S-1702               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5820

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Kreidler, Bluechel, Kiskaddon and Bottiger

Read first time 2/13/87 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to the development of policy for offshore resources; adding new sections to chapter 90.58 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that there is ever-increasing activity directed toward the utilization and development of living and nonliving resources on the continental shelf and in the waters of the Pacific ocean seaward to the boundaries of the exclusive economic zone.  The legislature hereby declares that the state has a vital interest in the protection, conservation, and development of those resources because they contribute significantly to the environmental quality and economy of the state and to the public's recreational and aesthetic enjoyment.  Further, there is an urgent need for research in these offshore areas to obtain better information for the proper utilization and management of ocean resources and to ensure that exploration, research, management, and development proceeds in an orderly manner.  It is, therefore, imperative that the state develop sound policies in order to protect those resources which could be adversely affected by offshore development and to help guide activities so that the public's interests are protected and that environmental risks are minimized.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 90.58 RCW to read as follows:

          The department of ecology shall, with the involvement of affected interests, prepare and adopt state-wide policies for managing the offshore environment, including those submerged lands on the continental shelf and the waters overlying it.  In the adoption of the policies, the department shall give clear priority to the proper management and protection of renewable ocean resources and uses.  Additionally, the department shall incorporate the policies into the Washington coastal zone management program as prepared and adopted under the federal coastal zone management act of 1972 (P.L. 89-454 and P.L. 92-583).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 90.58 RCW to read as follows:

          The department shall direct, coordinate, and support an effort to develop coastal and outer continental shelf policy guidelines for Pacific, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Clallam counties.  The guidelines shall be adopted by the department and shall be incorporated into county and, where appropriate, city master programs.  The guidelines shall recognize and be in accordance with the state-wide policies.  The guidelines shall primarily address impacts to coastal areas and resources under the state's jurisdiction and shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:  Oil and natural gas development and transportation, fishery resources, ocean discharges, onshore and offshore facility siting, archeological site preservation, habitat protection, recreation, emergency response, and port development.