S-0381.1/91       _______________________________________________

 

                            SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8002

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Senators Metcalf, Conner and Roach.

 

Read first time January 17, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.Requesting that the coast guard prohibit dumping of ballast water in United States waters.


     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE:

     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

     WHEREAS, West coast sport and commercial fisheries are resources of great economic and recreational importance; and

     WHEREAS, These resources are threatened by the introduction of aquatic organisms from foreign ports brought in by means of the ballast water of freighters and tankers; and

     WHEREAS, In recent years several planktonic and benthic organisms have arrived and become established, causing fishery problems in California; and

     WHEREAS, Exotic eel grass brought in through ballast water has created problems in Humboldt Bay and estuaries along the Pacific Coast; and

     WHEREAS, Similar introductions may occur at other estuarine and coastal ports along the west coast in the same manner as has already occurred in the Great Lakes, with consequent harm to Great Lakes fisheries;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Coast Guard adopt regulations prohibiting the dumping of ballast water originating  in foreign ports in all waters of the United States and in the waters under their jurisdictions within the states.  Any such ballast water should be dumped at sea and exchanged for open ocean water prior to entry into waters of the state.

     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington, the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce.