SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5269

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES,

                               FEBRUARY 19, 1991

Brief Description:  Eliminating waste disposal requirements for certain net pens.

SPONSORS:Senators Anderson, McMullen, Amondson, Owen, Vognild, Metcalf and Conner.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5269 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Oke, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Barr, Conner, Owen, Patterson, Snyder, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786‑7413)

Hearing Dates:January 15, 1991; February 19, 1991

BACKGROUND:

It is not certain whether waste disposal permits issued by the Department of Ecology are required by small cooperative fin fish rearing projects who culture fish for release into state waters.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Ecology shall eliminate the requirements for waste disposal permits for cooperative aquaculture fin fish net pens authorized under the statutes that empower the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Wildlife to conduct cooperative projects.  The exemption shall apply only to projects which rear 20,000 pounds or less of fish annually for release into state waters to increase public fisheries.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Private aquaculturists are exempt from waste discharge permits for projects which produce less than 20,000 pounds annually.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Waste discharge permits should not be required for small scale fin fish culture projects.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

All fish rearing projects should be subject to the same permit standards.

TESTIFIED:  Jim Krull, Department of Ecology (con); Steve Arbaugh, P.S.G.A. (pro); Jim Zimmerman, Trout Lodge; Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries; L. Joe Miller, Marine Environment Consortium (con)