HOUSE BILL REPORT

SJM 8028

As Amended by the House

BYSenators Zimmerman and Bauer

Petitioning Congress and the Army Corps of Engineers to designate sites in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area to receive spoil material to improve the recreational value of those sites.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Brekke, Ferguson, Jesernig, May, Pruitt, Schoon, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Unsoeld and Walker.

House Staff:Karl Herzog (786-7271)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 6, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In 1986 the President and Congress enacted the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act, creating the scenic area and establishing the Columbia River Gorge Commission. The Commission is made up of representatives from the six counties surrounding the gorge, and six other members appointed by the governors of Washington and Oregon. The Commission is charged with developing a management plan to govern land uses in the scenic area. Both Washington and Oregon have passed legislation enabling and funding the Commission.

The Bonneville Navlock project, a federally funded lock construction project within the scenic area, will ultimately produce 4.7 million cubic yards of spoil material. Currently, these spoils are shipped downriver to Portland, Oregon, for use as fill material. The Columbia River Gorge Commission has passed a resolution requesting that the spoil material be used for projects within the scenic area to improve public access and recreational values.

SUMMARY:

Congress and the Army Corps of Engineers are urged to designate sites within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area as the sole recipients of spoil material from federal projects on the Bonneville Pool, including the remaining spoil material from construction of the new lock at the Bonneville Dam.  Congress and the Corps are urged to assign highest priority to sites identified by Bonneville Pool port districts, and to sites where recreational access or wildlife habitat could be improved by spoil material deposit.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Hal Zimmerman; Representative Kim Peery.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The memorial would provide a unified statement from Washington State, and would be beneficial to the economy of the gorge area. The resolution is consistent with Columbia River Gorge Commission goals.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.