HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.120

(By Delegates Talbott, Fragale, Guthrie, Hall, Manypenny, Martin, L. Phillips, R. Phillips, Pino, Shaver, Swartzmiller, Wells, Anderson, Duke, Ellem, Evans and Romine)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the the effect of transferring supervisory and jurisdictional responsibilities of all or part of Coopers Rock State Forest from the Division of Forestry to the Division of Natural Resources and prohibiting the sale of timber in all or part of Coopers Rock State Forest.

    WHEREAS, All West Virginia state forests are managed by and under the jurisdiction of the Division of Forestry, except for Kanawha State Forest; and

    WHEREAS, Kanawha State Forest is managed by and under the jurisdiction of the Division of Natural Resources; and

    WHEREAS, Sale of timber from Kanawha State Forest is prohibited; and

    WHEREAS, Legislation was introduced to transfer supervisory and jurisdictional responsibilities of Coopers Rock State Forest from the Division of Forestry to the Division of Natural Resources and prohibiting the sale of timber from the Coopers Rock State Forest, treating Coopers Rock State Forest like Kanawha State Forest; and

    WHEREAS, Coopers Rock State Forest south of I-68 is utilized by the public for recreational purposes; and

    WHEREAS, In the past twelve months, there were approximately 200,000 recreational visitors to the portion of the forest south of I-68; and

    WHEREAS, There are concerns about timbering and the effects of timbering on the portion of the forest located south of I-68; and

    WHEREAS, The West Virginia University Division of Forestry and Natural Resources utilizes Coopers Rock State Forest north of I-68 for research; and

    WHEREAS, If the supervisory and jurisdictional responsibilities of the forest were transferred to the Division of Natural Resources and timber harvest prohibited, the West Virginia University Division of Forestry and Natural Resources may be required to relocate all educationally based labs for students, all professional training and outreach programs, and all research that would use Coopers Rock State Forest relative to management and stand manipulation; and

    WHEREAS, Transferring supervisory and jurisdictional responsibilities of all or part of Coopers Rock State Forest from the Division of Forestry to the Division of Natural Resources could have a significant fiscal impact to the Division of Forestry and the West Virginia University Division of Forestry and Natural Resources; and therefore be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct a study on the effect of transferring supervisory and jurisdictional responsibilities of all or part of Coopers Rock State Forest from the Division of Forestry to the Division of Natural Resources and prohibiting the sale of timber on all or part of Coopers Rock State Forest; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2012 on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.