H-4788.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 2848
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1992 Regular Session
By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Prentice, Cooper, Wood, R. Fisher, Paris, Orr, Heavey, R. Johnson, Nelson, Rust, Day, Fraser, Leonard, Basich, Jacobsen and J. Kohl)
Read first time 02/11/92.
AN ACT Relating to environmental considerations of transportation planning; and adding a new section to chapter 47.05 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 47.05 RCW to read as follows:
Recognizing the importance of maintaining the quality of life in Washington state, the citizens of this state demand protection and preservation of our scarce natural resources. Citizens also demand an efficient and effective transportation system. The departments of transportation and ecology have worked jointly to develop a reasonable approach to assessing environmental impacts of significant transportation projects. Nevertheless, many transportation projects are costing more than was budgeted, due to unanticipated and extensive environmental considerations. It is the intent of the legislature to find a process for assessing, budgeting, and accounting for environmental costs related to significant transportation projects. In evaluating the environmental elements of significant transportation projects, the department shall consider a broad array of alternatives including new technologies.
Therefore, the department of transportation shall undertake a pilot program in at least one transportation district that will serve as a case study for the entire department. The purpose of the pilot program is to define those discrete environmental elements of all significant transportation projects within the selected pilot transportation district that can be isolated and priced. The department of transportation shall at a minimum include estimates for wetlands, storm water, air, hazardous waste, and fish barriers.
It is the intent of the legislature that the environmental cost estimates be developed during a detailed scoping process that will include preliminary engineering and design. The public shall have an opportunity to review all significant transportation projects within the designated pilot district, through the public hearing process during the scoping process. After the detailed scoping process, project-specific recommendations and cost estimates shall be submitted by January 1, 1994, to the office of financial management, the legislative transportation committee, and the transportation commission for review.