H-0590.1                  _______________________________________________

                                                      HOUSE BILL 1177

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, R. Fisher, Dunshee, King, Johanson, R. Meyers, J. Kohl, Springer and Orr

Read first time 01/20/93.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Requiring an evaluation of the potential for wildlife enhancement projects on state rights of way.

          AN ACT Relating to wildlife enhancement projects; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the department of transportation owns and manages much land that has potential for wildlife habitat and that generally is not managed for wildlife habitat.  The legislature further finds that other states have implemented enhancement programs on rights of way.  The legislature declares that Washington should evaluate the potential for maximizing habitat potential of state-managed rights of way.

          The department of transportation shall evaluate the potential for wildlife habitat enhancement projects on state rights of way, with particular emphasis on raptor habitat enhancement.  The department of transportation shall report to the legislature by December 1, 1993, on (1) locations for potential projects, (2) types of projects, and (3) the cost of implementing projects.

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