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DNR seeks perpetual road easement at Steptoe Butte; commission will consider in April
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Summary
The Department of Natural Resources has requested a perpetual road easement of about 3.85 miles across Steptoe Butte State Park to satisfy RCO grant access requirements; the easement does not meet the commission's delegated approval criteria and will be brought to the full commission at its April 16, 2026 meeting.
Michelle Burke, property and acquisition specialist, told the commission that the Washington State Department of Natural Resources has requested a perpetual road easement across Steptoe Butte State Park to provide legal access to DNR's adjacent conservation lands and satisfy Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant requirements.
Burke said the requested easement is approximately 3.85 miles long and that State Parks' real-estate policy for delegated director approval requires at least two of four specific criteria to be met. The proposed easement does not meet those criteria (not underground; greater than 1,000 linear feet; not residential access; not within a rail-trail corridor), so it must be approved by the full commission.
Staff told commissioners the draft perpetual easement will be included in the April agenda packet and that subsequent steps include internal review, DNR review and recording with Whitman County. Commissioners raised concerns about maintenance and asked who would be responsible for road upkeep; staff said DNR proposed a $1,500 annual road fee to compensate State Parks for maintenance, which commissioners questioned as likely insufficient for a perpetual easement. Members requested additional detail on the paving project costs and the expected wear-and-tear in connection with the perpetual easement.
