| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Select Committee on Puget Sound | |
HB 2249
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Concerning shoreline master program provisions on islands in Puget Sound.
Sponsors: Representatives McDermott, Cody, Upthegrove and Appleton.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/20/07
Staff: Karen Rogers (786-7388).
Background:
The Shoreline Management Act of 1971 regulates activities within shorelines of the state via
shoreline master programs, which are adopted and administered by Washington counties and
incorporated cities. The master programs define and map shoreline types, such as commercial,
residential, rural-residential, rural, conservancy, and natural environments, and establish various
restrictive development conditions for each. Activities such as commercial, residential and
industrial development; piers; bulkheads; aquaculture; and mining activities, are regulated
according to shoreline type. For example, a shoreline master program may permit development
of an industrial port in an industrial or commercial environment, but may prohibit such
development in a natural, or more restrictive, environment.
The Shoreline Management Act allows for four levels of permission: Exemption, Shoreline
Substantial Development Permit (SSDP), Conditional Use, and Variance. Exemption and SSDP
are issued by the county or city provided that the proposed activity satisfies specified conditions.
Conditional Use Permit is issued by the county or city, and by the Department of Ecology, for
undefined activities or for activities explicitly requiring this permit type. Activities that fail to
qualify for exemption, SSDP, or Conditional Use may be permitted under Variance provided that
the activity is not prohibited and can satisfy the Variance criteria stipulated in the master program
and in the Shoreline Management Act. Variance, like Conditional Use, is issued by the county or
city, and by the Department of Ecology.
Currently, all 39 counties have shoreline master programs, as do over 200 cities and towns
throughout the state.
Summary of Bill:
Master programs may completely prohibit or limit the intensity of mining activities to a level that
is commercially significant to the local market. The master programs may also prohibit or limit
associated mining activities, including transport of materials from the mining site. To qualify for
this prohibition or limit, all of the following restrictions must be met:
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.