FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6538

PARTIAL VETO

C 282 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Establishing the ballast water work group.

Sponsors:  Senators Regala, Jacobsen and Oke.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines

House Committee on Natural Resources

Background:  The 2000 Legislature passed the Washington State Ballast Water Management Act and gave authority to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish a ballast water reporting program and to develop standards for the discharge of treated ballast water.

Summary:  The Department of Fish and Wildlife must work with a ballast water work group comprised of the commercial vessel industry and the environmental community to review all issues relating to ballast water technology including exchange and treatment methods.  The committee must look at the services needed by the industry and the state to protect the marine environment and review the costs and make recommendations on funding for the ballast water program.  The ballast water work group expires June 30, 2004, after making its report to the Legislature, which is due December 15, 2003.

The director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife must monitor the efforts of the Oregon task force examining ballast water management and give periodic updates on these efforts to the Washington Ballast Water Work Group.  The department must consider rules when they are adopted in Oregon relating to ballast water management in the Columbia River in the state's rulemaking process.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife, working with the United States Coast Guard, will cooperatively improve the ballast water information system and make recommendations no later than August 1, 2002.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate430

House970(House amended)

Senate410(Senate concurred)

Effective:  June 13, 2002

Partial Veto Summary:  The emergency clause was vetoed.