SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6538

As Passed Senate, February 15, 2002

Title:  An act relating to ballast water.

Brief Description:  Establishing the ballast water work group.

Sponsors:  Senators Regala, Jacobsen and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines:  1/28/02, 1/31/02 [DP].

Passed Senate:  2/15/02, 43-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & SHORELINES

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Hargrove, McDonald, Morton, Snyder and Spanel.

Staff:  Victor Moon (786‑7469)

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 of Bill:  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 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.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Further research is needed in order to solve ballast water discharge problems.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Morris Barker, Scott Smith, Department of Fish and Wildlife; Kevin Anderson, Puget Sound Action Team; Greg Hannon, Interstate Petroleum; Rick Wickman, Columbia River Steamship Operators, Eric Johnson, Ports.

House Amendment(s):  The director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife will 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 will consider rules when they are adopted in Oregon relating to ballast water management in the Columbia River in the state's rulemaking process.

A representative of the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team is added to the Ballast Water Work Group.