(a) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall establish a working group on expanding wood product markets that can utilize woody biomass, especially biomass that is removed from high hazard zones, as determined by the department. These markets include, but are not limited to, animal bedding, biochar, cross-laminated timber, mulch, oriented strand board, pulp, post, shredding, and veneer products.
(b) At a minimum, the working group shall include members of the working group on wood market products established under the Proclamation of a State of Emergency on Tree Mortality declared by the Governor on October 30, 2015.
(c) By June 1, 2017, the working group shall submit recommendations to the Legislature on actions that may be taken to encourage the development of the wood product markets, including the identification of potential pilot projects.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 368, Sec. 9. (SB 859) Effective September 14, 2016.)