported that Skagit County has appealed a recently-approved state timber harvest plan that’s expected to result in less revenue for local taxing districts.
Now The Seattle Times reports two new lawsuits have been brought against the plan.
A suit filed in Skagit County by timber-reliant government entities and a timber trade organization claims the plan violates the agency’s obligation to maximize income from timber harvests.
A coalition of environmental groups is suing in King County, arguing that the state is ignoring the broader benefits of healthy forests beyond revenue from logging.
Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz has said she hoped the plan would balance interests and avoid lawsuits.