HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2848

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to environmental considerations of transportation planning.

Brief Description:  Directing a pilot program to define environmental considerations in transportation planning.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Prentice, Cooper, Wood, R. Fisher, Paris, Orr, Heavey, R. Johnson, Nelson, Rust, Day, Fraser, Leonard, Basich, Jacobsen and J. Kohl.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 10, 1992, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 26 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Cantwell; Cooper; Day; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Heavey; Horn; P. Johnson; R. Johnson; Jones; Kremen; Mitchell; Nelson; Orr; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Robin Rettew (786-7306).

Background:  Currently, detailed design efforts, environmental assessments, and public hearings for construction projects occur almost two years after the projects are initially scoped.  During the more detailed phase of project development, preliminary cost estimates must be revised to reflect more current and detailed information.  Recently, the revised environmental costs have been much higher than anticipated.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  On a trial basis the Department of Transportation is given authority to perform design work, conduct public hearings, and provide comprehensive environmental assessments on significant transportation projects before appropriations are provided for actual construction.  The intent is to develop better budget estimates of the environmental costs of transportation projects.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill requires the department to consider a number of alternatives and new technologies when addressing environmental issues.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The basic principles of the bill are good.  However, they do not go far enough.  There should be more consideration given to benefits associated with environmental issues and more emphasis on stormwater runoff and sediment issues.  The bill should also address the liability issue of publicly-created pollution which the private sector has to pay for.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Dennis Ingham, Department of Transportation (pro); Randy Ray, Shipyard Environmental Coalition (pro with amendment); George Tyler, citizen (pro with amendment); and Chris Leman, Institute for Transportation & the Environment.