Franz asks for more money to judge landslide risks

OSO, Wash. — It's been nearly 4 years since the Oso landslide killed 41 people.

That event is called a glacial deep-seated landslide. The State Lands Commissioner is now asking the legislature for money to hire more geologists to research the entire State Route 530 corridor.

“It is the fact that 18 of our counties in Washington state have similar land conditions to the SR 530 corridor and we believe understanding this situation in glacial deep-seated we will be much more able to protect the public health and safety,” said Hilary Franz.

Franz asked reporters to meet her in the Capitol State Forest near Olympia. She says Logging applications in forests like these have more than doubled in the last five years. So, she wants money to hire more engineers.

Scroll down to continue reading

Trending headlines

• Amazon snubs Washington in list of 20 cities considered for 2nd headquarters
• Documents reveal 'violent and disturbing' last moments of Lake City murder victim
• Why didn't Amazon pick the Seattle area for its second headquarters?
• Limiting pain-med supply to 7 days among ways state leaders propose to fight opioid crisis
• Pay-by-mile gas tax pilot to begin in 2 weeks

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP

Right now, the department gets 30 days to evaluate logging and road permits, Commissioner Franz wants lawmakers to give her 60 days, but the industry opposes that.

KIRO 7 has reached out to an industry representative for comment.

The Department of Natural Resources is also monitoring the situation on Rattlesnake Ridge south of Yakima where geologists say a huge crack in the earth is growing by 1.6 feet per week, and a big slide could happen anytime.

“We think we might be in the event right now. There may be a potential for it to speed up a little bit, but we're not entirely certain right now,” said state landslide geologist Stephen Slaughter

A 2015 landslide in Hoquiam knocked several houses off their foundations. No one was hurt, but it's an example of the danger Franz says comes with the territory in Washington state.

“Ideally, we would know more about the geology of all of our landscapes before those kinds of incidents happen and that's why this request is in front of the legislature.”

Her request totals just over $2 million.

Cox Media Group