SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5772

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 23, 1993

Brief Description:  Designating regional water resource planning areas.

SPONSORS: Senators Fraser, Barr, Sutherland, Newhouse and Williams; by request of Joint Select Committee on Water Resource Policy

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means. 

     Signed by Senators Sutherland, Chairman; Jesernig, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Hochstatter, McCaslin, Owen, Roach, A. Smith, West, and Williams.

Staff:  Ben Barnes (786‑7198)

Hearing Dates: February 22, 1993; February 23, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Three years ago, the Legislature directed the Department of Ecology to work with tribal governments, local governments, and other interested parties to develop a water resource planning process to be implemented on a regional basis.  The department subsequently designated two regions, one within the Puget Sound basin and the other east of the Cascade mountains, as pilot projects for initiating the process.  Each region is required to have a regional water plan in place by December 31, 1993.

It is recommended that an exploratory committee be created to further examine water resource planning issues within the central Puget Sound area.  

SUMMARY:

The Governor is required to assemble representatives from the state agencies, local governments, and tribal governments that are involved in water resource issues in the central Puget Sound area for the purpose of preparing a report which suggests an identified region or regions within the central Puget Sound area for designation as a regional planning area or areas. 

In addition to identifying suggested boundaries, the report shall also 1) identify water resource issues relevant to each planning area; 2) identify public and private parties that may be interested in participating in a regional planning area in the central Puget Sound area; and 3) recommend amounts and sources of funding required for the regional planning area.  The report shall also identify existing water planning activities and make recommendations regarding their consolidation and inclusion into the final regional plan.

The report is due before March 15, 1994.  Within 90 days of the completion of the report, the Governor shall establish the designated regional planning areas to further develop and implement the comprehensive water resources plan required by law.

Appropriation:  unspecified

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested February 17, 1993

TESTIMONY FOR:

The committee is necessary in order to prepare a pre-scoping report for future central Puget Sound regional planning areas and to encourage further resolution of water resource issues.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  John Kirner, Tacoma Public Utilities (pro); Lloyd Warner, City of Bellevue (pro); Terry Husseman, Department of Ecology (pro)