Close to 200 acres of timber are being felled above the Sumner Tapps Highway in the Sumner and Bonney Lake area.

The logging began Jan. 16 on Ehli Hill, which is on the west side of state Route 410.

The Department of Natural Resources approved granted permits in 2008 and 2009 and the work is being done in accordance with Forest Practice Rules and Regulations which require reforestation at 400 trees per acre. The replanting will occur following project.

Harry Corliss, owner of the Corliss Concrete plant in Sumner, owns the land which is being cleared.

Canyon Creek Company LLC, a Pierce County based real estate asset management company, is managing the project.

Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson spoke to the city council about the project and said the regulations regarding the planting of new trees are being adhered to and none of the trees being cut are in the Bonney Lake city limits.

Johnson said all the traffic from the hill will come off 166th Avenue in Sumner, and there will be no truck traffic on Myers Road.

He said the logs will be transported to sawmills in Enumclaw, Tacoma and Chehalis.