2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 76.06.020: Definitions.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (1) "Agent" means the recognized legal representative, representatives, agent, or agents for any owner.

     (2) "Department" means the department of natural resources.

     (3) "Owner" means and includes persons or their agents.

     (4) "Timber land" means any land on which there is a sufficient number of trees, standing or down, to constitute, in the judgment of the department, a forest insect or forest disease breeding ground of a nature to constitute a menace, injurious and dangerous to permanent forest growth in the district under consideration.

     (5) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public lands.

     (6) "Exotic" means not native to forest lands in Washington state.

     (7) "Forest land" means any land on which there are sufficient numbers and distribution of trees and associated species to, in the judgment of the department, contribute to the spread of forest insect or forest disease outbreaks that could be injurious to forest health.

     (8) "Forest health" means the condition of a forest being sound in ecological function, sustainable, resilient, and resistant to insects, diseases, fire, and other disturbance, and having the capacity to meet landowner objectives.

     (9) "Forest health emergency" means the introduction of, or an outbreak of, an exotic forest insect or disease that poses an imminent danger of damage to the environment by threatening the survivability of native tree species.

     (10) "Forest insect or disease" means a living stage of an insect, other invertebrate animal, or disease-causing organism or agent that can directly or indirectly injure or cause disease or damage in trees, or parts of trees, or in processed or manufactured wood, or other products of trees.

     (11) "Integrated pest management" means a strategy that uses various combinations of pest control methods, including biological, cultural, and chemical methods, in a compatible manner to achieve satisfactory control and ensure favorable economic and environmental consequences.

     (12) "Native" means having populated Washington's forested lands prior to European settlement.

     (13) "Outbreak" means a rapidly expanding population of insects or diseases with potential to spread.

     (14) "Person" means any individual, partnership, private, public, or municipal corporation, county, federal, state, or local governmental agency, tribes, or association of individuals of whatever nature.

[2003 c 314 § 2; 2000 c 11 § 2; 1988 c 128 § 15; 1951 c 233 § 2.]

Findings -- 2003 c 314: See note following RCW 17.24.220.