QUILCENE — The state Department of Natural Resources will host a public hearing next month to receive testimony about a proposed exchange of state trust land designations in Jefferson County.
The hearing will be at 6:45 p.m. May 7 in the multi-purpose room at Quilcene School, 294715 U.S. Highway 101.
A presentation on the Dabob Bay natural area proposed boundary will precede the hearing at 6 p.m.
Written testimony on the proposed swap will be accepted until 5 p.m. May 14.
The goal of the proposed exchange is to position state trust lands near Dabob Bay for future transfer to the state’s “natural areas program,” said Bob Redling, DNR communications manager,
The proposal would exchange about 2,090 acres from the Common School Trust for about 1,490 acres from the state Forest Transfer Trust.
Values of the lands will be determined by an appraisal of timber and land values.
The Common School Trust will be reimbursed from the state general fund for the value of land that is transferred to natural area status.
The lands to be designated as state forest lands will be managed for revenue to support Jefferson County services, Redling said.
Comments can be e-mailed to Trust_Land_Transfer@dnr.wa.gov or mailed to DNR, Trust Land Transfer Program, Dabob (Tarboo) Bay Intergrant Exchange No. 86-082326, P.O. Box 47014, Olympia, WA 98504-7014.
Comments will be considered by DNR in developing a final exchange agreement.
A summary of the comments and the exchange agreement will be presented to the Board of Natural Resources at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Maps and descriptions of the properties are available online at www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/Topics/OtherLandTransactions/Pages/amp_tlt.aspx.
