FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2037

                                  C 213 L 89

BYRepresentatives Raiter, Cooper, Morris, Brumsickle, Vekich, Peery, Bowman, Schoon and H. Myers 

Extending exemptions for Mt. St. Helens recovery operations.

House Committe on State Government

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Recovery operations to correct damage to property and river systems caused by the May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens have been coordinated through the federal government, the state, and local governments.  Expenditures to date have totalled over $1 billion.

In 1982 the Legislature enacted a series of laws to allow exemptions from certain state requirements for Mount St. Helens emergency recovery operations. Exemptions are permitted from requirements related to:  (1) water and flood control under the Department of Ecology; (2) the State Environmental Policy Act; (3) county regulations on diking and drainage; and (4) the Shorelines Management Act.

In addition, the legislation:  a) requires the directors of the Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife to process within 15 days hydraulic applications for work in certain portions of the Toutle and Cowlitz Rivers; and b) allows land owners who dredge and pull debris onto their property to sell the debris without paying a royalty charge to the Department of Natural Resources.

These exemptions and special legislation are effective through June 30, 1990.

SUMMARY:

The exemptions of Mount St. Helens recovery operations from requirements regarding:  (1) water and flood control under the Department of Ecology; (2) the State Environmental Policy Act; (3) county regulations on diking and drainage; and (4) the Shorelines Management Act, are extended from June 30, 1990, to June 30, 1995.

The requirement for the directors of the Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife to process within 15 days hydraulic applications for flood control and dredging projects in certain portions of the Cowlitz and Toutle rivers is extended from June 30, 1990, to June 30, 1995.  This requirement is also to be applied to hydraulic applications for the South Fork Toutle River through river mile three.

Landowners who dredge and pull Mount St. Helens debris onto their property and sell the debris are not required to pay a royalty charge to the Department of Natural Resources through June 30, 1995 (extended from June 30, 1990).

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 94   0

      Senate    42     2

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989