AGO 1949-51 No. 166.

• Case Date: November 25, 1949
• Court: Washington

Washington Attorney General Opinions 1949. AGO 1949-51 No. 166. November 25, 1949[Orig. Op. Page 1]PRIVATEFORESTRY - PROTECTION OF NON-FOREST LANDS.Division of Forestry cannot undertake the protection of non-forest lands by contract.Mr. B. L. Orell Supervisor of Forestry Olympia, WashingtonCite as: AGO 1949-51 No. 166Dear Sir: This is in answer to your letter of November 1, 1949, in which you ask whether the Division of Forestry may undertake to protect farm and urban property by contract under the provisions of chapter 141, Laws of 1949. Our conclusion is that a contract by which the Division of Forestry would undertake the protection of non-forest lands is not authorized by law. ANALYSIS You state that a group of citizens in and near Granite Falls desire to form a fire protection district, but that much of the area they would like to include in the proposed district is precluded by being assessed for fire protection by the state. As an alternative you suggest that the Forestry Division might extend its protection to the non-forest area near Granite Falls under a contract. Chapter 141, Laws of 1949, provides as follows: "The State Supervisor of Forestry shall, subject to the approval of the Director of the Department of Conservation and Development, have power, subject to the provisions hereof, to enter into...