SB 6087 -
By Senator Hatfield
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature finds that Washington's
thirty-nine thousand five hundred farms and ranches generate one
hundred sixty thousand jobs, forty-nine billion dollars in revenue, and
thirteen percent of the state's economy, powering a diverse food and
agricultural economy that is critical to maintaining a strong state
economy. The legislature further finds that clean water is essential
to protecting human health and the public welfare. Furthermore, clean
water is vital to a productive and growing economy and directly affects
many economic sectors including agriculture, tourism, commercial
fishing, commercial shellfish production, and manufacturing. The
legislature further finds that agricultural and livestock production
can coexist with clean water.
The legislature finds that the department of ecology is responsible
for protecting water quality in the state and addressing pollution from
agricultural lands. The legislature finds that to achieve the joint
goals of protecting water quality and maintaining a strong agricultural
economy, the department of ecology would benefit from increased
collaboration directly with agricultural and livestock producers and
other stakeholders.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 90.48 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) The department shall initiate an agricultural-water quality
advisory committee to:
(a) Improve communication and collaboration among the department,
agricultural and livestock producers, and other affected stakeholders
and entities;
(b) Provide input and recommendations on technical policy issues
related to agriculture, livestock management, and water quality; and
(c) Provide an open forum for agricultural and livestock producers
to work together with department staff.
(2) At a minimum, the agricultural-water quality advisory committee
must include representatives from agricultural and livestock producers,
private landowners, tribes, and environmental organizations.
(3) The department shall submit a final report by July 1, 2015, to
the committees with jurisdiction over agricultural issues in the house
of representatives and the senate on the process and recommendations of
the agricultural-water quality advisory committee.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2017."
SB 6087 -
By Senator Hatfield
On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "agriculture;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "adding a new section to chapter 90.48 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date."
EFFECT: The original bill is replaced by the creation of a
temporary agricultural-water quality advisory committee that must
include representatives from agricultural and livestock producers,
private landowners, tribes, and environmental organizations.
The committee must facilitate an open forum for agricultural and
livestock producers to work together with DOE staff to achieve
communication and collaboration on technical policy issues among the
participants.
The department must submit a final report to the Legislature by
July 1, 2015.